Past Exhibits

Simply Natural

August 14 – October 27
Woodcarvers Richard Boitos and Tom Roos, gourd artist Karen Hundt-Brown, and watercolorist Dan Reska interpret the theme Simply Natural in an Upper Gallery exhibit from August 14 to October 27. The public is invited to meet the artists at a reception on Saturday, September 22 from 2:00-4:00p.m. The artists will demonstrate their work and refreshments will be served.

Fall into Art

August 14 – October 27
Is fall a season? an action? a subject of art? Artworks Member Artists give their answers in the Fall into Art exhibit on display from August 14 to October 27. An Exhibit Award and a People’s Choice Award will be presented at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 22 during the public reception and refreshments from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Voting continues until September 21. The show is sponsored by Patricia Hickox.

Hidden Treasure Show: Planting Dreams

August 7 – August 18
Artworks welcomes the second Hidden Treasures Showing with the opening of “Planting Dreams” on August 7. Young artists’ creations are featured through August 18. Come in and enjoy these youthful artists’ work in the lower level Studio A Gallery. The showing originated at the Morton Township Library in Mecosta. Congratulations to all of the student participants.

Artworks is pleased to encourage the arts in our area. Community members may suggest artists to be included in future Hidden Treasures Showings. The exhibit is juried and hung by the Artworks exhibit team. The artists are not member artists of Artworks. There is a small fee and items are not for sale. Contact the Exhibit Team Leader (Pat Heeter) for arrangements and information.

After Audubon Exhibit

July-August 11

The Artworks summer exhibit, “After Audubon,” is inspired by John James Audubon (1785-1851), creator of “Birds of America,” a collection of 435 life-sized prints. Audubon was the country’s dominant wildlife artist for half a century and still sets the standard to which bird artists are measured today.

“After Audubon” is part of Ferris State University’s Canadian Collection and is a recreation of 29 selected plates in Audubon’s original “Birds of America” collection. The exhibit contains 25 prints, 17 created by Loates and eight from Audubon’s smaller octavo prints. After 15 years of experimentation with new print techniques, the “After Audubon” collection is complete. Loates utilized the original paintings to check his proofs for color accuracy. The edition is limited to 1,000 sets of 100 publisher proofs, signed and numbered by the artist. Loates’ plates are the most consistent produced of Audubon’s work and the most complex. Because the prints are multicolored processed images, the methodology includes stripping color from the original engraved black Havell print image, after which as many as 90 individual colors are reapplied at one time. The inks are hand-mixed and the paper is custom-made with Loates’ personal watermark.

During June, a limited number of the large prints will be exhibited in the Studio A Lower Level Gallery. During July and August, this stunning exhibit will be enlarged to be housed in the Upper Level Gallery.

Hidden Treasure Show: Planting Dreams

August 7 – August 18
Artworks welcomes the second Hidden Treasures Showing with the opening of “Planting Dreams” on August 7. Young artists’ creations are featured through August 18. Come in and enjoy these youthful artists’ work in the lower level Studio A Gallery. The showing originated at the Morton Township Library in Mecosta. Congratulations to all of the student participants.

Artworks is pleased to encourage the arts in our area. Community members may suggest artists to be included in future Hidden Treasures Showings. The exhibit is juried and hung by the Artworks exhibit team. The artists are not member artists of Artworks. There is a small fee and items are not for sale. Contact the Exhibit Team Leader (Pat Heeter) for arrangements and information.

We Don’t Want Them

June 5 – 30
Part of the Great Michigan Read events, a photographic exhibit from Michigan Humanities Council, in conjunction with Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.

Reception: June 19 — 6:00 to 8:00pm
Speaker: Kimn Carlton-Smith, Ph.D, Dept of Humanities, Ferris State University
Music: 1920s American Jazz and Blues provided by Jazz is Restless: Harry Dempsey, Bob Garrels, Randy Groves, and Kim Tripp

Hidden Treasurers

May 12 – June 1
A new concept in support of Artworks vision “Bring the Arts to Life” opens with the Oldham Family Artists.
Reception: This local family will share their talents in music, poetry and song on Saturday, May 12 between 3 and 5 pm. The reception is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Lisa, Mary, and Ronnie will share the exhibit with the woman who has inspired them, their mother, Alicia Patch Oldham. Join the Oldham Family Artists this Mothers’ Day weekend.

