Three New Events

 

The South Haven Center for the Arts will present its first annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit, Jan. 22 through Feb. 21. The exhibit, free to the public, is open to all artists 18 years of age or older in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa, St. Joseph and Van Buren. All mediums are welcome. Entry fees, per work, are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The deadline for submitting works has been extended to Jan. 4, 2010. Awards are $500 First Place, $250 second place and $100, third place. Judges are Paul Flickinger, Western Michigan University Gwen Frostic School of Art, Bill Mayer, Hope College and Brenda Sipe, Kendall College of Art & Design, Ferris Sate University. Select pieces will be for sale.

 

The Center’s first Artists Market will be held Jan. 23, from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any interested artist or crafter may sell his or her wares and join others in building the arts in the community. People need only to register at the Art Center by Jan. 8, 2010. Spaces and tables will be limited; artists should bring their own tables or stands if they have them. Registration fee is $15 per booth.

 

“Wonders of the Woven World”, a first of its kind exhibit at the Center, 600 Phoenix St., extends through Jan. 16. Attendees at this free exhibit can view fiber and textiles as art forms which incorporate traditional and nontraditional design. Works include sculpture, wearable art, tapestry and art quilts. Featured artists are: Anna Campbell, Midge Lewis, Jacqueline Skarritt, Aron Lowe, Sherry Konya, Carol Gustavson, Geary Jones, Ann Keister, John Koch and Leslie Riley.

 

The Art Center, along with its first-time events, is also offering a variety of classes and workshops. “We are presenting a variety of workshops and classes to spark interest in new artforms,” says Marie Maguire, Executive Director of the South Haven Center for the Arts. Classes/Workshops include: Rebourne Reconstructed Recycled Redesigned, Classical Hatha Yoga, African Diaspora Dance Class, Watercolor Workshop, Shibori Workshop and Basic 3D Felting. “We invite people to explore our offerings by calling (269-637-1041), or online (www.southhavenarts.org). There are still openings.”

 

Maguire notes that many organizations, including the Art Center, are phasing out slides and requiring artwork to be submitted on computer discs in jpeg format. “We would like to assist artists in making this transition.” Those interested in getting their portfolios digitized to make it easier to apply for art and craft fairs, to enter the Center’s Regional Juried Show, or submit exhibition proposals, should call the Center. Maguire says if enough artists are interested, staff will contract with a photographer who will take pictures of their works, resize the images for submission and put them on a disc for a minimum $20 fee for four art pieces. For an additional $5 fee, Center staff will scan a photograph of their booth set up and add it to the disc.

 

Current Art Center events extending into the New Year include the Artist Book Club, the Art Club for area high school students and the Night for the Museums fundraiser where people, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., may eat at participating local restaurants and support local museums. At the end of the evening owners will contribute part of their earnings to these area museums: Liberty Hyde Bailey, Historical Association of South Haven, Michigan Maritime Museum and South Haven Center for the Arts. Restaurants participating on the following dates are: Thirsty Perch Jan. 7, The Vineyard Feb. 4, Maria’s March 4 and Phoenix Street Café April 1. “Eat out and support the arts,” says Maguire.

 

Center hours are (closed Dec 24-27 and Dec 31-Jan 3) Monday, noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. 269-637-1041 or www.southhavenarts.org Application forms for the Regional Juried Art Exhibit may be downloaded from the website.