The artwork of Montague and Whitehall children is the centerpiece for a new
alphabet book, W is for White Lake, published by the Nuveen Community Center
for the Arts.  Third and fifth grade students from Oehrli and Ealy Elementary
Schools were asked to illustrate area businesses, symbols, flora, and fauna that
remind them of the White Lake area, and a selection of these illustrations were
compiled into the colorful book. Thanks to lead project sponsor Alcoa Howmet,
every child who has artwork in the book will receive a free copy.  Books are $10 and
can be purchased at the Nuveen Center.  All proceeds from book sales will benefit
programming at the Nuveen Center.

The project began with a 2007 grant from the White Lake Community Fund of the
Community Foundation for Muskegon County.  The grant brought Lori McElrath-
Elsick, a local illustrator and author of the children’s book Read for Me, Mama, into
the schools, where she worked with the students on the basics of watercolor
illustration.  

The Nuveen Center then compiled the works into a book, with the help of local
graphic artist Carolyn Bone.  Local businesses featured in the book were asked to
contribute towards the cost of printing. “The response was phenomenal” said
Nuveen Director Janelle Mair.  “With all the negative talk about our slowing
economy, the support from local businesses was amazing.  We are thrilled to have the
community behind us in this effort to publish the children’s artwork.”  The
Montague Downtown Development Authority also contributed significantly to
publishing the book.
All site content © www.artscouncilofwhitelake.org
Nuveen Community Center for the Arts
Contact us at (231) 894-ARTS (2787) or email us at nuveen@artscouncilofwhitelake.org.  
Classes and exhibition are made possible through a generous grant from the Nuveen
Benevolent Trust.

Scholarships: for youth available through a generous donation by an anonymous donor.
If a scholarship makes it possible for your child to take an art class, please contact the
Nuveen at 894-ARTS (2787) for an application.

Hall Rental: Rent us! Meetings, showers, birthdays or family parties, our center is
perfect for all kinds of gatherings, and is affordable!

NUVEEN PUBLISHES “W IS FOR WHITE LAKE” – A BOOK ABOUT WHITE LAKE
ILLUSTRATED BY THE CHILDREN OF WHITE LAKE
Promoting the Arts in the White Lake Area
Located in Downtown Montague, MI
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