Patricia Izzo and Martine MacDonald at River’s Edge Gallery opening November 17

WCA-MI members attended the opening on November 17 of works by WCA-MI members Patricia Izzo and Martine MacDonald. Izzo’s work features female archtypes in black and white staged photos overpainted on canvas. MacDonald’s works are elegant, gilded bird nest-like constructs that incorporate classical architectural elements as well as natural elements such as birds and bones.

Arts Alliance and Ann Arbor Visitors and Convention Bureau Meet

On Nov. 8, Barbara Carson And K.A. Letts attended an informational meeting of the Arts Alliance and Ann Arbor Visitors and Convention Bureau at Michigan Theater, the subject of which was the branding of Ann Arbor as an “established” arts destination in Michigan. We found this ironic since Ann Arbor just voted no on Proposal b for public art.  The emphasis of the meeting seemed to be on hotel room sales for major arts events  like the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, with little of  immediate interest for working artists in the Ann Arbor area wishing to promote their work.   At this point it would seem that Grand Rapids outpaces Ann Arbor as an “established” arts destination based upon Artprize alone.  Still, we will be thinking about how to co-operate with these entities in the future to benefit our members.

Meet-up at Beverly Buchanan Opening


On Thursday, Nov. 1, a bunch of WCA-MI members attended the opening of 2011 WCA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Beverly Buchanan At Gallery DAAS on the main campus of the University of Michigan. Attending were: Brenda Oelbaum, Barbara Carson, Loisann Arnold, Amanda Moyer, Ludmila Ketslakh, Christy Kelly-Bengten, Carol Morris, Margaret Parker, and K.A. Letts. The artist was in attendance and spoke briefly to the opening night guests. The works were well installed and well lighted in an intimate space; the work was curated by Marienetta Porter. They fell into roughly 2 groups: an earlier collection of houses which were brightly painted and featured appliqued deecoration, and a later body of work that was unpainted, slightly larger and free of paint.
Afterwards we retreated to Dominick’s for wine and nachos and we argued and laughed about the upcoming elections.

Oceanic Bliss Door for Avalon Housing Gala is complete


The door is finally done, not without some last minute crises–but it looks great and we hope it benefits Avalon Housing. The door will be sold at the Gala on Friday, Nov. 2, and tickets to the event can be purchased at avalonhousing.org

WCA-MI Flashmob at Beverly Buchanan Exhibition

2011 WCA Lifetime Achievement award winner Beverly Buchanan will be featured in an exhibit at DAAS Gallery Rm G648 of Haven Hall on the main campus of the University of Michigan. An opening reception will be held on November 1, from 4-6 p.m. and WCA-MI members will flashmob the gallery at 5 p.m. Join us!

Margaret Parker on the cover of Art Showcase

Margaret Parker on Cover of Art Showcase

Margaret Parker argues forcefully in favor of Proposal B which would raise money for public art in Ann Arbor. She’s on the cover of the fall issue of Art Showcase, and there are some nice pictures of her work inside too–check it out!