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A diverse collection of Art Exhibitions are held throughout the year here at the Center. Here's a sample of our past exhibitions.
John Huenink
A camera is an artistic enigma.
Some say a photograph is not art…
That a camera can only capture what is already there.
And they are right.
The difference is what the artist helps the camera see…
All artists see things others do not…that is what makes them artists.
Yet the photographer is limited like no other artistic form…
The photographer cannot create a fictional account of reality…
The photographer cannot add fictional parts from their imagination
to a scene.
My goals?
To present reality in a way that is not always seen,
To allow the mundane to become amazing,
To allow light to play on the senses,
To allow the unnoticed to become so real.
We are accustomed to a photograph framed, matted and behind glass.
I do that…
But I also present my photography
On aluminum panels,
On stretched gallery wrapped canvases,
On glass,
On wooden panels.
All of theses create a unique vision for the viewer
And a unique viewing medium for photography.
My hope is that you enjoy experiencing my photography as much as I enjoy creating it.
Exhibit runs September 11-October 11, 2009
Opening Reception
September 11, 5-7 pm
Artist's Potluck
October 3, 5-7 pm
Lecture at 6 pm
Photography Workshops
September 15, 7-9 pm
September 24, 7-9 pm
call SHCA for more information and to register
Dog Days of Summer Exhibit
July 31st - Sept 6th
Opening Reception Friday, July 31st, 6:30-8:30 pm
Died: November 2, 1961 - New York, New York
The Art Center will become known as the Center for the "Arfs" during this fun and furry exhibit which will feature dogs of every shape and size.
The exhibit features the artwork of over twenty Michigan artists, in a variety of mediums including: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, fiber, wire, wood, glass, photography and more. Many of the artists are dog owners themselves and were pleased to interpret the canine theme. A piece of James Thurber's work is generously loaned by his daughter Rosie Thurber.
Guest curator Kathy Catania, also a dog owner says, “I am excited to bring together artists, dog lovers and summer visitors of all ages for this light-hearted show.”
The exhibit also comprises two interactive displays entitled: “What Does Your Dog Look Like?” where visitors may bring photos of their dog(s) – past and present – to add to a collective wall of images. (Rescued and deceased pets will receive special recognition) And, “Stage Name Wall” where people can take their pet’s name and the street name of where they lived as a child, and combine them into a “stage name.” (Example: Lady McKenzie)
“The Dog Days of Summer” will also feature a drawing by American humorist James Thurber, on loan from his daughter Rosemary Thurber, of South Haven. Thurber referred to the inclusion of a dog in his work as…. “A sound creature in a crazy world.”
The exhibit opening reception (free to the public) takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday July 31. Enjoy the amazing culinary creations of chef extraordinaire Suzie Blair while viewing artists’ delightful conceptions of “The Dog Days of Summer”.
Opening Reception, July 31, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, everyone is welcome! Open to the public with free refreshments and the artwork will be available for purchase.
Other Events . . .
Pet Portraits, August 8, 1:00 – 4:00 pm - Photos will be taken of Pets and Pets with their owners and can be taken home that day. - 8x10 ($10) 5x7 ($8) 4x6 ($6)
Al Van Adoption Day, August 15, 1:00 – 4:00 pm - Animals from Al-Van will be available for adoption at the South Haven Center for the Arts
“In Dogs We Trust,” August 22, 1:00 – 4:00 pm - A live exhibition of creative dog grooming will be presented by Rover’s Retreat - Pet Groomers will be on hand to answer common grooming questions
Dog Trick Workshops, August 29, 1:30 – 2:30 & 3:00 – 4:00 pm - Kelly Elvin from Tip Top Tails will be teaching classic and new tricks like shake, roll over, commando crawl, weave through the legs, spin and the spelling bee. Kids aged 8 and up are welcome. Dogs (and kids) must be friendly with other dogs and people to attend. Bring some treats, a regular (non-retractable) leash and your pup. All participants receive a Tip Top Tails tote bag and a tricks handout to take home - Cost is $20 for the workshop. Call the Art Center to register for this workshop, (269)-637-1041
Dog Themed Stone Painting for Kids, September 2, 10:00 – 11:30am & 1:00 – 2:30pm - Located at the City Marina-south side.The cost is $5, no registration is required.
