NAN SANDERS POKERWINSKI
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
  • Contact
  • MANGO RASH
  • Blog
  • EVENTS
  • Journalism
  • Photography
  • Buy Books
  • Collages

HeartWood
A blog about cultivating
creativity, connection and contentment
wherever you are

An Artful Start to Summer

6/5/2019

12 Comments

 
​What signals the beginning of summer to you? Do you wait for the calendar to tell you it’s officially begun, or do you declare it underway once you’ve planted a flat of annuals, fired up the grill, or popped open a beer on the back porch?
PictureRay checks out a woodworker's wares
​

​For me, those are all sure signs, but what really kicks off summer is the first festival of the season. Around here, that’s the Newaygo Arts & Crafts Festival, held over the Memorial holiday weekend.

​​Some years the festival is better than others (with my definition of “better” based on an index I derive through complex calculations weighted heavily by the ratio of actual artisans and crafters to booths occupied by gutter-guard salespeople and chiropractors).
Picture
Lots of artsy and crafty folks this year
​This year, I have to say, the festival was outstanding. Not only were there lots of vendors offering interesting wares, there was also a new addition, “Let’s Art Newaygo!”, that I hope will become a regular feature of the annual celebration. This juried art show and competition showcased the work of twenty-two artists, displayed in thirteen businesses throughout Newaygo. You could think of it as a smaller-scale ArtPrize, the Grand Rapids extravaganza of the arts that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Picture
Picture book illustrator Lori McElrath-Eslick entered this painting, titled "Our Dog," in the Let's Art Newaygo competition
PictureI always welcome an excuse to stroll around downtown Newaygo on a sunny day


​​I spent a blissful couple of hours strolling around Newaygo, checking out the works of art. Then I headed back to the River Country Chamber of Commerce booth in Brooks Park to cast my vote in the People’s Choice competition. (Read on to find out which pieces were selected by the judges and the People’s Choice voters.)

PictureSherri Russell's mixed-media collage, titled "Lake Fish Spawning," was created entirely out of recycled materials, including beverage and cat-food cans
​

​I was fascinated to see the variety of materials and techniques the artists used. There were paintings, photographs, sculptures of metal and wood, stained glass windows, and multi-media works. Several artists made creative use of recycled or repurposed materials, which added interest. 

​I could go on and on, but words don’t do justice, so I’ll let you take a look at  more of the art. And if you’re in the Newaygo area, you don’t have to settle for pictures—the works will be on display through June 10, and printed guides to their locations are available at local businesses and libraries.
Picture
Part of the fun was seeing art displayed alongside merchandise in Newaygo shops. Here's Lori McElrath-Eslick's painting at New Ewe Yarn & Quilt Shoppe
Picture
Nancy Markosky calls this jewelry collection "Out of the Ruins." She created the pieces from pure copper, distressed using acid and heat, and hand-set the agate, turquoise and amazonite stones. The work is displayed at Sui Generis Home Furniture.
Picture
Mark Andrews's photograph, "Electric Forest," can be seen at 37 North. (Isn't it cool how the colors in the photograph, taken at Twinwood Lake, echo the colors of the clothing, shoes, and even the kayaks in the background? Not intentional, I'm sure, but a happy coincidence.)
Picture
Shari Werner's stained glass piece, "Rising Among the Reeds," won third place from both the judges and the People's Choice voters.
Picture
This artisan leather bag on display at Sui Generis Home Furniture, was made by Roxanne Middleton
Picture
Woodworker Mike Borkowski created this fish, titled "Hank," from some two hundred pieces of wood and copper scraps. The piece won second place in People's Choice.
Picture
Gail Howarth's photograph, "Magical Creatures," displayed at 37 North, reflects her passion for nature.
Picture
"A Fish Called Lelia," by Jeremiah Corrigan, won first place in People's Choice and second place from the judges.
Picture
Lelia flashes a winning smile.
Picture
The judges awarded first place to Dawn Campbell for this evening dress made of tobacco leaves and displayed at--where else--Indian River Tobacco Traders.
12 Comments
Susan Stec
6/5/2019 06:41:51 am

My vote would go to Lelia or that gorgeous tobacco dress. And is each piece of that stained glass actually soldered? Oh my, the work in that is amazing and certainly a beauty.
Sorry I missed it.

Reply
Nan
6/5/2019 07:34:28 am

It was all pretty amazing to see first-hand. Wish you could've been here!

Reply
Sally Kane
6/5/2019 07:34:13 am

Wow! Right here in Newaygo. It does feel like a local Art Prize. My vote ties between Shari's stained glass bird and the tobacco leaf gown, but I enjoyed all the pieces you showed us. Go Art, Newaygo. Make it a tradition.

Reply
Nan
6/5/2019 07:35:48 am

I hope it will become a tradition. So many talented people around here -- there'd be no shortage of work to showcase.

Reply
Janet Glaser
6/5/2019 07:53:47 am

Amazing. Jaw-dropping. Eye-catching. Creative. So many words to explain how I feel when I see these outstanding pieces of art.Your photos certainly captured the displays so well. I didn't know they were still up to view. Thanks for the tip. What a fun addition to the arts and craft festival in downtown Newaygo.

Reply
Nan
6/5/2019 09:01:22 am

Hope you get a chance to see them, Janet. Really impressive work.

Reply
Cindi Mc
6/5/2019 08:17:29 am

Wondering why I saw no displays of your exceptional talent??? I can only assume it’s because of time spent on your book. Hopefully next year we will see some.

Reply
Nan
6/5/2019 09:03:17 am

You are kind, Cindi. I didn't find out about this competition in time to enter anything this year. But I do have two photographs in the Statewide Photography Exhibit at Artsplace in Fremont, opening today and running through July 13.

Reply
Nancy Waits
6/5/2019 09:05:04 am

I agree entirely with your criteria for rating this year one of the better ones. Ed and I bought a few things, but we didn’t know about the art in the stores.

Reply
Nan
6/5/2019 09:25:08 am

It seems a lot of people didn't know about the art in the stores. I only knew because one of my hiking friends mentioned it. Hope the word gets around better next time.

Reply
Valerie Deur
6/8/2019 06:09:34 am

thanks Nan, I got around to see these last week Pretty amazing talent... best wishes on the photo show in Fremont! hose are very cool too!

Reply
Suzy
6/20/2019 03:12:48 pm

I’m just catching up. This art is beautiful. Makes me want to see more. What a talented place Newaygo must be!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Written from the heart,
    from the heart of the woods
    Read the introduction to HeartWood here.

    Subscribe to HeartWood

    Available now!

    Picture
    Check with your favorite bookseller or order from the BUY BOOKS page on this website.
    Get updates on Mango Rash
    BUY MANGO RASH

    Author

    Nan Sanders Pokerwinski, a former journalist, writes memoir and personal essays, makes collages and likes to play outside. She lives in West Michigan with her husband, Ray.

    Archives

    April 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Better Living
    Books
    Community
    Creativity
    Events
    Explorations
    Food
    Gardens
    Guest Posts
    Health
    Inspiration
    Last Wednesday Wisdom
    Local Artists
    Mecosta County
    Montcalm County
    Music
    Muskegon County
    Nature
    Newaygo County
    Oceana County
    People
    Photography
    Pure Michigan
    Reflection
    Return To Paradise
    Samoa
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
  • Contact
  • MANGO RASH
  • Blog
  • EVENTS
  • Journalism
  • Photography
  • Buy Books
  • Collages