Glass and the Garden

Exhibit: April 3 – May 31, 2012
Upper Level Gallery
Reception: Friday, April 13 — 5:00 to 7:00pm

Vicki Poster

“Glass and the Garden,” an exhibit showcasing the work of artist Vicki Sawicki, opens in the Artworks Upper Gallery on April 3. The botanically themed fused glass pieces depict life in the garden. Featured work includes sculptures and bird baths, as well as bowls, clocks, wall hangings and glass paintings.

In preparing for the show, Sawicki has collaborated with several local artists. One garden sculpture includes metal work by Julie Tilmann, while another uses a metal base fabricated by John Mendler to support Sawicki’s glass birdbath. Other collaborators are Sheila Geglio, Cheryl Gould, Marlies Manning and Kris Miller.

Sawicki has created art with fused glass for ten years. After taking a glass class for fun and to be social, she soon became invested in the rich process of creating a glass design and then firing the piece in a kiln. This is followed by a second firing which allows the piece to be slumped, or shaped.

Emotionally Resonant: Big Rapids Then and Now

Exhibit: March 1 – April 28, 2012
Lower Level Gallery
Reception: Friday, April 13 — 5:00 to 7:00pm

AIGA Photo

Remember where the Gambles, Dibbles and A&P stores were in downtown Big Rapids? Refresh your memory through this AIGA photographic exhibit.

As part of the Ferris State University Graphic Arts Program’s effort to have students become aware of the town they live in, the project came together very quickly. Graphic Arts students viewed historical photos of Big Rapids from 15 to 50 years ago. Groups of students found a spot that matched a historical photo, held up the old photo and took a new photo, combining past with present.

Art Attack

March 6 – March 24, 2012
Artworks Upper Gallery
Reception: Sunday, March 11 — 1:00 to 3:00pm
Artworks will be hosting the 22nd Annual Art Attack Exhibit. This area wide K-12 student exhibit features selected works from the six districts: Big Rapids, Chippewa Hills, Crossroads Charter Academy, Evart, Morley Stanwood, Reed City, Saint Peters Lutheran and Saint Mary’s.

Artworks Artists New Artwork Exhibit

January 10 – March 30, 2012
Artworks Gallery and Gift Shop

Art Attack Is Here!

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Once again, our upper gallery will house the vibrant and unique art from area K-12 art students. Included in this year’s display are selected pieces from Artworks’ After School classes and seven districts: Big Rapids, Reed City, Chippewa Hills, St Peter’s Lutheran, Crossroads Charter Academy, Evart, and Morley Stanwood. Art Attack runs from March 6 to April 12 with a special reception planned for the artists and their families on March 17 from 12-3 p.m. If you haven’t been to see Art Attack in years past, you must come this year. It is an explosion of talent, creativity and youth to warm your heart and energize your soul with hundreds of works on display.

Motawi is Here!

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What: Motawi Tile Exhibit, Upper level Art works, until Jan 19, 2013
Reception: November 18, 1-3pm. Meet the artists Nawal Motawi and Dr. Fred Guenther, Free to the public, refreshments served. Gift shop open.

Artworks is hosting a special exhibit of Motawi art tiles in our upper gallery now until Jan 19th. Motawi tiles are produced in Ann Arbor Michigan and sold around the world. The quality and unique designs capture everyone’s attention, but the fact that each tile is hand glazed and made to order makes these pieces extraordinary. The exhibit highlights both the history of Motawi Tiles, started by Nawal Motawi and her brother Karim in her Ann Arbor garage. There is also a display that shows how the tiles are created, and some of the historic pieces from past series.

Artworks also has the rare opportunity to sell the Motawi Tiles for commission in our gift shop. Many of the pieces on display are available for sale. Along with the Motawi Tile exhibit, we invited local woodworker, Dr. Fred Guenther to display works he created integrating Motawi Tiles. See his lovely framed tiles, clocks and other pieces in the upper level exhibit space. Whether you wish to incorporate a tile in an installation for your kitchen, bathroom or entry foyer or just put a tile on an easel to display, come in and browse, touch and purchase your very own Motawi Tile.

In addition, we have a lovely reception planned for Nov 18 from 1-3pm. Artist and owner of Motawi Tiles, Nawal Motawi, will speak and join us for the reception. We also have the pleasure of Dr. Guenther, woodworker, joining the festivities. The reception will be open to the public and will coincide with our holiday gift shop reception which will take place from 11-4 the same day. You are officially invited!