Muskegon, Museum of Art

84th Regional Exhibition Meet the Artist Event

Award winning artists from this year's Regional Exhibition, will talk about their work at a Meet the Artists event at the MMA on Thursday, June 21. The public is invited to this casual gallery "walk and talk" and the event is free. The People's Choice Award winner will be announced at the event. The event runs 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments, featuring items from The Cheese Lady, will be served along with wine and punch.

The MMA’s 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, in honor of the MMA’s centennial year and its long-standing commitment to Michigan artists, the invitation to enter artwork was extended beyond West Michigan to artists throughout the state for the first time. The goal is to represent some of the best recent work by artists throughout the state. The 84th Regional Exhibition, the longest established regional art show in Michigan, will run through August 8, 2012.

During registration days earlier this month, 361 artists submitted a total of 633 works for juried competition. Guest juror Andrew Winship, a professor at the Herron School of Art and Design and a professional artist, selected 217 works by 193 artists for the exhibition. Artwork in many mediums, themes, and styles will be displayed. Much of the artwork in the exhibition is available for sale

Presenting sponsor for the 84th Regional Exhibition is Shape Corporation. The Awards sponsor is Huntington Bank. Additional support is provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and media sponsors WGVU Public Radio and MLive/Muskegon Chronicle.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Opening Reception
Thursday, May 31, 5:30-8:00 pm
Awards will be announced at 7:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Event is free and open to the public.

Meet the Artists
Thursday, June 21, 5:00-7:00 pm
Meet Regional Exhibition award winners during a casual gallery “walk-and-talk” with the prize-winning artists. Light refreshments will be provided. This is a free event.

AWARDS
(Press Photos at http://muskegonartmuseum.org/images-list)

Cash Awards

Best of Show | $1,500
Michael Pfleghaar, Grand Rapids, Shell

2nd Place | $1,000
Thomas Veach, Muskegon, Another Dimension to this Seduction

3rd Place | $750
Ron Fellin, Montague, Requiem

Director’s Choice | $500
Rebecca DeGroot, Comstock Park, Refuge

Curator’s Choice | $500
Mark Beltchenko, Grosse Pointe Park, Birthworks #2

Friends of Art | $250
Anne Morgan, Grand Haven, Change Favors the Prepared Mind

West Michigan Potters Guild Eleanore Smith Memorial Award | $300
Elizabeth Lurie, Farmington Hills, Teapot

Robert & Veronica Youngman Memorial Award for Graphic Arts $150
Chris LaPorte, Grand Rapids, Funeral Drawing

William L. “Bill” Rogers Photography Award | $150
Marc Hoeksema, Spring Lake, Banyan Man #2

MMA Docents’ Choice | $100
Melissa Jones, Franklin, Not Playing with Matches

Honorable Mentions | $100
Andy Branch, Grand Rapids, Puritan (Ghost)
Erin Hoffman, Muskegon, Power: Mao Zedong
Donna St. John, Marne, Is This the Cost of Social Justice?

 
Sponsored Purchase Awards (sponsor listed first)

American Grease Stick Company
Jim Markle, PSA, Grand Rapids, Early Evening at the Dune

Mark & Kristina Clark
Margo Burian, Grand Rapids, In the Middle of Things

Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Michael McClung, Spring Lake, Sapele Scoop
Michael VerMerris, Grand Rapids, A Secret

Grand Valley State University
John A. Knudsen, Three Oaks, Sharp Curve

Trip & Nina Johnson
Cara O’Brien, Whitehall, Growth IX and Change I
Cary A. Vander Veen, Lawton, Flood

John Kadelsik, Jr.
Laurel Geis, Whitehall, 7 Things Found

Patrick J. O’Leary
Robert C. Day, Grand Haven, Dixon
Marc Hoeksema, Spring Lake, Banyan Man #2
Alison Updyke, Muskegon, High
Thomas Veach, Muskegon, Another Dimension to this Seduction
John S. Zielinski, Muskegon, My Homestead

]RNW Investment
Sue Preiss, East Lansing, The Quiet Cove