Clown Around

December 17 - February 6

This exhibit for the whole family explored the wonders of the circus and had something for everyone! Visitors got a chance to learn about the history of the circus in the South Haven area, participate in circus related activities, and see wonderful works of art inspired by the Big Top. The exhibit featured artist Shelia Bohanan and Jessica Stein, as well as the Suzie Blair collection, and the Sapita's Family collection of miniature circus wagons.

Artists in Transition

Feb 11 - March 20

This exhibit presents works in a variety of mediums, created by middle and high school students from Bangor, Bloomingdale, St. Basil and South Haven schools. The Artists in Transition exhibit brings hundreds of families, friends and art lovers to the art center each year to honor the colorful creations of these talented students.

Building Blocks - Elementary Student Show

March 25 - May 1

What do you have when you mix art instruction with imagination? The fabulous exhibit: Building Blocks Elementary School Student Show!

"All the elementary teachers work together to organize this event and all participate in hanging the art", says Seggie. "The children are excited and proud to have their art exhibited. Ideally, we would love to have every student display his or her artwork in each year's show". Seggie notes that teachers try and have students take turns so all will have an opportunity for their artwork to be featured. Every child participating in the Building Blocks show receives a ribbon.

Member's Show

May 6 - June 19

This was an exhibit highlighting the talent of our wonderful and expansive membership. All members are encouraged to participate in this exhibit and it is one of the most anticipated exhibits of the year. The majority of the works on display are for sale.

Into the Woods

June 24 - August 7

Marcia Perry and Ladislav Hanka filled our galleries with both two dimensional and three dimensional artworks inspired by their love of nature. The exhibit also featured emerging fine art jeweler Katelyn Kronshage who displaye functional art that incorporated natural elements.

2nd Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit

August 12 - September 25

This exhibit included juried works from nine surrounding counties and offered a $500 first prize. Jurors for the show were: Carol Ann Brown from the Lubeznik Art Center in Michigan City, Indiana, William Davis from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Lorma Freestone from the Holland Area Arts Council in Holland, Michigan.

Metamorphose

September 30 - November 13

Metamorphose was an exhibit of new media artworks that explored surrealism and the identity of a new art movement. This show featured videos, sound art, mixed media, and photography. Artists Ed Osborn and Mark Snyder took the floor featuring their sound art, while local artist Matt Manley from Grand Rapids, exhibited mixed media works, and Osvlado Gonzales used the digital art medium.

The 4x 6 Art-Lets Exhibition

October 14 - October 30

This exhibit puts on display miniature works of affordable art created by many local and regional artists. Each piece is the size of a 4x6 photograph or smaller and can be either a 2D or 3D piece. Throughout the duration of this exhibit visitors have the opportunity to bid on the artworks that fill studio/haus in downtown South Haven. All pieces start at $30 and can either be purchased or bid on.

Wonders of the Woven World

December 18 - January 17

Explore with us the application of fiber and textile as an art form using traditional and non-traditional design. The exhibit features sculpture, wearable art, tapestry, and art quilts as the form for the beauty and functionality of the medium. Featuring the works of Anna Campbell, Carol Gustavson, Geary Jones, Ann Keister, John Koch, and Leslie Riley with Jacqueline Skarritt, Midge Lewis, Aron Lowe, and Sherry Konya.

1st Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit

January 22 - February 20

The Regional Juried Art Exhibit is open to all artists, 18 years of age and older, living in Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, Kent, Barry, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Cass counties. All mediums are welcome (entry fee required). Jurors for the exhibit will be Paul Flickinger, MFA of WMU Gwen Frostic School of Art, Bill Mayer, MFA of Hope College, and Brenda Snipe, MFA of Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University. Prizes awarded at the Opening Reception, Jan. 22, include $500, first place, $250, second place, $100, third place.

Building Blocks

February 26 - March 28

Building Blocks is an annual exhibit that showcases the artistic talents of the area elementary schools. The exhibit fills both galleries with vibrant colors of children's imaginations and is put together and hung by the area elementary art teachers and Art Center staff. This exhibit is a part of the South Haven Center for the Arts' community outreach program to enhance the experience of the arts for school age children in our area.

Artist in Transition

April 2 - May 2

Artist in Transition is an exhibit the middle school and high school area art students look forward to every year. It is a chance to see their works hung professionally in a gallery setting. It is also a juried show where the students not only gain recognition for their work, but also receive a prize. This exhibit is a part of the South Haven Center for the Arts' community outreach program aimed to enhance the experience of the arts for school age children in our area.

Member's Show

May 7 - June 20

The South Haven Center for the Arts' Member's Show is an exhibit that highlights the talent of our membership. All members are encouraged to participate in next year's exhibit as it is one of the most anticipated exhibits of the year. Each year the Member's Show is assigned a theme that challenges and inspires our members in preparation for the exhibit; 2010's theme was reflection. The majority of the works on display for this exhibit are for sale.

Skins to Rims Body Art Exhibit

June 25 - August 8

The artwork for this exhibit highlights several artists featuring Lars Krutak and Gary Salyer (Gash), along with photographs of leatherwork by Roxanne Middleton, and pen and ink drawings by Kim Thompson. Also part of the exhibit is a classic 1978 Honda motorcycle with all original equipment and paint, courtesy of Mike Gould.