The Art Center will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of artworks and fees from events to the Al-Van Humane Society.
Many thanks to the following for making the “The Dog Days of Summer” and its events possible: Underwriters: Bangor Veterinary Clinic, Phoenix Road Animal Hospital, South Haven Animal Hospital, and Partners: Al-Van Humane Society, Rover’s Retreat and Tip Top Tails.
hair @ the shore - Upper Gallery Exhibit June 19-July 26, 2009
Artist George Martinez (self portrait below) Opening Reception Saturday, June 20th, 5:00-7:00 pm
Artist Potluck / Demonstration Sunday, July 12th, 1:30-4:00 pm
When one realizes the above self-portrait of George Martinez is created upon a ground of felt with hundreds of thousands of tiny pieces of human hair… in tandem with the fact this particular work is over five feet long… you are drawn to take an even closer second gander at this astounding medium/work.
George Martinez is a part time barber. One day after his last client departed, he was cleaning up and tipped the barber chair back to sweep revealing a circle of negative space with hair snippets close to the circles perimeter. At this juncture he manipulated the hair snippets on the floor into a sort of man in the moon creature photographed it and for fun showed it to his friend and mentor noted Michigan artist Andrew Freemire. After realizing the unbelievable and rather strange medium Mr. Freemire said “George, you create forty sizable works of quality and in five months I will stage an exhibit for you.”
Since that first exhibit in 2002, Mr. Martinez has had nine one man regional exhibits, spoken to various professional artists groups, conducted workshops on his inventive medium and two university speaking engagements.
Also . . .
NOW sculpture/environment Exhibit - Main Gallery
While exhibiting at various venues, the Chicago-based 3-D 12 artists have identified their commonly held environmental interests and concerns. Our personal perceptions on the issue cover as broad a range as our materials of choice. Decomposed lost and found objects, recycled plastic and metal, salvaged scrap wood, earth and water are some materials which are effectively reconfigured to translate our ideas into physical forms. The sculptural works take on subjective and collective meaning to contributre to a genuine meta-landscape.
The 3-D 12 artists are: Shelley Gilchrist, Peter Gray, Alan Emerson Hicks, Ruyell Ho, Beth Kamhi, Jim MacRoberts, Bill Moll, Mimi Peterson, Robert Putnam, Eric H. Steele, and Michelle Stone
Underwritten by Systems Components, Inc.
Members Show: Light up the Sky - May 1 - June 14, 2009
The African Experience
Focus: Children of Liberia December 12, 2008, through February 1, 2009
“Not a toy in sight.” These five simple words, spoken casually be their son, started a 12,000-mile odyssey by South Haven residents Bob and Suzanne Boucek. When Bob, Jr. returned from a trip to Liberia in West Africa last fall he was describing the conditions he encountered in visiting some 600 infants and children in eight orphanages to which his organization, LESEA Global Feed the Hungry, supplies food rations. As a result of a twelve year civil war, Liberia’s orphanages are overflowing with homeless children.
Glass Allusion Sept / Oct 2008
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The South Haven Center for the Arts invites you to view the Glass Allusion exhibit from September 12th through October 31st, 2008. Come meet the artist, Jerry Catania, at the opening reception on Friday, September 12th from 5:30-8:30 pm.
Jerry Catania began working in glass in 1972 as a part of the experimental beginnings of the Pilchuck glass school in Washington State. Catania was accepted to be one of 30 students that summer to work and study glass under the direction of now famed artists Dale Chihuly and Fritz Dreisbach. The following year he returned home to southwest Michigan and constructed his own private glass studio called 'Fiasco Glass' located in Stevensville. The word "fiasco" refers to the Italian, straw-wrapped wine bottles as well as the flawed glass "seconds" sold in the street markets - a tongue-and-cheek reflection of the artists struggle to teach himself and make worthwhile art. In 1990 Catania moved his studio 35 miles north of its original location to Glenn, Michigan, where he worked in a 19th-century barn studio until 2004 when he moved the studio to Benton Harbor, MI and co-founded “Water Street Glassworks“ - a not-for-profit school of the glass arts.
