Author: Val Allen

Posted 19 September 2020 | art, art gallery, exhibits

Curator’s Clipboard: Michigan’s Visual Artists Shine at Studio 23!

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition 2020 is open!

I look at the curation of an exhibition as a timeline that evolves from the blending of the history of an organization with the input of fresh opportunities that become relevant with the times. In the past, Studio 23 has hosted All-Area exhibitions. We continue that with our 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay held on the odd numbered years and now we’ve expanded the All-Area concept to include MI Artists All-State Exhibition as a biennial event held on the even numbered years. By inviting artists from across the state to enter, we created an exhibition environment that brings attention not only to our very talented artists here in Mid-Michigan and beyond but also to introduce our viewing audience to the trends in Michigan art today.

Gallery hours to view MI Artists All-State are Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Masks are required and number of visitors in the galleries are limited to ten. Appointments are available for up to ten guests by calling me at 989-894-2323 extension 14 or by email at curator.studio23@gmail.com.

Timothy Norris was the juror for this year’s exhibition. I’ve posted his bio here showing in a previous blog post. Today I’m posting his follow-up juror’s statement preceded by this quote from Norris, “I selected work from over 280 images from artists across the state. During this trying time, it is very important to support our Michigan artists.”

Juror’s Statement

As I’ve always told my college students, the most effective art is that which displays an appropriate and interesting match of form to content. This “recipe” holds true for any stylistic choice made by the artist, whether representational, abstract, or nonrepresentational. Form involves how the artist goes about making the artwork—choices of technique, medium, and the use of certain visual elements as organized by certain design principles. Content is what the artist wishes to say in the work. Therefore, content is communicated through form. How well the artist matches form to content results in the judgments we can make between those works that are ineffective, mediocre, or excellent. Of course, all this sounds neat and tidy on paper or in theory, but in practice we may disagree as to what constitutes an effective match. I rely on my 40 years of experience as an artist and teacher along with my knowledge of art history.

My selections for award winners represent what I consider to be the most skillful matches of form to content among the submissions. These pieces display exceptional techniques and powerful compositions that convey intriguing messages.

Congratulations to all of the artists. It’s been a challenging year for all of us, and I wish you the best in your artistic pursuits. Thank you to Valerie Allen for asking me to be this year’s juror and for all of her hard work in putting the competition together. Thanks also to the staff members and volunteers who labored on their respective components of the show.

Tim Norris

Award Winners selected by Juror Timothy Norris

Best of Show $1000

Artist Douglas Malone of Royal Oak, Michigan

Cormorbidity Charcoal and Pencil

Award of Merit $100

Artist Ilene Curts-Thayer of Mason, Michigan

Whirl Oil on Canvas

Award of Merit $100

Artist Bruce Thayer of Mason, Michigan

What Matters Collagraph and Intaglio Print

Honorable Mentions

As we pivot to more online experiences for our audience, there is now a slide-show style online gallery you can view here that includes each piece of art in the exhibition plus you can read the names of all the artists included in this exhibition. Art collectors can browse the images at their convenience. For more information or questions please email me at curator.studio23@gmail.com.

Thank you to our current list of 50 Art Advocates of the Great Lakes Bay Region. We appreciate your support!

Valerie Allen & Armin Mersmann

Katharine Atkinson

Cynthia Bancroft

Leeds and Margaret Bird

Larry Butcher

Alma Cooke

Olive Cupal

Dr. Rajesh and Sarah Dandamudi

Mitzi Dimitroff

N. J. Drummond

Wanda Dziwura

Laura Ebel

Carol Fowler

Delores Furland

Marty & Marsha Gottesman

Joanne Grabinski

Rosemary Kavanagh

Ed & Kathy Langenburg

Debra LaRocque

Ray Lore

LeBourdais Orthodontics

Karen M. MacArthur

Keith & Barbara Markstrom

John McCormick & Nancy Vader-McCormick

Jean McCue

David and Ruth Ann Mikolajczak

Sheri Moore

Christopher and Susan Moss

Jennifer Paradise

Steven and Connie Parkhurst

Nancy J. Philo

Paul Revard and Fran Santoro

Bob and Jane Rogers

Paul Rowley

Shelia Stamiris

Tim and Jan Tobin

Julie Tyslicky

Silas Warren

Lynn Weaver and Bruce Weiss

Janice Wegner and Rich Polena

Tara Welch

Jett and Shelley Whitehead

Shaye Wilcox

Amy Wurdock

Lois Zurvalec

Follow this link to become a 50 Art Advocate today! Thank you!

Important dates to remember for Studio 23’s exhibition season are:

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition Final Day for Viewing: Saturday, November 14, 2020, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Please note that artists will begin retrieving their artwork starting at 1:00pm.

