On Friday May 14th the Grosse Pointe Art Center was the cultural focus for the Grosse
Pointe community. Well over 100 persons gathered at the Art Center to view the opening of the 72nd Annual Member Show and await the presentation of awards to the winning artists. Pam DeLaura, Juror for this show, worked hard to select the winners
from the large number of quality entries.
When the crowd quieted and the awards were announced, the winners were:
Best of Show - Nobuko Yamasaki, “ The Cascades of Time”
Wood Block Print
2nd Place - Alonzo Edwards, “Tashif”
Oil Painting
3rd Place - Kathleen McNamee, “Waxed Floor”
Water Color
Honorable Mentions went to:
Jeff Cancelosi, “The Understanding” - Ink Stamp Print
Tony Shopinski, “Hopewell” - Mixed Media
Roselyn Rhodes, “Morning Light with Sammy” - Oil Painting
Jake Steenholdt, “Fibonacci Kinetic Ring”
Paper and Bamboo
Special awards are provided for the Annual Member Show. They went to:
Gene Kyle, “Yellow Still Life” - Prisma Pencil
Virginia Thibodeau Memorial Award
Jan Nutting, “Buch Farm” - Photograph
Prosperity Gallery
Lori Zurvalec, “There was help along the way”
Mixed Media - Rainy Day Art & Framing
Special congratulations to all of the entrants for the Annual Members Show. Many
thanks also to the members who generously contributed beverages, food and time to
this important community event. The exhibition committee deserves massive applause
for their hard work.
The Grosse Pointe Artists Association is forever grateful to the Edward Frohlich Trust for
its continued support of the arts in the Grosse Pointe Community.
Nobuko Yamasaki and her winning piece
above
Alonzo Edward's winning piece "Go"
THE GREEN SHOW March 19 - May 1, 2010
How perfect that on the eve of the Spring Equinox, a talented group of artists and their supporters gathered at the Grosse Pointe Art Center to open The Green Show. An unseasonably warm evening was matched by the warmth and conviviality inside the center, which played host to a terrific crowd of over 200, a marvelous turnout for the show’s kickoff. More than 170 pieces were submitted for selection in The Green Show which asked artists to express their vision in green in color, in environment, or in theme. Fewer than half could be accepted and, complimenting the quality of the work, juror Anne Fracassa told the crowd that she was delighted by the caliber of the entries and wished that more could have been included in the exhibition.
The real buzz of the evening was supplied by Alonzo Edwards, a painter in his first show who took home the evening’s top prize for Go. Second place was awarded to Jack Frakes for his ceramic sculpture Hand of Nature. Birgit Huttemann-Holz was given third prize for her painting A Started Odyssey. Honorable mentions were awarded to Mary Aro, Rosemary Bay, Barbara Harry, James Lady, and Roseland Rhodes. Two special awards were given, one to Leslie Rentschler for her painting Refried Frieda and to Nina Goebel for the window piece GreenHallucination that had no small part in luring visitors to the center.
Special award winners Nina Goebel and Leslie Rentschler next to Leslie's piece "Refried Frieda"
Brennon Edwards and juror Anne Fracassa
Taurus Burns
Taurus Burns Lecture Friday February 26, 2010
Taurus Burns, Michigan Artist and Juror of the “Urban Edge” exhibition currently on view at the Grosse Pointe Art Center, was the featured speaker Friday evening.
Mr. Burns delivered a very introspective and personal discussion of his art in relationship to his search for identity and place in the community. Trained at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and influenced by artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Mr. Burn’s work
depicts his thoughtful reflection on personal relationships, family and race. The community that Mr. Burns has chosen to live in, Detroit, has proved to be a fertile influence for this pensive and innovative young artist.
The GPAA thanks Mr. Burns for sharing his art and words with us. He has provided much for us to think about both personally and as a community.
Linda Allen sketching Taurus Burns during his talk
Best of Show winner Jeff Cancelosi
URBAN EDGE January 22 - March 6, 2010
With a crowd of approximately 200 art supporters, the Grosse Pointe Art Center launched the 2010 Urban Edge show on Friday, January 22nd. Juror, Taurus Burns, graduate from College for Creative Studies, selected 74 works of art out of 134 submissions. The show is an eclectic representation of all types of media depicting an Urban view.
Guests of the evening were treated to a wonderful show, free admission, free refreshments and an opportunity to meet many of the artists and juror of the show. The award winners were; Best of Show, Jeff Cancelosi, Second Place, Mara Millich, Third Place, Phil Cierpial. Four Honorable Mentions went to; Jackie Brooks (first time submitting!), Tim Burke, Charmaine Kaptur and Kevin Martin. Congratulations to you all! We look forward to seeing you all in the Art Center to view the show.
