Benefit for the Tecumseh Center for the Arts, Flight of Fancy, is Saturday at Tecumseh County Club

Tecumseh Center for the Arts is spreading their wings beyond the realm of performing arts to include visual artists. While looking for a way to ‘feather their nest’ Tecumseh Center for the Arts Execu-tive Director Johanna Walker hatched a “bird-brained plan”- a fundraiser that would also draw community awareness and attention to works by local visual artists. Thus The Flight of Fancy Art Birdhouse Festival took off.

Area artists were asked to create a bird house that would be a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The finished works of arts would be displayed in various businesses throughout Tecumseh and then auctioned for the benefit of the TCA. Walker recruited students at Vo-Tech to build basic shaped bird houses, which were then distributed to the artists. Many artists elected to create the entire ‘house’ with their own materials.

When the finished pieces began arriving back at TCA, the Flight of Fancy Committee members, Kathy Field, Stephanie Harmon, Kevin Welch and Johanna Walker were astonished at the variety and unique works of art. “The bird houses are beyond our wildest dreams, each piece is a unique, wonderful piece of artwork” commented Walker. “The finished bird houses are just awesome. We’re grateful for the artists’ contributions and support. This is truly a community project to benefit the TCA.”

The committee is delighted by the response to the project from artists, Tecumseh businesses and from the community. “People are enjoying viewing the bird houses, and are amazed by the quality and variety of the art work” said Walker. Over 60 Flight of Fancy Birdhouses will be displayed in businesses throughout Tecumseh until early September. A location map is available at the TCA and on the TCA web site.

It is possible to view and bid now on the bird houses on line. Visit the TCA web site at www.thetca.org, and clink the link at the top of the homepage.
This grand finale of our Flight of Fancy project will be the Flight of Fancy Festival Gala and Auction. For one night only the entire flock of birdhouses created by artists throughout the area – will land together in one place! A sight not to be missed! The evening will include both a silent auction and a live auction, entertainment, food and more. With our new name, Tecumseh Center for the Arts, we are spreading our wings to include our local visual artists. The birdhouses will be displayed in local businesses throughout the summer. The Gala event will be held on September 13th at 2pm at the Tecumseh Country Club. Flight of Fancy Gala tickets are $30.00 and TCA Members receive a special $5.00 discount.

For additional information on the Flight of Fancy, or to purchase tickets to the Gala, contact the Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI, or by phone at 517-423-6617.