Clay Artist Wins Royal Oak Arts Award

ROYAL OAK, MI — After sifting through several strong nominations, the Royal Oak Commission for the Arts has announced the winner of this year’s Royal Oak Community Arts Award. Local clay artist Laurie Eisenhardt will be awarded at the Celebration of the Arts on June 2 at the Royal Oak Middle School.

Organizers say her nomination demonstrated not only her devotion to her art but also to promoting art in the community.

Laurie is an amazing clay artist and ambassador of goodwill everywhere she goes. She has been a steadfast supporter and participant in our local Royal Oak Clay, Glass and Metal Art Show since its beginning and through its evolution, and travels throughout the state and beyond sharing her art. She does private and public commissions, working with people from all walks of life, and always works toward her goal of telling a story and sharing beauty, love, nature, and culture through her art. Close to home, Henry Ford Hospital and the Southfield Public Library have public installations of Laurie's work, and her decorative tile pieces are very popular "must haves" when she takes her show on the road.

Supporters and fans of of Eisenhardt and her work say she’s not only a talented artist, but committed to advancing art in Royal Oak.

"Laurie was instrumental in creating the fourteen beautiful community mosaic panels now located in the Royal Oak Public Library's Children Section,” Executive Director of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Shelly Kemp said. “She, along with another Royal Oak artist, introduced the idea to the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce back in 2010, while she was serving as a committee member for the Clay, Glass and Metal Show (now known as The Art of Fire) and partnered with us to bring the project to fruition. She thought event attendees might like to become artists -- even just for a few minutes. These panels would never have been created without Laurie’s commitment of time and talent."

Created in 2015, the Community Arts Award is given each year to individuals from the Royal Oak community who have made substantial contributions to promoting art and culture in Royal Oak. Previous submissions have included musicians, dancers, sculptors and painters and past winners of the award have included Royal Oak residents Bob Jones, Susan Wedley and Rose Marie Floyd.

“Each year we have the difficult task of recognizing someone that has used the arts to leave a lasting and significant impact on our community. This year has proven to be one of the most difficult yet,” said Jason Gittinger, chair of the Royal Oak Commission for the Arts. “Judging from the list of nominees, we have many years of award giving ahead of us before we get to everyone deserving. It is truly wonderful to live in a community with such great talent.”

The Celebration of the Arts is an annual event to celebrate artistic contributions made by residents of Royal Oak. The event began as a celebration of the middle school being awarded a new sound system for its auditorium. Since its inception, it has grown to be the premier community event uniting the varied arts organizations and artists in Royal Oak area.

The Royal Oak Commission for the Arts was created in 2012 to support arts and culture in the City of Royal Oak. The commission holds events such as the Summer Concert Series, Art Explored, Public Piano Project and East 11 Mile Road Public Art Program.

Image via Royal Oak Commission for the Arts

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