Are you interested in the arts? A lot of us are.

Indeed, thousands of us spend time and treasure in Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park each summer at a well-known event known as Art on the Rocks.

What is less known is where Art on the Rocks comes from, who started it?

The Lake Superior Art Association will answer these and many other questions at its upcoming event: “Celebrate the History of Art and Culture in Marquette.”

Set for March 5 at Northern Michigan University’s Northern Center, the date coincides with the birthday of Anita Meyland, known as Marquette’s First Lady of the Arts.

Meyland was a driving force in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s in Marquette. She was a contributing member of local art and music organizations and taught classes in painting, pottery, scrimshaw, quilting, spinning, pewter, beading, candle-making, woodcarving, and even ironwork, according to the LSAA website.

Meyland was a highly educated woman in her field. She was the proud recipient of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art from two separate universities.

She was also a member of the U.P. Craft Organization and the Yarn Winders and held leadership positions in the Marquette County Arts Council, the Saturday Music Club and the Marquette Community Concert Association.

To allow today’s youth to pursue their passion for the arts, a LSAA Art and Design scholarship was established in honor of Meyland in 1992.

The highlight of the event will be a retrospective about Meyland and the mid-century art scene in the Upper Peninsula.

Presenters Jack Deo and Ann Hilton Fisher will share photographs and stories from Meyland’s life.

This event is where fun will meet education. We highly recommend attending.