June 4 through July 6 – West Michigan Eight
Reception June 7, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Jansma Gallery at NCCA-Artsplace, 13 E. Main St., Fremont. 231-924-4022. In November of 2006 eight artists from West Michigan displayed over 40 works of art in the Muskegon Museum of Art. The Muskegon Museum of Art dubbed this group “The West Michigan Eight.” While not all natives, the artists live in the Grand Rapids and Muskegon area and have taught, mentored, lectured, and exhibited in the region for many decades, maturing into a distinguished old guard.
Most of the WM8 are, or were at one time, members of Grand Valley Artists. GVA was founded in 1957 to promote Realism as an alternative to Abstract Expressionism. Carl Forslund and Armand Merizon were two of the founding members. They discuss art issues during their lunch time get togethers and explore ways to support each other and to organize exhibitions of their work. All of the artists agree that the foundation of their relationship is a mutual respect for the drawing skills of their comrades and an admiration for one another as artists and as individuals.
Larry Blovits, Carl Forslund, Collin Fry, and Jim Markel are all members of the Great Lakes Pastel Society. Collin was a Charter member, Carl a Founding Member, and Jim is a Signature Member. Larry is also a Master Pastelist in the Pastel Society of America and Carl is a Signature Member. Collin is also a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of New Mexico. Larry Blovits is also a member of the American Portrait Society. Jack Brouwer is a Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor, and the Watercolor West and Midwest Watercolor Societies. Jim Markel is a Master Member in the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Association. Jon McDonald, Armand Merizon and Chris Stoffel Overvoorde have exhibited regionally and nationally in Juried and Solo Exhibitions and are in numerous private and public collections including GRAM. Jon, Chris and Larry have been college professors for many years.
The dean of the group and major story teller is only with them in spirit. Armand Merizon, one of the oldest passed away in the Spring of 2010, at age 90. Now, when the group meets for lunch, there will always be an extra place for Armand – always.
March 25 – April 27 – Bette DelVecchio – Mixed Media
Reception April 12, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Jansma Gallery at NCCA-Artsplace, 13 E. Main St., Fremont. 231-924-4022. Bette states “Like most children, my options for self-expression were limited by the group of adults surrounding me…their rules, their budget, their decisions, their philosophy. This colored every aspect of my world, particularly my artistic vision. Fortunately, I was quite small, so the challenge of clothing myself in things that fit and that were acceptable opened a door to the wonderful world of second-hand stores. In them, I could find the raw materials for creating anything I could imagine while spending almost no money. In retrospect, this was the very beginning of my life as an artist. Whether it’s reworking used clothing or creating art by throwing a pot, restructuring it and rejoining the pieces or creating a painting, the end result is the same: an original creation which represents my unique vision, my sense of proportion, my philosophy, and, when I get it “right”, the essence of who I am.”
May 1 – June 1 NCCA Statewide Photography Competition
Jansma Gallery at NCCA-Artsplace, 13 E. Main St., Fremont. 231-924-4022.
Our goal is to exhibit and acknowledge the finest photographers in the state of Michigan and encourage greater growth and achievement in the photographic community. The Juror, Leica Master Photographer, Lora Robertson has selected the works and is very excited to announce the winning selections on Saturday May 4, 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
Entries this year came from all over our region, including several entries from Newaygo County. Types of photography range from cyanotype images developed from film, to photo collages meant to be underfoot! Be sure to stop by and see what Michigan photographers have put forth this year!
Congratulations to these photographers with accepted entries into the 2013 NCCA Statewide Photography Competition!
Debbe Banchester
Pete Blackburn
Deborah Chrystal
Robert Day
Katie Day-Schirmer
Evan Farinosi
Cheryl Fischer-Vodry
Kevin Gray
Renae Hesselink
Richard Hinton
Brian Hommes
Eric Kalvaitis
Donald Leigh Karel
Karri Klawiter
Chris Kuebler
Carl Luther
Lisa Medendorp
Gale Nobes
Sherri Russell
Steven Scherbinski
Don Spezia
Jane Stroschin
Shayne Vandeborne
Paul Von Eitzen
Kelly Waikotten
Holly Ziemba
Gina Zylstra
Paul Petersen
