Arts & Spirits
Local Establishments Support Homegrown Artists
By Nick Lico
Making wine, beer or hard cider is an art that requires long hours, dedication and perse- verance. Those are the same traits required by artists to succeed in their chosen medium. Which is likely why so many wineries, brew- eries and hard cider establishments in our area make it a point to support local artists. Here are just a few examples.
Next time you visit Baffin Brewing Company in St. Clair Shores, check out the various murals, including one that depicts hops as shooting stars. They were created by Haylie Mousseau.
“Haylie was a bartender with us before becoming an artist. To support her, we asked her to do murals for us, as well as customizing mugs for our customers. It’s nice seeing how much she has grown,” said Joe VanderMarliere, Baffin co-owner.
Mousseau grew up in St. Clair Shores and has been creating art seriously for past five years and full-time since last year.
“Painting murals is my passion,” she said. One of her recent murals can be found outside Copper Hop Company. It’s a collaboration between the Detroit Institute of Arts, the city of St. Clair Shores and Mousseau. Additional artwork can be found inside Copper Hop.
“Customers love the fact that the artwork in the brewery changes and that they’re able to purchase it. Additionally, a lot of live music paused during COVID 19 so customers truly appreciate the ability to hear live music again,” Ryan Balicki, the brewery owner, added.
Live music can be found at Copper Hop every Wednesday evening from 7- 9 p.m. and Balicki mentioned, soon it may be more frequent and perhaps on
the patio. Jamex Brewing is also showcasing original artwork, including from St. Clair Shores resident Basil Zaviski, originally a cartoonist for Start & Stripes. Brewery visitors will notice that the artwork changes frequently and plans for more Zaviski originals are in the works. “We’re meeting with Basil to look at new ideas, including possibly new beer labels and new merchandise. It’s been fabulous to have a talented artist like Basil to work with,” said Stu Johnson, Jamex Brewing co-owner. “Jamex is a cool place to showcase my art. I receive feedback about my art from the patrons while supporting my local brewery,” Zaviski said. He mentioned that displaying the artwork has led to a lot of private sales.