Resilience, commitment, and vision are all great ideas to focus on for a new year. When embodied with intention, they have the power to change not only the person who chooses this way of living, but everyone they meet.
Terry Dickinson’s way of doing things brings those ideas to life in a humble and attentive way. In the 48 years he has lived in Graying, Dickinson has redesigned the storefronts of ten downtown buildings as well as having painted numerous wall murals throughout town.
After getting his degree at CMU, Dickinson was a math teacher in Bay City. The teaching world was turned upside down by economics at the time and Terry found himself out of work. Upon suggestion by a friend, he interviewed to create murals for the city for their upcoming bicentennial.
As fate would have it, Terry found himself painting his first painting, and it was twenty-four feet tall and a hundred feet long. “I had never painted before, but it wasn’t too complicated, I just had to adjust the size. I learned as I went. It has been that way ever since” Terry adds.
When his work was completed, Dickinson painted 52 murals around the city. Terry also created a float for the city, partnering with his dad from design to completion. When Bay City was done using the float three years later, Grayling bought it. They asked Terry to consult on it and to come to town, and he moved north later to stay.
Recognizable from his work with AuSable Artisan Village (AAV), Dickinson is all for bringing expanded arts programming to the area. Downtown, six days a week, you will find him working to bring the building he painted a mural on years ago, now an investment and labor of love.
The expansion will be home to a clay and ceramic studio with six stations of equipment donated to AAV from Kirtland Community College. A future goal is to be able to offer paint and fire projects and gathering opportunities for the community.
A retail gallery will call the restored front room under the original tin ceiling home, and will feature clay, ceramic, and sculpture pieces.
A performing arts area with a sound stage and raised VIP area faces a well-designed performing stage next to multiple new bathrooms and what is shaping up to be an excellent green room.
Dickinson pictures Grayling being a connecting point for performing arts, with local entertainment, comedy, concerts, traveling shows, theatre, and music all having a place to call home. “We have an idea to offer dinner theatre, an art fair, and have a home for the art explosion event here” Terry shared.
Dickinson’s commitment and belief in having arts accessible to the community is apparent in his day-to-day efforts, but he also has a plan to create beyond himself.
Terry is working hand in hand, quite literally with hammers and drywall dust, alongside upcoming AAV Executive Director Radel Rosin.
Learning a lesson he recalls from his father’s ministry work, Dickinson shared that he knows how challenging it can be to move something forward with former leadership influencing growth. He knew he would need to step back at some point, and it was time to find the person who would build on what is being built now and run with it.
“Radel is absolutely the right person for the job. It will be him leading decisions and taking charge and he will do a great job with it.” Dickinson confidently stated.
What’s ahead now as construction days stir up dust and plans are adjusted based on contractors and compromises? Dickinson really wants to get a Valentines Day event of some kind into the building. “It would be great to get folks into the space in early 2024.”
Signing up for the AAV newsletter, following on Facebook, and checking the website often are the best ways to keep track of the progress of the expansion and to look for upcoming events.
Dickinson adds, “Please keep showing up for the events. This work is for our community, and it needs our community to succeed. We appreciate everyone who has supported us, and we look forward to the future with everyone in the seats”.
The enthusiasm and efforts Dickinson and his team are putting forth is exactly what will bring people to the center and the stage, time and time again.
