The Up and Down the River column in The Pioneer newspaper began in the 1980’s: one column each week, 52 weeks of the year, for 30+ years. The column covers a wide array of topics. Sometimes the articles are centered close to home while other times they span the globe. Some reflect upon the minutiae of life, others look at the bigger picture. Up and Down the River both asks and answers questions. It reflects on where we are, where we’ve been and wonders about where we are going. We look inward; we gaze outward, literally up and down our own river of life.
Articles
february 9: Review: 'The Genius of Trees' reimagines how trees shape life
february 2: Exploring "Amity" by Nathan Harris
january 26: Big Rapids Festival of the Arts returns for 19th year
january 19: Exhibit explores 14th Amendment’s impact in Grand Rapids; panel Feb. 4
january 12: King’s College study finds art museum visits lowers stress, inflammation
january 5: Novel Tea selects "The Nightingale" for winter read
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December 22: How the Christmas tree tradition took root, from Germany to the U.S.
December 15: Curator unveils 2026 ‘Artivism: Art for Change’ exhibit
December 8: Big Rapids Eco-Art garden sculpture challenge invites entries for 2026 festival
December 1: Novel Tea book club to discuss "The Eyes and the Impossible"
November 24: It’s Voca Lyrica Christmastime!
November 17: Artworks exhibitions
November 10: Nature Through a Child’s Eyes
November 3: Deep learning: Not again but anew
October 27: ‘somebody is walking on your grave’
October 19: Great Michigan Read: Inspiring community through literature
October 13: Artworks showcases Motawi Tileworks, offers $10 open pottery studio Tuesdays
October 6: How has your life been influenced by your name?
September 29: Motawi Tileworks retrospective opens Sept. 29
September 22: Resilience in Color: Kathryn Bailey’s She Grew Anyway
September 15: Artworks celebrates 25 years with gala in Big Rapids
September 8: what ‘steal like an artist’ really means in 2025
September 2: immigrants are not just a political issue
August 25: Jon Dunn explores the world of hummingbirds
August 18: Up and Down the White Pine Trail: Part II
August 11: Road Trip to the Muskegon Museum of Art
August 4: Rereading the book Little Women
July 28: Artworks' new exhibit to feature abstract art
July 21: Step into 19th-century Europe at Ferris
July 7: Novel Tea discusses 'Three Days in June'
June 30: public art guide gets an update
June 23: Review of "The Light Eaters" by Zöe Schlanger
June 16: creative constraints
June 9: the galleries at artworks
June 2: Novel Tea takes advice from columnist
May 26: Lichens thrive everywhere, from city trees to gravestones and beyond
May 19: New Artworks exhibit highlights native plants
May 12: Exploring sustainable design: A new exhibit at Ferris Fine Art Gallery
May 5: novel tea to discuss farm girl
April 28: Review of 'Adventures in Volcanoland'
April 21: tarzan on the air
April 14: new exhibition at artworks: farm girl
April 7: Novel Tea to read 'West with Giraffes'
March 31: Global history of silk: From ancient China to modern Innovation
March 24: poetry for springtime
March 17: ergonomics and knitting
March 9: Novel Tea book: "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon
March 3: art attack is back at artworks
February 24: visual thinking for art appreciation
February 18: ferris professor to discuss van halen’s impact on music history
February 10: The health benefits of group drumming
February 3: Novel Tea celebrates black history month
January 27: new exhibit features john james audubon
January 20: call to artists, farm girl
January 13: fine art gallery to feature fiber artist in february
January 6: start the new year with a good bookDescription text goes here
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December 30: Expect Something Different at Artworks
December 23: The History of Christmas Carols
December 9: Setting the Stage For the Holidays
December 2: Adventures in Planning Novel Tea
November 25: Voca Lyrica “In the Glow of Candlelight”
November 18: A Review for ‘Hope for Cynics’ by Jamil Zaki
November 12: The Art of Water Witching
November 4: Novel Tea to Discuss ‘The Seed Keeper’
October 28: Food for Thought
October 21: Anishinaabe Beadwork: A Spiritual Practice and Rite of Passage
October 15: Frugality
October 7: Novel Tea Book Club Reads '“After Annie”
September 30: Final 2024 Artworks Exhibition
September 23: The Season of Sunflowers
September 13: How to Inspire Imagination
September 9: Ferris Exhibit Showcases Civil Rights Photos
September 3: ‘The Women’ by Kirsten Hannah
August 26: Art and Mental Health
August 19: Review of “In the Shadows’ by Mickey Bergman
August 12: Summerfest Hosts Communitywide Rummage Sale
August 5: Novel Tea Explores the World of Rastafarians
July 29: Book Review of ‘The Princes and the Tower’
July 22: Big Rapids Boosts First Black Woman to be Recorded
July 15: New Exhibit Highlights Public Art
July 8: Making Places for Public Art in Big Rapids
July 1: What to Read in Summer Weather
June 24: A History of Aviation in Big Rapids
June 17: From My Perspective
June 10: A Plot of Land in Western Massachusetts
June 3: How Ginny Kerwin Built Voca Lyrica
May 27: Voca Lyrica Celebrates Sisterhood
May 20: The Art of Photographing Alaskan Bears
May 13: Exploring Spikehorn Mayer
May 6: A Small Midwestern Town Upended by Murder
April 22: The Benefits of Rest
April 15: The Story Behind The Bear Exhibit
April 8: The Fascinating History of Pockets
April 2: The Story Behind ‘The Bear’
March 25: ‘How to Know a Person’
March 18: The Riverwalk Story, Part 2
March 11: The Riverwalk Story, Part 1
March 4: How Do I Join a Book Club?
February 26: Fulfilling a 40 Year Promise, Part 2
February 20: Fulfilling a 40 Year Promise, Part 1
February 12: Call To Artists-The Bear
February 5: Novel Tea and the Great Michigan Read
January 29: The Old Settlers Tell Their Stories
January 22: Festival of the Arts is Coming!
January 15: Sculpting Life Through Art
January 8: Creativity and Healing
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December 26: Mosaics at Artworks
December 18: What’s Ahead at Artworks in 2024?
December 11: Teaching and Learning at Artworks
December 4: Holiday Songs
November 20: A Life of Gratefulness
November 10: A Life-changing Event
November 6: The Empty Nest
October 23: Muskegon River Offers 219 miles of Osprey Habitat
October 9: Artworks Hopes to Renew Hearts with Gala
October 2: The Ugly History of Beautiful Things
September 25: Pierre the Paris Rock Snack
September 18: Basket Weaving Studio is Now Open
September 11: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
September 5: Hispanic Heritage Month
August 27: Novel Tea to Discuss “The Personal Librarian”
August 21: How to Support Your Local Famer
August 14: Harriet the Iconic Painted Turtle
August 7: Behind the Gazebo at Mitchell Creek Park
July 31: Check Out the Novel Tea Book Club
July 24: The Old Western Town in Paris, Michigan
July 17: Heirloom Quilts on Display at Artworks
June 12: Meet Artworks' Newest Artist in Residence
June 3: Explore the World of Landscape Art
May 29: Let’s Go Full Circle
