Deb Polich

Founded in 1911, the Zal Gaz Grotto is steeped in the history of masons wanting to cultivate sunny cheerfulness and indulgence in healthy merriment and joyful laughter. A simple building on West Stadium, it is a home for local jazz and rock bands and attracts an eclectic audience. Bob Hospardaruk is a master mason and serves as secretary of the club. He joins Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw on this edition of "creative:impact."

Sitting at the intersection of art and technology, local entrepreneur Don Hicks wondered how SaganWorks 3-D technology could make it possible for anyone to view the work of artists from anywhere. Being one to take action, he started the nonprofit CultureVerse to figure it out. Aubrey Martinson was enlisted as executive director, and she explains it all when she joins co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMUs David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact." 

Ann Arbor’s Stratøs (AKA Eddie Codrington) is reaching for the stars! A three-time winner of the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award in 2019, 2020, and 2021, his flight plan was shaped by local music education programs, jazz artists, and events. He is releasing his first album "Planets" in October. Hear all about it when he joins co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact."

Straight from Broadway, after roles in "Mamma Mia," "Bonnie and Clyde," "9 to 5," and "Les Misérables," Michigan native Dan Cooney wanted to put on his own show(s). He decided Dexter was the right place, and he opened The Encore Theatre. Hear his story when he joins Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact."

Since his student days as member of the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and at the University of Michigan bands, Dr. Eric Becher has excelled at taking the field, literally and figuratively, whether as the youngest ever director of the U-M Marching Bands or in his second career in fundraising and advancement. He Shared his journey with WEMU's David Fair and Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw on 'creative:impact.'

What we’d once hoped was going to be a short little dance number, COVID-19 has turned into a dance marathon. Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair talk about the state of arts + creative industry, now 18 months into this pandemic, on this edition of "creative:impact."

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is creating change. Washtenaw County has joined communities across the world using art + creativity to detour youth away from the justice system. Eli talks about his office’s decision to add preventative creative programs and its partnership with Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper and the Vera Institute of Justice on this "creative:impact" with show co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair.

Meet Holli Andrews, the enthusiastic, talented director of Saline Main Street. A community booster second to none, she is salting downtown Saline with art to create lively local scenes. A visit to Saline is in your future after hearing Holli on this week's "creative:impact" with show co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair.

Chelsea resident Gary Munce has held many volunteer gigs. One of his favorites is being the entertainment adviser for Chelsea Area Festivals and Events, producer of Sounds and Sights, and the Chelsea Sculpture Walk. You can hear Gary’s love for what he does and his community when he joins "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair.

Artist and curator Marcia Stegath Dorr traveled to Oman and discovered timeless culture, art, and craft virtually unknown to rest of the world. She has worked ever since to preserve Oman’s past and lift up its 21st Century artisans as the Consultant to the Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman. Hear about Marcia’s journey on this edition of "creative:impact" with co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMU’s David Fair.

From her artist’s booth, Karin Wagner Coron had perfect view of the 2021 Ann Arbor Art Fair. In the second of this two-part series, Karin paints a picture of her experience, how it went, what was the same, what was different, and how it felt to be back on the streets selling art after a one-year, Art Fair hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear it all as she joins "creative:impact’s" co-hosts, Creative Washtenaw’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair.

Karin Wagner Coron has exhibited at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair for years. She has a routine: how many works to have in inventory and what to pack to be ready. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of last year’s Art Fair. In the first of a two-part series, Karin talks about that disruption and what she anticipates for the 2021 Art Fair. Next week, she’ll be back to tell "creative:impact’s" co-hosts, Creative Washtenaw’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair, how the Art Fair went.

Mackenzie Scott and Dan Jewett recently gave away $2.7 billion to “286 teams empowering voices the world needs to hear.” Neutral Zone (NZ) was surprised to learn they were on the list! Lori Roddy, NZ’s executive director, talks about the impact of this transformative gift with "creative:impact's" co-hosts, Creative Washtenaw’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair.

Like memories of their beloved homeland, art remains within the heart and soul of refugee artists. Their art offers a way to connect new neighbors to the culture and stories of their past. World Refugee Day is Sunday, June 20, and a celebration of artists new to our land is being planned. Dr. Shadin Atiyeh of Jewish Family Services, the refugee resettlement agency in Washtenaw County, gives all the details to Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair on this week's edition of "creative:impact." 

Like the distinct threads of a tapestry, 20-some individual artists have entwined for more than two decades to fashion the WSG Gallery. This artist-owned and operated gallery has withstood the winds of change and now a pandemic. Textile artist and member Cathryn Amidei takes us through WSG’s journey to the future when she joins Creative Washtenaw’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Wild Swan Theater’s co-founders and artistic directors Hillary Cohen and Sandy Ryder created a family theater program their way. For more than 40 years, families gathered to enjoy their inclusive, accessible, and delightful theater productions. Now they are dropping the final curtain and spend time reflecting with Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair on this week’s edition of "creative:impact." 

