Entering its 14th year, the Lansing JazzFest is a two-day FREE music festival that brings national, regional, and local acts to an audience of roughly 15,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states. JazzFest’s music truly is living music, history in the making. Each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn’t been played at any other festival.This year’s festival will take place Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, 2008, in the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital City’s art galleries as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture. Vendors line the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques open their doors during festival hours.

Lansing JazzFest continues to grow thanks to the contributions of its sponsors and volunteers.

Location

The Lansing JazzFest takes place in the streets of Old Town Lansing, at the intersection of Turner St. and E. Grand River Ave.

Become one of the many thousands of people each year who look forward to the second weekend in June for one of the premier events the community has to offer.

Listen to local music by some of our areas best musicians. Stop by our concessions tent to enjoy a soda or bratwurst. For those 21 or older quench your thirst with an “adult” beverage at the Sidewalk Cafe.

It Happens RAIN OR SHINE
6/13/2008 - 6 PM - 10 PM
6/14/2008 - 10 AM - 6 PM
6/15/2008 - 11 AM - 5 PM

Friday Night 6/13/2008
Go Friday evening from 6-10pm
for a FREE evening of Pre-Fair music.

Artists can register online

Click here for information
on fees & services.

The deadline for submitting applications for the 2008 Fair was March 10, 2008.

For more information visit http://www.flintartfair.org/

We are constantly erasing the Dogs never ending abstract creations from this front window. I haven’t had the heart to erase their newest creation, an impressionistic masterpiece. Ale looks quite proud of it don’t you think?

The 44th Annual MSU Spring Arts and Crafts Show will take place
May 17th, 9 am - 6 pm, and May 18th, 10 am - 5 pm!

329 booths of unique, hand-made items from artists and crafters around the country will be displayed on the grounds of the MSU Union.

You won’t want to miss this final UAB event of the semester!

Please contact UAB at 517-355-3354 for more information about the show.

The University Activities Board annually sponsors two major regional arts and crafts shows at the MSU Union. The Holiday Arts and Crafts Show is held the first weekend in December. The Spring Arts and Crafts Show is held the third weekend in May in conjunction with the East Lansing Art Festival. Please call the UAB Office at (517) 355-3354 for more information. Both shows are free for the public to attend.

The Holiday Arts and Crafts Show is one of the state’s largest indoor holiday shows with over 200 exhibitors. This Saturday/Sunday show is held throughout the four floors of the MSU Union building with attendance figures regularly exceeding 30,000. Please call the UAB Office for current booth fees.

The Spring Arts and Crafts Show is held outside on the grounds of the MSU Union. This show is held on Saturday and Sunday with over 300 exhibitors displaying items in a park-like setting on the MSU campus.

Most exhibitors utilize portable structures for their displays. The UAB Office can provide current booth fee prices. The East Lansing Art Festival is staged one block north of campus with over 225 exhibitors. More than 60,000 people annually attend these two outdoor shows.

To participate as an exhibitor, interested parties must first apply online to be placed on the mailing list. Please click on the link below and select “New Patron Request” from the Arts and Crafts Show Main Menu. Complete the new patron request form, and select mailing list(s) you would like to participate in (the annual holiday show, the annual spring show, or both). Once placed on the mailing list, exhibitors will receive a Patron ID Number (required to apply for the shows), and application date reminders (postcards) for upcoming shows. Once the new patron request is completed, patrons may edit their information at any time by selecting “Edit Patron Information,” also on the Arts and Crafts Show Main Menu.

The University Activities Board requires that the exhibitor produce the majority of the item that is displayed. Commercial/Buy-Sell products and food items are not permitted and will be removed from the exhibit if found to be displayed.

Hundreds of artists from Michigan and beyond come to Downtown East Lansing to exhibit art of all kinds. Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Blown Glass, Wood, Metal, Photography and more fill the booths that line our downtown streets.

The Festival features a variety of activities, performances, and demonstrations as well as food from dozens of vendors with tastes from around the world!

