Category: Uncategorized

COME HERE! AND, COME HEAR!

This is good: The Glen Arbor Art Association has a new name: the Glen Arbor Arts Center [GAAC].

When did this happen?: In January. Right now. But, it’s been in the works. Let’s backtrack.

As plans were being made for the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s transition into its newly expanded facility at 6031 S. Lake St., the time seemed right to embrace a new name that better reflected the Art Association’s evolution into the GAAC’s: who are its members today, what has its work become, what is it offering to the community and what’s its mission?

Let’s get into the wayback machine: When it was established in the late 1980s, the Art Association was a collective of studio artists living and working in Glen Arbor. It was created by this small group of practitioners to support one another’s studio work. The founders’ mission was to “further the arts in the Glen Lake area.” Several decades on, that philosophic foundation has made it possible to build an organization that focuses on enriching community life — not only through the visual arts, but through all the arts including theater, literature and music, said Peg McCarty, GAAC director.

“With the creation of a new building, we’ve been given the perfect opportunity to re-consider the name of the organization and to think through if it still reflects the full scope of the programs and activities that take place here,” McCarty said. “The GAAC has grown into an organization that takes a broad, comprehensive approach to contributing to the community’s cultural and creative life.”

What does this mean? The GAAC doubled its space. Add it all together and it equals more events, classes, concerts, lectures, and exhibits [there’s a new gallery!] year ’round. A place for studio practitioners to build skills, a place for the person who wants to get reacquainted with their creative self, and all things in between.

And what about that logo?A group of GAAC volunteers teamed up with the graphic artists at Saxon Design to create a fresh, visual symbol that clearly and quickly communicates the lively, expanded nature of the GAAC’s mission.

Glen Arbor Arts Center to Glen Arbor Arts Center: Bottom line, the name change builds on the founders’ vision, and expresses an expanded mission that includes all the arts, reaching deeply into the community. Come see what’s new. Come explore. Come experience. Come discover your Inner Maker. Be inspired, and learn how creativity transforms — buildings, people, communities. Let’s do this.

The GAAC is open during the week from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and on Sundays from noon – 4 p.m. beginning January 14, 2018.

Peace Hawley Joppich’s watercolor painting of a Great Lakes Piping Plover was selected as the winner of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s 2018 kids’ artwork contest. Peace, 9, lives in Maple City and is one of the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s After School Art kids – along with her brother, Odin, 7. They both attend Leland Public School. Peace’s composition will be the artwork used on the Park’s 2019 Annual Park Entrance Pass.

SBDNL Ranger Paul Purifoy announced the winner at a ceremony on December 15 at SBD Headquarters in Empire, Michigan. This is the third year for the contest. Kids 12 years or younger submitted drawings and painting from August through October. This year, a total of 77 entries were received from young artists living in many different states, including Michigan, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The contest is part of the Park’s effort to spotlight the “Every Kid in a Park” program. Peace will receive a selection of gifts from the park’s bookstore High fives, Peace!

Every year, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sells over 11,000 Annual Park Entrance Passes. The pass provides free entry for 12 months for the pass holder and occupants in a single, private non-commercial vehicle. If entry is by foot, bicycle, or organized group not part of a commercial tour, the pass admits the pass holder and three adults (16 years of age or older). Children under 16 are admitted free.

Illinois painter Sally Wille’s Full Color Beach Day is the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s iconic 2020 Manitou Music Poster image.

“I have painted this scene on the beach at Glen Haven many times,” Wille said. Working through direct observation, and with an array of photographs that capture the receding and encroaching Lake Michigan water levels on the beach, Wille has created an abstracted impression of the beach. Full Color Beach Day was executed in gouache and cold wax.

“I apply cold wax after the painting is finished,” she said. “It acts as a protective seal on top of the painting and I don’t have to frame the watercolor under glass. I like the added texture cold wax gives and adds another dimension to the painting.”

The Manitou Music concerts are one of the GAAC’s summer highlights. Manitou Music offers a series of live musical performances between July and August.

“The landscape all over Leelanau County provides inspiration,” Wille said.” This painting is a journey of color and abstract representation that hopefully excites the viewer.”

For more than two decades, Wille and her family have divided their year between a home in Glencoe, Illinois, and Glen Arbor. She earned a BFA from the University of Arizona, and worked as a graphic designer and art director for Northern Trust Bank and Beltone Electronics before raising her family.

Wille’s painting was selected by the GAAC’s Manitou Music Poster Committee from a field of 25 entries. The poster competition is open to all GAAC members. Applications for the 2021 poster competition are online at GlenArborArt.org/FOR ARTISTS, and will be available for review in early May 2020. Deadline for submissions is September 17. Copies of the 2020 poster are available now. The poster price is $18.

11/13/20 Update

As of today, the Glen Arbor Arts Center building will be closed until December 4 due to increased positive cases of COVID-19, MIOSHA workplace recommendations, and area school closings. We can’t see you in person for a couple of weeks, but all our offerings including our Small works exhibit can be viewed and purchased online. Staff is still available during normal business hours by phone or email if you need to contact GAAC.

Please stop by on your outside walk to view our Light up Glen Arbor holiday trees that will be shining brightly with donated community ornaments starting on December 5th.

We wish you a safe and healthy holiday season and will work remotely to continue offering quality creative programming online or outside for the period.

