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Six Feet
72nd Annual Member Exhibition
South Haven Center for the Arts' members interpreted the theme “Six Feet.”
Each piece is accompanied by the artist’s personal statement describing the motivation behind their work and how it relates to the theme.
Images range from birds to shoes, some revealing the chaos felt during the past year—finding peace outdoors, isolation, and missing loved ones.
"Six Feet" runs through June 19, 2021. Click on the images to view the artist statement and more information about the artwork.
Check our website, email, or call for hours as we slowly reopen to make an appointment to view the exhibition in our gallery.
Nature's Embrace
Sherri Willett
Media: 3D mixed media, plaster, acrylic paint, paper, fabric
Size: 30 in x 30 in
Inspired by an amazing experience I had while sitting on a balcony overlooking a quiet tree filled courtyard with a soft summer breeze blowing through the leaves, creating an ethereal scene of dancing sunlight and the sounds of words only my soul could hear.
In this overwhelming season and “six feet apart” social distancing, this experience calls me back into nature where I am in awe and wonder at its forever consistent rhythm, and grateful for this gift from a Creator who gently holds me as I sit embraced by His love and peace fills my soul.
Media: 3D mixed media, plaster, acrylic paint, paper, fabric
Size: 30 in x 30 in
Inspired by an amazing experience I had while sitting on a balcony overlooking a quiet tree filled courtyard with a soft summer breeze blowing through the leaves, creating an ethereal scene of dancing sunlight and the sounds of words only my soul could hear.
In this overwhelming season and “six feet apart” social distancing, this experience calls me back into nature where I am in awe and wonder at its forever consistent rhythm, and grateful for this gift from a Creator who gently holds me as I sit embraced by His love and peace fills my soul.
Linda Paddleboarding The Lake
Zan Knecht
Media: Acrylic on archival paper
Size: 24 in x 48 in
There is plenty of room on the lake. Staring at the horizon releases endorphins, the brain's "feel good" chemicals. We are so lucky to live by Lake Michigan. People can be together in wide open spaces on and in the lake while still being 6 feet apart. The reassuring embrace and gentle rocking of the lake comforts us all.
Media: Acrylic on archival paper
Size: 24 in x 48 in
There is plenty of room on the lake. Staring at the horizon releases endorphins, the brain's "feel good" chemicals. We are so lucky to live by Lake Michigan. People can be together in wide open spaces on and in the lake while still being 6 feet apart. The reassuring embrace and gentle rocking of the lake comforts us all.
Free Flight
Julia Ryan
Media: Graphite
Size: 4 in x 19 in x 24 in
In the time of limitations on space, breath, and human touch, I gravitated to self-portraiture. Missing my daily swim, I found great freedom and uplift in drawing divers, who, for a moment, are in free flight, masks swept away.
Media: Graphite
Size: 4 in x 19 in x 24 in
In the time of limitations on space, breath, and human touch, I gravitated to self-portraiture. Missing my daily swim, I found great freedom and uplift in drawing divers, who, for a moment, are in free flight, masks swept away.
Patience
Kimberly Wood
Media: Pastel pencil
Size: 20 in x 30 in
In this piece, I really reflected on what adhering to six feet meant during the past year. Many things we placed such importance on no longer fit; instead, our relationships, our time, our words, and our future became much more center-focused. The flowers are purposefully left illustrated and less significant. Our words and memories with loved ones held more permanence than materialistic things. The figure looks out, longing for that sense of meaningful connection.
Media: Pastel pencil
Size: 20 in x 30 in
In this piece, I really reflected on what adhering to six feet meant during the past year. Many things we placed such importance on no longer fit; instead, our relationships, our time, our words, and our future became much more center-focused. The flowers are purposefully left illustrated and less significant. Our words and memories with loved ones held more permanence than materialistic things. The figure looks out, longing for that sense of meaningful connection.
The Typology of Six Shoes for Six Feet
Dorris Akers
Media: Framed photograph
Size: 20 in x 24 in
My current work involves using a camera to record similar objects for study of comparisons of likenesses and differences. In this case, six shoes that may be used to adorn 'six feet' are presented for study.
Can you name the ways the shoes are similar, identical, totally different?
Media: Framed photograph
Size: 20 in x 24 in
My current work involves using a camera to record similar objects for study of comparisons of likenesses and differences. In this case, six shoes that may be used to adorn 'six feet' are presented for study.
