Friends of St. Jean Baptiste Church

WELCOME TO THE FRIENDS OF ST. JEAN BAPTISTE CHURCH PAGE! Founded In 1856, St. Jean Baptiste is one of the oldest and most historic churches in west Michigan. Our goal is to save the building from the neglect and the bulldozers that have been the fate of so many other important structures to the community.

We hope you join us in preserving this important icon to Third Street, the Nelson Neighborhood, and the Muskegon Community.

As a part of the efforts, please ask your friends and family to join us. And for fun, post of pics of your memories of St. Jean's. THANKS and please let us know if you need anything, have questions, or any suggestions.

https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-St-Jean-Baptiste-Church-1628460284140086/

Église de Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

Église de Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, 2015

Acrylic on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/255757411/eglise-de-saint-pierre-de-lile-dorleans

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Pierre Roberge and his older brother, oddly enough with the same name, left Caen, France for adventure in the New World.  After crossing the Atlantic and a brief stay at the Séminaire de Québec, the brothers settle on the l'Île-d'Orléans.  It is where Pierre meets his wife, Françoise Loignon, and they pioneer a farm together with of 15 acres, 6 horned beasts, and a gun.  On this wild island in the St. Lawrence River, they had 13 children.  They must have been a motley crew heading to church on Sunday at Église de Saint-Pierre in the late 1600s-early 1700s.  A piece of me comes from Pierre and Françoise as they are my 7th great-grandparents and this church connects me to them.     

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Las Condes, Chile

Las Condes, Chile, 2015

Acrylic on Canvas Board

8" x 10" " (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 

Collection of Lynne Lewis

© copyright Mike Kraus

For a custom art order, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike?

5 DAYS LEFT for 20% OFF with my anniversary coupon code 1YEARFUN

The blue skies over Chile with the Andes Mountains is a celebration of memories and knowing where you're from.  She was an exchange student there.  But all those souvenirs were lost in a fire.  Many years later, her family welcomed a new child from Las Condes.  A city that has a special place in all their hearts.

  For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Where I'm From

Where I'm From, 2014

pen, ink, graphite on paper

11" x 14" 

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/203235458/where-im-from-original-ink-drawing-11-x?

10% OFF with coupon code: JOINtheFUN

Where I'm from reveals who I am.  A small working class town on the shores of western Michigan during industrial decline.  Families packing up and leaving for far off places just for the opportunity to work at a decent wage.  But that struggle has made the community stronger as it fights to revive downtown with new shops, residences, and breweries.  Sometimes it's best to be the underdog.

This drawing would look best in almost any space with it's neutral tones.  The paper is a light pink hue.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt 

On a Chicago Street Corner

On a Chicago Street Corner, 2014

pen, ink, and graphite

6" x 4" in a 7 1/4" x 5 1/4" frame

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/200597940/on-a-chicago-street-corner-original-ink?

Crossing Congress Parkway after I had some errands to run in Printer's Row.  Just trying to enjoy the summer heat and scenery while I wait to cross the busy highway that slashes through the heart of Chicago.  To the left is Modern Brutalist buildings.  Their fortress like design used in structures ranging from office buildings, parking garages, and gas stations.  The only exception is the southern addition of the Monadnock Building from 1891.  In the distance to the right is Mies van der Rohe's Federal Plaza.  It is the physical embodiment of "less is more."  As my eye moves closer I see the Fisher Building (an early curtain wall structure by Daniel Burnham), the Old Colony Building (a skyscraper using early wind bracing techniques), and the Manhattan Building (the oldest surviving skyscraper in the world).  The light changes and I head to the 'L' so I can go home for dinner.  

This drawing would look great in almost any because of its neutral tones and warm frame

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Wilder Building

Wilder Building, 2014

pen, ink, and graphite

3" x 4 1/2" in a 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" frame

© copyright Mike Kraus

To Purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/200213111/wilder-building-original-ink-drawing-3-x?

Buildings do more than shelter us from the rain.  They reveal human intelligence and purpose.  What kind of technology did it require in 1887 to construct Rochester's first modern skyscraper?  What was the architect trying to tell us using the Romanesque style?  It's on the National Register of Historic Places, so what does the Wilder Building mean to us today?  Something that is difficult to think about when speeding by the structure in a car.

This drawing would look great in almost any because of its neutral tones and warm mahogany frame

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt 

I < 3 NY - Part One - Albany

VACATION!  Megan had a business obligation in Albany right before we planned to go camping.  So,  Scout became a well travelled puppy.

A chewy on the hotel couch.  She loves to travel. 

What's at the end of the rainbow?  A flooded road.  We drove through a rough storm that spawned tornados elsewhere.  We were looking for a place to eat and this forced us to turn around in a pizza restaurant.  That's destiny.

 Little Anthony's.

Mmmmm...  Pizza. 

No, thank you Little Anthony! 

 We stayed across the street from the University of Albany, State University of New York (SUNY) (http://www.albany.edu/).  Interesting campus.  It appears the architects were very inspired by the New York World's Fair.  Good little morning walk with the dog.

 State Quad

The main part of the campus 

benches in the morning sun 

sunroof in the main building. 

Tower at the center of campus. 

Large fountain area. 

Birches growing in Indian Quad

Indian Quad dorm tower. 

 Bob Ford Field.  

Bridge leading to Indian Pond.  This was a beautiful park within the campus. 

Life Science Research Building are a contemporary interpretation of the original buildings.

 Megan had an interview with WNYT 13 in Menands.  

Nothing like seeing a school bus park in the handicap spot at the wine and liquor store...  I'm sure they were getting gas and other good things.  But, I did a double-take... 

Art Deco Riverview Center in Menands.   

Nipper the RCA dog on top of a storage building (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1910)

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in downtown Albany (http://www.stpeterschurchalbany.org/)

Interesting church history: (http://www.stpeterschurchalbany.org/parish_history.htm) 

Facades along State Street

New York State Capitol Building. 

Philip Sheridan riding his horse in front of the Capitol Building (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sheridan) 

Scout and I racing up the steps. 

Well posed... 

Here's some history and info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Capitol 

Empire State Plaza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Plaza) is a celebration of Moderist/Brutalist architecture.

The Egg Performing Arts Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egg_(building)) 

Government agency buildings. 

Cultural Education Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Education_Center) 

Back of the historic Capitol Building with Empire State Plaza in the foreground.  And yes, that is an Alexander Calder sculpture in the fountain.   

Panorama of the plaza 

 Backside of the Capitol Building.

New York State Education Building. 

 Alfred E. Smith Building.  Just so you know, it houses the NY State Liquor Authority.  

That General Washington was in a lot of places in the east. 

Albany City Hall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_City_Hall) 

Oh Scout.  You can't be tired now.  There is SOOOOO much hiking in your future. 

 Farmers Market at the SUNY (State University of New York) Administration Building 

Old building along Broadway. 

 Albany Trust Company Building (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Trust_Company_Building)

Stagecoach Coffee.  Great coffee and very kind baristas that provided our pup with water and affection.

ONWARD TO ITHACA, NY!!!



Part Two: Buttermilk Falls In Ithaca
http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-two-buttermilk-falls-in.html

Part Three: Lucifer Falls In Ithaca
http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-three-lucifer-falls-in.html

Part Four: Taughannock Falls In Ithaca
http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-four-taughannock-falls-in.html