Leelanau.com Blog
leelanau county news • traverse city news • michigan news

The Glen Arbor Art Association offers several residencies each year for practicing artists who would like the opportunity for creative exploration in an idyllic setting in northern Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula. The purpose of the residency program is to provide visiting artists with a respite from daily responsibilities to enable them to concentrate on their work.

Participants use studio space provided at Thoreson Farm, a farmstead in the historic Port Oneida district of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A small apartment is provided in the Art Association building in Glen Arbor at no charge for the residency period. Residencies are considered in writing, visual arts, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics, music, philosophy and creative research.

Applications may be submitted until March 1 for the 2012 season. For more details and how to apply, see their web site!

photo credit: The Road to Pyramid Point by Matt Callow> (produced during a GAAA residency!)

UP North TV has a feature with two Native American poets, Lois Beardslee and Eva Petoskey, reading poetry at Eyaawing Museum that you might enjoy.

The artwork to the right was created by Lois, and appears in a cool feature about her years ago by Jim Rink in our Northern Michigan Journal entitled Lois Beardslee, Daughter of the Earth. It was about her artwork, but I think it gives a great sense of Lois's dedication to the preservation of her culture:

...Beardslee is good at filling the gaps--she feels a strong responsibility in her role as a cultural emissary for Native Americans. Whether she's telling stories on paper or in person, the imagery she creates is the essence of life in the Ojibwe and Lacandon tribes into which she was born. Make no mistake--the myths and the legends she distills are for our benefit. Long part of an oral tradition, the spirit world of the past has been kept alive through a well organized underground. Only recently have these cultural icons resurfaced, as a soothing balm for troubled and restless times.

Beardslee has had her own share of troubles, and the gaps here are a little bit wider. Born into a family of nine siblings, her mother died when she was 10; her father at 15. But she has no complaints.

"I grew up around here, came from a rural background," she says. "We hunted, fished, farmed. I grew up in a privileged era--I remember ducks being piled on the table, each of us having our own duck for dinner. It was a time of plenty--a lifestyle that's disappearing."

Great art, wine and food are the main events of a special evening, Art from Michigan’s Wine Country which kicks off the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association’s Taste the Passion weekend (Feb 4 & 5, 2012). For a fourth year, this fun winter event will be held on Friday, February 3rd at the Homestead's Mountain Flowers Lodge and features wine from Leelanau wineries, original art by local artists and a fabulous small plates menu designed by The Homestead’s Chef Piombo.

The price is $20 per person advance reservation by February 2 and includes one glass of wine and food stations with delectable small plates and coffee. Additional wine available for $4/glass or three glasses for $10. Call The Homestead at 334-5100, to make a reservation with will call ticket at the door for pre-paid reservations. $25 per person admission at the door.

The invitational art exhibit and sale offers recent original works by nine Leelanau artists. The artists will be on hand to discuss their work. This is a great opportunity to meet local artists and celebrate a perfect pairing of wine and art. A portion of the art sales will benefit Glen Arbor Art Association's summer programs.

Five dollars of each ticket goes to support the Glen Arbor Art Association class scholarships and a free after-school art program for Glen Lake students. Scholarship assistance and the after-school art program provide arts opportunities for those who could not otherwise afford art classes.

For more information go to www.glenarborart.org or call the GAAA office at 334-6112.

Photo credit: Victoria Creek Winter-Looking West by Mary Fuscaldo

The annual Christmas arts & crafts show will be held this Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland. This year’s show features 21 local artisans with holiday gifts, fresh greens, dried wreaths, herbal soaps and lotions, jewelry, specialty foods, ceramics, woven wheat, cards, home accessories, children’s clothing, and hand knit items. There's also complimentary cookies and coffee!

Local artisans include Victoria Gallup, Dee Glass, Mike Hulbert, Kit Knowles, Joy Lang, Roxane Langner, Sara Maleski, Annie McFarlane, Pat McKean, Bill Perkins, Kathy Powell, Shari Prevost, Lisa Psenka, Julie Sanco, Sharecare, Leif Sporck, Greta Stimson, Cookie Thatcher, Cheryl VanZee, Paula Wisniewski and the Wednesday Knitters.

For more information please call 256-2131.

This Friday (Oct 21) the galleries & shops of the village of Suttons Bay will host award-winning regional artists. This annual event offer visitors a chance to hear live music, sample wines from many of Leelanau's wineries and register to win a $250 shopping spree at the end of the annual Suttons Bay Fall Art Walk.

The event is sponsored by the Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce and you can contact Sue Ann Round at the Michigan Artists Gallery (271-4922) for more information.

Painting by Dan Oberschulte - courtesy Michigan Artists Gallery.

Visit thirteen of Leelanau’s galleries during the FALL FOR ART in LEELANAU gallery tour this Friday, October 7 & Saturday, October 8 (10-5 PM) and Sunday, October 9 (10-2 PM). Start your tour by picking up a descriptive brochure at any participating gallery displaying a bright yellow FALL FOR ART sign. Each gallery will be happy to sign your tour brochure to insure your entry in the prize drawing at the end of the tour.

During FALL FOR ART the Glen Arbor Art Association is having an exhibit of work by GAAA members and will host a reception Friday evening from 6-8 PM.

Fall for Art will conclude with another reception and prize drawing Sunday, October 9, 3:00 p.m. at Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor.

