Art Week Returns To Marquette

MARQUETTE, Mich – After being cancelled last year due to the Covid–19 Pandemic, Marquette Art Week is back and in full stroke.

The theme for this year is “Reconnecting Through The Arts.”

Today’s festivities took place at Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park with activities focused around music.

“It’s amazing. This year is extremely special because it was canceled last year, but not just Art Week, everything was canceled last year. But we tripled in size because of that,” said Tiina Morin, City of Marquette Arts and Culture Manager. “We started planning in January via Zoom and the collaboration and response from people that wanted to collaborate and connect and make art was really overwhelming. We’ve had 80 events planned and it is completely due to the desire to reconnect with everything canceled last year.”

Morin also emphasized the support the community has had for Art Week.

She said the week has become a symbol for reuniting friends and the community.

“There’s been a lot of tears. I wouldn’t have thought that the theme would really resonate with people closely. At the concert last night, people who haven’t seen each other for a year were seeing each other for the first time,” said Morin. “Creators that haven’t worked together for a year are dancing and playing music for the first time. So it’s emotional this year and I really hope we can retain this authenticity and this connectivity for next year.”

There is still a lot more in store this week.

Tonight, a symphony will be performing at 7 pm and later in the week The City Band and Pine Mountain Music Festival will perform.

The event will be capped off by a Willy Nelson Tribute Concert this Saturday.

If you would like to see the full list of events, head over to www.mqtcompass.com.