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Monday, April 28, 2008

Great Lakes Showcase exhibits regional art Apr. 28-May 4 at MTU

HOUGHTON -- The Great Lakes Showcase of Fine Art and Crafts, a juried exhibition featuring the work of 77 regional artists, opens at 7 p.m. Monday, Apr. 28, in Michigan Tech's McArdle Theatre (Walker Arts and Humanities Center), with a reception to which the community is invited.

The showcase brings back one of the most popular annual arts events in the Keweenaw area after an absence of six years. During the 1980s and 1990s, the Copper Country Gallery Exhibition showcased the work of regional and national artists in a gallery-style show each May, in the week before graduation. It was temporarily discontinued in 2002 when its longtime organizers turned to other activities. Mary Ann Beckwith, MTU professor of art, says the new Great Lakes Showcase will be an annual event sponsored by the visual and performing arts department and other area art supporters.

"We hope everyone will take time to visit the exhibit," Beckwith says, "and to help us update our community and artist mailing lists. We already look forward to doing this again next year."

Free and open to the public, the showcase can be visited daily from Apr. 29 to May 4. After the Monday evening opening, hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 29, through Friday, May 2, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4. Visitor parking will be available in Lot 8 near Walker. Guided tours of the exhibit can be arranged for K-12 students and other groups by calling the Visual and Performing Arts office, 487-2067.

A number of special awards, including Best of Show, will be given to work in two dimensions and in three dimensions. This year's judge for selections and awards is Katie Crotteau, executive director of the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, Wis. In addition, the Community Choice Award of $150 will be given to the artist whose work receives the most votes from exhibit visitors.

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