Late Niles artist’s family sends student to art camp
Published 9:58 am Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Janet Seaman keeps on giving, even after her death.
A Niles High School student will have the opportunity to attend a premier art camp this summer thanks to a donation from family members of Seaman, a Niles artist and teacher who passed away late last year.
Niles art teacher Lisetta Zahm said Seaman’s daughter, Barbara Werner, donated $1,000 to allow an aspiring art student to attend the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan’s Manistee Natural Forest.
The money for the donation, Zahm said, came from proceeds generated through the sale of a book containing Seaman’s mural paintings called, “Indian Trails and Silver Rails: The Complete Historical Mural from the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.”
“Janet did so much for so many people and they just wanted to keep on her legacy,” Zahm said.
Niles student Emily Lintz will attend the two-week art camp in July.
Lintz said she hopes to learn how to improve and expand her artistic repertoire at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
“It sounds like a brilliant opportunity,” she said.
Seaman was an artist and teacher in Niles who passed away in December. She is well known for creating a mural of the 400-year history of the Four Flags area. The mural was placed on the wall of a 1/18th mile track at the former Niles-Buchanan YMCA building.
Seaman’s granddaughter, Noelle Larson, created the book using Seaman’s artwork and writings.