Farmington Area Arts Commission shares annual report

FARMINGTON HILLS —The Farmington Area Arts Commission presented the commission’s 2024 annual report to the Farmington Hills City Council at a City Council meeting March 24.

The presentation, which was led by Jeff Dutka, the vice chair of the Farmington Area Arts Commission, focused on the commission’s mission, accomplishments and goals.

The Farmington Area Arts Commission supports efforts to ensure that arts and cultural heritage are integral components of our daily lives.  The commission is committed to arts promotion and advocacy and serves as a conduit between local government and the arts community, according to Dutka.

The commission was established in 1976. Its members are appointed by the Farmington City Council and the Farmington Hills City Council.

The commission is passionate about art and expressed a commitment to serve in this capacity.

“We are ready and willing to assist council and city leadership with any and all matters related to art in our community,” Dutka said.

He lauded the work of the City Council Study Group, which is focused on bringing a public art component to commercial development.  He offered the groups’ experience to help implement the program.

In addition to being art lovers, the commissioners have a diverse set of professional skills and experiences, including as artists, business owners, government employees, project managers, financial advisors, legal professionals and current and former elected officials, according to the commissioner.

“Our experience is varied but our focus is shared. We’re passionate about protecting and growing the arts for the benefit of the Farmington area and beyond,” Dutka said.

He noted that the commission reflects the diversity of the community.

“We celebrate that diversity through our debates and decisions on what issues to prioritize and how to accomplish our goals,” Dutka said.

The commission’s accomplishments in 2024 included the preservation, documentation, and exhibition of the Mary Brooks Art Collection, a donated collection to The Hawk of more than 100 pieces by artist Mary Brooks.

The  pieces were properly packaged and stored by the commissioners, according to Dutka. All pieces were  photographed and documented, with the goal of exhibiting this work at The Hawk in a temporary exhibition or in digital format in the future.

The Hawk Scrapture Tree is a 20-foot, 10-ton sculpture that was designed, built and installed by the Farmington Area Arts Commission. The tree is made from salvaged materials and scraps from the renovations of the old Harrison High School building that evolved into The Hawk. The Hawk Scrapture Tree is located just outside the theater entrance.

The commission acquired two sculptures by Ken Thompson, on loan, that complement The Hawk Scrapture Tree. Two benches were installed in 2024 in the area where the art is exhibited.

The commission brought art to Farmington City Hall via the City Hall Public Art Program, a two-year rotating public art program.

According to the annual report, the goals of the commission include continuing to offer the collective experience of the group while advocating for the arts in Farmington and Farmington Hills; to support the selection, installation and maintenance of art in public spaces; and to recognize the individuals, groups, and businesses who make outstanding contributions to the local arts scene through annual arts awards.

The Farmington Area Arts Commission has been in existence for nearly 50 years.

“We are very proud of that legacy and look forward to laying the foundation for the next 50 years,” Dutka said.

“Thank you for everything the Arts Commission does. I think you guys do a fantastic job,” Farmington Hills City Councilman Randy Bruce said at the meeting.

Bruce served as the liaison to the commission for 16 years.

“Loved every minute of it, in terms of all the discussion, the projects, and seeing things come to fruition,” Bruce said. “I love the arts. I always think of the arts as being the icing on the cake of life, and without it, I can’t even imagine what life would be.”