ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Now through September 4th, the Bonifas Arts Center is hosting its annual Membership Show.
Bonifas members from the U.P., lower Michigan, and Wisconsin created 78 unique pieces for this year’s exhibit. Mediums on display include painting, photography, glass blowing, and fiber art. The show has been a regional tradition for more than 50 years.
“Back in the day before the Bonifas was even in existence, they had a membership show for individuals that were part of the Bay Area Art Association,” said Bonifas Gallery Director Kate Oman. “In 2012, the Bonifas acquired that show. There are a lot of awesome pieces by a lot of wonderful, talented artists.”
This is the first show the Arts Center has hosted since its theater caught fire in May, causing smoke to enter the gallery. Regular visitors may notice that it looks a bit different inside, with new, darker carpeting on the walls.
“We’d like to thank The Carpet and Drapery Shoppe for the donation of the carpet and the very fast turnaround install that they’ve had to do,” Oman said. “We’re very appreciative of that. The artwork really pops off of this nice charcoal color, so it looks fabulous.”
While welcoming guests back into the gallery after nearly two months was special on its own, Oman says the Membership Show being the next exhibit on the Bonifas calendar made it even more touching.
“To give this to our artists as the first show coming back after the fire is phenomenal, just the support and the artists being so patient,” she said. “Some of the artists already had their artwork here before the fire and were just waiting to find out if their artwork was okay. I’m so super excited that we get to be back in our home.”
One featured artist will receive their own studio show, and some pieces will be selected to be put on display at the Escanaba and Gladstone city halls. One artist will receive a $200 scholarship to put toward a workshop. Money for first- and second-place awards was provided by the Dorothy Vogt Fund.
Repairs are still underway inside the Bonifas Theater. To donate to the Arts Center or to the Players de Noc—the group that regularly performs in the theater—visit bonifasarts.org or playersdenoc.org.
The Bonifas Arts Center is located at 700 1st Avenue South. The Membership Show can be seen during regular hours of operation, which are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