Public Reception for Rosemary Kavanagh, Bay City Family Tree Solo Exhibit: Saturday, November 28, 2020, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Kavanagh is featured artist for this year’s Black & White Affair, December 11, 2020.

Kind regards,

Val

Valerie Allen, curator

Now is your chance to support local businesses and nonprofits through Buy BAY COUNTY!

Purchase a gift card to your favorite Bay County restaurant, retail or service business and receive 25% free! Studio 23 can apply your Studio 23 gift card purchase to artwork and/or classes.

Order your gift cards from this link!

Studio 23 is part of the Amazon Smile gives program for nonprofits. Please consider using this when ordering from at smile.amazon.com and choose Studio 23 as your nonprofit.

by Val Allen

Posted 21 August 2020 | art, art gallery, exhibits

Curator’s Clipboard: 50 Art Advocates Campaign shows love for Michigan artists!

Campaign for 50 Art Advocates continues as Studio 23 prepares for

MI Artists All-State Exhibition 2020

Since 2017 Studio 23’s 50 Art Advocates have been generously supporting the artists of our region and the state of Michigan. This campaign has made a tremendous impact on promoting artists and exhibits that showcase the talent of Michigan. Calls for artists occur every year in the spring with 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region Exhibition on odd numbered years and MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition during the even numbered years. After the jury selections are finalized the biennial exhibits are installed in the galleries of Studio 23 the month of September. 50 Art Advocates have provided awards of more than $7000 in cash prizes since 2017, invested $12,000 in the Art Around the City program and sponsored countless educational opportunities for local artists. As part of the #artistshelpingartists initiative, the 50 Art Advocate campaigns count a number of professional artists becoming advocates in support of their artist friends. That is truly heartwarming! Many thanks to all who contribute.

Art advocates contribute to

Educational growth seminars for artists.
Exhibition Opportunities
Awards
Exhibit program
Support for regional art

Follow this link to become a 50 Art Advocate today! We appreciate your support. Thank you!

The MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition is the featured biennial exhibit for 2020. The timeline for this exhibit started in April 2020 with a general call for artists who live and/or work in Michigan. The application process for artists consists of submitting up to three images to be juried. This year’s juror was Timothy Norris, a professional artist and curator from the west side of the state. Norris recently retired from teaching art at Muskegon Community College. His duties as a juror for this exhibit included evaluating over 275 images and curating his selections into an exhibit. He is also the judge for the monetary awards, awards of merit and honorable mentions. The 2020 call for artists saw artists submit applications from as far north as Escanaba and as south as Canton, Michigan.

Important dates to remember for Studio 23’s fall exhibition season are:

Painters and Potters 2020 Final Day for Viewing: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition Virtual Facebook Live Juror Talk and Award Ceremony: Thursday, September 17, 2020, 5:00 pm – 6:00pm

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition Final Day for Viewing: Saturday, November 14, 2020, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Studio 23 is filled with art created by our students, faculty and 100 Day Project members. Painters and Potters 2020 and our Off The Wall Gallery Boutique have artwork in different mediums, sizes and prices. It feels great to be back in the galleries and we are open Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. We are also available for appointments by calling me at 989-894-2323, ext. 14 or email me at curator.studio23@gmail.com.

#collectartbuylocal

Kind regards,

Val

Valerie Allen, curator

Fall Classes begin the week of September 14, 2020. Click here for more information.

Now is your chance to support local businesses and nonprofits through Buy BAY COUNTY!

Purchase a gift card to your favorite Bay County restaurant, retail or service business and receive 25% free! Studio 23 can apply your Studio 23 gift card purchase to artwork and/or classes.

Order your gift cards from this link!

Studio 23 is part of the Amazon Smile gives program for nonprofits. Please consider using this when ordering from at smile.amazon.com and choose Studio 23 as your nonprofit.

by Val Allen

Posted 17 July 2020 | art, art gallery, exhibits

Curator’s Clipboard: Newest exhibit – Painters & Potters 2020 now on display.

Painters & Potters 2020

Our galleries are open and filled with artwork created by our talented students, faculty and The 100 Day Project artists. A total of 95 artworks are part of the exhibit that includes 28 artists. The tradition of a Painter & Potters exhibit started in the 1960s and is a crowd favorite as an annual event. Our gallery visitors will see paintings in acrylic, oil, watercolor, mixed media collages along with ceramics made in our clay studios. The majority of the art is for sale and this is an excellent way to add to your collection. Members of Studio 23 receive a 10% discount on art purchases. Participating artists in this exhibit include:

Diane Arendt, Nicole Bell, Bill Brinker, D J Carmody, Sylvia Coon, Misty Coss, Sean Gallagher, Amy Gibas, C Joanne Grabinski, Beth Henderson Walker, Elli Hennessy, Ruth Howell, Kaylyn Inda, Connie Jane, Wanda Juhl, Debra LaRocque, Alan Maciag, Armin Mersmann, Sheri Moore, Jean Preston, Angela Radlinski, Autumn Reyes, Dennis Rosenblum, Fran Santoro, Charlie Schwartz, Julie Tyslicky, Janice Wegner, Nancy Weiss

