Get Involved - Great Lakes Art Showcase

Coordinator: Mary Ann Beckwith Dates: April 27 - May 3, 2009 Location: McArdle Theatre Announcements: PROSPECTUS Entry Due Date: March 10, 2009 Opening Reception: Monday, April 27, 7:00 pm Free to all. Tours of the exhibit can be arranged for families and school groups.

POSTPONED UNTIL 2010 The Great Lakes Showcase of Art and Design will be postponed until the spring of 2010, according to Mary Ann Beckwith, professor of art and coordinator of the exhibit. "This year, a number of circumstances beyond our control convinced us it would be better to postpone. We are sad, but know this is the best thing to do, and that we'll be able to mount next year's show under much better conditions for everyone," she says. The 2009 Great Lakes Showcase was originally planned for April 28-May 3 in McArdle Theatre. The 2010 Showcase is expected to be held April 27 through May 2, either in McArdle Theatre or, if feasible, in a new University gallery space being created in the Rozsa Center. The prospectus giving the date for entries will be available approximately October 15. "We already have a number of new awards for the 2010 show which I hope will make it especially attractive to artists. And we hope that, by next spring, the economy will have settled enough that travel and shipping won't be as difficult as they are now," Beckwith adds.

Great Lakes Art Showcase is juried exhibition of recent work by artists from throughout the U.P. and upper Midwest, one of the most comprehensive and beautiful annual exhibitions in our region. Work is selected and prizes awarded by a professional juror. Some works are available for purchase. Opening reception: Monday, April 27, 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10, is the deadline for entering this year's Great Lakes Showcase, the annual juried fine arts and crafts exhibition open to artists in all media, to be held April 27-May 3 in the McArdle Theatre.

"This is an inclusive show that features many regional artists," says Mary Ann Beckwith, professor of art and exhibition chair. "Our model is the Copper Country Gallery Exhibition, which was a popular community event for 25 years." The Gallery Exhibition drew artists and visitors from throughout the Keweenaw, the UP and surrounding states from 1976 through 2000. The Great Lakes Showcase was inaugurated last year with the display of artwork from 79 artists.

The exhibit offers more than a dozen awards of merit determined by the juror, including Best of Show awards of $500 for both two- and three-dimensional work; a People's Choice award, determined by visitors to the exhibit; plus purchase awards by individual and corporate sponsors. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring a purchase award may contact Beckwith. This year's juror will be Pasqua Warstler, gallery and education director of the William Boniface Fine Arts Center, in Escanaba.

The Great Lakes Showcase will open with a reception for the public, artists and sponsors on Monday, April 27, and will run for six days, closing at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 3.