Every year in July, the small town of Cadillac, Mi. Celebrates the arts with a festival.  One of the largest components of the festival is the Phyllis Olson Art Fair.  A huge conglomeration of fine art artisans gathered together to showcase their talents.  Last year as I was strolling through the booths I kept wondering to myself,

 Who was Phyllis Olson?

I reached out to her grandson Matt who graciously allowed me access to her scrapbooks.  My oh my……………What an AMAZING woman.  She was so passionate about the arts here in Cadillac that she kept detailed records of her time in the Cadillac Area Artist Association. 

Phyllis came to Cadillac in 1935, where her parents were both teachers.  From a young age she was exposed to music and art as her mother was an art teacher and her father a pianist.  In later years she would become an accomplished musician playing the guitar, steel guitar, banjo, piano, Ukulele, recorder and she also sang. 

She had a spirit of adventure and a passion for the arts.

After graduating from the Cadillac High School, class of 1947 she would attend Central Michigan University to expand her education.  After college she began working with the Tri-County Handicap School and 4H where Phyllis developed a Fine Art Program for those with disabilities in 1968.  

To say that she was a prominent community figure is an understatement.  Her creativity was everywhere from high school musical set design, her involvement with 4H, her creation of home studio art classes (she even held classes in her grandsons bedroom) she made sure art was accessible.  She found a way.

 In 1972 Phyllis became a charter member of the newly formed Cadillac Area Council of the arts.  Over the years she served as president, secretary, program, publicity and arts council representative. Oh and there’s also the little fact that she served as the superintendent of the art department for the Northern District Fair for an impressive 25 years! 

The Art Fair

What started as a small community of artists displaying their art work in store fronts through out Downtown Cadillac, soon spilled out onto the sidewalks.  After the popularity of the small art showings it became apparent that more space was needed and what better place than the green lawn of the City Park.   

  Her love for this community is apparent in the care in which she added each entry into her scrapbook.  She documented artists, showings, meetings and events with the care that a mother would record a baby album.  She loved this community and in her later years the art fair she so lovingly helped created was renamed in her honor.

Thank you Phyllis.  For inspiring those to reach their full potential and to encourage Art and Music for all.  This community is all the better for your years of dedication.