The Painters & Potters 2020 will be on display thru Saturday, August 29, 2020. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Studio 23 The 100 Day Project

For the past three years we have been gathering as an artist community for the annual The 100 Day Project.The seed of The 100 Day Project began within the PIA Art Collective, a small band of visual artists, in Marquette, Michigan. Since 2008, PIA members have done 100 day projects as a way to keep their creative edge honed. Studio 23 joined as a community arts center in 2018 after our curator heard about the project from the Gaylord Arts Council while she was jurying an exhibit. Our artists who participated in the 100 days from January 22 – April 30, 2020 are invited to display work in the Painters and Potters 2020. There are many projects on display in the exhibit and you can view them thru August 29, 2020.

This 100 Day Project titled Portraits is by artist and Studio 23 Faculty member, Sylvia Coon. Sylvia teaches Intro to Acrylics.

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition

We are currently accepting entries into the 2020 MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition. Artists living and working in Michigan over the age of eighteen are eligible to enter the jury process now until the deadline of Saturday, August 8, 2020.

Meet our juror:

Timothy Norris

Timothy Norris’ artwork has appeared in over 100 exhibitions throughout Michigan and the Midwest since 1988. He has won many awards. Tim was Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Art Center of Battle Creek, 1992-1996. He is a current instructor at Muskegon Community College in Studio Art and has served as a curator throughout the state.

His interests include Celtic art, Civil War period history, and music. He and his artist wife, Patricia Opel collaborated on a series of large format paintings titled Through a Crack in the Lake, inspired by Great Lakes shipwreck narratives and history.

There will be a $1000 best of show award chosen by the juror, Timothy Norris as well as awards of merit.

Click here for entry link.

#collectartbuylocal

Painters & Potters 2020 is a great exhibit to purchase a new piece of artwork for your collection. We also have a fully stocked “Off The Wall” Gallery Boutique with affordable art by Studio 23 Artist Collective Members. Buying art locally not only creates revenue for regional artists, the purchase also helps maintain the vibrant and positive art center in your neighborhood- Studio 23!

Here are a few of the artworks marked with the sold GREEN DOT! CONGRATULATIONS ARTISTS!

CONGRATULATIONS TO CLAY ARTIST CHARLIE SCHWARTZ, FIBER ARTIST C JOANNE GRABINSKI, CLAY ARTIST NANCY WEISS, AND WATERCOLOR ARTIST ANGELA RADLINSKI!

VISIT US FOR DOWNTOWN BAY CITY SIDEWALK DAYS, JULY 23–25!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

July 23 is Throwback Thursday! We will be wearing 1959 clothing inspired by the year Studio 23 was founded!

July 24 is Food Truck Friday on Washington Street!

All three days we will feature Ann Vincenti-Michelman’s Story Blocks. A perfect way to tell your story with these unique collectible works of art. Hundreds to choose from!

Kind regards,

Val

Valerie Allen, curator

Now is your chance to support local businesses and nonprofits through Buy BAY COUNTY!

Purchase a gift card to your favorite Bay County restaurant, retail or service business and receive 25% free! Studio 23 can apply your Studio 23 gift card purchase to artwork and/or classes.

Order your gift cards from this link!

Studio 23 is part of the Amazon Smile gives program for nonprofits. Please consider using this when ordering from at smile.amazon.com and choose Studio 23 as your nonprofit.

by Val Allen

Posted 15 June 2020 | art, art gallery, exhibits

Curator’s Clipboard: Summer Solstice Art-A-Thon and Painters and Potters 2020

Summer Solstice Art-A-Thon

Here is the PayPal donation link for a Summer Solstice Art-A-Thon Pledge. Suggested donation $20. You can add a note in honor of your favorite artist!

Welcome summer to the Great Lakes Bay Region by joining us on Facebook Live, Saturday, June 20, 2020 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Amy Gibas, chair of our Studio 23 Artists Collective and I will co-host this virtual event by toasting all of our artists of the region starting at 5:00pm.

We will then feature an artists panel on Zoom via Facebook Live. Artists will describe their process and materials. Toward the magic light hour of sunset, we will venture out to Wenonah Park to film plein air artists set up with safe distancing as they capture the river’s banks and bridges on canvas. We will interview them as they are painting. Along the way, we will stop by some of the Art Around the City art stations, particularly Waterfall Park on Third Street. Third Street will be closed that evening under the Star Bridge, so I’m sure we will do a Facebook Live from that location of chalk artists working there. Armin Mersmann will be set in the windows of Studio 23 for pedestrians and window shoppers who can peek at his progress on his detailed cat drawing that he has been featuring with demos on his Facebook page. Amy and I will also do artist demos that evening that we will post on Facebook.

