“Big Apple” winners announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Denise Donohue
(800) 456-2753
MI Apple Trail comes to a close
DeWitt, Mich. – The public has voted, and the winners of the “Big Apple” decorating contest have been decided! Wyandotte Farmers Market walked away with the People’s Choice award after weeks of online voting and nearly 65,000 votes cast.
Wyandotte’s apple was painted by local artist Nancy Pitel, a full-time painter of portraits and fantasy realism. Pitel painted the 4-foot-tall apple to represent different sights and events in downtown Wyandotte.
“Eastern Market salutes all the participants that made the MI Apple Trail public art competition a huge success,” said Dan Carmody, Executive Director of the Detroit Eastern Market Corp.
Franklin Farmers Market won the Artist’s Choice award, which was selected by local artist Leon Johnson of Signal Return in Detroit. Franklin’s apple was painted by Jackie Drake, who portrayed the apple to look like it was growing out of the ground, giving the apple 3-D leaves and a giant butterfly that sat on top. Johnson's top three picks were the Franklin apple, Eastern Market apple, and the Garden City Farmers Market apple. “It was tough to decide among the 20 oversized apples in this ‘orchard’,” said Carmody.
“All of the farmers markets that participated in the apple decorating event should be proud of their creations that reflect such an important, wholesome industry in Michigan,” said Denise Donohue, Executive Director of the Michigan Apple Committee which partnered with Eastern Market on the public art event. “Decorating the apples was a fun way for them to participate in harvest season, and to interpret other messages inherent in Michigan Apples.”
The public voted for their favorite apple online at miappletrail.com, where the winners are posted. The “Big Apples” were auctioned off at the annual Michigan Apple Gala held at Eastern Market. Proceeds were returned to the local farmers markets that made them.
Detroit Eastern Market is located between Gratiot and Mack, bordered by St. Aubin and the Interstate-75 service drive. The market is open to the general public on Saturdays from 5 am to 5 pm and on Tuesdays from 11 am to 7 pm. Get more information about Detroit Eastern Market Corp. at www.detroiteasternmarket.com.