Silver Maples News & Blog

Silver Maples’ “Bugs, Birds and Beasts” art exhibit goes on the road

Silver Maples Gallery 100 is pleased to share that our unique art exhibit, Bugs, Birds and Beasts, has grown legs and has traveled to the Elizabeth Lane Oliver Art Center in Frankfort, Michigan.

The Bugs, Birds and Beasts collection was originally showcased at Gallery 100 in 2015. Volunteer Gallery Manager Lois DeLeon, who has been a resident at Silver Maples since 2007, curated the exhibit along with Ann Arbor fiber artist Nancy McKay. The collaborative mixed-media exhibit, featuring weirdly welcoming bugs to colorful beasts of the wild to the serenity of sandhill cranes and white herons, was very popular with both residents and visitors at Silver Maples. “We were disappointed when the time came for the showcase here at Silver Maples to come down, and thought how great it would be if it could travel somewhere to be enjoyed by more people,” Lois recalls.

Little did they know that their wish would become reality. One of the artists, who has a connection in Frankfort, Michigan, spoke with a local gallery coordinator who loved the idea of sharing this unique exhibit with more people. So, on July 28, 2017, Lois and her band of artists traveled to Frankfort, MI to see their dream become a reality as they enjoyed an opening reception featuring their collection at the Elizabeth Lane Oliver Art Center.

The exhibit features bugs, birds, and beasts from multiple viewpoints including fiber, sculpture, encaustic, digital, and watercolor, silk, oil, and acrylic painting. Artists include Jill Andrews, Karen Turckes, Valerie Mann, Lindsey Dahl, Judith Bemis, Raven Berentsen, Tammy Burke, Carrie Joers, Nancy McKay, and will be on display until September 8, 2017. If your travels take you to northern Michigan these next few weeks, you’ll definitely want to make a stop in Frankfort to check this out!

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About Silver Maples’ Gallery 100

Silver Maples’ lively Gallery 100 would not be the dynamic place it is today if it weren’t for two very special people – Meadows resident Glen Paulsen, who wanted to fully utilize the wide corridor and magnificent wall space we had gained in our expansion project, and Maples resident Lois DeLeon, who took on the role of gallery manager as she had experience as a retired assistant curator from the Cleveland Museum of Arts.  Once the space was defined, and hanging and lighting systems were in place, the next task was to set up various showcases to enjoy the space. The gallery’s first showcase was Fotogypsies by photographers Jim & Angie George, acquaintances of Lois. Over the years, the Gallery 100 has hosted more than 60 exhibits of local Michigan artists, from Traverse City to the University of Michigan’s Prisoners Art Show, to beautiful quilts made by Chelsea Senior Center women for patients of the U of M transplant unit, and art showcases by Silver Maples friends & family. Student art shows from local teachers appeared, as have avant-garde exhibits featuring vintage Honda motorcycles and life-sized dolls that looked like Keith Richards, a 60’s hippie, and Cher.

Gallery 100 exhibits typically run 8 weeks, so you’ll want to visit often to check out the new showcase! Gallery hours are Sunday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Silver Maples is located at 100 Silver Maples Dr., Chelsea.  734.475.4111.

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