Art appreciation
David Campell and Leslie Rentschler
Urban Edge
Angelo Sherman in front of his artwork
Holiday Shop November 20, 2009 - January 9, 2010
On Friday, November 20th we rang in the holiday season with a fabulously attended Preview Party of our HOLIDAY SHOP. We have gathered together over 100 Michigan Artists who are presenting unique artist-made gifts throughout the gallery. Our beautiful art work ranges from wooden clocks and pens, bowls and cups of pottery, glass ornaments, vases and jewelry. One of a kind purses, scarfs both knitted and hand-dyed silk, postcards and note cards, paintings large and small, sculptures and many more amazing gift items. Please stop in, you are sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Opening crowd
More of the opening crowd
Holiday Shop Windows
Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo
and Amy DeBrunner
Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo November 20, 2009 - January 9, 2010
In addition to the Holiday Shop, the GPAC has been selected by an award winning international artist, Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo, to have us showcase some of his work. We are so honored to have been selected to have Mr. Moscairo hang his work in Grosse Pointe. Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo who still lives in Arequipa, Peru will be traveling to Michigan to exhibit his current body of work at Grosse Pointe Art Center. Zeballos has exhibited his work in the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Arequipa, Peru as well as Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, Miami and many other cities in the world. He has been presented numerous awards internationally including the John Constable Award in 2002 and the National Arts Award for Painting in Peru.
Embedded Light October 9, 2009 - November 7, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009 opened our newest Exhibition, Embedded Light, a National Encaustic Show with a fabulous turn out of Michigan artists and art lovers. Christine McCauley was the juror of the show and she gave Best of Show to MJ Seltzer, a Michigan artist, for her Lucky Draw. 2nd Place was awarded to Margo Mullen, a California artist, for her Monastery Moment. 3rd Place was awarded to Leslie Sobel, a Michigan artist, for her Greenland – ice and water. There were 4 Honorable Mentions awarded to; Alix Christian, a Michigan artist, for her Cake on cake, Mark Lavatelli, a New York artist, for his Bluff, Sherrie Poternak, an Arizona artist, for her Chromosomal Pattern of Martian and Rodney Thompson, a California artist, for his Basin and Range #33.
The event brought to light a new medium for many and offered a social venue to explore new mediums and new resources for traditional art. It was well attended by Grosse Pointe Artist Association members, art supporters and the media. The event runs through November 7, 2009 and all works of art are for sale. Don’t miss out on seeing Michigan’s first and only National Encaustic exhibit. Embedded Light accepted artists and prize winners click here
1st prize winner MJ Seltzer
Leslie Sobel and her winning piece
Birgit Huttemann Holz (president), Alix Christian (prize winner) and Amy DeBrunner (director)
Our Rivers, Our Lakes
August 21 - September 26, 2009
Our current show, Our Rivers, Our Lakes, was established in 2003, the year after Robert Kennedy Jr., President of the national Riverkeepers organization, visited Detroit and designated the Detroit River as part of the national Riverkeepers Organization. In a desire to give homage to Michigan’s great waterways and the artists who celebrate their beauty, the Grosse Pointe Art Center, began an annual show devoted to Michigan’s rivers and lakes
This year, the artists seem to be of one mind and the show, filled with 80 pieces of art, almost splashes with the depiction of water. It is a refreshing display of art with colors that range from the intense blue of deep water, to the transparent greens of waves, and the whites of their crests. Our opening on Friday, August 21, was well-attended by close to 250 visitors.
The winning couple Rosemary (special award) and George Bay (first prize).
Part of the opening crowd
This year’s Annual Fundraiser, Call ad Response 2009, was held on Sunday, September 27, 2009. We asked much from the community to make this event happen and your response was overwhelmingly generous.
The event was held in the beautiful home of Frank Nizio and Linda Allen. The setting was perfect, the weather was cooperative, the art was spectacular and the support greatly appreciated.
The fundraiser was a huge success thanks to all our supporters; child artists, adult artists, art lovers alike. For all of your commitments, be it time, talent, or treasure, we thank you.
The continued success of the Grosse Pointe Art Center will be guaranteed with support such as yours and the success of this year’s Auction. We raised nearly $9,000 which directly supports the Art Center and our outreach efforts.
Remarks on the 71st Annual Show
Membership at the Grosse Pointe Art Center continues to increase and is currently about 350 and increasing monthly. Although all members are not artists, a large number of them are and have participated in the current 71st Annual Members Show . All mediums are represented in oil, watercolor, acrylic, collage, woodblock print, litho print, assemblage, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital print.
