“Roti Roti Art Center : Creating A Culture Of Creativity”
[Buchanan, MI - July 2023]
Roti Roti Art Center (RRAC) in downtown Buchanan has been a home for community arts since 2005, although not always under that moniker. A recent pivot from the former name of “Buchanan Art Center”, a new gallery dedication thanks to an endowment from the Fehlner family, and the hiring of Kim Pruitt as Executive Director have seemingly turned over a new leaf at the art center; making this member spotlight a nice way for us to help usher in this new era of creativity in Buchanan.
As we sat down with Kim Pruitt to chat about some of her background, experience, and vision for the future of Roti Roti Art Center, it did not take long to realize that she had no shortage of knowledge, dreams, or work ethic to bring with her to this role. Kim arrived at Roti Roti Art Center after gaining years of knowledge in both art and business, having served on the boards of Harbor Arts, Radio Harbor Country and the American School of Music and holding positions at the Harbor Country Chamber, the Acorn Theater and a previous life in the corporate world. “With my background in art and business it feels right for me to be here now. I’m looking forward to working with the great Board of Directors and an amazing volunteer team to carry RRAC into its next thriving chapter. I've been watching Buchanan, and the growth in the arts has been incredible. The town is blooming, artistically. Families are coming back to raise their kids. It doesn't get much better than that".
For many of us here in Buchanan, the art center has been a creative outlet, a building block for social interaction, and an inspirational tool that may have taught us a thing or two about ourselves. Not only does Roti Roti offer many classes, workshops, and opportunities to create art; they also provide a space to showcase the deep regional talent our area holds through various concert series, and rotating exhibits in the Fehlner Family Gallery.
When we inquired about how the art center sources their featured artists, the answer was rooted in being local. “Showcasing regional artists is very important. We want to reach out and capture the assets of our region,” Pruitt explains. The pieces on display of each exhibit are available for purchase, and the art center has a revamped gift shop with many of their spectacular in-house pieces available to take home.
Current exhibit at Fehlner Family Gallery (below)
The pottery classes being offered are the most popular at Roti Roti, and often bring forth an interest across other mediums as well. Plans are in place to transition a current multi-use space into the Art Studio – a place to create in a variety of mediums. The usage of the term “studio” instead of “classroom” is deliberate and calculated, as Kim waxes poetically that, “there are not really assignments in the studio, but rather instruction that will cultivate each individual's creativity. Everybody will have their own unique interpretation. Creating a visual language through art helps people gain a deeper understanding of art itself”.
This hometown and local ethos is what drives people to Roti Roti, and helps the art center spin the fabric of creativity here in Buchanan. A set of about 25 loyal volunteers regularly keep up with the day-to-day at the Art Center, and art lovers support RRAC through memberships, donations, class registrations, and through gallery and gift shop sales. The recent endowment from the Fehlner Family, through Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, has created a newly dedicated gallery in the family’s name and is a prime example of how Roti Roti has impacted people’s lives. Kim’s vision of “creating a culture of creativity” may sound like a simple goal, but the true mission is much more broad and open.
Kim explains that RRAC will be working with LiveBuchanan and the Buchanan Public Library on a downtown mural project, in collaboration with the City of Buchanan. Six panels will be installed on the side of the library and can be rotated annually to showcase more artists and to feature local culture and home-town pride. “The timing of transitioning the RRAC space into the Art Studio makes for a perfect opportunity to work with the community on this mural project.”
As we mentioned previously, key words like “community”, “creativity”, “culture”, and “connection” not only play a part in the goals of Roti Roti Art Center, but also in their actions. The mural project should prove to be a beautiful collision of these ethos, and result in a project that community members can actively have a hand in shaping. This full-circle mentality will ultimately empower our community to guide, at least in part, the creative influence throughout the city. Our residents, and visitors alike, will be able to enjoy these murals for years to follow with the satisfaction that these were created for our community, by our community. Now, does it get more “hometown” than that in the art world? Roti Roti Art Center plans on sticking around long enough to find out!
Be sure to stay up to date on all the classes, events, and exhibits offered at Roti Roti Art Center by visiting their website: www.rotirotiartcenter.com or by stopping in during business hours at:
117 W. Front Street, Buchanan, MI 49017