During the week leading up to the event and during the evening we will feature artists and their images. As this is an Art-A-Thon, we will be asking for pledges of twenty dollars that celebrate our vibrant artists community. This is the chance for Art Fans to show their support of Studio 23 in the name of their favorite artists!

Here is the PayPal donation link for a Summer Solstice Art-A-Thon Pledge. Suggested donation $20. You can add a note in honor of your favorite artist!

Also, here are the names of many Great Lakes Bay Region and Michigan artists who have been featured in 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region 2017 and 2019 and MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition 2018. We are gearing up for MI Artists 2020 now! Celebrate these artists and more by making a Summer Solstice Art-A-Thon Pledge of twenty dollars!

50 Artists of Great Lakes Bay Region 2019

Laurie Anderson, James Ardis, Diane Arendt, Gregg Barckholtz, Douglas Barron, Sharon Berkan-Dent, Mark Bleshenski, Larry Butcher, Katrina Canfield, Sara Clark, Margaret Colarelli, Sylvia Coon, Wanda Dziwura, Amy Gibas, Brian Goff, Avram Golden, Jason Graham, Stephen Grewe, Misty Grumbley, Pamela Hart, Ruth Howell, Rosemary Kavanagh, Debra LaRocque, Matt Lewis, Alan Maciag, Edith Marshall, Jim Matherne, Jody McDonald-Rider, Armin Mersmann, Sheri Moore, Alisse Noble, Priscilla Olson, Steven Parkhurst, Larry Peters, Mark Piotrowski, Barbara Plezia, Roger Reichmann, Robert Rokita, Wilma Romatz, Sally Rose, Josh Roupe, D. Joanne Rummel, Laurie Russell-Parrent, Fran Santoro, Carol Speltz, Julie Tyslicky, Silas Warren, Jan Wegner, Rebecca Zeiss, Mike Zureich

MI Artists All-State Juried Exhibition 2018

Gregg Barckholtz, Douglas Barron, Sharon K. Berkan-Dent, Mark Bleshenski, Nancy Brooks-Siebert, Katrina Canfield, D J Carmody, Diane Clise, Julia Close, Margaret Colarelli, Alma Cooke, John Diephouse, Jeanne Dodd, Kelly Frank, Bruce Giffin, Brian Goff, Avram Golden, C. Joanne Grabinski, Jason Graham, Christian K. Harger, Pamela Hart, Emmy Heger, Chandra L. Jewell, Kathy K. Jones, Karen Ann Jonker, Walda Juhl, Rosemary Kavanagh, Debra LaRocque, Heather Love, Alan Maciag, Kathy Maciag, Anthony Macioce, Douglas Malone, Armin Mersmann, Sheri Moore, Jody McDonald Rider, Priscilla Olson, Andrea Ondish, Victoria Parker, Steven Parkhurst, Andrew Rieder, Blaise Rhein, Julia Rohde, Stacie G. Rose, D. Joanne Rummel, Fran Santoro, Carol Schadd, Carol Speltz, Shelly Newman Stevens, Sherrie Tiderington, Valeri Trombley, Jan Wegner, Rebecca Zeiss, Barbara Zimmerman, Mike Zureich

50 Artists of Great Lakes Bay Region 2017

Brett Alger, Denise Ardis, Kelsey Bailey, Gregg Barckholtz, Sharon Berkan-Dent, Zachary Branigan, Larry Butcher, Sara Clark, Diane Clise, Margaret Colarelli, Misty Coss, Fletcher Dean, Sarah Duncan, Alyssa German, Brian Goff, Avram Golden, C.Joanne Grabinski, Jason Graham, Robert Graham, Stephen Grewe, Pamela Hart, Emmy Heger, Marcia Henne, Bill Horning, Mary Horning, Ruth Howell, Chandra Jewell, Rosemary Kavanagh, Debra LaRocque, Tisch Mikhail Lewis, Alan Maciag, Jim Matherne, Armin Mersmann, Kent Miller, Zi Moreira, Mike Mosher, Priscilla Olson, Steven Parkhurst, Mark Piotrowski, Roger Reichmann, Jody McDonald Rider, Robert Rokita, Paul Rytlewski, Jennifer Schultz, Charlie Schwartz, Carol Speltz, Ellen Visser, Silas Warren, Kathy Wertz, Rebecca Zeiss

Call for Artists: Painters and Potters 2020 Students, The 100 Day Project members and faculty of Studio 23

All students taking classes between June 2019 – June 2020, The 100 Day Project 2020 members and faculty of Studio 23 are invited to submit work for this upcoming exhibit opening July 9, 2020. This exhibit will be online and also all artists who are comfortable bringing work into the gallery will be exhibited in our Rowley gallery. Masks will be required and we will have safe drop-0ff options for the artwork. A virtual Zoom reception will be held on July 9, 2020 at 5:00 pm. The exhibit will run July 9 – August 29, 2020. Please use this application link: Painters and Potters 2020 Entry Form. Jpeg images are required as well as a working email address. We hope you consider entering this popular annual exhibit!

