Added on October 1, 2018 Sara Swanson

4 pieces of Mill art donated to CRC to be auctioned off

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Manchester Mill by Kristi Trinkle.

Correction, October 15, 2018: This article originally started that the two works of art by artist Nancy Feldkamp were original watercolors. Since then, Feldkamp has visited the CRC and identified the works as prints, not originals. The article has been updated with this correction.

One thing art can do is freeze a moment in time and thanks to the generosity of a former Manchester resident, the public will have the opportunity to bid on and own just that--a Manchester landmark, the Mill--frozen in time.

Karl Racenis, former owner of the Manchester Mill, has donated four pieces of Mill art to the Community Resource Center (CRC). The pieces were formerly displayed in the lobby of the Manchester Mill along with other works documenting the mill and its history. The art will be auctioned off during the CRC’s upcoming 31st Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet and Fundraiser on Saturday, November 3rd. Racenis explained, “With our sale of the Mill, we thought it appropriate that others in Manchester be able to enjoy them to the benefit of the CRC.”

The first piece is titled Manchester Mill by Kristi Trinkle. It is a hand colored black & white photograph and has its origin in the the historic Riverfolk Festival. The first Riverfolk Festival held in 2002 featured an Artist-in-Residence program. Renowned artist Janis Kaulins from Manitou Beach worked with select Manchester High School Art Students to take black and white photographs, then hand color them. Their resulting works were judged and then auctioned at the Festival. This award winning piece was purchased at the Riverfolk Festival.

The second piece is a watercolor of the farmers market in front of the Manchester Mill (which was the original location of the farmers market before it was moved to Chi Bro Park) by Suzanne Kent. It was purchased in about 2006. Kent formerly lived and painted in Manchester, before moving out west.

The last two are both are prints of watercolors by locally and nationally renowned painter Nancy Feldkamp. One shows the Manchester Mill and dam and the other shows the Manchester Mill from across the river. Both date from about 2005.

If you are interested in coming to the banquet and bidding on the Mill art work, you can purchase a ticket from the Community Resource Center for $50 (or $45 if you register by October 5th). It will be held in the St. Joseph Mercy hospital dining room in Chelsea. Cocktails and appetizers start at 6 pm, dinner starts at 7 pm. Volunteers nominated by Manchester-area non-profits will be recognized, and many items will be auctioned off in both a silent auction and live auction in addition to the Mill art! To purchase tickets, call the CRC at 734-428-7722 or stop in at their new location at Riverside Intermediate School, 710 East Main St. (you must use CRC’s exterior entrance which is on the east side of the school.)