Meridian Township is commemorating the 50th anniversary of its farmers market this year.
One part of the celebration includes a public art piece that community members had a hand in painting.
Every week, Meridian Township’s Wednesday night market bustles at the pavilion just north of Meridian Mall. There’s produce and baked goods, crocheted crafts and food trucks for visitors
Right in the middle of it all, artist Caitlin Schneider was squeezing out paint and pointing to a section of a big white panel inviting people to stop by and paint.
Think of the mural like a huge paint by numbers drawing. Schneider says the panel is one of four dedicated to each season of the year.
"The four part murals show not only the seasons, but different seasons in the life of the market. So, the first one has the old pavilion to show the earlier versions of the market ," she explained.
The last panel that Schneider is working on celebrates winter. It depicts the columns and ceiling of Meridian Mall where the market moves during the colder months along with seasonal food and produce.
"Leeks and mushrooms and turnips and honey, poinsettias, baked goods, those are all things that you might be able to get at the farmers market in the winter time," Schneider said.
It’s a full circle moment for Schneider to create the piece, since she used to sell flowers at the market.
"It's really special for me to be back here and be in the farmers market space in a different sort of way. "
She says dozens of people have stopped by every time she’s been painting.
Like MSU student James Brooke.
"It feels great to leave my mark as like a community member ," they said.
Harapriya Dhanee is from India and is in town visiting her daughter. She spent several hours perfecting a poinsettia flower with different shades of red.
"I wanted to complete before going like whatever task I take up, I must complete it," Dhanee said. "So, I won't go until, unless it's done finally. "
Some of the market’s young visitors also stopped by to help with painting leaves and a honeycomb.
12-year-old Haslett resident Alexandra Phlegar helped give a second coat to a yellow drop of honey. She was picking up a local CSA box along with her mom.
"I really like the farm grown veggies. I feel like they taste kind of better in a way because they're fresh and it's good to smart support small businesses. "
Market Manager Tom Cary says the township began hosting farmers markets in 1974 after residents asked for one in a survey
"The market has always been about the public, in both for and by the public, because if people didn't show up and support it, and, you know, enjoy it, it would have gone by the wayside long ago. "
He says the idea for a mural came early in the planning process for the 50th anniversary.
"This is our way of both saying thank you for helping support and, you know, create those spaces, but also participate in those spaces and make them full of life and laughter and bustling activity ," Cary said.
Artist Caitlin Schneider says she’s felt that positive energy throughout the painting process.
"I think people are really excited not only about this market but also about being able to leave something behind here and contribute in a you know, maybe it's a small way, but I think it makes a big impact ," she said.
Cary says the township plans to install two of the panels at the market’s current location at the Marketplace on the Green Pavilion and the other two at the Central Park Pavilion with a dedication ceremony next month