We are very thrilled to being open this week and thankful we have many events and activities to look forward to with our community of artists. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Kind regards,

Val

Valerie Allen, curator

Now is your chance to support local businesses and nonprofits through Buy BAY COUNTY!

Purchase a gift card to your favorite Bay County restaurant, retail or service business and receive 25% free! Studio 23 can apply your Studio 23 gift card purchase to artwork and/or classes.

Order your gift cards from this link!

Studio 23 is part of the Amazon Smile gives program for nonprofits. Please consider using this when ordering from at smile.amazon.com and choose Studio 23 as your nonprofit.

by Val Allen

Posted 15 May 2020

Curator’s Clipboard: Art in the World of Zoom and Beyond

This past month has been filled with new types of art happenings being produced in virtual formats. Facebook live, Instagram stories, Zoom meetings, fill up the days working from home and keep us connected to artists and art lovers. We are all getting very familiar with the protocol of talking to a group of mini boxes filled with friends. We stop and start, mute and unmute, schedule and show up to all sorts of art-related viewings during our days. The content branded with the #studio23onthego and #makeartvirtual grows daily and if you viewed each offering, I feel you become an artist through osmosis.

I have been blessed to know many artists in my life and I find them extremely generous to open their hearts, homes and studios to the art audience. Our virtual studio tours have proved to be very popular Facebook live events. This past month we have had two tours in our Great Lakes Bay Region. Open studio tours have always been a popular road trip happening but in this day and age we adapted with the next best thing-Facebook live tours. Productions such as this can be filmed using an iPhone or iPad, a password clearance to go directly to a page and just a bit of rehearsal to set the timing and sound.

Our tour with Misty Grumbley started with her and her cat on the beautiful landing of her Victorian home in Saginaw. Misty is one of our 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region. As if we were there in person, she graciously toured us through the home, taking time to point out cherished artwork from artist friends she has studied with or been taught by. Her warmth and poise made me feel as if we would sit down for tea at any moment and when we entered her dark room and studio I wanted to hear all the details of her creative process. Many viewers were privileged to view live that afternoon and now you can access that same video on our Facebook page and leave comments.

Our second tour takes us to an historic farm near Bridgeport, Michigan. This farm and studio tour was hosted by Doug Barron and Brian Goff. They are both part of our 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region and they work in oils on plein air and studio paintings. We start in their elegant parlor/studio filled with wonderful paintings and they both shared their painting process and concepts. The organization of the studio space was very impressive to me as it seemed every canvas, brush and tube of paint was positioned for easy access. In other words every item had it’s place of honor near the easels. Once outside, Doug and Brian took turns filming the tour so we had the sense of walking across the farmland and we could enjoy the gardens and outbuildings. What a wonderful way to escape while still being tucked away in our homes. The wind was blowing, the sky was blue and it was a refreshing way to spend time together. Many flowers and plants were identified along the way. The big trick up their sleeves at the end was a surprise visit with their chickens from the coop. Delightful! You can check out their video on our Facebook page and even leave comments with questions.

We look forward to bringing you more virtual events in the future as well as anticipate the day we can gather at Studio 23 again. Some items on the horizon include artwork displayed in our large gallery windows as part of our “Walk-a-bout Gallery for sidewalk shoppers walking the neighborhood and our Painters and Potters artwork inside starting July 9, 2020.

We are part of the Smile program with Amazon. Please think about this as you are shopping this spring and summer. All you have to do is go to smile.amazon.com and select Studio 23 as your nonprofit charity organization. Thank you for all you do for our art center!

Kind regards and Stay Safe,

Valerie Allen, curator

by Val Allen

Posted 16 April 2020

Curator’s Clipboard: There is so much talent here!

Hi! It’s Val, curator of Studio 23!

Hello from my home! I didn’t expect that we would be working from home but here we are. Actually, we are accomplishing quite a bit keeping the arts relevant and accessible to all via the internet. Within a week of the shelter at home order, our team rallied and began a creative stream of social media content that is serving as a source for visual art to bring encouragement, escape and education to the Great Lakes Bay Region.

The hashtags #Studio23OnTheGo and #MakeArtVirtual will now retrieve many informative videos, posts and events. I’m proud that we were in the forefront of joining forces with the Make Art Virtual movement and became part of a coalition with Midland Center for the Arts. This type of connection leads to a strong, robust art community and can only further prove that Mid-Michigan is full of talent!

