July 2 – September 8

Elizabeth Abeel
Elizabeth has a BA in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence University. For her, batik has been a process of experimentation and fascination that seems to just keep growing. “Each piece is a suspense. I’m always on the brink of controlling the process and of the process controlling me.” This struggle in process captures the quiet moments in nature, which are her main focus in subject matter, and breathes a unique life into each piece. Elizabeth demonstrates a command of this difficult process that is particularly evident in the amount of detail found in each of her batiks. Her work has not only won many awards, but has been published in Fiber Arts Design Book Two, a book devoted to excellence in fiber design.

Elizabeth’s work can be found at the Bier Gallery in Charlevoix, Michigan and in numerous art shows throughout the Midwest, including the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

Glen Van Antwerp
Glen Van Antwerp is a master Cedar Fan Carver. This traditional carving style turns a solid piece of cedar into a delicate fan. It remains a single piece of wood. Glen learned the craft from his father and grandfather. He has refined his skill for half a century and is passing it on to his children and grandchildren.

Fan carving flourished in Europe for untold generations before immigrants brought it to Michigan lumber camps in the 19th century. Some old-time lumberjacks had rough reputations but most were family men, away from home for the winter. They spent long evenings sitting around a stove—singing, carving and telling stories. Glen’s grandfather Elmer was a third-generation Michigan logger who learned cedar fan carving in the camps. Later, he taught Glen’s father, and later yet they both taught Glen how to carve fans. In turn, Glen has taught the art to his own children and grandchildren.

Glen lives near Tustin, Michigan on property that has been family land for more than a century. He harvests Northern White Cedar from his own land, using windfall timber and saving living trees for future generations. His favorite carvings come from the deeply weathered wood of old split-cedar fence posts.

He received The Michigan Heritage Award from the Michigan Traditional Arts Program in 2001. Glen has been a guest artist at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, The National Folk Festival, The Michigan Festival and many similar events. His work has also been displayed in various galleries and exhibitions, and featured in several books, including “Hands Across Michigan” by Alan R. Kamuda, “The Traveler’s Guide to American Crafts” by Suzanne Charmichael, and “Crafts of America” by Constance Stapleton.