Ed Gray Gallery to present two Keweenaw art exhibits

By Michele Bourdieu

CALUMET -- The Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet will feature two one-person art exhibits by Keweenaw artists in June and July.

"A Pleasant Peninsula" -- a one-person show by Calumet artist Jack Oyler will open with a reception from 6:30 p. m. to 9 p. m. on Friday, June 6, in the Gallery at 109 Fifth St., Calumet. This exhibit will continue through June 22.

"Crow is sleeping" is the title of this painting by Calumet artist Jack Oyler. It is part of the upcoming exhibit, "A Pleasant Peninsula," opening Friday, June 6, in the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet. In his artist's statement, Oyler writes, "This year, there aren't as many crows but the crows that are still around have more interesting lives." (Photo courtesy Ed Gray Gallery. Reprinted with permission.)

The second exhibit, "Keweenaw Full Circle," oil and watercolor paintings by Kenneth Koskela, originally of Laurium, will open on Friday, June 27, and continue through July 27. An opening reception will be held from 6:30 p. m. to 9 p. m. on Friday, June 27.

These paintings by Kenneth Koskela can be seen now in the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet. "Keweenaw Full Circle," a one-person exhibit of Koskela's work, opens June 27. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

"I have been enamored of the work of both of these artists," said Gallery owner Ed Gray, "because of the quality of their work and their humor -- not only in the paintings but also in the titles."

Calumet native Jack Oyler is a self-taught painter whose works have been widely exhibited across the Upper Peninsula.

These are some of Jack Oyler's paintings for his one-person exhibit, "A Pleasant Peninsula," opening Friday, June 6, in the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

"For the last year or so, I've been working on making my paintings smaller and simpler," Oyler notes. "Other than that, the only new element I'm using is Plastic, which seems full of possibilities for representation."

Artist Kenneth Koskela explains the title of his exhibit, "Keweenaw Full Circle," in his autobiographical artist's statement, in which he describes growing up in Laurium and traveling to many places before returning to the area.

"Life in Laurium was wonderful, long, long ago before noisy passenger jets and their con trails messed up our sky, diesel trains with more noise, 120 mile an hour cars, TV, boom box radios -- all those noise making distractions which came after Madison Avenue and Plastics made all silly desires possible and available," Koskela writes.

Koskela is nostalgic about the good life in those good old days -- "a farmer with a horse and wagon delivered fresh milk in bottles to the back door each morning, steam locomotives AKA Pumper Bellies, grand old cars, winter blizzards, outdoor winter ice skating rinks, great displays of The Northern Lights, seeing the Milky Way on moonless nights, sand lot ball games, walking to and from school, 12 cent double feature Saturday movies, 5 cent real ice cream cones, picking wild blue berries for a pie, Doctors making house calls ..."

"Meet the Author Today" is the title of this painting by Kenneth Koskela. The sandstone house of his childhood memories is still standing in Laurium. (Photo courtesy Ed Gray Gallery. Reprinted with permission.)

Koskela recalls a sandstone house, still standing in Laurium, which appears in his painting, "Meet the Author Today": "As I walked to and from school each day, I passed the pink sandstone house on First Street in Laurium four times. It's still one of my favorite buildings. During those years I sketched many of the other outstanding, late, Victorian homes in Laurium -- the remains of the C&H mining days -- each one a jewel of design and detail."

The Ed Gray Gallery and Studio, also known as Miskwabik, is located on historic Fifth Street in Calumet. Ed Gray, former director of the Vertin Gallery and an artist in his own right, moved here a few months ago. In addition, he publishes the Miskwabik Press at this location. The smoke-free building is also equipped with high-speed Internet.

Ed Gray, also known by his Native American name, Jikiwe, at work in his Gallery and Studio at 109 Fifth Street, Calumet. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Gray also has an Artist-in-Residence Program with an Artist Studio/Apartment available for rent on the second floor of the building. The apartment has two large rooms, a kitchen and a bath. It is equipped with high-speed Internet and offers a visiting artist an opportunity to work, attend local events and enjoy the natural beauty of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

The Gallery exhibits a variety of art works in its collection, including some of Gray's own and some by other artists for sale. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.; Friday, 10 a. m. to 9 p. m.; Saturday, 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p. m. For more information about the Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery and Studio or the exhibits, call 906-337-5970 or visit the Gallery Web site.