We have had a few weeks now to refine our Facebook Live event titled, “Live Art Talk and Art Project. This 45-minute segment on the Arts Around the City Rail Trail highlights an art image by one of our 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region. To date we have featured artists Rosemary Kavanagh, Sally Rose, Sheri Moore, Sylvia Coon, Bonnie Lalley and this week we will feature Josh Roupe.

Here is a sampling of their artwork and we thank them for sharing their talent!

Rosemary Kavanagh

Bonnie Lalley

Sylvia Coon

Sally Rose

Sheri Moore

Josh Roupe

As the curator of Studio 23 and a professional artist, I have been creating artist demonstrations focusing on art materials and techniques. These presentations are inspired by the aesthetic of our featured artists. Since all of this is done live via Facebook, we sometimes have surprises while filming, often many comments from viewers and we are always learning new ways to connect regional artists with our audience.

Another exciting development that came about because of our increased awareness into virtual connections is the formation of our Studio 23 Books on Art Club. We are reading the book “The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith and will be having a virtual Zoom meeting next week. All of these online applications will serve us well into the future and allow us to expand our mission beyond our brick and mortar space! However, we hope that soon our community will begin to return to a new normal and we will see our friends again in the gallery. Until then, please enjoy these images created by Studio 23 member artists during our time of shelter.

“Wishing all love and happiness today!” Mark Piotrowski

“Walking through my woods during this time of seclusion, I made a great early morning discovery to paint.” Alan Maciag

Stay safe and keep well, Studio 23 family!

Kind regards,

Valerie Allen, curator

by Val Allen

Posted 20 March 2020

Curator’s Clipboard: Interview with Bonnie Lalley, Artist/Illustrator

#Understory #BonnieLalley #MichiganArtist

Hi! It’s Val, curator of Studio 23! It is a true pleasure to introduce artist Bonnie Lalley and her exhibit titled Understory. Bonnie has created 47 artworks for this exhibit. The mixed media pieces range in size from approximately 12″x18″ framed to well over 8 feet. Some are exquisitely framed in custom and handmade hardwood frames by Timothy Lalley, a known artisan in the Thumb area and Bonnie’s husband. Others are installed as if they are vintage tapestries, without a glazing treatment and inviting the atmosphere to age them naturally over time. Such a great concept! I had a chance to ask Bonnie questions regarding her life, her creative process and philosophies and here is the content. I hope you enjoy reading!

Interview with Artist Bonnie Lalley

Please describe the logistics of your exhibit.

Understory is comprised of 47 pieces of paintings on paper. The title describes the vegetative layer that lies beneath the canopy of trees. This title was chosen by Elizabeth Lalley, who, as well as being my daughter, is a curator of contemporary art in Chicago. This title is apt and poetically describes the source of much of my imagery. It is used loosely, as Elizabeth describes it, for I am “under water as much as under bushes looking at things…”

Which is the most autobiographical artwork?

I would have to say Beasts and a Ladyis the most autobiographical piece for reasons only I would know. The “lady” is not me, but, the imagery, the colors—everything—are redolent of childhood imaginings for me.

How do you describe your process? Is it collage? Is it mixed media? Is it painting?

My process is difficult to describe because I feel I have found my voice. I don’t follow any system. The way I work—by painting and drawing images and then cutting and arranging them on a larger paper ground—is very free and unplanned. I am able to move things, change background colors, layer, stencil, etc., in a manner that is fluid, like music. If I call them “collages” it suggests that I use appropriated imagery, which I don’t. I draw and paint everything. So not being able to give them a tidy category has kept me out of a lot of juried shows! (Ha ha!)

You talk about your art being inspired by flora and fauna. Can you tell us more about that and also about your gardens?

My family culture was always centered around nature, whether we were living in Detroit or on my grandfather’s farm. Botany and beauty were important topics of discussion: “Did you see the sunset? Did you hear that bird? Someone saw a patch of Blue Fringed Gentian…” My mother had beautiful flower gardens, and I try to emulate that, but I find it much harder than she made it look! I have English roses that I cherish, but my gardening skills are not so great. I find I would rather be in my studio painting flowers than digging in the dirt. However, hope springs eternal, and I make new promises every year to have the best garden ever! This year is no different (a double ha ha!).

I’ve seen your studio space—small, intimate, and, in my mind, an artist’s hideaway. Why does that setting work so well for you?

Because it is near a teapot and toaster. Actually, somedays I kind of long for a few more square feet for really large pieces. Having said that, I make it work. I love my little studio…

You and your husband are both artist and artisan. Do you often talk about the creative process? Do you inspire each other with ideas and, if so, can you be specific about your collaborations?

Regarding his cabinetmaking and my art, we tend to both be internal. Regarding our house and garden restoration, though, we collaborate on all levels. This we both enjoy, and we recognize each other’s talents and have equal input. The other important collaboration that happens is the framing of my work with his spectacular handmade frames.

If you were to invite an artist to your beautiful home for dinner, who would you invite and what would you serve?

