ArtWorks, Old Pioneer Store partner for ‘ArtStock’ June 27

BIG RAPIDS — Carlleen Rose said she had one of her dreams one night, about a music event. 

Her saying she had this dream led to funny reactions from her husband, Brian Rose, and Artworks Executive Director Arthur Johnson. 

She was serious about it, though. She wanted to help organize a fundraiser for Artworks, the public art collective in Big Rapids. She has called Artworks, “A shining star in our community; it’s one great big celebration,” she said.

That love of Artworks has helped create “ArtStock,” which will occurring from 1-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, featuring an afternoon of live music at the family farm located at 15501 142nd Ave. in Big Rapids. The name ‘ArtStock’ is derived from Woodstock, a music festival held in August 1969 in Bethel, New York. 

Johnson said the second Rose approached him about the idea in the fall, somewhere around September or October 2025, he loved the concept and was in. 

“Who doesn’t want to throw a party with Carlleen?” Johnson said. “When she says, ‘Hey, I had this idea,’ and once you get to know Carlleen, you’re just like, ‘Oh, brace yourselves, this is going to be fun.'” 

Live performers include Kelly Quinn, Bob Craig, High Strung Steel, Hand of Giants and others. Food and beverages will be available from Cranker’s Brewery in Big Rapids and Kilwins ice cream from the Old Pioneer Store and Emporium. 

Johnson said he’s appreciated the support Rose has for ArtWorks and the community as a whole, calling her “A gem to have.” 

“She’s got great connections,” Johnson added. “That first meeting, she was just calling people like, ‘Hey, we’re having this party, it’s going to be on this date, we want you to perform in it.’ People are like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ … It’s a lot of excitement, it’s a lot of energy that’s being positive.” 

The event is the first of its kind for ArtWorks. Johnson said the music event will take the place of this year’s fall gala, a key fundraiser for ArtWorks. 

Johnson added the are challenges to delay a fundraiser by even a couple of months and that the music event is exactly what they needed.

“The challenge with doing an event like a gala in the fall in Big Rapids is we’re competing with so many other events,” Johnson said. “Other fundraisers are going on, we have sporting events that are going on that pull people away. It’s really challenging to do an event in the fall. So, we really wanted to bring that event back into the spring. … It was really kind of just perfect timing for us to have Carlleen come to us and say, ‘Hey, I want to do this.'” 

For this first edition of ArtStock, Johnson said there will not be live demos of art or any art for sale to allow the artists to enjoy the event but selling is something ArtWorks will explore in the future. 

Presale tickets are available on the ArtWorks website at artworksinbigrapids.org/artstock or in the Painted Turtle Gift Shop. Tickets are $40 each with guests 17 years old and younger free with an accompanied adult. 

The ArtWorks website reads there is a limit on 200 tickets, but Rose said she’s hoping more can be sold. She wants the event to go past that 200-ticket mark and sell as many as possible, adding the claim that the farm’s parking situation is a work of fine art itself. 

“I would really love to have it be a very successful event,” Rose said. “A simple event, food and music, lawn chairs, hanging out. … I can envision the laughter, the hugs, just the hanging out.” 

Carlleen Rose said everyone in attendance will have essentially full access to the farm including the strawbail garden, the 160-year old log cabin on the property and the other areas of the farm will be open for touring and exploring. The pathways will be available if guests wish to take a break from the music and go on a nature walk. 

Rose said that was the whole idea of the family farm when her father, Carl Schuberg, bought it years ago. 

“I love when people drive up the driveway, they get to the top, they always go, ‘Oh my God, I had no idea,'” Rose said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

More information on the event can be found on ArtWorks’ website at artworksinbigrapids.org and the Old Pioneer Store and Emporium’s Facebook page.