Landscapes are some of the most often treaded ground in fine art, often what you might think of when asked to think about paintings. The Guild of Artists and Artisans is aiming to bring fresh air and fresh pieces to the subject area with its Scapes show, which will run from May 30 to June 28.
“When selecting subject matter, I express my emotions at the moment of creation. Inspiration flows from my imagination, fueled by the beauty and mystery of our planet Earth and the Universe. When I create with watercolor and ink, I begin with simple drawings. As I add watercolors to the composition, I find the story I want to tell by adding tiny details, textures and images to make the final piece complex and more interesting. I create compositions using bold earth-tone colors on watercolor paper with a multitude of layers of color and ink lines. Often, I integrate gilding as a finishing touch which adds bits of reflective light. I am most interested in creating objects that feel both beautiful and mysterious so that the subject is familiar yet slightly outside of time,” artist Connie Pickering Stover said.
Stover is a self-taught artist who moved from Pheonix to Chelsea a decade ago and is featured at the Gutman for the first time (apart from a few prints) in this show.
Her piece is called Fantastical Moths, a maximalist work that she describes as a “story landscape” very different from the minimalist work that she started her career doing.
“After 22 years of living in the desert, I was thirsty for the massive amount of greenery and dappled shade of my childhood in Bucks County, PA; so, I moved to the place where I often visited on vacation and found so much artistic inspiration in the beauty of Michigan. The ability to walk through luscious woodlands and fields has greatly influenced my art and the rich artist community of Ann Arbor has helped me develop many inspirational artist friends. My pup, Gus, and I have agreed that we wish to stay forever and enjoy this very creative environment.”
The opening gala was early in the evening of May 30. Friday’s scene at the Gutman was typical of the Guild’s scenes. People from every generation, race, persuasion and walk of life came in in twos and threes, milling about in a crowd numbering in the dozens to appreciate the wide arrange of landscapes.
“My plein air pastel ‘Vibrant Day,’ of Detroit’s tall buildings was painting at the Campus Martius park during a plein air event with Michigan’s oldest arts organization, the Scarab Club. I had never been to the park, but it was always on the news. There were the colorful umbrellas, and I wanted to paint the tall buildings of that cityscape,” Linda Klenczar, an artist who got her education in interior design from Michigan State University, said.
When asked to describe her piece. “It was a gorgeous morning in Detroit. Not too hot, no chill in the August air. And while it started out rather quiet, the people started walking through and road traffic picked up. One of those peddled trolleys with a full-on party atmosphere of revelers peddled by. A tour group, with a guide came by. I was nearing completion and the guide asked if they could have their picture taken with me, I agreed and I have a photo-memory of those folks admiring my work and talking with me. The guide texted me the photo. It was a great morning, and then the painting was in an exhibit at the Scarab Club. As with plein air experiences, it was a satisfying day.”
The show was juried by Jill Stefani Wagner. Wagner selected 36 pieces from 34 artists who run the gamut of styles and mediums.
This exhibition’s artists in this show are:
- Christopher Bennett
- Carrie Bladecki
- Ben Bohnsack
- Rose Bradley
- Paul Brand
- Susan Craig
- Tina Creguer
- Sandra Difazio
- Adelfa and Clay Dowling
- Kirsten Elling
- Richard Goff
- Dennis Gordon
- Susan Hamady
- Jeneen Hobby
- Payton James
- Jenneva Kayser
- Miwa Kitahata
- Linda Klenczar
- Janet Kohler
- Michelle Kokkales
- Mike Kroll
- Carol Morris
- Yasemin Akduman Ozil
- Marie Parmer
- Teri Pattison
- Mandy Pringle
- Anne Rogers
- Denise Rohde
- Matruka Sherman
- Connie Pickering Stover
- Wendy Wernet
- Sally Wetzel
- Deborah Wood
- Charlotte Wyche
Wagner has a few pieces on display as well.
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All of the art at their 118 North Fourth Avenue storefront is for sale. But you can always view the art for free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays.
“Being accepted into a juried show is always a little boost for artists. Most juried shows get way more art entries than they can accommodate. Jurors also don’t necessarily select the best entries but select the best entries that make an interesting exhibit. This means that it is likely that you will not get accepted into all juried exhibits that you enter. This rejection always hurts some, but we try to persist,” exhibited artist Dennis Gordon said. “The Guild has played a great role in our community of not just having a great gallery space for exhibits and sales, but also trying to help artists become better at marketing their art. This is an area that is rarely covered in university art programs and is an area that many artists struggle with.”
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