Can I invite three? Or a combination of the three and two of them dead? If I could do that, it would be Mary Delaney, who was an 18th-century English aristocrat who in her 70s developed the style of painting, cutting, and assembling pieces into beautiful botanical compositions. Her work inspired the first piece I did, which was the beginning of this body of work. Next, I would have Maria Sibylla Merian. Born 350 years ago, she left her husband and Holland and with two young daughters travelled by ship to distant tropical countries. She painted some of the most beautiful and best-regarded botanical and reptile/animal illustrations. She was one of the first to understand and illustrate the life cycle of moths and butterflies. I would love to talk to her about her travels and the natural world she witnessed. Finally, I would invite Cornelia O’Donovan, who is a young contemporary British artist whose work I admire. We both have a love of early textiles, so we could talk about that. Her imagery is so freely composed—I really love that.

Oh, and I would serve shrimp and grits with a side of greens cooked in a little bacon fat, a garlicky salad, and gingerbread with orange curd and whipped cream. This is because I just made this for friends and the cooking gods were with me.

What is your art teaching philosophy in a nutshell?

To teach skills and philosophy; i.e., “methods and materials” and “art is important.”

If you were not a visual artist, what would you be?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm—a grower of cardoons in France.

Thank you, Bonnie for sharing your thoughts with us during this time of sheltering! You gave us much food for thought on living your best life as an artist. This exhibit will unfold virtually over the next few days on our website and Facebook page.

The exhibit is generously sponsored by Chemical Bank.

Thank you for your support of the visual arts in the Great Lake Bay Region.

Stay safe and keep well, Studio 23 family!

Kind regards,

Valerie Allen

Curator

by Val Allen

Posted 21 February 2020

Curator’s Clipboard: Artists as collaborators!

#Collaboration

Hi! It’s Val, curator of Studio 23! The artist Robert Rauschenberg has been a major influence in my life since art school. He lived between 1925–2008 and was very prolific in mixed media artwork involving printmaking, painting, photography, and performance art. He led the charge for many collaborations between visual artists, scientists, musicians, dancers and social activists and he strived to promote world peace and understanding. “There is no reason not to think of the world as one gigantic painting,” stated Rauschenberg in 1971. Not only does that quote speak to me of all the possible materials we can use in our artwork but also the big picture of defining collaboration as a complete creative process. Here are just a few of the collaborations we initiated at Studio 23 so far in 2020.

On January 25, Studio 23 collaborated with City Market Bay City for “A Taste of Art” held during the market’s Sample Saturday. Faculty members from our education department demonstrated drawing, painting, printmaking and offered a station for market-goers to do their own mini paintings. I’m happy to announce that this community event was successful and our collaboration will now be scheduled four times a year with the next “A Taste of Art” being on Saturday, April 25, 2020. Below you will see artists from left to right, Amy Gibas, Julie Tyslicky, Ruth Howell, Deb LaRocque, Misty Coss, all instructors at Studio 23.

Studio 23 is collaborating with Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy to present Land to River, an exhibit that features artists in the role of communicators, explorers and environmentalists. Artists include: Mark Bleshenski, Zachary Branigan, Frits Hoendervanger, Erwin Lewandowski, Alan Maciag, and John Sabraw. This exhibit will open on May 14, 2020 at 5:00pm. The topics of conservation, restoration, education, utilization and activation as it relates to over 6000 acres of land in our region will be addressed through the message of visual art with the opportunity for our community members to participate in workshops and environmental events. This exhibit is sponsored by Waste Management.

The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and Studio 23 presented Where Art and Music Unite, a collaboration that featured artist Valerie Allen painting to the music of Haydn, Torke, and Copland performed by the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and led by Conductor Fouad Fakhouri. The painting was then auctioned at the afterglow for the evening. The collaboration also included a food drive for Hidden Harvest, a regional organization that strives to alleviate hunger and food waste in the counties of Bay, Midland and Saginaw.

Kind regards,

Valerie Allen

Curator

Current Exhibit:

Teenworks & Kids’ Kreations continues until March 7, 2020

Don’t miss this popular exhibit featuring the young artists of Bay County. The exhibit features over 375 creations by elementary, middle school and high school art students. We have a family-fun scavenger hunt for this exhibit and if you correctly answer the questions you will receive a label. Collect a label from each exhibit in 2020 and you will receive a prize in December. Gallery hours are Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. We are closed Sunday and Monday.

Upcoming Exhibit:

Understory: Bonnie Lalley, artist and illustrator

March 19 – May 2, 2020

Bonnie Lalley is a full-time artist/illustrator and art professor at Delta College. She lives in the countryside by choice, as flora and fauna are the motifs she loves best. Her 100-year-old home and studio in the Thumb reflect her aesthetic with vintage colors and patinas. There will be large scale collages as well as mixed media works custom framed by artisan Timothy Lalley.

