The move of Whitepine Studios into bigger digs across Michigan Ave. represents more than the expansion of a family business.
Kaili Dence is Whitepine Studios’ creative director—and one of the artists exhibiting in its new dedicated retail gallery. | Photo: J. Adrian Wylie
“The long-term vision is to create—or at least form the core of—a cultural hub in the Saline downtown area,” says Randy Dence, marketing director for the two-year-old company which offers all manner of art classes, lessons, camps, catered special events—and now, a dedicated retail gallery.
They nearly tripled their floor space by moving from 141 E. to 105 W. Michigan Ave. in June, just in time to accommodate more than 200 summer camp attendees. The gallery features works in various media by a selection of regional artists, including Dence’s daughter Kaili, who also serves as Whitepine’s creative director. The gallery’s official grand opening is scheduled for the evening of October 13.
Whitepine’s other key personnel include Randy’s wife Joanne, the managing director, and son Tyler, who handles IT. Both Kaili and Tyler are alums of Saline High School and U-M.
From youth art classes and birthday parties to workshops for adults, Whitepine—its name inspired by Michigan’s state tree—is designed to support not only skill-building and expression but also the broader community as a “destination business, as opposed to a transactional business,” Randy emphasizes. “It matters, because there’s a certain amount of overflow and spillover … You know, if you come in from Chelsea to drop your kid off at an art lesson, you’re not going back to Chelsea, right? You’re gonna have a sandwich or a cup of coffee, or you’re going to look at some art. So we see that as a huge growth opportunity to fill a need. And we’re really excited about that.”
Whitepine Studios, 105 W. Michigan Ave., Saline. (734) 330–2079. Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Gallery open Sat. & Sun. during private events only. whitepinestudios.org