Great Lakes Showcase celebrates local and regional artists -- opening Feb. 26

Quincy Dredge in Winter, by Peter Jablokow. (Photos courtesy Rozsa Center)

HOUGHTON -- The Michigan Tech Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts are pleased to present the 2015 Great Lakes Showcase (GLS), an annual month-long, juried exhibition of fine arts and crafts.

Opening on Thursday, Feb. 26, and continuing through March 31 in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, the Great Lakes Showcase is a celebration art that brings together both local artists and others from the around the upper Midwest region. The Showcase features paintings, photography, drawings, collage, ceramics, textiles, and works in wood by local and regional artists, juried by a group of professional artists. The show will feature 92 artworks in a range of media, including woven textiles, ceramic, paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, wood-turning, bronze sculpture, and installation pieces.

Winter Sun, by John Hubbard.

Free and open to the public, the exhibit is located in the Rozsa Art Gallery, in the lower level of the Rozsa Center. Visitor parking is available at meters adjacent to the Rozsa Center. (NOTE: The gallery is closed on weekends.)

The opening will feature the announcement of awards for outstanding work in several categories. This year the reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. In addition to beautiful artwork and a chance to meet the artists, the reception will feature appetizers and a cash bar, as well as live music provided by local folk band "What the Folk," performing from 5:30 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.

Dyed rubbed vase, by Marc Himes.

Artworks are available for purchase; visitors are encouraged to support their favorite artist by making a Great Lakes Showcase artwork part of their home or office. Most of the pieces are for sale and can be purchased in person at the show or at the Central Ticketing Operations office in the Student Development Complex. 100 percent of proceeds go to the artists. A Ticket Office representative will be in the gallery on Opening Night to assist with sales, and purchases can be made through March 31. Artworks purchased will be available for pick up after March 31 at the conclusion of the exhibition.

According to show coordinator Sarah Fayen Scarlett, "This year, we received almost 190 entries from 65 artists -- a 15 percent increase over 2014. Artists hail from throughout the UP as well as downstate and neighboring regions. Visitors will see returning artists as well as newcomers."

 A Study in Romance, by Greg Green.

The judge for the awards this year is Beth A. Zinsli. Dr. Zinsli is Curator and Director of the Galleries at the Wriston Art Center at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Best in Show carries a cash prize of $1000, supported by the MTU President’s Office. The Dean of the College of Sciences and Arts and the University Provost support the first place prizes in the 3D and 2D categories. 2nd place prizes and Honorable Mentions are also awarded. During the course of the show, visitors can vote for the Community Choice Award. The winner will be announced on the GLS website at the close of the show on March 31.

For more details, please contact Sarah Fayen-Scarlett, 906-487-2420, sfscarle@mtu.edu.

Great Lakes Showcase exhibit in Rozsa Gallery continues through March 30

Artist Susanne Kilpela, winner of the Best of Show award in the three-dimensional category at the Great Lakes Showcase exhibit, is pictured here with her porcelain sculpture, "Temporal Touchstone," in the Rozsa Gallery during the opening reception March 12. Kilpela also won a third place award in the 3D category for her piece "Communciation Issues." (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- The Great Lakes Showcase in the Rozsa Gallery will conclude tomorrow, Friday, March 30. If you missed the opening reception, check out the exhibit by these talented local artists now!

The opening reception for the Great Lakes Showcase on March 12 attracted a large crowd.

Awards worth more than $2000 honor outstanding work this year in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional categories. The three top prizes are being sponsored by the Michigan Technological University President, Provost, and Dean. This year’s juror was Dr. Stephen Perkins, Curator of Art at the Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

In his awards speech, Dr. Perkins said that he was particularly impressed by work that surprised him, that made him "look at things in a slightly different way," and he stressed the importance of artists continuing to "just do the work, that perseverance is the key to success."

Wayne Walma and Pamela Beal won second place in the 3D category with their mixed-media piece "Mocha Wine and Joe," pictured here between them.

Winners were announced as follows:

Three Dimensional:

Best of Show -- Susanne Kilpela, "Temporal Touchstone"
First Place -- Jess Kane, "Corroborate"
Second Place -- Wayne Walma and Pamela Beal, "Mocha Wine and Joe"
Third Place -- Susanne Kilpela, "Communication Issues"

The Rozsa Gallery is equipped with special lighting to illuminate paintings such as these.

Two Dimensional:

Best of Show -- G. Tim Flannery, "The Silence in Here is Deafening"
First Place -- Steven Hughes, "The King is Dead"
Second Place -- Darrin Moir, "Rooftop"
Third Place -- Thomas Co, "Ella"

Artist Tom Co is pictured here with some of his entries, including "Satchmo," at left. Co won third place in the 2D category for his piece "Ella."

Artist and beekeeper Melissa Hronkin is pictured here with several of her encaustics entries.

Honorable Mentions:

Kevin Breyfogle, "Early Copper Miner"
Andrea DaVinci Braun, "Jacqueline's Tattoo"
John D. Hubbard, "BP Trickle"
Joyce Koskenmaki, "Owl and Two Birches"
Sue Stephens, "Talking with Richard"
Fredi Taddeucci, "Spirit of Joy"

Photographer Eric Munch is pictured here at the reception with his photography entry "Birch Perch."

Artist Susan Robinson and her husband, George Robinson, view paintings during the March 12 opening reception of the Great Lakes Showcase in the Rozsa Gallery.

As always, the show includes a Community Favorite Award voted on by gallery visitors. The public is invited to view the work of area artists and vote for the "Community Choice Award," in the gallery, open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. through March 30, 2012. The Community Choice Award Winner will be announced on the Department of Visual and Performing Arts website after the show closes. Throughout the Showcase, most exhibition works will be available for purchase through Ticketing Operations by calling (906) 487-2073.

The Great Lakes Showcase is sponsored by the Michigan Technological University Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Rozsa Center Gallery to host Great Lakes Showcase Mar. 12-30

"Central's Heritage," by artist Susan Robinson of Hancock. Acrylic paints on canvas, 12" x 24." This is one of the entries in the The Great Lakes Showcase juried exhibition opening with a reception in the Rozsa Center Gallery Monday, March 12. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Susan Robinson)

HOUGHTON -- The Rozsa Center will present The Great Lakes Showcase: An Annual Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts and Crafts celebrating the region’s visual arts community March 12-30. The public is invited to the opening reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 12.

The gallery will be open during its regular hours Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

According to Michigan Tech Professor of Art Mary Ann Beckwith, "This year’s show offers a stunning array of art work from throughout the region, varied enough to find something to please every viewer."

This annual juried exhibition showcases recent work by artists in multiple categories including oil, watercolor, acrylic, drawing, printmaking, photography, woodworking, fiber arts, ceramics, multi-media and more! With a long tradition of shining the spotlight on regional artists, the Great Lakes Showcase welcomes the community to enjoy its own artist richness in Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center.

Over $2000 worth of awards will be given this year to honor outstanding work in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional categories. The three top prizes are being sponsored by the Michigan Technological University President, Provost, and Dean. This year’s juror is Dr. Stephen Perkins, Curator of Art at the Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. As always, the show includes a Community Favorite Award voted on by gallery visitors. Throughout the Showcase, most exhibition works will be available for purchase through Ticketing Operations by calling (906) 487-2073.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Michigan Technological University Visual and Performing Arts Department.