Welcome to the 2023 Art Seen Festival Archive
Year three is in the books!
The 2023 festival included a beautiful large-scale community mural being painted by local artists, Selena Bender (selenaashley.com), Jazzmyn Benitez (enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com), Dacia Parker (parkerlaneart.com), and their fantastic team! Community members were invited to paint the mural alongside the artist team and we were excited to once again witness so many people experiencing the power of public art in Midland! Together. Forward. Bold. can be seen in the parking lot behind Little Forks Outfitters. The closest address is 123 McDonald St, Midland, MI 48640.
We were absolutely thrilled to meet and work with Michigan artist Kevin Burdick for our 2023 commissioned mural. Kevin was selected from over 300 applicants to create our first mural in Center City, at UpBeat Music Academy, 109 E Ashman St, Midland, MI 48642. He knocked Songbirds out of the park with his kind personality, great work ethic, and incredible skills that created this beautiful finished product!
We also had two nights of amazing live music presented by The Blue Light. Meet the musicians under the meet the artists tab.
Art Seen Festival seeks to strengthen our Midland County, Michigan, community through vibrant mural making and live performances. Accessible public art is a meaningful way to connect people to feel seen, heard, and included. Art inspires us and propels us forward while bringing voice to diverse experiences, and people. Art is a catalyst for belonging, and supports a community where all people have the opportunity to thrive.
Together. Forward. Bold – Community Mural by Selena Bender, Jazz Benitez & Dacia Parker
Located in the parking lot behind Little Forks Outfitters. Closest address is 123 McDonald St, Midland, MI 48640.
Songbirds – by Kevin Burdick
Located at UbBeat Music Academy, 109 E Ashman St, Midland, MI 48642
2023 Meet the Artists
We are thrilled to bring you two new murals at the 2023 Art Seen Festival! This year’s community mural will be the third and final mural installment on the back of the Little Forks Outfitters Building, downtown. Join us Saturday and Sunday June 3-4 from 11am to 3pm where you can pick up a brush and make your mark! The Little Forks mural is in the rear parking lot behind Little Forks Outfitters. You can access this lot off of McDonald St, between E Larkin St and Main St. This mural concept was created by local artists Selena Bender, Jazzmyn Benitez and Dacia Parker, who will lead a team of artists to make this community mural happen.
Our second location for 2023 is in Center City Midland, and UpBeat Music Academy, located at 109 E Ashman St, in the Circle. The UpBeat mural artist was selected by the Art Seen Festival Committee after we released a call for artist submissions earlier this year. After reviewing over 300 applications from artists all around the world, we are so pleased to announce that Michigan native, Kevin Burdick was selected!
Learn more about this year’s lead artists below.
Meet Kevin Burdick
Kevin Burdick, of Fenton, Michigan, has been selected as our UpBeat Music Academy muralist for the 2023 Art Seen Festival!
Born in Flint Mi, then raised in Fenton Mi. Kevin first attended Mott Community College, were he studied basic art. At this point he realized that Art would be his profession. Kevin was later accepted to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he studied Animation and Illustration.
After school Kevin started experimenting with different mediums, including Airbrushing and Aerosol. He recalls being first given the opportunity to airbrush professionally at T-Rods in Flint, Mi and later partnered with Psycho Customs in Bay City, Mi. In the last few years, his focus has been on aerosol murals. Although airbrushing made up the foundation of his art career, aerosol art is becoming the creative outlet and freedom every artist seeks. Kevin says of his art process, “After years of trial and error I now feel that I can provide high quality artwork to a wide range of clients and programs. With years of professional training and experimenting with different mediums, I provide the highest level of art that can be seen throughout Michigan and other parts of the world. My passion truly reflects in my artwork.”
“I would say my process starts when I talk to locals and get the feel for the surrounding area. Some cities love the abstract, some love realism. Once I know the “style” that will suit the area best, I then let my head go wild. I really try to mix both historical elements with cool street art elements.”
