On October 7, 2017, the Red Flannel Festival (RFF) celebrated its 78th year as our hometown tradition and landmark event for Cedar Springs. What a proud tradition we have that shows our community support for fun loving times together to highlight and celebrate this great city.
Lloyd VanDuyn, a local Grand Rapids artist, has been sharing his artistic talents with the RFF. Lloyd is the artist who designed the 2016 and 2017 RFF logo. This year the theme was “Rockin Round the Clock” and the logo he created was just perfect to spread the excitement of the theme on pins, magazines, TV commercials, mugs, shirts and more!
Lloyd was born in the Midwest, raised in Michigan, and describes his path in professional artistry as a latecomer to the art world. From his late introduction to the arts, to his 28 years as a graphics artist in the sign business, to his current interest in pencil renderings (which can be viewed on Instagram as coolsigner or lloyd van duyn), he continues to enjoy being involved in artistic endeavors.
For several years Lloyd has been a volunteer in the Grand Rapids’ Art Prize competition. He has also volunteered his time and talent to assist in the judging of the recently held Red Flannel Festival Art Reviews. He states, “The level of talent in the RFF Art Reviews was impressive and I would like to see that competition take place again at future Red Flannel Festivals.” Lloyd also dedicated his time and interest to judging the RFF car show. He has an interest in cars as some of his past work as an artist included hand lettering and vinyl graphics on race cars for professional drivers at the Berlin Raceway, as well as on snowmobiles and modified pulling tractors! In addition to those interests and volunteerism in Cedar Springs, Lloyd helped bring a model train show to the RFF in 2016 as he builds trains and designs spectacularly detailed layouts.
Lloyd has a great interest and investment in Cedar Springs, as he and his family have been a part of Cedar Springs for decades. His wife of 54 years, Karen VanDuyn, spent her childhood in Cedar Springs visiting her grandmother and grandfather, Roy and Elizabeth (Libby) Reynolds who lived at 14 Mile Road and Myers Lake Road. Lloyd, Karen and their sons have fond memories of coming to Cedar Springs to the Reynolds farm. Karen has historic memories of shopping on Main Street. The VanDuyn family always loved attending the RFF and watching Randy compete in the marching band competition at Skinner Field and then carry the big bass drum in the RFF parade! Additionally, Lloyd’s sister and her family and grandchildren reside in Cedar Springs – furthering the VanDuyn connections to the great community of Cedar Springs.
Lloyd is most proud of the Red Flannel Festival President, his son Randy VanDuyn, and his daughter-in-law, Laura VanDuyn, the Superintendent of Cedar Springs Public Schools. While any parent would be proud in this situation, he feels that it is incumbent upon members of his generation to provide support to worthwhile community activities. Since the VanDuyns are involved in such important leadership of the Cedar Springs community, Lloyd says, “It is even more worthwhile of his support and involvement wherever possible.”
Lloyd and his family take great pleasure in being an integral part of the Cedar Springs community where they devote much of their lives to serving in many capacities. It has been an honor for the RFF and Cedar Springs to have a local artist and volunteer such as Lloyd VanDuyn. Thank you for sharing your talents with the RFF, Lloyd!
