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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Celebrate regional artists with Great Lakes Showcase, opening Feb. 28 at Rozsa Gallery

HOUGHTON -- The Rozsa Center is pleased to announce the opening of the 2014 Great Lakes Showcase: An Annual Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts and Crafts, TOMORROW, Friday, Feb. 28. The exhibit is sponsored by Michigan Tech’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts. A community mainstay for over 35 years, the Showcase celebrates the vibrant artists who work in or visit the Upper Peninsula and surrounding region.

Artist: Benjamin Argall, "Wolf Warrior" (Photos courtesy Rozsa Center)

Says Great Lakes Showcase (GLS) Co-coordinator Sarah Fayen Scarlett, "Every year when we unpack the works and arrange the gallery, my excitement is renewed for the art being made in our region. The range of materials and viewpoints, as well as the thoughtful creativity, are cause for recognition and celebration. Thanks to all the artists for participating!"

The public is invited to a reception for the artists from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. The 2014 GLS Awards Judge, Ginny Baer, will provide comments to the public and discuss the 2014 award winners at 6 p.m. Artwork is available for purchase, in person at the opening or anytime during the duration of the exhibit. Visit http://vpa-live.mtu.edu/gls/ on line, or call Michigan Tech Ticketing Operations at (906) 487-2073.

In addition, new to the 2014 showcase will be a gallery discussion led by Kathleen Carlton Johnson, PhD, titled "What Art Can Do For You and Why" at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6.

"We are thrilled to include a public talk this year given by a long-time Great Lakes Showcase committee member and former art teacher in Lake Linden," Scarlett notes. "Kathy is a passionate advocate for art and art education."

2014 GLS artist entries were up 25 percent from last year, and the show will feature more than 90 artworks from 57 artists. Media range from hand-made baskets to woodturning, delicate works on paper to bold mixed-media collage -- and include of course the full range: paintings on canvas, watercolor, mixed media, glass and ceramic, mixed media installation, prints, cast metal sculpture, photography, fiber art, and artists' books.

Artist: Marc Himes, Birds Eye Maple Vase

"The work in this year's show highlights a particular sensitivity to materials," Scarlett explains. "From creative photographic printing media to collages made with cut up credit cards, many works in the 2D category challenge our expectations and perceptions. In the 3D category, traditional sculptural and craft techniques show off wood, ceramics, brass, glass, and natural woven fiber to great effect in surprising ways."

This year's judge for awards, Ginnie Baer, is assistant professor of art at the University of Wisconsin--Barron County in Rice Lake. As in previous years, the awards are as follows:
BEST IN SHOW, $1000 (sponsored by the MTU President)
FIRST PLACE 2D, $500 (sponsored by the MTU Provost)
FIRST PLACE 3D, $500 (sponsored by the MTU Dean of College of Sciences and Arts)
SECOND PLACE 2D, $200
SECOND PLACE 3D, $200
3 HONORABLE MENTIONS, $50 each
COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARD:  The community Choice award will be announced on the 2014 Great Lakes website, http://www.mtu.edu/vpa/art/showcase/ at the end of the show -- come cast your vote!

The show will run through March 28, 2014, and is free and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

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