We are so excited for you to see the thoughtful and beautiful design Kevin has developed for our town! Be sure to stop by and say hello and watch the painting unfold at UpBeat Music Academy on Saturday June 3rd from 11a-3p(with musical performances and rock painting with UpBeat staff!) and on Sunday June 4th from 11a-3p.
Learn more at scrapsdesigns.com
Instagram: @kevscraps14
You may recognize the names Jazz Benitez and Dacia Parker from past Art Seen Festival, plus a new addition to the team, Selena Bender! These three talented artists are on the Art Seen Festival committee and work diligently all year to make this event a success. Their teamwork, leadership, and heart for our community make them the perfect trio to lead their team of artists to another beautiful, interactive community mural. You can pick up a brush and make your mark at the Little Forks mural, on Saturday June 3 and Sunday June 4, between 11a-3p. You can access this lot off of McDonald St, between E Larkin St and Main St. downtown.
Meet Selena Bender
Selena Bender is a Michigander specializing in hand lettering and graphic design. As a child she loved painting murals on her bedroom walls, doctoring up her jeans with unique stitches, and rewriting all her sticky notes. She studied art at Saginaw Valley State University and graduated with a Bachelors in Graphic Design, and minors in Marketing and Psychology. She also holds a Masters in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University. Immediately following graduation she started working as a graphic designer for an advertising company and recently celebrated 17 years.
Selena Ashley Designs was founded in 2012 specializing in graphic design. Starting a business was on Selena’s Bucket List, so she had to cross off. In 2013, she introduced calligraphy and hand lettering. She also owns an online shop with custom products, apparel, stickers and prints, and teaches hand lettering classes.
Selena is an enneagram 4w5 fueled by color, florals, and wanderlust. She is a lover of encouraging words and hand lettered quotes. Her mission is to create art that provokes a sense of belonging. She tries to see the blessing in even the tiniest moments and hopes to inspire others to do the same. Selena wants you to view her art and know that you are valued, loved and understood.
Previous public art projects include her floral painted piano from the Painted Piano Project 2020, and her Outside the Box mini mural in 2022, both through Public Arts Midland. The utility box mini mural, The World Is Better With You In It, is located on Townsend and Main in Downtown Midland, and pictured above.
You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and
Learn more at SelenaAshley.com
Follow On: Instagram & Facebook
Meet The Parker Lane Team
Parker Lane Art & Design Studios has facilitated our community murals since year one! Dacia and Jazz designed our first community murals, collaborated with Selena Ashley Designs in 2023, and are now looking forward to collaborating with Allise to bring another incredible community mural to Midland!
Meet Dacia Parker
Midland, MI based artpreneur, Dacia Livingston Parker received her first oil paint set at age seven which sparked a myriad of artistic ventures. After graduating from The University of Michigan School of Art and Design with a BFA, Dacia and her husband settled in the Seattle area for 13 years. Deeply inspired by the ocean, mountains, and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, those elements became foundational to her work. It was there that Dacia launched her own portrait photography studio, exploring the possibilities offered by digital media.
Returning home to Michigan in 2006, Dacia has been involved in the local arts community ever since; initially practicing photography and developing educational programming as a founding member of Captured Studios in the Ashman Plaza. She rebranded as Parker Lane Art & Design Studios in 2018 to offer a space for creative instruction and professional development for emerging artists, one of her passions. In her role as co-chair of Public Arts Midland, Dacia helps coordinate artistic projects in partnership with local community groups including management of numerous juried exhibitions and events. Within Ashman Plaza, Dacia curates and exhibits local up and coming artist shows regularly. Parker Lane Design and Art studio is a co-sponsor for the annual Emerging Artist show at Creative 360 in Midland, MI.
Dacia strongly believes that “ART is for Everyone” and that Public Art allows opportunity and access to the larger community to enjoy and engage with fine art installations throughout their city. Indeed, in recent years, Dacia has ventured back into painting and working with cyanotypes where her love of the elements – water, mountains and nature continue to inform her work exploring depth, movement, flow, and rhythm. Through her work with PAM, she has become a well-known muralist, collaborating with local artists and community partners.