The following galleries are on the tour: (more...)

The Leelanau Community Cultural Center hosts the eleventh annual Fiber Festival this Friday (October 7th) from 5 to 8 pm for the opening reception and Saturday (October 8th) from 10 am to 5 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland. Artists with original fiber art will exhibit and sell their work in mediums of paper, wearable art, textiles, weaving, art quilts, baskets, knits and yarns. Admission is free.

The featured artist this year is Ann Loveless of Quilts by Ann in Frankfort, Michigan. Ann is a quilt artist that captures the beauty of northern Michigan in her art quilts. Ann's art quilt “"Trillium" is currently on display at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids as a submission for Art Prize.

Fiber Festival exhibitors are Sarah Bearup-Neal, art quilts; Heather Harris-Brady, felted accessories; Jan Hinds, fiber vessels; Stephen Kostyshyn, basketry; Bonnie Greenwald, art dolls; Cynthia Hilliard, natural yarns and gourd art; Linda Kustra, hand knit wearable's; Krys Lieffers, hand woven rugs; Krystal Ann Miller, tapestry bags; Chris Roosien, hand painted yarn; Becky Ross and Julie Funk, felted and recycled wool items; Carol Salerno, hand woven scarves; Holly Sorenson, hand woven wall pieces; Christie Trout, coiled pine needle baskets and Barbara Waddell, mixed media fiber.

For more information on the Fiber Festival please visit www.oldartbuilding.com or call 256-2131.

The Leelanau Historical Museum, Leland Chamber of Commerce, and Old Art Building hold their annual celebration of Leland's history next Saturday (Sep 17). Via the Leland Michigan website:

The annual Leland Heritage Celebration takes place September 17. This annual event is free and open to the public. Highlights include the Leelanau Historical Museum's "Wooden Boats on the Wall", Van's Garage antique car show, and the Fishtown Preservation Society offering music and festivities in Fishtown.

There will also be an exhibit titled "Windows on Leelanau; Past, Present, and Future" will be the featured for the Leelanau Community Cultural Center at the Old Art Building. Exhibit hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 12 to 4 pm on Sunday. The exhibit will feature original works of art using the window as a view on Leelanau. Artists will use the window as a metaphor beyond its mere architectural aspect. This will be a fun and creative exhibit by Leelanau artists.

The Leland Township Library gets into the act as well with their annual Fall Used Book Sale on the lawn at the Library. They will be featuring a display of the books of Leelanau County authors and books about Leelanau County. Library Director Sylvia Merz says, "We are always amazed at the number of authors who either currently or once upon a time called Leelanau County home. We’ve pulled as many volumes as we have and they will be featured on Saturday for visitors to browse and check out as they enjoy the events!"

Also check out the Leland Heritage Celebration photo gallery for photos from past celebrations.

The Glen Arbor Art Association will host its third annual Plein Air Paint Out on Saturday, August 6th. This popular event hosts artists from throughout the Midwest who arrive early in the morning at GAAA to have their canvases or papers stamped to verify that their paintings have been done on this day. Artists then find their ideal spots for a day of plein-air painting before returning with their completed works for display to the Glen Arbor Art Association in the afternoon for a juried exhibit and “wet painting” sale and reception. Painter and retired professor art, Harvey Gordon will be this year’s guest juror and will award three cash prizes. A fourth prize this year will be the People’s Choice Award determined by popular vote.

The Wet Painting Reception and Sale is open to the public from 5:30-7:30 pm at GAAA, located off Lake Street across from Cherry Republic. Paintings may be purchased on a “first come” basis beginning at 5:45 pm. There will also be a wine tasting provided by the 24 wineries of the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival along with light appetizers. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the art association’s enrichment programs. A $10 donation per person donation is requested.

Plein-air painting refers to the technique of painting out-of-doors which was initiated by the French Impressionists in the mid-nineteenth century. The challenge is to paint or draw directly and spontaneously from nature during a very limited period of time. Leelanau County’s beauty provides the perfect setting for a paint-out event.

Artist who would like to participate should call the GAAA office, 231-334-6112, or go to www.glenarborart.org. The fee to participate is $25 with a discount for early registration.

Art is where it's at over the next couple of weeks in Leelanau!

Empire's galleries and artist studios kick things off next Thursday evening (July 28) from 5-9 PM with the “Empire Art Encounter” where you can wander the village of Empire and for a wide variety of fine art, including painting, various works on paper, photography, furniture-making, weaving, and jewelry. You can also enjoy the the Empire Summer Music Series that night with the folk duo Emma and Will. They play on The Green next to the post office and you can get maps to galleries are available at Ripple Effect Studio & Gallery and Miser’s Hoard Antiques and Art. Call 231-326-6081 for more information!

Next up is an evening of art & music the Leland Art Walk held on Friday, August 5th from 5-9 PM. Participating stores & galleries will be serving hors d' oeuvres and refreshments. Contact Roxane Langner at 994-2707 for more information.

Then on Saturday & Sunday (August 6 & 7) it's the annual Suttons Bay Art Festival. Held every year on the first weekend of August at beautiful Suttons Bay Marina Park, the festival draws one hundred artists along with community groups and food vendors for an art-filled weekend at the beach. There's also a children's area where young artists can sell their work and a Sunday morning pancake breakfast in the park!