Go to their website to learn more.

More About the East Lansing Art Festival

Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival is held every spring during the weekend prior to the Memorial Holiday weekend. Known for featuring the highest caliber fine art and fine craft, this highly anticipated Festival attracts 70,000-80,000 attendees from across the region. Through the jury process approximately 230 artists from across the United States and Canada are invited to exhibit each year. Jurors also invite emerging artists to participate through a competitive selection process. Emerging artists must be affiliated with an institution of higher education within the last 2-3 years.

* 230 artist exhibitors from all over the U.S. and Canada
* 8 emerging artists affiliated with Michigan universities, colleges or art schools.
* Free performances on two stages highlighting a wide variety of music.
* Free arts activities for children and families.
* An international-style food court offering flavors from around the world.

East Lansing is a charming University town with a wide variety of shops, restaurants, galleries and the beautiful Michigan State University campus across the street. The East Lansing Art Festival is produced by the Art Festival Board of Directors under the auspices of the East Lansing Arts Commission/City of East Lansing.

The East Lansing Art Festival is held the weekend preceding Memorial Day weekend. The festival operates 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

This is also the same weekend on the MSU Campus is the Spring Arts and Crafts Show. This fair is separately organized and run by the University Activities Board Office.

May 22-June
Lansing Art Gallery Downtown

June 6 - June 28
1208 & 1210 Turner Street Old Town Lansing

Overview statement

Do we need art to survive? Given concerns with the bottom line and the globalization of businesses and business practices, art seems to have become trivial and insignificant. It is simply something to match our new furniture. It no longer matters if that piece over the new leather couch is an original piece of art or a print, and no one seems to be worried about the difference between Manet and Monet.

The question becomes, what would happen if all of the world’s artists, art galleries, and art museums to decided to close shop? If you had one last chance to see original art, would you want it to say something? The Lansing Art Gallery near the Capital Building, and the Banyan Gallery and Studio 1210 in Lansing’s Old Town, are providing just that opportunity. A World Without Art will offer some of Michigan’s finest artists taking on some of the most pressing and important social issues facing Michigan, the US, and the world. This show will include photography, paintings, sculpture, poetry, and essays from all around Michigan. This is a great opportunity to see how the Michigan art community sees Michigan’s past, present, and future. Do not let this be the last time you will see art in Michigan.

visit  http://www.worldwithoutart.com/

Once again perfect weather for a day of art in Mid-Michigan. Travels included stops in Downtown Lansing, Okemos and Williamston Michigan. Russ and I started our day two blocks from the Capital during the lunch rush. That was a new experience for me. I enjoyed the hustle on the streets and businesses. Our first stop was one we happened upon after parking, Grand Art Supply 107 N. Washington Sq.; Lansing, MI 48933. TOYS! Brushes, paints, inks, clay, shine, bulk, texture, colors, panels, canvases . . . TOYS! Can you tell I was excited. I was able to control my purchase down to a just a couple things knowing I had a whole day of shopping ahead. The gentleman working was knowledgeable and helpful in assisting us with our selections.

Just down the street was our first scheduled stop. The Lansing Art Gallery located at 113 S. Washington Sq.; Lansing MI 48933 ph: 517-374-6400. The open layout was inviting. Good lighting and art presentation. Talent burst from every piece. I was truly impressed with the standards kept throughout the Gallery regarding quality. The prices were fair. The selection of wall art was excellent. Upstairs is the Exhibit Area where High School Art was on display. Award ribbons next to many pieces. This is where The Social Discourse Exhibit will be held in July. I did find out that the pieces I submitted were not selected. Bummer. That’s okay . . . On to the next stop.

Because we were so close we thought it would be fun to re-visit Impression Five Science Center located at 200 Museum Drive; Lansing, MI 48864. We hadn’t been there since we were kids. I remember it to be magical and was excited to experience a little of that again. However cool it was the magic no longer there. Replaced with wisdom I suppose. Harrumph!

