MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A new exhibition is now on display at the Lake Effect Community Arts Center in Manistique.
“Against the Grain” features the work of Chet McDougle and Mara Manning. In recent years, the artists have each won first place at the Bonifas Arts Center’s annual Northern Exposure showcase.
Both McDougle and Manning utilize texture to provoke emotions, thoughts, and conversations.
“Some things are meant to be thought about,” said Lake Effect Operations Manager Katie Birdsley. “It’s meant to take a moment to sit with it. Some things don’t need to be rushed.”
Manning paints abstract treescapes with oils and wax, a method called encaustic painting.
“She does a variety of almost impressionistic cityscapes as well as trees, and we went with the tree aspect because ‘Against the Grain’ plays with the concept of wood,” Birdsley said. “They speak of aspens and roots, the scars they carry, and the memories they feel.”
McDougle is a Marine veteran who tells powerful stories through woodworking.
“Some of the subject matter can be a little bit heavier,” Birdsley said, “but it’s something that must be seen, and it’s an important thing to see. We invite you to sit with each piece and feel the weight it carries.”
Community members are invited to an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 7. They will have a chance to explore “Against the Grain,” meet Manning and McDougle, and enjoy refreshments.
“Against the Grain” will be on display through August 30. The exhibition is free to view Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Lake Effect Community Arts Center is located at 244 South Cedar Street.
