Art produced by ArtWorks members and Friends is on exhibit in the Olive Craig Gallery of the Alberta House located in Sault Ste Marie, MI June 1 until June 30.

The Olive Craig Gallery in the Alberta House periodically sponsors exhibitions to show the public what artists across the Peninsula are creating.  In many ways, Michigan’s entire Upper Peninsula is an artists’ colony.  There is something about its beauty and remoteness that both attracts and produces artists while promoting a strong network of mutual cooperation and support among them.  ArtWorks is the result of just such a network.

The Exhibit “ArtWorks and Friends” is a mixed media exhibit including the work of artists from Kingsford, Iron Mountain, Channing, Norway, MI, and Spread Eagle, WI.

Artists exhibiting include Darlene Strand, a multi-media artist and photographer; Gail Stanek, an award-winning sculptor as well as a two-dimensional artist; Julia Dawson Calkins, who paints in watercolor, prismacolor pencil and acrylics; Ivy Coan, a musician and fabric artist whose quilts and collages reflect her sense of humor; Karen Larson, a prize-winning potter; Toni Mendina, an artist and instructor in colored pencils; mother and daughter Marilyn and Linda Phillips, who work in graphite, watercolor and batik; Christine Burns, photographer; Melisse Carr who works in graphite, colored pencil, and water media; Sharon Schmeltzer who works in water media, oils, and creates jewelry; Ted Rogers, a retired language teacher who has had great success with his whimsical carvings in cottonwood bark; and Audrey Smith who creates with glass and hand-made paper beads.

Alberta House is located at 217 Ferris Street, one block west and one-half block north of the Sault post office, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is free of charge.  For exhibit details or more about Alberta House, log on to www.saultarts.org.

Tree Sculptures from Frannie Weigelt of northern Wisconsin are now on display and for sale at ArtWorks.  A special reception to welcome her work was held on Thursday, June 18.

ArtWorks will be open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. CDT.  Watch for additional special event hours.

Please join us at a reception featuring Christine Burns and her beautiful nature photography on May 12 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. 

In her artist statement, she says, “It’s amazing how the world has opened up to me since I have begun photographing.  Colors are intense, light plays across lakes, forests, and flower beds.  Frosty conifers sparkle like diamonds.  Sunrise . . . with the brilliant colors of a fiery sphere, breaks the silence of dreary dawn.  When I come upon a beautiful sight, I can only think–what a gift!”

Christine is a semi-retired registered nurse who lives with her husband, Don, on the shore of Sawyer Lake near Channing.  They have three grandsons.  Christine’s photography has captured many beautiful sights on Sawyer Lake and throughout the Upper Peninsula.  She is available to photograph family photos, graduating senior pictures, engagement, babies, pets, etc.

Her other interests include theater, singing and dancing, gardening, family outings, shooting sports, hunter safety instruction, sewing, and many more.  Gallery by Christine is her photo/art and frame business.  You can visit her website at ChristineBurns.Zenfolio.com.

 Selected art from ArtWorks Gallery and Gifts is on display for the month of March at River Valley Bank located at 101 West  B Street in downtown Iron Mountain. 

ArtWorks’ members create in a wide variety of media including oils, pastels, watercolor, graphite , ceramics, fibers, beads, wood, acrylic, metal, and photography.

The public is invited to view the ArtWorks display at River Valley Bank, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.  to 12:00 noon.

Temperatures hover around Zero out doors, but inside ArtWorks, the tea is hot and the smiles are abundant.  New Gallery Hours: Closed on Sundays. Monday, Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10AM-4PM.

 A reception is scheduled for February 10 for new artist member, Terry Sovey, the Doll Lady! Terry introduces her one-of-a-kind doll collection this month. She brings a wealth of experience and expression to her art form. Terry designs dolls large and small and to reflect indiviual requests. Stop in to get acquainted with Terry and her Friends! Reception hours are 5:30-7:30PM on Thursday February 10…just in time for your favorite Valentine!

Twenty pieces of original artwork created by our member artists are available now for $35.00 each.  On the evening of the “Great Unwrapping“, Dec. 9th, the finished pieces will be exhibited without wrapping. Sales certificate holders must be present in order to claim their purchase . The Holder of Certificate No. 1 will have first choice; the holder of Certificate No. 2, second choice…and so on. Refreshments will be served…and smiles and laughter amid the suspense is guaranteed. Our artists promise a variety of media…acrylic, wood, mixed watermedia; textile arts…and more! Select a piece of original artwork for yourself or to give as a gift. The purchase price is just a fraction of the real value of the finished work.

Featured is the mixed media work of Christine Burns, Melisse Carr, J. Dawson-Calkins, Ivy Coan, Mirian Edwards, Joan Game, Sue Huotari, Karen Larsen, Toni Mendina, Marilyn Phillips, Ted Rogers, Sharon Schmeltzer, Audrey Smith, Gail Stanek and Darlene Strand. The exhibit will run until October 26. The Fine Arts Center is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 AM to 5:30 PM EST. Saturdays, 10AM to 3PM EST, and it is closed on Sunday and Monday.  If you can’t find us in Iron Mountain, get a map…at upartmap.com. The map is available at tourist centers and galleries throughout the Upper Peninsula.

You may also see the work of Joan Game in Grand Rapids, MI, at Art Prize. Joan describes her piece, “Feminine Rising”, as a sculpture “symbolizing the rising status of women and the feminine qualities that women bring to their arenas.” Joan likes to think of her piece as a way to honor women for the different kinds of barriers they move through. “Feminine Rising” is installed at the Huntington Bank, 50 Monroe Place, Grand Rapids, MI, through October 10. Wear comfortable shoes…there are over 1700 artists from 44 states throughout the city!

The public is invited to come and celebrate as artists share their new works portraying unusual ways of seeing the BIG and the small in our world. Refreshments will be served. ArtWorks is the area’s only artist run and operated gallery featuring work from 16 different artists: Melisse Carr, Julia Calkins, Tina Carlson, Mary Ann Cimock, Ivy Coan, Jenna Dunnick, Susan Huotari, Joan Game, Karen Larson, Toni Mendina, Martha Nagel, Ted Rogers, Sharon Schmeltzer, Audrey Smith, Darlene Strand, and Gail Stanek. A large variety of beading, carvings, sculptures, oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, acrylic paintings, collage, fiber arts and much more is on display.

ArtWorks can be reached at 906-774-1540. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, closed on Tuesdays, and open on Sundays from 10AM – 2PM.

The Gallery features new work by our artists as they explore gardens in many mediums. The public is invited to a reception on August 12 from 5:30-7:30PM. Among the original artwork, ceramics and jewelry are the books, “Sam English: The Life, Work and Times of an Artist”, recently recognized as an outstanding coffee table book of the year. The book’s writer and editor is Ann Dallman, former high school English teacher at Hannahville Indian School in Wilson, MI. Through the outstanding reproduction of Sam’s artwork and Ann’s writing, the reader is offered the rare opportunity in hear an artist’s story, his personal beliefs about heritage, family and community. The significance of the powerful illustrations and the purposes to which the artist has dedicated his artwork are important for people of all ages to read and reflect upon. The book was printed in Wisconsin.  It gathered four national awards…come in and see for yourself. Share it with a young person!