AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – September 3, 2015 -- Genisys Credit Union which provides services to anyone who lives or works in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, will inspire creativity at the Art & Apples Festival on September 11 from 4:00pm-8:00pm.

Genisys Credit Union will be sponsoring a new High School Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition taking place at the Art & Apples Festival this year. The competition allows students to transform the walkway of the park into an open-air gallery featuring original works of chalk art. Applications for the competition were due in July and the selected applicants must be able to materialize their artwork in a maximum of three hours. The designs will be judged and three grand prize winners will be awarded prizes. The artwork will be on display for the remainder of the festival for attendees to view when they visit.

The Art & Apples Festival^® is one of the nation’s top fine art fairs with over 290 exhibiting artists from across the country. The festival is a program of Paint Creek Center for the Arts, a regional, nonprofit art center located in downtown Rochester.  The festival, held September 11-13, will offer fine artwork from talented artists, entertainment from the Main Stage, fresh apple treats, and a fun Kids Art Zone. There will be something for everyone that attends.

Genisys Credit Union will also be sponsoring The Cascardo Art Action Experience during the festival. The Cascardo Art Action Experience is an interactive mural-making process for adults and children of all ages. Artist, Daniel Cascardo, uses black paint to create a variety of abstract and symbiotic imagery on canvas or three dimensional surfaces, usually to the rhythm of music. Once completed, people are invited to add color, pattern, shapes, and other visual elements to the surface. The surface is transformed into a “snapshot of the moment” in a real time interactive art event. Cascardo later completes the piece in his studio making it truly a fantastic and a professional work of art. It is an inspiring process that builds teamwork and engages the exploration of each individual’s creativity.

In addition to the Art & Apples Festival, the Cascardo Art Action Experience participated at the Metro Detroit Youth Day event in July, the Montrose Blueberry Festival and Dragon on the Lake in August, all of which were sponsored by Genisys. These experiences bring communities together in a fun artistic way to create a colorful scene representing the theme of the event. Attendees of all ages use their various abilities to design and color the mural. A final mural of the art project will be donated back to each community.

“Genisys Credit Union is pleased to sponsor these art projects to help bring support of the arts in our local communities. The inspiration that is drawn from these projects and the creativity from people is a wonderful collaborative experience”, said Jackie Buchanan, President and CEO, Genisys Credit Union.

The High School Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition and the Cascardo Art Action Experience will take place at the Art & Apples Festival on Friday, September 11 from 4:00pm-8:00pm at the Rochester Municipal Park. Both projects, sponsored by Genisys Credit Union, will be located by the Genisys booth on the north sidewalk of the duck pond.

About Genisys Credit Union

Genisys Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution that has been committed to helping its members financially since 1936. Based out of Auburn Hills, MI, Genisys is one of the largest credit unions in Michigan, with approximately 178,000 members and 29 branch locations. They also provide business loans and a range of services for small to mid-sized businesses. Genisys Credit Union has consistently received a 5-star Bauer Financial Rating for safety and soundness and is proud to be making a difference in their communities. Connect with Genisys on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by following “GenisysCU”. For convenient access to your account, download the Genisys iPhone App in the iTunes Store and Android App in the Google Play Store. For more information or a calendar of events, visit Genisys online at www.genisyscu.org.

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