A quick stop at Art Unlimited 4692 Okemos Rd.; Okemos, MI 48864 ph: 517- 349-8278, just long enough to realize it was indeed a place create your ceramic and fused glass masterpieces. This is a stop for other day. So off we went to The Framer’s Edge & Gallery located 1856 W. Grand River Ave; Okemos, MI 48864 ph: 517-347-7400 First off the bat you notice an spectacular display of frame styles. They are a work of art themselves but were not as spectacular as the selection of art already framed and for sale. The owner has excellent taste. She has many prints available, ready to be framed as well. The sales woman was genuine and friendly and was able to help Russ find a print he had been looking everywhere for. She took his information and call him back the very next day. Take a look. Hearts found naturally in nature.

Williamston was charming and fun. For such a small town we certainly had enough choices for shopping. We started at Kathy’s Kreme of the Kropp - 110 E. Grand River; Williamston, MI 48895 ph: 517-655-3732. A boutique of everything cute. Tons of small cute items for gifts. Upstairs was stuffed with 50% off bargains. Whoohoo. I bought garden accents, Russ bought a cement head!

Around the corner was a Glass studio. Sadly it closes at 2pm and we were too late. We also missed a couple Antique shops due to weekend only hours. The coffee shop however was open as well as a nice book store.

My favorite in Williamston was our last stop of the day. The building located at 118 W. Grand River Ave. Williamston, MI 48895 is home to two businesses. Bloom by owner Aly Wendt 517-655-6800 and C A Concepts Studio by designer/artist Christine Freeman 517-803-4332. These two have go it goin’ on when it comes to home and garden accents and design. The store was filled with old and new items. Mixing the old with the new with creative re-assigning was carried out eloquently also. Old Windows hung sideways from the ceiling. Engine parts were welded together to create 3 foot tall metal flowers. Two planters stood as tall as I did. Their smoothly finished exterior disguised the fact that they were palm tree trunks! Holy Moly how cool is that!

Two antique “million drawer” dressers stole my heart. Christine took my name and will call me if she finds any more on her travels. We looked at two presentation books filled with her interior design work. WOW! She really should have her own show on HGTV. I was amazed to find this kind of talent tucked away into a small store in a small town in Williamston. She is AMAZING! If you are interested in a designer I highly recommend her.

4 Weekends Only

Starting Friday, April 25 and ending on Saturday, May 17, 2008

Store Hours:
Friday 12 Noon – 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Wrought Iron, Aluminum Wicker
Casual and Patio Furniture
Craftmade Fans and Lighting
• Custom Orders Available
• Factory Over-Runs
• One-of-a-Kinds
• Discontinued Items

Directions: M-52 to M-21 West, South quarter mile on Delaney Road
Cash, Check and Visa/MasterCard – All sales are final.

Artwork represents a diversity of styles and a range of media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pen & ink, collage, handmade paper, printmaking, clay, photography, pastel, metal work, jewelry, fiber, glass, metal, wood and more.

For more information call 989.723.8354

Shiawassee Arts Center
206 Curwood Castle Drive, Owosso
Open Tuesday-Saturday 12-5pm,
Sunday 1-5pm,
(989) 723.8354, sac@shiawasseearts.org
Public Welcome, No Admission

Roger Alderman

“My work is about expressing the spirit and energy I sense in the landscape. Painting on location provides a spontaneous and emotional response to the land and the presence we make as inhabitants. In the studio, I abstract this responce even further into power shapes, colors, and symbols. In both cases, I leave out the details and allow you the viewer to fill those in with your own experience and imagination. If I have done my job as an artist utilizing color, light, form and composition, and you sense the spirit of things unseen, than I have succeeded. A Native American friend once said to me, “that to Native Peoples, everything has a spirit, the air we breathe, trees, animals-even rocks”, when she commented on seeing the shape of a bear in the rocks I had painted. If you can see the bear in the rocks, or in some way your spirit is moved to soar, then we are speaking the same language”.

