Governor's Reception

Last night was the reception for the artists chosen to have their work in the Governor's Residence. The residence is nothing I expected. It is a sprawling contemporary home decorated with Michigan wood, textiles, books, and now, art.
Gov. Granholm greeted each one of us, spoke about the house, the art and took pictures with each of us with our art.


I was thrilled to find my three pieces together in the Living Room.




My friend and fellow Ovid artist Tom Tomasek shown with the Governor and his pastel titled, "Fayette". It is the limestone cliffs at Fayette Historical State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. His three pieces are also in the Living Room.









All the artists gathered with the Governor.


The range of art - paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs and prints - was so impressive! I met so many artists whose work I have admired and am rather stunned to find mine in the same company.

The Governor's Residence Artists Program is designed to showcase the depth and breadth of Michigan's talented artists in an annual exhibit.
Lansing Art Gallery executive Director, Catherine Allswede Babcock, provided Governor Jennifer M. Granholm with 145 selections. Thirty-six Michigan Artists have generously donated sixty-two total pieces to this years program. The art will be enjoyed by the First Family of Michigan and the many visitors who come to the home each year.

Art and the Environment Exhibition

I am honored to have been chosen to represent Michigan beauty and it's important environment in this exhibit. I will be showing the 12 Views of the Shiawassee River.
www.interlochen.org

The Interlochen Dow Center for Visual Arts Gallery will host its first Art and the Environment exhibition. Art related to the environment is something Interlochen students are asked to contemplate often as they create art in the woods of Northern Lower Michigan. 2011 will be the third year that the Visual Arts department has offered an Art and the Environment class where students are challenged to explore art-making from an ecological standpoint be it through the materials used, the concepts projects are built upon, or the nature influenced aesthetics of the work.

Six artists who address environment in their art work are included in this exhibition: Linda J. Beeman (Ovid, MI), Eric L. Hansen (Nashville, TN), Jill Parisi (NY,NY), Jino Park (Philadelphia, PA & Korea)), Mary Lyverse (Mesa, AZ), and Merrill Steiger (NY, NY).

At a time when “environmental art” can be alarmist, cautionary, critical and often depressing, this exhibition was created with a focus on environmental education, celebration and respect.


The Art and the Environment exhibition will be presented from December 4, 2010 - January 22, 2011.
The artist’s reception will take place on Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:30pm.
Additionally, one of the exhibition’s artists, Jill Parisi, will present her work during an artist’s lecture from 7:00 – 8:00pm on Thursday, December 2.
Interlochen Dow Center for Visual Arts Gallery hours are 12:00 – 8:00pm, Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 – 5:00pm, Saturday.