WEST BRANCH CREATIVE ARTS ASSOCIATION

Then and Now

A new creative arts club held its organizational meeting on September 23, 1974 at the Trail’s End Restaurant in West Branch. The name “West Branch Creative Arts Association” was chosen at this meeting.

“The purpose of this organization shall be to encourage adults and young persons to continue to grow in experiences and in learning through any of the chosen media or vehicles whereby they have found to express themselves in creating.”

Early meetings were held at Bachelor’s Paradise, a house located at the corner of Houghton and S. Burgess. Bachelor’s Paradise was also rented for WBCAA’s early Christmas Shoppes, which were a great success.

WBCAA has had many talented and vibrant leaders, including Pete Kessler, a former graphite artist for General Motors who became a nationally known wildlife illustrator. Pete Kessler became WBCAA President in 1977. Some of his accomplishments were: designing the Bicentennial Pavilion in Irons Park, spearheading Operation Pride, a plan to rejuvenate the West Branch business district with a Victorian theme, and arranging for the purchase of an old converted pool hall (across from City Hall) as a home for WBCAA.

The historic building at 124 N Fourth Street, West Branch, Michigan, has housed WBCAA ever since 1977. Originally built in the 1800’s by Joseph Jacob Miller, it first served as Uncle Joe’s Blacksmith Shop, then a bowling alley, upstairs dance hall, tractor repair and bump shop, automobile license bureau, a machine shop, pool hall, and then as home to WBCAA.

Some early WBCAA accomplishments were:

In 1979 the Victorian Outdoor Fair was established and located at Irons Park, in 1982 the first WBCAA Youth Art Show was held at the new library in West Branch, in1983 WBCAA held an Art show during West Branch Heritage Days and also established its Art Scholarship in honor of Danny Connors, and in 1985 the Hospice Quilt Show began.

In 1988 Project Pride earned a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award. It was a joint effort of the West Branch Chamber of Commerce, West Branch Downtown Development Authority, the City of West Branch, WBCAA and other downtown business people.

IN 2026, 52 YEARS LATER, WE REMAIN COMMITED TO THE IDEALS OF OUR FOUNDERS, AND WE ARE PROUD TO CONTINUE MANY OF THEIR ACTIVITIES TODAY, INCLUDING:

Victorian Art Fair, Youth Art Show, Fine Art Show, Youth Art Award, Quilt Walk and Art Classes for adults.

MISSION STATEMENT: WBCAA is to create community through art in and around Ogemaw County by promoting artworks for artists, sponsoring and hosting art events, making art education accessible through classes and scholarship, while recruiting volunteers and fundraising to support these efforts.

Instead of a seasonal Christmas Shoppe, today we have our beloved Fourth Street Gallery & Artisan Market, open all year round, featuring paintings & pottery, leather & metalwork, jewelry & wood.

Some exciting new WBCAA activities are a Youth Art Studio, Social Media Artist of the Month, four Galas per year honoring our Artists, an opportunity to be the featured Gallery Artist during the West Branch Art & Wine Walk in April or December of each year, an Art & Crafters Market, and new quarterly Art Shows (like our “Let Freedom Ring” show in honor of the USA 250th Centennial)!

Our new website, www.fourthstreetgallery.com, contains a wealth of information about current WBCAA activities and also the forms needed to take advantage of those opportunities.

WBCAA also continues our tradition of talented and vibrant leaders, including Robert Fowler, our President (a nationally known Western Artist and master oil painter) and David Warner, our new Vice President (digital artist and computer guru). Pat Riegle, a 30 year member, continues in her important Gallery Director role, and other continuing important veteran members include Ken Neubecker and Marcia Young. Lori Ery and Anne Cooke round out our talented roster in their roles as Board Secretary and Treasurer.

Our present goals include maintaining and improving our historic building, increasing and supporting our membership, recruiting volunteers and fundraising, and continuing to work with the City of West Branch and Chamber of Commerce to promote the arts in our area.

Hope you can join us!