Outdoor Gallery

THE OUTDOOR GALLERY IS OPEN

The Glen Arbor Arts Center unveiled its new Outdoor Gallery May 12. The inaugural exhibition features work by Empire painter Mark Mehaffey. Five of Mark’s oil paintings were reproduced on 5ft X 5ft aluminum panels, and installed on the GAAC’s west and south exterior walls.

“The Outdoor Gallery has been in the works ever since our indoor gallery was completed two years ago,” said Diane Hamilton, one of the GAAC board members who spearheaded the project. “The board, staff and community all agreed that we needed something to fill those ‘big blank walls’ with something that would help make the GAAC more visible; but the question was: What?”

A committee explored the idea of placing on the walls sculptures, tiles, murals, and other media while searching for the most flexible and cost-effective answer.

“The solution came when Image 360 in Traverse City showed us how we could easily reproduce small art on a large scale in a way that is lightweight, weatherproof, and easily changeable. We are all thrilled with the result,” Diane said.

When work first started on the Outdoor Gallery project, “we had no idea that something like COVID-19 was on the horizon,” said GAAC Executive Director Sarah Kime.”During this unusual time, when we’ve had to temporarily close the building to the public, this outdoor exhibition is an unexpected joy and uplifting gift. We are able to bring so much creativity outside. And, it’s accessible to anyone, every day, just by walking by the building.” The GAAC is located at 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.

Following a months-long, call-for-entries search, Mark’s series of contemporary landscape paintings were selected by Glen Arbor juror-artists Hank Feeley and Emory Mead. “This work reflects my deep love and respect for our natural environment,” Mark said. “I am both a dedicated artist and outdoorsman. Combining my two loves seemed to be a natural connection.”

Mark maintains an active studio practice. He retired from the Lansing Public School system where he taught visual art from 1973 to 2002. Once a teacher, always a teacher, today Mark teaches painting both locally and throughout the United States. Read more about Mark’s work here: https://www.markmehaffeyfineart.com/

Mark’s work remains in place until April 2021. The panels will then be available for purchase. Like all GAAC projects, the Outdoor Gallery is the result of many people’s time. We want to extend a special thanks to GAAC members Barb and George Cochran for their generous support of the Outdoor Gallery.