We have been honored to have Emeritus Professor of Art, School of Art at Western Michigan University, Philip VanderWeg, as juror. He has had some very insightful remarks on the show:
"It was a personal pleasure for me to participate with your 71st Annual Member’s Exhibition. Thank you for this opportunity to visit this area of the state and to view selected outcomes of serious creative activity in this community. I was encouraged by the good turnout of entries, the liveliness contained in many of the pieces, and the overall diversity evident in those submissions. There were indications that some artists desired to speak to an awareness of more global current professional concerns and directions, while others explored more traditional universal thematic objectives.
My objective was to do my best selecting the best pieces submitted, while also honestly trying to reflect the scope of approaches and aesthetic voices at work. I was not interested in editing out a single point of view, or inclination. However, I did want to sustain the level of quality so that the works on display might be uniformly worthy of our time and consideration. In this manner I hoped they might define for us the collective artistic spirit of the community, while also offering a sense of community to local artists’ interests."
We are very appreciative that Phil VanderWeg juried our show. Please come to visit. The show is up until August 8, 2009.
Artbeat May 15 - June 27
Rhythms of the Creative Mind
Find your creative pulse in these difficult times. Prove that art is stronger than misery. The art beat goes on even when the pulse of the nation is down. The intent of this show is to bring a fresh infusion of artwork to the community along with being an opportunity for artists to express the intense connections they feel for the arts.
Let art raise your pulse and give you the creative transfusion that will lift your spirits. Don't let the times kill the muse.
Juror: REBECCA MAZZEI
Rebecca Mazzei is a published author and award-winning arts journalist. She holds a master's degree in Modern Art History, Theory and Criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mazzei recently left her role as arts and culture editor for Metro Times newsweekly to become the assistant dean of the College for Creative Studies.
URBAN EDGE 2009
The Grosse Pointe Art Center is proud to announce that Charles McGee, 2009 recipient of The Kresge Foundation Eminent Artist Award has agreed to jury our annual URBAN EDGE show, March 20 thru May 2, 2009.
The Detroit Metropolitan area is a city in the midst of change: growing, shrinking, developing, as the forces of the State, the Nation, and the World economies and populations ebb and flow. There is a vibrancy and urgency that accompany the urban scene. This can be interpreted in many ways as people filter information - through visuals, sounds, interactions, and reactions. City problems are sometimes softened by visual beauty. Beauty and blight, hope and despair, are part of the urban story that represents our annual show. What is the pulse, the flux of the city, its people, its buildings, its open spaces?
We are proud to present our second annual URBAN EDGE show with the participation of a variety of artists from across the Tri-County area. Join us to witness theses unique visions of city life and the urban experience..
WE HAVE MOVED!
Grosse Pointe Art Center opened their new location in The Village with a tremendous showing of support from the Grosse Pointes, and supporters, artists, and collectors from the surrounding Detroit Metropolitan area. Attendance at Friday, January 23rd's soiree was between 300 and 500 visitors. This was such a great affirmation for all of the artists and the activities, classes, and lectures we hold. We just continue to grow and the excitement for our location in "The Village" was palpable at the opening. We are very happy for the support of the Edward Frohlich Family Trust and invite everyone to visit and join the art center. We offer activities for all ages. The show runs from January 23 - March 7
Please also read our President's letter under news
First prize winner Mary Aro.
Mayor Dale Scrace with GPAC Board members and members of the Grosse Pointe City Council.
Come and visit our Holiday Shop where you can find artist made presents for everybody.
First prize winner Jackie Rybinski with her son, who was the inspiration for her painting.
Elaine Schaitberger receiving her prize donated by Utrecht.
The 11 x 14 Show
October 10 - November 7
Our current exhibition, The 11 x 14 Show, is on display thru November 7th. This show has been designed to bring a wide-variety of work by well-skilled artists to the gallery. We all relate to imagery, art and design either found in nature or that which is recognizably made by other human beings. In this show, in contrast to nature, art is the product of the human mind and hand. We encourage the our visitors to come share this experience with us and consider revisiting this experience on a daily basis by collecting a unique piece of art by a Michigan artist.
November 21 we open with our all gallery Holiday Show. The gallery will be turned into a shop with one of a kind items that will make beautiful gifts to celebrate the holiday season. In addition, we have new & gently used art supplies available for purchase.
The Grosse Pointe Art Center
Chair Affair Big Success
Thanks to all who worked hard to make our fundraiser a big success. We had about 200 people attending and brought in close to $10,000. Everybody was enjoying the great weather, the even greater music by Colton Weatherston and the splash down event with Stephen Goodfellow.
Special thanks again to the chair affair committee: Linda Allen, Nina Goebel, Birgit Huttemann-Holz, Charmaine Kaptur, Leslie Rentschler, Janet Wisner and to the evening's volunteers!
Grosse Pointe Art Center also would like to extend a special thanks to Jessie and Jeffrey Doan for hosting at their lovely home.
Mayor Dale Scrace with GPAC Board members and members of the Grosse Pointe City Council.