A native of Michigan, Dacia is deeply dedicated to cultivating the arts in the Great Lakes Bay Region. She has a passion for mentoring emerging artists and building support for local artists and public arts projects in the area. As a practicing artist, Dacia is keenly aware of the issues facing artists today and as an arts administrator, provides a supportive climate while engaging in education and public outreach.
Learn more at http://parkerlane.art
Meet Jazz
Jazz has always been aware of the Spiritual world around them. Knowing that we are all called to a higher purpose, she has described their journey as “humbly complex & spiritually raw.” “Trust the journey” & “Enjoy the process”, these two phrases have become their mantras for getting through tough times in life and have also helped in the pursuit of purpose. Jazz says that their impatience as an artist can be somewhat of a conundrum, but their has been on an ongoing journey to learn “perspective of the present.” Like most people, Jazz finds the “chase” of the next idea or step in life to be exciting and somewhat frustrating. Jazz has come to understand that the here and now is more important to help define what comes next. Jazz hopes to inspire people to sit in their present moments and take the steps to Enjoy Life through art & existence.
Learn more at enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com
Instagram: @enjoylifejzb
Email: enjoylifejzb@gmail.com
Meet the Blue Light Artists
We are thrilled to bring you two evenings full of local musicians, brought to you by The Blue Light Studio, here in Midland. Saturday June 3rd, and Sunday June 4th, from 5:30-8:30pm, musical performances will be next to the Little Forks Mural site, in the rear parking lot behind Little Forks Outfitters. You can access this lot off of McDonald St, between E Larkin St and Main St. We also have to send out a big thank you to Walker Custom Carpentry for building our stage last year, for these performances.
Some picnic tables will be available for seating, but feel free to bring your own chair or blanket, food or drinks, to enjoy the unfolding mural art and these incredible musicians.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
5:30 – fallsin
6:00 – Bryan Jeske
6:50 – Parker Zimmerman
7:20 – Jolie Wing
SUNDAY, JUNE 5
5:30 – Emily Faber
5:50 – Mint Lights
6:20 – Noah Schieber
7:00 – AKFM Trio
7:35 – Jocks and Jandals
Learn more about some of this year’s musical artists below.
A Word About the Blue Light Studio
Founded by artist Jazzmyn Benitez, The Blue Light Studio’s mission is to serve musicians and storytellers as they cultivate their talents to connect with their audience in meaningful and transformative ways.
See regular live ‘Livingroom Session’ performances in the Live Oak Coffeehouse Midtown location, in the Makers Room. Follow The Blue Light Studio on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest.
Meet the Musicians
fallsin
Who is your inspiration?
Everything Sam Ray has ever made has played a huge role in the different parts of music I have discovered and created.
How has music impacted your life?
Music has given me a medium to express things that I often have trouble putting into clear, direct words. Being able to convey something I am feeling, even if it’s without saying any words at all, has always been the easiest and most natural way to do so. Being able to appreciate it in this way has often lead me to people who feel the same, and those kinds of people whose lives are as enveloped by sound as mine are some of the greatest people I know.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
Being able to share art with a community can not only bring people closer together by creating solidarity with what people may struggle with, but it can also bring more people into a community in the same sense.
Connect: @fallsinmi on Instagram
fallsin on spotify, apple music, etc., https://fallsin.bandcamp.comSupport: @icefloors Venmo
Bryan Jeske
Who is your inspiration?
JJ Cale, Eric Clapton, John Prine, Bob Dylan.
How has music impacted your life?
Music has impacted my life by giving me an outlet for my creativity. Through songwriting I’m able to communicate my own feels or the feelings of others better than words can say.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
Public arts impacts a community because it gives life to that community. Typically from my experience the most vibrant and alive communities are those that have a vested interest in the arts.
Connect: https://linktr.ee/Bryanjeskemusic
Support: @BryanJeske Venmo
Parker Zimmerman
Who is your inspiration?
