Laurie Keller, Story Teller: Illustrations for Snory Fellers

March 7 through May 26, 2013

Ernest and Marjorie Cooper Gallery

Nationally known illustrator/author and Muskegon native Laurie Quail Keller shares her whimsical, wacky, and funny illustrations from her best-selling tales with Museum visitors this spring. Laurie Keller, Story Teller was, organized by the MMA, shows the creative process of Keller’s zany books, from beginning ideas and illustrations to final publication. The illustrations featured in the exhibition can be found in her fan-favorite books: Arnie the Doughnut, Grandpa Gazillion’s Number Yard, Do Unto Otters, The Scrambled States of America, and more.  

As a child, Laurie Keller loved drawing and writing but didn’t realize then that she could grow up to become an author or illustrator. Laurie considered majoring in education or dance in college after graduating from Mona Shores High School, but enrolled at Kendall College of Art and Design after she became inspired by a senior art exhibit she saw there. Upon graduation, she took a job as an illustrator with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri.

She wrote her first story, The Scrambled States of America, while she was in Kansas City and brought it to New York City to try to find an interested publisher. She moved to New York and, shortly after, received a call from Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt and Company telling her that they wanted to publish her book. Ottaviano and Keller hit it off right away and have continued to work together on all of the artist’s books. Laurie loved living in New York City, but has moved back to her beloved “Mitten State” where she now lives, writes and illustrates at her lakeshore cottage in North Muskegon.
See more about Laurie Keller at http://www.lauriekeller.com.

The exhibition is sponsored by Art Ally for Contemporary Art Alcoa Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

RELATED PROGRAMS

March 7, 5:30 pm
Opening Reception, Lecture, and Book Signing

March 7 through May 26
Tour Your Class to Win
Teachers: Tour the exhibition with your students to be entered to win a special visit from Laurie Keller to your classroom. Each student in the winning class will also receive a copy of her book Do Unto Otters. To schedule a tour, please contact Cathy at 231.720.2587.

March 9, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Meet the Artist on Arnie the Doughnut Super Saturday

Thursdays, April 18 – May 23, 1:00-3:00 pm
Open Tours
Drop in and tour the exhibition with Museum docents. This Free Thursday program is sponsored by MMA Education Partner Alcoa Foundation/Howmet.

85th Regional Exhibition: All-State Edition

May 23 through August 21, 2013

 

Top to Bottom:

Best of Show Award
Thomas A. Depree, Holland, At a Distance

2nd Place Award
Robin Van Rooyen, Grand Rapids, Self-Reflection/Transmogrify

3rd Place Award
Lee S. Brown, Muskegon, Bound Column III

Director’s Choice Award
Robyn Bomhof, Grand Rapids, Portal

Curator’s Choice Award
Steven Vinson, Grand Rapids, Franklin

Robert & Veronica Youngman Memorial Award for Graphic Arts
Armin Mersmann, Midland, Through the Iris II

 

L. C. and Margaret Walker Galleries A & B

The Muskegon Museum of Art’s 85th Regional Exhibition, the longest-established regional art exhibition in Michigan, opens for public viewing Thursday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to an opening reception that evening from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Reception admission is free. The Regional Exhibition will run through August 21, 2013.

The Regional Exhibition is an annual juried show that provides an opportunity to recognize both amateur and professional artists in the region. It has become a cultural tradition known for its competitive nature and for its professional presentation. This year, for the second time in a row, the invitation to enter work for the juried show was extended beyond West Michigan to artists throughout the state. During registration days earlier this month, 386 artists submitted a total of 652 works for juried competition. Guest juror Doug Stapleton selected 181 works by 149 artists for the exhibition. Artwork in many mediums, themes, and styles will be displayed. Most of the artwork in the exhibition is available for sale.

Regional Exhibition guest jurors are selected from outside the entry region by the MMA curatorial staff. Jurors are chosen on the basis of well-rounded professional art backgrounds. This year’s juror is no exception. Doug Stapleton is an artist, curator, and educator. He is an Assistant Curator of Art with the Illinois State Museum, Chicago Gallery, and an adjunct faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Arts graduate program at Columbia College, Chicago. Stapleton’s own art has been recently exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center and at the Loyola University Museum of Art.

RELATED EVENTS

Thursday, May 23, 5:30–8:00 pm
Opening Reception
The public is invited to attend the opening reception for Regional Exhibition artists. Artist awards will be announced at 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and admission is free.

Thursday, June 20, 5:00–7:00 pm
Meet the Artists
Enjoy a gallery “walk-and-talk” with this year’s prize-winning artists. Light refreshments will be provided. This is a free event.

The 85th Regional Exhibition is underwritten by Shape Corporation, Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP, and the MMA’s Ally for Contemporary Art, the Alcoa Foundation. Awards are sponsored by Huntington Bank. Additional support is provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, WGVU Public Radio, and MLive/Chronicle.

