ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Bonifas Arts Center has unveiled its 32nd annual Northern Exposure exhibit.
Northern Exposure showcases the best of the best art created north of the 45th parallel. This year’s exhibit features more than 100 pieces made by 56 artists from Upper Michigan and Wisconsin. Mediums include painting, photography, fiber art, found art sculpture, and woodworking.
“This is our grand finale, if you will, for the season,” explained Gallery Director Kate Oman. “Northern Exposure is a juried exhibit, which means that the artists have to submit an image digitally first, and then the juror will pick the pieces to be in the exhibit. We had three placement prizes—first, second, and third—and purchase prizes.”
This year’s second place prize was awarded to fiber artist Carol Irving for the piece pictured below, titled Blue Lake Release.
“I believe it’s for the use of the color to make you feel like you’re being pulled right into the piece,” Oman said. “There’s a lot of movement in the piece. Carol uses recycled materials. She uses a computer program to put her layout together before she strings her loom, then she does all the weaving herself. The juror really appreciated the time and the effort.”
While there was no theme for the exhibit, Oman and the juror noticed recurring elements in many of the pieces.
“What’s fascinating to me is to see somebody, say, in the Sault not talking to somebody in Iron Mountain, and they almost create the same thematic piece, whether it be nature or circles or birds,” said Oman. “You’ll see a lot of birds in this exhibit. It’s really exciting to see what’s in the water. All of the pieces are very high energy; there’s a lot going on.”
Northern Exposure XXXII sponsors include Bay College, the Escanaba Daily Press, the Iron Mountain Daily Press, Marquette Monthly, Crawford Funeral Home, the Lake Superior Arts Association via the Zero Degrees Gallery, the Copper Country Associated Artists, and the Sault Area Art Center. Gallery partners include the Escanaba Veterinary Clinic, the East Ludington Gallery, Tackman Capital Management, and Thrivent Financial – Brian Pahnke, Escanaba Branch.
The exhibit is free to view and will be on display through January 31. The Bonifas Arts Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
