Oh Traverse City, you sure know how to show off.
Between the trees flowering and the support in the community to show up for our artists, well you have done us proud. Last Friday we opened not one, not two but four exhibits featuring over 50 local artists. The turnout for the opening reception was incredible. The energy was intoxicating and just plain fun. So thank you!
As always, we have a lot of exciting opportunities lining up for the summer months and if you are like me, you may want to start mapping out your calendar. For starters we have a really interesting Coffee@Ten conversation Friday, May 10, when we partner with Crosshatch to talk about northern Michigan agriculture. This talk coincides with one of our four exhibits, “Agricultura.” This exhibit was developed to shine a spotlight on the importance of agriculture in our communities. This panel will be moderated by Crosshatch Program Specialists Daniel Marbury and Katrina Daniels along with farmer and designer, Megan Gilger. Coffee@Ten talks are free and open to the public on Fridays at 10 a.m. It is just one of the ways that we want to shine a spotlight on people in our community.
The plein air painting season is upon us. With the temperatures warming up and the landscape waking up, the artists are champing at the bit to get out and paint. We kick off the season with our June 7 Coffee@Ten featuring local physical therapist and owner of Northbound Physical Therapy and Wellness Aubrey Jabour who will focus on easy steps you can take to prevent injuries. While her talk is applicable to everyone, she will put an emphasis on tips a plein air artist might use to protect themselves, especially when lugging their equipment in and around painting locations.
From June 15-22 Crooked Tree Arts Center will literally be abuzz with the week-long plein air event, Paint Grand Traverse. This year, 32 artists will descend upon our region to paint the beautiful area we are so fortunate to call home and to compete for awards and prizes. It’s a fun week to spectate as the artists will paint throughout the greater Grand Traverse region. We will have free live artist demos in Hannah Park Monday through Thursday — a great opportunity to learn a little bit about the artist and their style of painting. The week wraps up with a celebration at the Fresh Paint Party. This is a ticketed event that will include wine and food pairings, live music and a chance to see the entire collection for one night only! Your ticket not only gets you in the door, but it helps support Crooked Tree so that we can continue to bring this event to you! On Saturday, June 22, it’s the kids turn to try their hand at plein air painting in the crowd favorite, Pint-Sized Paint Out. This event is free, but with limited supplies we encourage you to register to reserve an art kit.
The last week of June we kick off our very popular Summer Kids Art Camp series. We have five, action-packed weeks this summer offering an art experience to students ages 6-13. Camp registrations opened in late January but a couple of camps still have room. It’s more than just a creative outlet; it’s a chance to make new friends, build confidence, and ignite a lifelong passion for art.
Not to miss out on a Cherry themed art activity, Susan Smith is teaching a fused-glass cherry pendant or magnet project to create your own commemorative souvenir. Grab some friends and have some fun in the air conditioned classroom (trust me, come time for Cherry festival you will be seeking out places to cool off. Why not cool off and make something, well cool!) Register today, class size is limited.
Mark your calendar for the Annual Art Fair on the last Saturday of July at the Civic Center when more than 100 artists from around the midwest will have their art on display. From paintings to sculptures, jewelry to ceramics, there’s something for everyone at this vibrant celebration of artistic expression.
So as the world outside bursts into bloom and the air fills with the sweet scent of spring, let’s embrace the season’s spirit of renewal and creativity. Whether you’re marveling at the beauty of nature or immersing yourself in the world of art, there’s magic to be found at every turn. And the best part? It’s all waiting for you, free and open to the public, ready to inspire and delight each and every one of us. We are open Tuesday-Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out more information about the exhibits, Coffee@Ten talks, classes and workshops at crookedtree.org/TC