Summer is finally here with all the ballgames and family
gatherings. Travel to and from these fun times will be a blessing and a lots of
fun. In summer, we move around the state a great deal. Along with the
family and the drop off and pickup of art entries, we accumulate a whole lot of
miles on the road. There is also the bonus of new sights to explore.
Michigan is a very diverse and beautiful state that never fails
to amaze the serendipity explorer. As we travel this northern U S state we are
amazed by the bountiful natural water reservoir, the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan,
I think, is the jewel in the Great Lakes crown. With its broad sand beaches and
dense emerald forests and inland lakes that give the nature lover a superb blend
of natural beauty.
If your fair is the urban life don’t miss the many charming
small towns. The small cafes and bakeries with their friendly locals are as
pleasant as any town in Europe. Check out Northport, Michigan - great cinnamon rolls!
If your travels take you on the many miles of expressways
don’t forget to pull off at some world class art venues and fine art galleries
throughout Michigan. Detroit with it diverse ethnic population can be a lot of
fun to explore. Don’t forget the Detroit
Institute of Art (DIA), one of the best in the world. Be sure to stop and
marvel at the grand historic and masterful Diego
Rivera mural. There are many art communities that are a must see for a
Michigan art tour.
Flint Institute of Art (FIA)
is as classic as any urban art venue in the country, with an exceptional
permanent collection as well as classy travelling shows. Kalamazoo Institute of Art (KIA) rests in a very artistic region. The exhibits
are world class. That was where we first became aware of Tunis Ponson’s work which is now under the curatorial protection of
Roy Saper of Saper Gallery in East
Lansing. Yes, right here in this artsy little town with big visions for art.
A great example of smaller community superb art exhibits is Shiawassee Art Center (SAC) in Owosso where
art thrives through an enthusiastic collaboration between staff, volunteers,
friends of, and the community businesses and individuals. Many communities
throughout Michigan have this same enthusiasm for the importance of art in the
health of the community. Check them out as you travel.
Saugatuck-Douglas has some of the best art venues in the
state, and a little further up the west coast of Michigan you can find other
fun art communities: Traverse City where original art abounds, Manistee, and Charlevoix
with contemporary galleries and old world classical paintings. These are just a
few.
ArtPrize (in September),
in Grand Rapids, has grown into international importance with its size and diverse
venues throughout the city. One of the main attractions for huge sculptural art
and smaller works in the main building gallery is at beautiful Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. That is where we became reacquainted with the excellent kenetic sculptor, George Rickey.
I’ll keep you posted on the various venues and paintings we
deliver, and here’s hoping we do a lot of traveling this new art season.
Happy art travels, Joel
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