My dad and Rex orange county.
How has music impacted your life?
It lets me express my feelings in a way that I’d love to and it has made me a lot happier.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
I think people can see things in all sorts of different ways. So i think people can have deeper meanings for specific works, while others see it differently. I think it can really make people think deeply.
Connect: parker.zimmerman
Support: venmo: Parkerzz1
cashapp: p4rk0
Jolie and roni, Jonnie
Who is your inspiration?
Boygenius, Big Theif, Sufjim Stevens
How has music impacted your life?
We both have been impacted in many ways throughout our childhoods. Became roommates this past year and started writing together. The connection between us blossomed from that and our brains just seemed to connect creatively on a very deep level. We formed a band with our friends and found so much passion in creating collections of music that tells the stories of our friends.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
Using art to describe big feelings and life experiences can help create beautiful connections throughout the community.
Connect: @jonnie_the_bandSupport: joliewing Venmo
*Note: Due to a last minute scheduling conflict Jonnie will not be performing as a group, but we will have the pleasure of listening to Jolie Wing perform solo!
Emily Faber
Who is your inspiration?
Maisie Peters, Sara Kays, Sasha Sloan, Avery Lynch and so many more people.
How has music impacted your life?
It’s been my coping mechanism through the low times in my life. But also my way to celebrate and really feel the highs in life.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
Art and music are my favorite things in life, along with a lot of people. Music is so universal in connecting people. All art forms make you feel something and shared feelings and experiences being people together.
Connect: YouTube Emily Faber
Support: @EmilyFaber28 Venmo
Mintlights – Lux Izquierdo
Who is your inspiration?
Freddie Mercury, Hayley Williams/Paramore, Patrick Stump/Fall Out Boy.
How has music impacted your life?
Music has been present in my life for as long as I have memory. It has been my best friend for more than 25 years. It’s been present in the moments I’ve had nobody to turn to. It’s been there when I don’t know what to do with my feelings, when I can’t find words to express some emotions. It has helped me connect with other people. It has also allowed me to find my voice, and to encourage other people find theirs.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
The public arts are fundamental for society to survive! Without them I think we would all go crazy. Accessibility to public arts should be a priority. Art is the path to finding oneself. Whether it is through performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, or any other type of art, it has always been the way to express what cannot be said, and every person should have access to them.
Connect: FB: Mintlights, IG: @mint.lights, Spotify: MintLights
Support: @Lauraizq94 Venmo
AKFM Trio
Who is your inspiration?
The list is endless. But, Larry McCray, Freddie King and Stevie Ray.
How has music impacted your life?
First performance at age 4. Working musician for the last 22 years.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
There is simply no downside to encouraging people to express themselves artistically.
Connect: @akfmguitar
Support: @sarah-ryden Venmo
Jocks and Jandals
Who is your inspiration?
Stevie Wonder, The Front Bottoms, Twin Peaks.
How has music impacted your life?
Music has inspired us to create and share our music with others.
How do you think public art impacts a community?
Public arts helps bring a community closer together and allows members to contribute in a creative way to better their shared space
Connect: @peter_barbeau @thematthewsshow @carlee.eo @tristan26140
Support: @peter_barbeau Venmo
2023 Meet the Sponsors
Art Seen Festival would not be possible without these incredible community supporters. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your generosity to support our mission to strengthen our Midland County community through vibrant mural making and live performances. We truly believe accessible public art is a meaningful way to connect people to feel seen, heard, and included.
Paint Sponsor
Art Aficionado – $2,000 – $5,000
Art Enthusiast – $500-$1,000
Art Inspired – $250 – $499
Budding Artist – $100 – $249
Community Contributors
Joslyn + Joshua Chulski
Alysia Christy
Alix Schmidt
Sarah Albee
Erin Lemke
Cyndi Sauter
Annie Stout
Kristin Cronkright
Dacia Parker
Anonymous
Sophia Parker
In-Kind Donations
Partners