MMA 85th Regional Exhibition Artist Awards
Press Photos

CASH AWARDS

Best of Show Award | $1,500
Thomas A. Depree, Holland, At a Distance

2nd Place Award | $1,000
Robin Van Rooyen, Grand Rapids, Self-Reflection/Transmogrify

3rd Place Award | $750
Lee S. Brown, Muskegon, Bound Column III

Director’s Choice Award | $500
Robyn Bomhof, Grand Rapids, Portal

Curator’s Choice Award | $500
Steven Vinson, Grand Rapids, Franklin

West Michigan Potters Guild Eleanore Smith Memorial Award | $300
Salvador Jiménez, Grand Rapids, I’m Not Who You Think I Am
 
Gordon Hall Memorial Award | $300
Harry Ahn, Berrien Springs, For the Birds

Friends of Art | $250
Rebecca DeGroot, Comstock Park, Poise

Robert & Veronica Youngman Memorial Award for Graphic Arts | $150
Armin Mersmann, Midland, Through the Iris II

William L. “Bill” Rogers Photography Award | $150
Gale Nobes, Muskegon, Shortest Distance Above Two Points

Docents’ Award | $100
Gordon Boardman, Kalamazoo, Advancing to Greet a Brighter Sun

Honorable Mention Awards | $100
Michelle Pittman, Sand Lake, Behind the Curtain
Jubenal Rodriguez, Muskegon, Serene
Nat Rosales, Manistee, Rail King 1

SPONSORED PURCHASE AWARDS (sponsor listed first)
 
AGS (American Grease Stick Company)
Charles Norkoli, Muskegon, Coastal Cave

Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Sandy Meyer, Coopersville, Rippled Reflections

Grand Valley State University Art Gallery
Thomas A. Depree, Holland, At a Distance

John Kadelsik, Jr.
Don Doezema, Lowell, Plains and Lines

Patrick J. O’Leary
Andrew Jagniecki, Whitehall, Corvus and his Worldly Possession
Debra S. Walters, Muskegon, Monty and Friend
John Zielinski, Muskegon, Go Forward and Question Nothing
 
RNW Investment
Daniel P. Feldhauser, Grayling, Hard Times

Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP
Catherine McClung, Spring Lake, Ancient Apple
Barbara Leighty McConnell, Grand Rapids, Distant Visions #1

West Michigan Symphony
Robin Bomhof, Grand Rapids, Portal

Chris & Stephanie Witham
Kathleen Kalinowski, Comstock Park, Field and Distant Farm

Witt Buick
Tom Tomasek, Ovid, After a Light Snow

COMPLETE LIST OF ACCEPTED ENTRIES

Black/White: Works from the Permanent Collection

May 30 through August 11, 2013

 

Top to bottom:

Janusz Pozniak (American, b. 1965)
Oubliette
Blown glass, 2012
Gift of the John J. Helstrom Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, in memory of Mr. Helstrom's parents, Matthias and Esther Helstrom, on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Muskegon Museum of Art
2012.19

Neil Mullally (American, b. 1946)
Nick Wiseman and Shattuck Braafhart at Harbor Steel and Supply
Digital photograph on paper,2009
Gift of the artist
2009.22.7

Charles McGee (American, b. 1924)
Maquette for Noah's Ark: Sophisticated Lady
Steel and enamel, circa 1998
Gift of the Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle Family
2011.28

Cheonae Kim (American, b. Korea 1952)
Untitled (Black and White)
Flashe on canvas,2009
Gift of the Artist and Zolla/Lieberman Gallery in memory of Andree Stone, an important Chicago art dealer who supported many young artists, on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Muskegon Museum of Art
2012.17.1

Black/White: Works from the Permanent Collection highlights the possibilities artists can achieve with black and white, using them not just as color, but as light, form, and value. Black and white contrast starkly and recognizably; the two are greatly reduced in the absence of the other. Without black, white is no more than a color, but with the contrast, however subtle, white becomes a field of light. Black is not shadow or darkness without reference to white.

Black and white, and its variations in gray, can depict light and create the illusion of dimensional form. They also can create rhythmic patterns and designs; convey shape, space and light using only value; or elicit a clean and bold formal elegance.

Black/White brings together a variety of compelling works from the MMA’s collection, including paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, as well as newly acquired works of glass by Daniel Clayman, Janusz Poźniak, Sean Albert, and Lynn Everett Read.

Support for this exhibition is provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Some Like it Hot: Color from the Collection

June 6 through August 24, 2013

 

 

Top to bottom:
Felrath Hines (American, 1918-1993)
Two Heads
Oil and enamel on canvas, 1947
Gift of the Felrath Hines Estate
2009.13

Dante Marioni (American, b. 1964)
Red and Yellow Pair
Blown glass, 1998
Gift of the Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle Family
2007.11.1, 2007.11.2

Karel Appel (Dutch, 1921-2006)
Moving in the Wind (from “Sunshine People”)
Lithograph on paper, 1974
Gift of Marshall Schuster
1979.48.1

 Bold, bright colors demand attention. And what works for the birds and the bees works in art as well. Some Like it Hot: Color from the Collection brings together art from the Museum’s holdings that celebrate color. Paintings, prints, sculpture, tapestry, and glass have been selected for their vibrant use of color to convey both form and emotion.

The lithographs of Karel Appel vibrate with simple, bright forms rendered in primary colors. That energy resonates in the bold, brushy color of a mixed media collage by Senghor Reid. Glass by Stephen Powell captures all of the hues of an impressionist painting, while Dante Marioni gives red and yellow an understated elegance. The playfulness of color is revealed in the painted wood sculpture of James Clover and the glass buoys of Nancy Callan.

Some Like it Hot also includes works by David Sharpe, Ilya Bolotowsky, Alexander Calder, Felrath Hines, Michael Higgins, Toots Zynsky, Benjamin Moore, and regional area artists Geary Jones and Gabrielle Mayer.

This exhibition is underwritten by HInes Corporation.