A reimagined art fair is coming to the State Street District in 2021 after all. Artists and merchants are excited to bring art back to the downtown district for a pared-down fair that runs Thursday, July 15 – Saturday, July 17. Meeting all the required safety protocol is paramount, says Frances Todoro-Hargreaves, director of the State Street Art Fair, when she makes the announcement to Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair on "creative:impact."

The Ann Arbor Art Fair just had its second major COVID-19 hit. The directors of the fairs announced that the streets of Ann Arbor will be ghosted again this year by one of the highest rated art fairs in the country. Frances Todoro-Hargreaves, director of the State Street District Art Fair, joins Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair and tells them of the difficult decision to cancel the art fairs on "creative: impact."

Self-described as a "failed music student," Ellie Snyder says she decided to seek out attention in a new way: making strangers laugh in bars. Imagine the irony of being an aspiring comic during the least funny time: a pandemic. With her style of observational humor, Ellie tells Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair her story on this edition of "creative: impact."

Growing up in a household infused with art, creativity, and as the granddaughter of Motown Temptation Melvin Franklin, Morgan Foreman-McGovern gained confidence and direction.  She is a Renaissance woman: a dancer, singer, advocate for the environment and the BIPOC community, and the constituent services director for Michigan Representative Felicia Brabec.  She tells Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair her story on this edition of "creative:impact."

What do you get when you connect 13 Michigan members of Congress with 40 Michigan arts + creative industries advocates on Zoom?  Find out as Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair discuss the state of the arts + creative industries on this edition of "creative:impact."

Yen Azzaro: graphic recorder, illustrator, serial creative entrepreneur, and arts activist.  She founded The Paper Pusher and applies her talent for the common good and understanding.  She tells Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair how she now needs her community to rise up for her and other Asian Americans experiencing racism and acts of violence.  Hear her story on this edition of "creative:impact."

Meet Carla Dirlikov Canales, Ypsilanti native, renowned opera singer, and arts advocate.  She is also founder of the Canales Project, an organization that uses the arts to bridge cultural divides.  She joined Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair to talk about how she uses her voice to advocate for the arts and creativity in the halls of Congress and across the world. 

Character artists, animators, sound designers, programmers, and coders are just a few of the team members it takes to design and launch a video game.  It takes a lot of hard work and time.  Jeremy Gibson Bond, game designer and professor of practice, game design, and development at MSU, tells Deb Polich and David Fair all about this industry that has evolved exponentially since the days of Pong and Pac-Man on this edition of "creative: impact."  Listen here.

The U.S. should be awash in the art and culture of its Native Americans, immigrants, and the rest of the world.  Yet, it is dominated by Eurocentric influences.  Knowing that and how art is able to build cultural understanding, the U-M Center for World Performance Studies (CWPS) started 20 years ago to provide an arts and cultural worldview to students, faculty, and local residents.  Ingrid Racine, a CWPS alum and now its program coordinator, takes Deb Polich and David Fair on a global "creative:impact" journey.  Listen here.

Internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of more than 90 novels Loren Estleman is a master of mysteries, histories, and series.  He has written almost every word on a manual typewriter in Washtenaw County, where he has lived since birth.  Our local literary legend joins Deb Polich and David Fair for this "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Using creativity to keep usable waste from the landfill is the mission of SCRAP Creative Reuse and the subject of "creative:impact," when Claire Tyra, the director of SCRAP, joins Deb Polich of The Arts Alliance and WEMU's David Fair.  Listen here.  

Sean Ahlquist is an accomplished architect in the area of design and fabrication of pre-stressed lightweight structures and innovations in textile-reinforced composite materials.  It was his love for his daughter Ara that inspired his innovation: a social sensory playscape for children on the Autism spectrum.  Sean tells Deb Polich and David Fair how a dad wanting to connect with his daughter led to a breakthrough on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here. 

Before and after COVID-19.  It is how we mark time now.  Mia Risberg joins "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to talk about her visual artist practice before and after COVID hit, how she revitalized her work, and found reward through the unlimited boundaries of the Internet.  Hear her story here.

Jamall Bufford is a musician, rapper, and DJ, and his energy impacts a number of young men through his work as project specialist at Washtenaw County My Brother's Keeper (WMBK).  He joined "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to discuss the importance of infusing art and creativity into youth development projects.  The efforts have resulted in an album featuring a number of talented young people from Washtenaw County and a documentary film highlighting how the project offers a path forward.