“Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you always have been.” – J. A. West
In the vibrant Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood MJ and Mike Baker, both in their sixties, have not quite mastered the art of settling into an easy retirement. Instead they are quietly shaping the artistic tapestry of their community. A pair of dedicated artisans, they have transformed their own backyard into a haven of creativity with separate studios for her textile work and his stained glass masterpieces.
MJ’s love affair with textiles began in the fifth grade when her mother taught her the art of sewing. She began making her own clothes, then much later, rag rugs, and pop-up puppets with clay heads. She still has the little lamb she made for a nativity scene. Mother’s wisdom: “Take something flat and make something practical” sparked a lifelong passion for creative projects, a creativity which has become more boundless with age. She evolved into costume design for school plays, the Renaissance Festival in Michigan, and several productions at Tarpon Springs Theater. MJ remarked that “Making art that allows people to comfortably move on stage is a challenge!”
Mike discovered his love for stained glass when he and MJ supervised her high school students on study abroad trips in Germany. During time off he began sketching stained glass windows in churches and castles, one of which even found a permanent home in the halls of Lansing Community College. After retiring from GM in 2010, where he helped robots do their magic, he took his first stained glass class.
Largely self-taught, his sun catchers evolved into church windows and his favorite, the Safety Harbor Library where his depictions of children’s book characters cast vibrant reflections across the carpet as the day progresses. You can spot his stained glass finials gracing the tops of the utility poles on some of the streets in Historic Kenwood.
Their artistic endeavors have profoundly influenced their daily lives and creative processes. Working side by side in their studios they provide each other with constant artistic feedback. MJ’s coiled rope baskets incorporate tiny stained glass pieces for added ornamentation. Two very different mediums, one which is solid and reflects light back to the viewer; the other which is solid but lets light flow through to achieve its effect.
MJ’s Kawandi Quilts are her focus at present. African, and meaning traditional, they come from people who have little by way of materials, but cover their dirt floors with rags stitched together in beauty. Just what mother ordered.
Mike would like to create more Frank Lloyd Wright inspired pieces as well as stained glass windows for churches and public institutions. Stained glass is “God’s light shining through us.” Amen. •
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”
Fred Rogers
