“50 Artists” exhibit lights up the night

Oh! What a show, what an event, what a night!

Fifty examples of various styles of art are on display at Studio 23,  on N. Water St.  in Bay City, in an exhibition titled “50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region.”

The opening reception was Thursday, Oct. 10, and the place was packed.  50 artists, their families and friends, and community supporters were there.

The biennial juried exhibition showcases visual artists from the Great Lakes Bay Region, which is an eight-county area of Mid-Michigan. It’s quite an undertaking on the part of Studio 23, celebrating its 60th year.

Judging the works this year were Kim Kleinheart, an art educator; Guy Greve, a community supporter of the arts; Paul A. Haselhuhn, a principle with WTA Architects, and Donna Branch, owner of Gingerblue Gallery in Saginaw.

There is a wide variety of art  using numerous techniques and mediums. The styles include wood, bronze, mixed media, paper, pencil, prints, photography, ceramics and assemblage. There is literally something for everyone.

Each artist displays two pieces of art. One at the gallery and one on the Riverwalk in downtown Bay City. There is a public vote taken on line with the prize awarded at the end of the gallery show Nov. 23.

Three awards were given out at the opening, two merit awards and the $3,000 grand prize that went to Rebecca Zeiss, a photographer and teacher at U of M, Flint.

Ninety-three artists submitted work.

This exhibit is similar to the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside/Out program where they make copies of their permanent collection and display them on streets in the Detroit area. It’s also comparable to the Grand Rapids Art Prize on a smaller scale.

Do go see the show at the gallery. You can also go early in the morning or late at night on a bike ride or jog to see the works  on the Riverwalk.

And be sure to check them out and vote for your favorite at www.studio23baycity.org.