Crooked Tree Art Center Exhibits Highlight what is GREAT in Michigan!
Beginning later this month, Crooked Tree Arts Center’s exhibitions and corresponding programming will be thematically linked, exploring a variety of ideas and concepts each season through art, lectures, hands-on activities, and additional arts opportunities.
A Lands Conservancy: Reclaiming Nature
The latest exhibition, opening to the public on Monday, April 19, delves into the ideas of preserving and conserving. Through the exhibits, the Center is considering the concept of “what we value and how we protect, save, and share those values.” One of the exhibits in this series is a solo show by Northern Michigan photographer Raymond Gaynor, titled “A Land's Conservancy: Reclaiming Nature.”
Over the past year, Gaynor has been documenting the Little Traverse Conservancy's Offield Family Viewlands. Formerly known as the Little Traverse Bay Golf Club, the Offield Family Viewlands are best known for their breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay and the Inland Waterway. The land is now officially open to the public, with more than 4.5 miles of trails that follow old golf course paths. Gaynor's images capture the way nature conserves itself through a process of growth and rebirth.
The Little Traverse Conservancy's Offield Family Viewlands offers a unique opportunity to witness the real-time transformation of nature's reclamation. To help promote the Little Traverse Conservancy's good work throughout Northern Michigan, Raymond Gaynor offered to document this recovery through his photographic lens.
“As an artist, I wanted to capture the beauty of Viewlands’ vistas and preserves from a creative and unique perspective. I hope that the viewer experiences the same level of excitement that I feel every time I photograph this new preserve!” says Gaynor.
“A Land’s Conservancy: Reclaiming Nature” will be on display at CTAC-Petoskey from April 19 - June 1, 2021. On Friday, April 23, at 10 a.m., CTAC will host a Virtual Coffee @ Ten lecture with Raymond Gaynor as he discusses his photography and the year-long project that yielded CTAC’s first photography exhibit of 2021.
GREAT: Reflections on the Great Lakes
The accompanying exhibition, “GREAT: Reflections on the Great Lakes” will feature 48 works from Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois-based artists.
This exhibition welcomed Great Lakes-area artists to submit original works of art that reflect on a theme of “great.” The Great Lakes that surround Michigan’s peninsulas are powerful life-sustaining resources. Their vastness, mystery, connectedness, and clarity suggest a physical manifestation of greatness. Juried by Michigan artist Susan Moran, the accepted works demonstrate a meaningful connection or response to the Great Lakes. Photography, paintings, mixed media drawings, ceramic pieces, and printmaking featured, with a mix of traditional and conceptual approaches to the theme.
Participating artists include: Jim Aho, Cindy Awrey, Juanita Baldwin, Pi Benio, Gregg Bruff, Barbara Bushey, Anne Carman-Hendel, Bettina Cousineau, Robert deJonge, Henry Droski, Joan Gerigk, Denice Goldschmidt, Robert Harold, Christina Haylett, Debra Howard, Heidi Huck, Steven Hughes, Beverly Hundley, Carol Irving, Bridget Johnson, Michael Koole, Robert Mullenix, John O'Neill, Stone Peng, Robert Perrish, Steven Petrides, Cynthia Rutherford, Veronica Schaden, Karen Schaffenberger, Bill Schahfer, Rochelle Stark, Deborah Trent, Maggie Valle, Vicki VanAmeyden, Kate Vrijmoet, and Kari Wilson.
“GREAT” will be on display from April 19 - June 1, during CTAC’s business hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