Warmest regards,

Sarah Kime
Executive Director

5/14/20 Update

Dear Friends,

After careful monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic and consultation with public health experts, our board of directors, arts leaders, and many others, we have decided to hold virtual programs and classes for the remainder of the year. We will continue to monitor the pandemic and once it is safe to get together in person, again, we will offer in-person programs We take this action with the safety and well-being of our community as our highest priority.

The following events are canceled:

• The 2020 Manitou Music series, including the Dune Climb Concert in July.
• The Artist-in-Residence program.
• Adult and youth in-person classes, workshops and camps, we will offer virtual art classes, modified pottery studio and art camp in a box instead.
• All in-person gallery programming. Virtual exhibitions, presentations, and lectures will be available on our website, youtube channel, social media beginning May 15.
• The Plein Air Weekend scheduled for the 1st weekend in August is canceled; however, a one-day Virtual Plein Air paint out auction instead. All artists involved will be issued a refund and invited to participate in our virtual Plein Air.

Details on these events and the rest of our virtual schedule will be available by the end of May.

We would like to thank all of our members, artists, donors, and the sponsors for our Plein Air Weekend, Manitou Music Series, Dune Climb Concert for their continued support as the Glen Arbor Art Center navigate through these difficult times.

If you had planned to take classes, see a performance, or attend an event at the GAAC this year, please consider turning those dollars into a gift to the Glen Arbor Art Center today. Your generosity will support the Glen Arbor Art Center through these unprecedented and unexpected times and provide much-needed funding that will allow us to continue offering a wide range of creative experiences for the community.

We are excited to have our first virtual Plein Air, online programming, and our first outdoor gallery exhibit, featuring five paintings by local artist Mark Mehaffey and sponsored by Barb and George Cochran. It has been installed on our building’s exterior for your viewing pleasure.  Thank you for your support of the Glen Arbor Arts Center and our programs. We look forward to gathering with you to share art and musical performances as soon as it is safe to do so.

Best Regards,

Sarah Kime
Executive Director

4/9/20 Update

As our state continues efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the Stay Home, Stay Safe order through April 30. To support this effort, and comply with the order, Glen Arbor Arts Center will extend the closure of its building and cancelling its programming through April 30.

3/26/20 Update

In keeping with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21, the GAAC has closed its building for an indefinite time. Our foremost goal and mission is to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19. Suspending the GAAC’s business is something that, at the same time, we do with heavy hearts, but knowing that everyone must do their part to get through these uncertain times. Like many of you, our staff is working from home – working to find outlets to connect, entertain, or maybe even distract us for a moment. We will be creating virtual exhibits, recommending articles, creating at-home art projects inspired by artworks in our galleries, and giving you the resources you need to connect with art while sequestered away in your homes.

As a nonprofit, our members and visitors are what keep us going. Your support through online memberships and donations will be the only source of revenue during this closure. If you can give, we ask that you consider a donation.

Thank you and stay safe,
Sarah Kime
Executive Director

3/19/20 Update

Dear Members and Friends of Glen Arbor Art Center,

On Monday, March 16, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a temporary order that closes theaters, bars, and casinos, and limits restaurants to carry-out and delivery orders. In response to Governor Whitmer’s declaration of a state of emergency for Michigan, and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control & World Health Organization, we have decided that all Glen Arbor Arts Center classes, programming and gallery are suspended until April 6.

Effective immediately, our office hours are Monday thru Friday, 9am to 3pm and our building will be closed to the public . Our staff can be reached by phone at 231/334-6112. All in-person meetings are suspended and rescheduled for after April 6.

IN THE MEANTIME: The GAAC will follow CDC and Michigan Department of Health and Human services regarding cancellations and closures and will keep you informed of any changes that occur via email and through regular postings on our website and social media.

Thank you for your goodwill and understanding. In this uncertain moment, I have every confidence in our community’s ability to pull together with kindness, care and concern for the common good. During this challenging time, we hope you can find solace and comfort through some creative activity. We hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
Sarah Kime
Executive Director

3/13/20

Dear Members and Friends of Glen Arbor Art Center,

Glen Arbor Art Center shares our nation’s concern of the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and are especially cognizant of the incidents that have been recently reported in Michigan. We want to ensure that everyone is mindful of the prevention measures necessary to help minimize the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In an effort to protect the safety and well-being of our visitors, staff and members, Glen Arbor Art Center is strengthening its daily cleaning routine as well as disinfecting surfaces and door handles of studios and entrances.  Glen Arbor Art Center is asking our friends and members to follow these nationally recommended prevention measures:

• Please stay at home if you are not feeling well.
• Wash/scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your face until you have washed your hands.
• Keep a distance of at least six feet from other people when at work or in public.
• All events of 100 people or more are postponed, cancelled, or moved online until May 15.
• Visitors traveling from areas that the CDC finds have “widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission” of Covid-19 cannot visit the Arts Center until they have successfully completed 14 days of self-quarantine.

Glen Arbor Art Center will follow CDC and Michigan Department of Health and Human services regarding cancellations and closures and will keep you informed of any changes that occur via email and through regular postings on our website and social media.

Please accept my gratitude in advance for your goodwill and understanding. In this uncertain moment, I have every confidence in our community’s ability to pull together with kindness, care and concern for the common good.

Sincerely,

Sarah Kime
Executive Director