“Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.” – artist John Singer Sargent
Mint Artists Guild overflows with curiosity and collaboration about what’s next and what feels fresh in 2026 and 2027. We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary this year, and we’ve got plenty of confidence and all the creativity of a tween artist.
Our anniversary celebrations will show up in many places and ways, some familiar and some as fresh as Belle Isle after a spring shower, as shown below in the painting by Mint’s Darrion Hammons.
Here’s a look:
Alumni art tent. This takes us back to where we started, before we even carried the name Mint Artists Guild. Emerging artists learn skills and sell their work at the Palmer Park Art Fair. This year, our Mint tent will showcase several alumni artists, including one Emily Brod, who was part of our initial year when we were known as TAP, or Teen Artists Program. Emily now works in batik. The tent, as always, also give opportunities to our Learn & Earn artists.
Art for all. The world needs more joy now and as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, Mint will provide it. With support from the Skillman Foundation, we are launching a Joy & Faces initiative this summer to bring free face painting by our youth and joyful crafts and poetry to Detroit community festivals and local parks. We will be at 10 different parks or events from June through September to honor our 10th anniversary. Watch our events page for specifics.
A very special Mint Masterpieces. On May 2, Mint Masterpieces, our marquee fundraiser, takes a fresh take in a new place: a renowned Detroit artist’s home. He happens to be a co-founder of Mint: Hubert Massey and his wife Marquitta will host this party with a purpose. Two of their now-adult children Matthew Massey and Lia Massey are Mint alumni and will have art in the Mint Masterpieces silent auction. Buy a ticket today.
Our creative youth all grown up. Mint has more than 145 alumni of our programs, and we plan to share some of their stories in video interviews and Mint blog posts. You will see their career path and learn some of the lessons they got from being part of Mint. Subscribe to Mint’s YouTube channel so you’re notified when they publish.
New resources. Mint is curating some new resources for our adult alumni and other emerging artists. Check out our new resources page here, and watch for news of some new circles and supports in the fall or winter.
Surprises. Mint is always fresh and growing, and so we will surprise you this year, with giveaways and Free Art Friday announced on Instagram or BlueSky, or with well other fresh surprises we dream up.
After all, “teenagers come to things fresh and can really teach us an awful lot,” said screenwriter and author Jane Golden. So as we teach teach them, they are schooling us in so many creative ways.
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