Can you name the ways the shoes are similar, identical, totally different?
Six Feet of Mask Scraps
Mary Jackson
Media: Fabric
Size: 6 ft x 8 in
2020 was a year of six feet of distance and a mask. I longed for a hug from a friend. After vaccinations, Mary Margaret Prescott Behrman (Maggie) planned and worked on this piece with me. I went through bags of scraps leftovers from making hundreds and hundreds of cloth masks. Maggie did the stitching. We made it. Real hugs to Maggie.
Media: Fabric
Size: 6 ft x 8 in
2020 was a year of six feet of distance and a mask. I longed for a hug from a friend. After vaccinations, Mary Margaret Prescott Behrman (Maggie) planned and worked on this piece with me. I went through bags of scraps leftovers from making hundreds and hundreds of cloth masks. Maggie did the stitching. We made it. Real hugs to Maggie.
6 Feet . . .
Kristin Ayers
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
6 Feet . . .
Kristin Ayers
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
6 Feet . . .
Kristin Ayers
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
Media: Photo tryptich
Size: 11 in x 14 in
6 Feet. UP part.DE part. Fall apart. Photos taken by artist at Bittersweet in Otsego, MI.
Favorite Numbers
David Baker
Media: Old measuring tools (wood)
Size: 36 in x 12 in
Media: Old measuring tools (wood)
Size: 36 in x 12 in
Sending Wishes From Six Feet
Christine Banks
Media: Acrylic
Size: 10 in x 20 in triptych
End to end, these three paintings combine to be apart—six feet apart—as the figures distance each other. Optimism on the right blows dandelion seeds of hope sending wishes to pessimism on the left. Are we figures of definite emotion? Are we the hopeful seeds drifting along in the wind? Are we the hopeful seeds drifting along in the wind? Or, are we the dandelion torn apart to scatter? What has happened to you over there—six feet distanced and a million miles away...?
Media: Acrylic
Size: 10 in x 20 in triptych
End to end, these three paintings combine to be apart—six feet apart—as the figures distance each other. Optimism on the right blows dandelion seeds of hope sending wishes to pessimism on the left. Are we figures of definite emotion? Are we the hopeful seeds drifting along in the wind? Are we the hopeful seeds drifting along in the wind? Or, are we the dandelion torn apart to scatter? What has happened to you over there—six feet distanced and a million miles away...?
Untitled
Catherine Maize
Media: Oil
Size: 6 in x 6 in
Media: Oil
Size: 6 in x 6 in
Out of the Mist
Mary Guntzviller
Media: Mixed media
Size: 36 in x 48 in
As the vacant gray isolation of Corona enveloped us, the vaccines slowly began to infuse color back into our lives.
Media: Mixed media
Size: 36 in x 48 in
As the vacant gray isolation of Corona enveloped us, the vaccines slowly began to infuse color back into our lives.
Slow Stitched Meditations
Sheryl Drenth
Media: Cloth, vintage quilt squares, paper, thread, watercolor, natural objects
Size: 11 in x 6 ft
This year stitching and sewing became my salvation, my calm, my joy. I had time, I had quiet. I sewed/stitched small fabric fish and gave them away. I sewed objects to watercolor pieces. I connected my "meditations" into one piece.
Media: Cloth, vintage quilt squares, paper, thread, watercolor, natural objects
Size: 11 in x 6 ft
This year stitching and sewing became my salvation, my calm, my joy. I had time, I had quiet. I sewed/stitched small fabric fish and gave them away. I sewed objects to watercolor pieces. I connected my "meditations" into one piece.
Slow Stitched Meditations
Sheryl Drenth
Media: Cloth, vintage quilt squares, paper, thread, watercolor, natural objects
Size: 11 in x 6 ft
This year stitching and sewing became my salvation, my calm, my joy. I had time, I had quiet. I sewed/stitched small fabric fish and gave them away. I sewed objects to watercolor pieces. I connected my "meditations" into one piece.
Media: Cloth, vintage quilt squares, paper, thread, watercolor, natural objects
Size: 11 in x 6 ft
This year stitching and sewing became my salvation, my calm, my joy. I had time, I had quiet. I sewed/stitched small fabric fish and gave them away. I sewed objects to watercolor pieces. I connected my "meditations" into one piece.
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