Artist’s reception: Friday, March 20, 2020, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A Conversation with Artist Bonnie Lalley: Saturday, April 11, 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

by Val Allen

Posted 15 January 2020

Curator’s Clipboard: Happenings in our galleries and beyond!

#Curatorslife

Hi! It’s Val, curator of Studio 23! January is our time to refresh and renew our gallery space and plan new opportunities for artists of the region. Last year we organized the Studio 23 Artists Collective and we are thrilled at the response from our artist members of Studio 23. We hosted three plein air events, an info session on the 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region, a talk on abstraction for the realist artist and a private curator’s VIP tour of the 50 Artists exhibit.

This year we kick off with The 100 Day Project that actually was visualized and started by our Artists Collective. The 100 Day Project is designed to jump start your creative process for the new year as well as promote the habits that can enhance your artistic productivity. It is beneficial for all creatives including visual artists, performing artists, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Bring your questions, your project ideas and your notebooks to our check-ins that are scheduled every 25 days. Here is a link to our first check-in. This event will be held on January 22, 2020 starting at 5:30 pm at Studio 23. Studio 23 is one of several art organizations across the nation that start on January 22, 2020! The national site is The 100 Day Project and the concept originated in Marquette, Michigan. It is now international! You can register your project in advance at this international link for The 100 Day Project.

Our next exhibit will open on February 6, 2020. Teenworks and Kids Kreations celebrates the artwork created by young artists from Bay County. The age range is elementary through high school and the variety of images and depth of talent is incredible. Please join us for the opening public reception on February 6, 2020, 4:00pm – 7:00 pm. In addition, we will have a Sunday Open House on February 9, 2020, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. This event corresponds with the Indulge Day in Downtown Bay City!

This image is our publication winner for the exhibit.The artist is Riley Larkin, an art student from John Glenn High School. Her teacher is Amy Pobanz. Congratulations, Riley!

Finally, we are happy to announce that Studio 23 is now placing art in our Regional Artists in Public Spaces program. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is now our new neighbor on Water Street so it is very natural that we would place the beautiful abstract art by Sheri Moore into their busy boardroom. Sheri Moore is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University. Her inspiration comes from human interaction and personal experience, especially travel. “I paint by feel, by trusting my gut, exactly the same way I have operated my whole life. I trust my instincts,” Sheri says.

Feel This by Sheri Moore Sheri Moore Boardroom installation

Kind regards and remember #collectartbuylocal,

Valerie Allen

Curator

UPCOMING EVENTS

WHATS NEXT BAY CITY – Bay Arts Council , Bay City Players , Bay Concert Band , Studio 23 , The Bay County Historical Society , Bay County Library System, Bay Sail, The State Theatre and Delta College Planetarium Presents:
Comedy Night with Rob Little
Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 7pm
State Theatre, 913 Washington Ave. Bay City, MI 48708
Box Office: 989-892-2660 x2
Tickets: $27 Reserved Seating
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.

Don’t let the “Little” name fool you. Little is BIG! But that has never slowed him down. “Yeah, I’m big, and all my relatives are too. Heck, we just got our family portrait done by aerial photography. And there are only three of us.” The truth is, Rob is big in more ways than one. With a grin on his face, a gleam in his eye, and a passion for comedy that is larger than life, he’s the biggest thing to happen to comedy in a long, long time. www.roblittle.com

January 22, 2020 @ 5:30pm

This event is designed to introduce new Studio 23 member artists and welcome back returning members to The100DayProject! Bring your questions, your project ideas and your notebooks. Studio 23 is one of several art organizations across the nation that start on this day! Attending this session will check off one of your 100 days as well as set you up for success through April 30, 2020. You can register your project in advance at this link. http://the100dayproject.com/registration-form/

January 25, 2020 @ 11:00am–3:00pm

Event at City Market Bay City! Saturday, Samples and Art, a fun collaboration between Studio 23 and City Market on Saturday January 25, 2020 gives you “a taste of art” from 11am – 3pm. Artists and Studio 23 instructors will be stationed throughout the market creating their artwork and ready to discuss their process as well as classes they teach and programs such as the 100 Day Project at Studio 23. There will also be an art station where you can create your own Paint n Take for $10. Our new class schedule and a registration station will also be available at this event for your convenience and classes will begin the week of February 3, 2020.

January 28, 2020 @ 6pm

Join Studio 23 as we guide you in personalizing ‘Night Route’ during our Out on the Town Sip ‘N Swirl at Courtyard by Marriott!

$35 gets you all your instruction and supplies. While painting, you’re encouraged to grab some food. Marriott has a great menu to order dinner and drinks from and will be offering specials on both exclusively for our Sip ‘N Swirl painters.

Dinner, drinks, and painting… what a fun way to spend an evening.

You MUST register in advance for this class either online or by calling 989-894-2323!