Members of Art Reach receive Da Vinci award for years of service
The paintings and sculptures inside the home of Ed and Nedra Fisher only begin to tell of their passion for art.
"We have collected them over many, many years," Nedra Fisher said. "We have always enjoyed the work of professional artists."
The couple has been purchasing works of art since they got married in 1959.
Ed and Nedra Fisher have been part of Art Reach for more than 30 years, joining in 1981, the year the organization was founded. Since joining, the couple has contributed to its continued growth and success.
"Both of us have always been interested in art," Nedra said. "Ed and I went to the same high school (in Connecticut), and we met in the art room at the high school."
On Dec. 8, 2011 they were given the Da Vinci award along with Tom Endres, who has been a member of Art Reach for about seven years.
The Da Vinci award isn’t an annual award, said Art Reach Education and Program Coordinator Kari Chrenka.
“It comes together when individuals have gone above and beyond,” she said.
Nedra has held office in Art Reach's Board of Directors — she has been the president, vice president and secretary — and is currently on the Art Education Committee.
In 1984, she founded the Picture Program that is still in practice today, teaching more than 9,000 children art history in 28 schools within four counties.
“Back then, some schools didn’t even have an art teacher,” Nedra said.
She has founded a number of other programs, such as the Chair Affair and the Special Collection. She also started a calendar where the artwork for each month is made by elementary school students.
Since 1996, she has written a column for Art Reach called “Outlook on the Art” in the Morning Sun newspaper.
“As a person, you need to pay back," Nedra said. "Especially today, you need to give something to the community, even though things are not as good as you would like.”
Endres retired from CMU Public Broadcasting and was Art Reach's Board of Trustees president for six years, Nedra said. He remains a member with his wife Peggy.
“It’s an honor to be honored by Art Reach, because art is essential to fulfill the human being, whether it’s painting or music or sculpture,” Endres said.
He said he believes the key events that led him to achieving the award were purchasing the new building for Art Reach’s office downtown, helping sell the old building, and asking and receiving a gift from a generous sponsor.
Because of Endres’ hard work, the Morey Foundation donated $250,000 to the organization’s on-going capital campaign that will contribute to further increase in the educational space, said Art Reach Executive Director Kathy Hill.
Ed published a book called "The History of Art Reach of Mid Michigan" on the organization’s 25th anniversary.
He has written five other books as well. "The Little Girl with the Magic Shoes" is one of two children's books he wrote, partially based on bedtime stories he told his daughter Lee.