Jerry Catania’s work includes: one-of-a-kind vessel forms that are narrative or decorative in nature, limited edition functional stemware and sand-cast glass / mixed-media sculptures. He likes to let glass do what it does best - display its wonderful optical and fluid properties. The artist enjoys exploring the vessel as a form of expression as well as linking the transparency and clarity of glass to the metaphors of perception, insight, illusion and immaterialism.
As both a practicing artist and an educator, Catania’s desire to teach the medium of glass has played a great part in his overall career. He has been teaching glassblowing for over 25 years and currently directs the glass program for “Ox-Bow” - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's summer program in Saugatuck, Michigan and in 2004 co-founded Water Street Glassworks in Benton Harbor. Catania’s heart lies in the teaching of this unique medium and he is continually inspired by his students.
Birdland Aug / Sept 2008
Colorful and fanciful watercolors and prints, the bird motif has been a long standing theme in artist, Charmaine Kaptur’s work. Birdland runs from August 1st until September 7th, 2008 with the opening reception on Sunday, Aug 3rd from 2:00-4:00 pm.
The bird theme continued when a peacock adopted her neighborhood. They named him “Fred” and Kaptur started photographing, sketching and painting the peacock as well as other birds.
Ms. Kaptur has been in over 100 juried shows and taught art for over 10 years in the Detroit area, demonstrated at the Detroit Institute of Arts and won many awards. This shows title was taken from the name of a popular Chicago jazz club.
Whimsey - Too Much Fun for Words
June 20 - July 27, 2008
Cheri McClain-Beatty, Roger Mason, Bim Willow, Charley and Edie Harper
Each of these artists add a delightful touch of whimsy to their furniture painting, line drawing, woodworking, and silkscreen collector prints.
Cheri McClain-Beatty—Grand Rapids - Chair Painting
Roger Mason - South Haven - Ink & Watercolor
Bim Willow - Grand Junction - Chair Making
Charley & Edie Harper - Cincinnati - Silkscreen Prints
This show is partially underwritten by: Whimsy, a gift store of South Haven.
"Time to Relax": Theme for Annual Members' Show at Art Center
May 2008
The 58th Annual Members' Show of the South Haven Center for the Arts will feature artwork based on the theme "Time to Relax." The exhibition will be held May 9 through June 15, 2008 with an opening reception on Saturday, May 10 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at which time prizes for best theme, people’s choice and purchase awards will be presented. Trelleborg Automotive is again sponsoring this event.
This exhibit provides an annual opportunity for Art Center members to show their talents in a variety of media. All current members are invited to submit up to three works. Those relating to the theme “Time to Relax” will be featured in the main gallery while non-theme items will be displayed in the upstairs gallery. All artwork will be original and produced within the last three years.
Artists in Transition: March 14 through April 27, 2008
Opening Reception Sunday, March 16, 1-4 p.m.
High School and Middle School age students from the regional area will exhibit their work. The exhibit will be judged by Saugatuck gallery owner Peggy Boyce. A reception will be held on Sunday, March 16, from 1:00 to 4:00 with awards presented at 2:00 pm. Schools represented include South Haven, Covert, Bangor, St. Basil and Bloomingdale.
"Ship Shapes" Family Exhibition Featuring Maritime Art & Models
Opening Reception Friday, Dec. 14, Friday, Dec. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 2, 2008
Ship Shapes, a family exhibition of maritime and nautical arts and models will open at the South Haven Center for the Arts on Friday, Dec. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 2, 2008. The exhibit is in collaboration with the Michigan Maritime Museum and will feature historical and contemporary art, as well as sailor crafts, navigational maps and charts and the work of a number of local and regional artists. The open reception will be held Friday, Dec. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature music, wine and refreshments and is open to the general public free of charge.
Regional artists with original works featured in the exhibit include John Davidson, John Babcock, Bob Tomlin and other from South Haven, Michael Dunn of Kalamazoo, Pat Camillo of Hamilton, and Charmaine Kaptur of Grosse Point. Other local artists will also be represented, as well as items from the collections of local families and businesses.