Large Artistic Apple to be Displayed at City Hall

The will soon have a never-before-seen attraction.

A 4-foot-tall painted fiberglass apple will be on display at City Hall beginning this week. The apple, designed by Clawson resident Claudia Orville, is part of Eastern Market's MI Apple Trail.

The project, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, is the result of a partnership between Detroit’s Eastern Market and the Michigan Apple Committee aimed at promoting art, local markets and Michigan’s apple industry.

“Each of the 20 participating markets has received these 4-foot tall fiberglass apples at no cost to them,” explained spokesperson Vivian Carmody. “So the idea is that each market will get a local artist to decorate or paint their apple, and it will be displayed from the beginning of August through the middle of September at the local farmers markets.”

Carmody is the executive director of Main Street Franklin, which is sponsoring one of the apples at its market. Other participating communities include Birmingham, Farmington, Royal Oak, Novi, Flint and Bloomfield and others.

Travis Cochran, director of the Clawson Farmers Market, said he decided to display Clawson's apple at City Hall to avoid damage from moving it back and forth to the every week.

"Having it reside in one place should ensure longevity," Cochran said.

Orville said the family-friendly atmosphere of Clawson and the farmers market inspired the picture she designed on the apple using acrylic paint. The painting represents families, a dog, flowers, birds, a fruit basket and more.

"I have always liked art," Orville said. "But I have never done something like this before. It was an honor to do this."

In mid-September, all apples will be moved to the Eastern Market, where they will be displayed for about a month.

Then on Oct. 14, Eastern Market will host its annual Apple Gala and Auction. There, each of the apples will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with proceeds benefiting each of the markets that hosted the project.

Additionally, the Michigan Apple Committee is hosting a passport program, which encourages passport holders to visit multiple farmers markets in Michigan to receive stamps. When a passport holder collects enough stamps, the passport can be mailed in to enter the participant in a prize drawing.

Overall, Carmody said the pieces come together to support important causes.

“The idea (is that) this public art project that would both encourage people to visit their local farmers markets as well as kind of celebrate our Michigan apple industry,” Carmody explained.

To learn more, visit detroiteasternmarket.com.

Jessica Carreras contributed to this report.