Visit Rogers Website at: www.rogeralderman.com

Precious Metal Clay represents a dramatic development in the handling of precious metals. PMC consists of microscopic particles of silver or gold suspended in an organic binder to create a pliable material with a consistency similar to modeling clay. PMC can be worked with the fingers and simple inexpensive tools to create a vast range of forms and surfaces that would be unattainable or laborious with traditional techniques.

When heated to a high temperature, the binder burns away and the metal particles fuse to form solid metal that can be sanded, soldered, colored and polished like conventional material.

To read more click the link below.

An Introduction to the Material, Tools and Techniques of Working with Precious Metal Clay

Photo Courtesy of PMC Artist Carolyn (Mimi) Martyn from Dillsboro, NC. email inquiries to: mountainartist@gmail.com

Palette knife painting has always been my passion although it took me a few decades to realize it. I had been painting with brushes for years when, during a demonstration, I applied some paint with a knife and felt a freedom and excitement about the technique I had never before realized. Although I am starting to use brushes again in my work, I have painted mostly with knives ever since that eureka moment. The knives provide a three dimensional quality to a painting which, combined with color and light, helps to create a lively result. My favorite subject matter is the natural environment: trees, fields, mountains, animals, lakes, and oceans.

The under-painting is applied in a thin sheen with the details of a piece applied with heavier texture. I generally use ten to fifteen different knives on a canvas, each knife providing a unique texture and effect. A painting must be finished the day it is started because the palette knife must be able to slide on the canvas rather than getting hung-up on partially dried paint. This technique requires using greater quantities of paint but the end result is fresh, and exciting.

Watch Alison create a painting on Blip TV

Go to Alison’s Website

You never know what you’ll find framed in Old Town. left to right (Me, Brook, J.R., Kim, Russ)

The First Sunday Galley Walk today was so much fun. The weather was great! Sunny and 60! I arrived around 3 o’clock to find Old Town full of people. Every store including The Artisan’s Circle was filled! I was thrilled! I had friends and family stop in today to support my new endeavor which made it special. Thank you much.

Finds were had from The Walking Horse Gallery, The Artisan’s Circle and Haze Inc. including canvas paintings, ornate floral jars, jeweled pendants, handmade mugs, coffee table books and greeting cards. Kim found an elaborate ornate floral jar for her daughter’s sweet 16 along with a bag that played a ROCKIN’ Birtday tune to put it in from the Walking Horse Gallery. They also had a selection of Greeting cards by Susan Mrosek which I fell in love with. Russ was on a mission to purchase a large canvas painting by Mark Hahn we saw on our last Art Day in Old Town. We arrived to find Haze Inc. in the process of moving to their larger building next to the Creole Gallery on Turner Street. Despite the exhaustion from days of moving Hazel was more than helpful with acquiring the requested piece for Russ to purchase. Thanks Hazel.

Brook delighted us with her poems. My favorite was about the color Gray in Michigan. Kids are great. When you hear her rendition you won’t feel quite so “Gray” about our Michigan Weather. I believe you’ll feel comforted. I plan to create a painting with her poem as inspiration. I’ll share her words with the painting.

On the way back to our vehicles we snapped a picture to preserve the fun.

Hosted by The Lansing Art Gallery

Social Discourse: An Arts Experience

A State-wide Juried Exhibition
May 22 - June 28th, 2008

For over a century, artists have been questioning the structures of society. This has included challenges to class, gender, race, and violence. We (The Lansing Art Gallery) are now asking Michigan artists to create art that deals with the concerns of our time at the individual, community, national and global levels. Ask questions, and seek answers with your art.

Deadline Entry: April 11, 2008

Awards:
Best of Show - $1000
Second Place - $500
Third Place - $250

Based on the Exhibit theme I will be entering these paintings. It would be great exposure to be selected for the Exhibit. I think Women of the World is my Front Runner. What do you think?

Wish me luck.

Interested in Exhibiting? View Prospectus PDF