Featured works by Lars Krutak include photographs and video of the magical implications of tattooing from around the tribal world. Dr. Krutak, a graduate from Arizona State University, received his PhD in anthropology in 2009 and has been studying tattooing techniques of indigenous peoples around the world since 1996.

Also featured artwork in the gallery by Gary Salyer, includes a large scale installation piece comprised entirely of pure organic pigments with traces of human blood, directly resulting from the tattooing process. Salyer, a graduate of Western Michigan University, received his Bachelor of Fine Art in 2010 and has been a freelance artist for nearly twenty years in the body modification industry.

Colors of India

August 13 - September 26

The artworks for this exhibit highlight several artists featuring Linda and Lou Rizzolo, Kirsten Strom and Chitra Gopalakrishnan. Linda and Lou Rizzolo will display their wonderfully colored watercolors and ink drawings inspired by their recent trip to India. Kirsten Stroms display of photographs will give you a look into the landscape and architecture of India. While Chitra Gopalakrishnan brings insight and design to the gallery with her focus on patterns inside of shapes, which are a traditional form of Indian folk art that is heavily desirable due to its adorning and beautifying tendencies.

The 4x 6 Art-Lets Exhibition

October 1- November 7

This exhibit puts on display miniature works of affordable art created by many local and regional artists. Each piece is the size of a 4x6 photograph or smaller and can be either a 2D or 3D piece. Throughout the duration of this exhibit visitors have the opportunity to bid on the artworks that fill the galleries, all pieces start at $30 and can either be purchased or bid on.

Michigan Outsiders Art

December 18 –February 5, 2012

Opening Reception December 18th (5-7pm)

A broad array of works from a number of best-known Michigan “outsider” artists will fill the galleries of the South Haven Center for the Arts. This exhibit explores the interest in “Outsider” art a.k.a. visionary/intuitive/self taught/ naïve art as it continues to grow from remote areas of the rural deep south to the far reaches of the north. This art form has been both shaping and shaking the American Art world for the past 30 years, and in the last decade and a half many of the genre’s best have been discovered right here in Michigan.

Artist in Transition

February 10 – March 18, 2012

Opening Reception February 12th (2-4pm)

Artist in Transition is an exhibit the middle school and high school area art students look forward to every year. It is a chance to see their works hung professionally in a gallery setting. It is also a juried show where the students not only gain recognition for their work but also receive a prize. This exhibit also is a part of the South Haven Center for the Arts’ community outreach program to enhance the experience of the arts for school age children in our area.

Building Blocks

March 23 – April 29th, 2012

Opening Reception March 25th (12-4pm)

Building Blocks is an annual exhibit that showcases the artistic talents of the area elementary schools. The exhibit fills both galleries with vibrant colors of children’s imagination and is put together and hung by the area elementary art teachers. This exhibit is a part of the South Haven Center for the Arts’ community outreach program to enhance the experience of the arts for school age children in our area.

62nd Annual Members’ Show: Visual Feast

May 4 – June 17, 2012

Opening Reception May 4th (5-7pm)

The South Haven Center for the Arts’ Member Show is an annual exhibit that highlights the talents of our membership. All members are encouraged to participate in this exhibit, there is no entry fee to participate and members can show up to three pieces, simply join and show your work! This year the theme is Visual Feast, so show us what fills your appetite. The majority of the works on display for this exhibit are for sale.

Center States: Works of the Chicago Art Salon

June 22 – August 5, 2012

Opening Reception June 22nd (5-7pm)

The Chicago Art Salon began in 2002 as a group of like minded artists who wanted to connect and engage as they created and pursued their individual artistic direction. This group of 7 artists has challenged their creative visions and redefined themselves on their artistic path. Please join us in welcoming the following artists to our galleries: Craig Blietz, Brian Sindler, Gail Potocki, Shar Coulson, Kathy Honey, Amy Lloyd, and Meltem Aktas.

Water Works: The Art of Diane Lynne Cheeseman

August 10– September 23, 2012

Opening Reception August 10th (5-7pm)

Water surrounds Michigan making it unique among the states. Water is intrinsic to the paintings of Diane Lynne Cheeseman. The paint is water based, her method of using paint needs lots of water to make the colors flow. Colors often stretch over the surfaces in pools and puddles. Using many layers of transparent color with occasional opaque contrasts adds richness and depth as the paintings are built slowly, a layer at a time.

Water is often subject matter for Lynne who is attracted to movements below the surface of a body of water. She considers herself fortunate to have spent most of her adult life living within a mile of one of the Great Lakes; water has meant much to her work for 50 years. Lynne holds a MFA from MSU in painting, has taught art to students from kindergarten thru college and beyond. She leads workshops for adults and has shown widely in the Midwest. Her work is in many public and private collections. Water Works at the South Haven Center for the Arts will include work from each decade of Lynne’s career along with a large group of very recent paintings. As Lynne looks forward to more years of creating, water will continue to be central to her work.

3rd Annual Regional Juried Show

September 28 - November 10, 2012

Opening Reception September 28th (5-7pm)

The South Haven Center for the Arts looks forward to the 3rd Annual Regional Juried Show this year since we are making changes and widening our eligibility! Artists living in the Great Lake States of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan are now eligible to apply! The SHCA welcomes the talent of artists working in any medium, concept and skill level. Prizes will include a $500 first place/ Best in Show, $250 second place, and a $100 third place. Applications will be available to download in mid March. the juror this year was renowned Chicago-based photographer Barbara Crane.