Poet Artist Categories

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Tammy L Toj Gajewski

Ceramist; Craftsperson; Mixed Media Artist; Painter; Poet; Storyteller; Teacher/Instructor

At a very early age Tammy’s mother encouraged her creativity and supported her exploration of poetry, drawing, painting and animals. She attended university and learned the base of oil painting, ceramics, fiber arts, French translation and welding. She had one job after graduation related to fine arts and was fired after helping the owner buy a Matisse painting from the family; because her French translation skills were no longer needed. After 42 years in the blue collar work force which included 23 years with the Department of Corrections she retired to do art full time. Her therapist stated that the mere act of creativity will help moderate her PTSD, keep her depression at bay, and help heal the tremendous loss of family. Today Tammy has made her own family, loves her two career changed Leader Dogs for the Blind, practices meditation in the Thick Nhat Han tradition, and has her own studio to paint and create in on Lake Superior. Her wife of twenty years tells her often to go to the studio and Tammy returns refreshed and vibrant. She has shown her work at several shows in the Upper Peninsula over the last twenty five years and hopes to have her first gallery exhibit in 2023. Her pen name is Toj- Teacher of Joy- given to her by her art mentor John Fritz in high school and later by her college mentor Keiko Hara. Besides it is much easier to sign than Tammy Lynn Webeck Pasko Gajewski.

Troy Graham

Actor; Author/Writer; Composer; Musician; Performance Art; Performer and Writer; Poet; Producer; Teacher/Instructor; Vocalist/Singer

Troy Graham, otherwise known as Great Lakes Graham, is a folk singer-songwriter, poet, and children’s entertainer from Marquette, MI. Musically, Troy is most recognized for his original foot-stomping Irish and folk music and as a storytelling songwriter with a flare of bluegrass, old-time and gospel roots. Troy is always creating and has independently recorded over a dozen plus different music albums and has published poetry in four books. Most recently his book, “Freshwater Mermaids,” can be previewed on Amazon. His passion is encouraging youth and leading interactive poetry workshops along with musical performances for all ages. You will find him playing at libraries, schools, festivals and other concert series.

Kathleen Heideman

Maker; Painter; Poet

Kathleen M. Heideman is a writer, artist and environmentalist working in Michigan’s wild Upper Peninsula. Heideman is the author of Psalms of the Early Anthropocene (Winter Cabin Books), Explaining Pictures To A Dead Hare (Traffic Street Press), She Used to Have Some Cows (La Vacas Press). She completed over a dozen artist-in-residence programs with watersheds, wildlife refuges, forests, private foundations, the National Park Service (including Isle Royale, Apostle Islands, Badlands, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Voyageurs), and the National Science Foundation’s prestigious Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. Her paintings and poetry broadsides have been exhibited locally, and in national exhibits, including “Summer Arts: Inspired by the National Parks”; the NPS online exhibition “Through Your Eyes”; “The Art of Stewardship of the Antarctic”; “Collected Works from the NSF’s Antarctic Artists & Writers Program”; Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and elsewhere. She was named a finalist for U.P. Poet Laureate in 2017. Heideman is drawn to wild and threatened places, and works to defend them. She serves on the board of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and works with Mining Action Group, defending clean water and wild places from the dangers of sulfide mining. A curious woman.

Philip Rice

Composer; Director; Musician; Performance Art; Performer and Writer; Poet; Producer; Teacher/Instructor; Vocalist/Singer

Philip Rice (b. 1988) is a Northern Michigan-based composer, poet, and community organizer. He holds a DMA from Michigan State University and an MM with distinction from Westminster Choir College in Princeton. In 2015 he was a winner in the American Prize for orchestral composition, and a finalist in the ASCAP Morton Gould Awards. He has authored two poetry collections and edited the anthology “Thoreau at Mackinac” in 2017. He founded “Voicing Poetry,” a special collaboration with the Michigan State University College of Music and the MSU Center for Poetry in 2014. He currently serves as the Program Director for the Mackinac Arts Council, and sits on the executive boards for Straits Pride and the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance. He lives on Mackinac Island.

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