"Calling for Other Coordinates," Mixed Media by Ingrid Blixt of Escanaba. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)Organized by the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC), and co-curated by artists Joyce Koskenmaki and Christine Saari, "A Celebration of the Upper Peninsula as Home" features eleven artists from across the Upper Peninsula whose work reflects their feelings about living here.
An opening reception for the artists will take place at the gallery from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
At the reception, Jon Saari, UPEC board president, and several participating artists will give a brief gallery talk about the goals of UPEC and the role of artists in celebrating the Upper Peninsula ’s unique beauty.
The exhibit includes pieces in various media from Joyce Koskenmaki of Hancock; John Lundeen of Munising; Ron Lukey, Christine Saari, Patrick St. Germain and Vicki Allison Phillips of Marquette; Ingrid Blixt of Escanaba; Eric Munch of Calumet; Peg Sandin of Ironwood; Jan Manniko from the Keweenaw; and Rex Marsh of Sault Ste. Marie.
Co-curator Joyce Koskenmaki has a special connection to the Upper Peninsula: "My grandparents came from Finland and settled in Baraga County around the turn of the century. I was raised here, imprinted by the land and climate and grounded in family history," Koskenmaki says. "I helped curate this exhibition because I wanted to celebrate what growing up here and coming back to live here after a lifetime away has meant to me as a Finnish-American woman. It is a very special history, and this is a very special place."
"Passage Island," Ink and Watercolor on Paper by Joyce Koskenmaki of Hancock. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)Choosing artists who share her love of the Upper Peninsula was an easy task for Koskenmaki.
"There are many wonderful artists living in the Upper Peninsula. These artists choose to live in the relative wilderness for many reasons; chief among them is the love for place," she notes.
"The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition," Koskenmaki explains, "is concerned about encroaching development, as well as the effects of climate change, forest fragmentation and (metallic) sulfide mining. This exhibition honors the voices of artists who love the land and feel deeply connected to it, offering their work as a celebration and an act of love and concern."
Connecting the themes of nature and home was obvious for Jon Saari of UPEC.
"Home is where we want to be most, where we have chosen to root our lives and to get to know a place deeply and broadly," Jon Saari says. "It sets man-made and natural places together: the house in the yard, the camp in the clearing, the canoe on the lake, the trail in the woods. At home, nature is familiar and approachable; and in small doses we are most at ease with it."
Saari adds the "celebration" in this exhibit is more meaningful than fireworks or partying.
"At the deeper levels, we honor what we celebrate," he says. "We honor the U.P. not because it is an easy or convenient place to live, but because it tempers us with long winters and black flies and rewards us with quiet outings in beautiful and remote places."
"A Celebration of the Upper Peninsula as Home" will be on display through Jan. 31, 2008.
*Update: Please note the gallery will be closed from Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, but will re-open Jan. 2.
The Finlandia University Gallery is in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street in Hancock. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., or by appointment. Please call 906-487-7500 for more information.
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