The Side Door Gallery

Gallery Show - John A. Copley presents "48198"

2010-06-02T17:22:14Z

The Side Door Gallery Presents "48198" - by John A. Copley
June 21 - July 31, 2010
Artist Reception will be Friday June 25, 2010 6-8pm
These exceptional paintings look at Superior Township through the eyes of a local Artist.

Whitmore Lake Gallery Portrait Exhibit at The Side Door Gallery

2010-02-03T17:25:07Z

Peggy N. Brewer~Mary Rochelle Burnham~Betty Damren~Julie Griess~Sarah Grusin~WanChuan Kesler
Janet Kohler~Jim Nelson~Deborah Scharp~Jill Stefani Wagner~Marty Walker
Nancy Weiss~Jackie Wright
13 Local Artists from the Whitmore Lake Portrait Group are featured in "About Face" Gallery Show
February 24, - April 10, 2010
Don't miss the Artist Reception March 19th from 6-8pm

A New Print, "Morel and Frog" by Gregorio Perez

2010-01-15T22:11:17Z

Here's the story of "Morel and Frog" By Gregorio Perez

"Morel and Frog" was inspired by the illustrations of Arnold Lobel in his childrens books about "Frog and Toad". Frog and Toad remind me of my youth when my playground was the woods and creek behind our house. They were days of exploration and imagination. They were days spent laying in meadows, or next to old logs or along the creek bank. The morel is the companion in this story. The frog is the main character. The frog was inspired by a visit to Hidden Lake Gardens. I noticed a Wood Frog in the Temperate House of the Conservatory. I had my camera so I laid on the floor and took his photo. He didn't mind me too much. I imagined him asking, "What are you doing down here? You're too old to be laying on the ground aren't you?" I replied, "I missed you frog. Don't you remember me? We used to play together." If I were to write and illustrate this story it would be about catching up with old Mr. Frog and remembering those days in the woods as a child.

"Morel and Frog" is a wood relief print or woodcut. I purchase Shina plywood from McClains on-line printmaking store based in Oregon. Shina is a soft wood harvested "selectively and sustainably" in Japan. Like Basswood, it is a member of the Linden family. I use a combination of woodcutting tools. Primarily I use Flexcut brand woodcutting tools, but I recently purchased some "Namisei Moku Hanga To" woodcutting tools that I'm still learning to use. Before I make my first cut, I typically spend days conceptualizing new ideas in my sketchbook. When an idea is born it is sketched out two or three more times before it is drawn directly on the block. But before that happens the block is treated with PVA glue and sanded smooth. Only then does the woodcutting begin. After the image is cut into the block a test print is made. The block is inked with a roller. I prefer to use Akua Color brand ink. I use water soluable oil based inks to eliminate the need for solvents and to increase the working time of the ink before it dries. When I am satisfied with the block after the test print I begin the process of printing the edition. Rives BFK is my paper of choice. It holds up well to printing and also accepts watercolor nicely. I do use a baren and hand press occasionally, but due to rotator cuff issues I now prefer to use a Richeson Baby Press. After the edition is made, I let the prints dry for approximately one week depending on humidity before the prints are handpainted with watercolor.

Letter Press Cards from the Arts & Crafts Press

2010-01-11T22:07:58Z

We love these new cards from the Arts and Crafts Press. Rich colors and beautiful designs letterpress printed on creamy textured rag paper, these cards are almost too nice to send (we've already framed a couple). The Arts and Crafts Press is a small publisher founded by Bruce Smith and artist Yoshiko Yamamoto which creates greeting cards and artworks that are letterpress printed from hand cut blocks inspired by the turn-of-the-century movement. We are also stocking some elegant prints by Yoshiko Yamamoto as well as tiles she produced in partnership with our friends at Motawi Tileworks.

Purchase a beautiful holiday gift and support SafeHouse Center!

2009-12-14T14:28:44Z

Our friend, Jill Stefani Wagner, a painter and principal at Wagner Designs Associates created this wonderful calendar for SafeHouse center featuring portraits of women by some of the most talented local women painters.

Proceeds from the purchase of calendars support the critical programs and services SafeHouse provides seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Calendars are $15 each, or three for $40.

To purchase, contact Julaine LeDuc at julainel@safehousecenter.org
or by phone at (734) 973-0242 ext. 273

212 Art Center Holiday Sale

2009-12-02T15:41:02Z

Reasons to check out 212 Art Center's Holiday sale:

1) It is a unique opportunity to see and buy from a bunch of neat local artists
2) 212 is a warm and charming place that make you happy just visiting
3) Their announcement has a cool retro look

New Creations from Nancy Peterson

2009-11-30T21:25:21Z

Nancy Peterson / Beaver Island Jewelry, has just brought in some beautiful new pieces. Check it out! You can also see more pieces at www.BeaverIslandJewelry.com

Ben and Elisabeth Colson Seymour - Art from the Bush

2009-11-11T21:49:52Z

Ben and Elisabeth Seymour, Dexter natives, have joined us at The Side Door Gallery. They have lived and taught in Rural Alaska for seven years. From the Islands in the Bering Strait to the villages situated on the Yukon River, Ben and Elisabeth found they were in a unique position for seeing and recording life and landscape of rural Alaska from close up.

Zeke Mallory - One of the Artists featured in the Gallery Show "flight".

2009-11-02T21:17:46Z

Don't miss our "flight" show which runs thur November 30, 2009. Zeke Mallory is one of our featured artists. This vibrant, fun painting is called "Posing for Vincent". You can check out more of Zeke's work at www.zekemallory.com

Flight ~ Twelve Artists Look at Birds

2009-09-11T18:19:44Z

We are excited to begin hanging our new fall show called "flight". We have invited seventeen artists to give us their interpretation of birds setting no restrictions regarding size or material. The show will run October 2 - November 30, 2009. Don't miss our reception on Friday October 23, 2009 6-8pm.

Ann Arbor Pastelists at The Side Door Gallery

2009-08-01T18:08:10Z

From August 1 through September 20 The Side Door Gallery will feature work by the Ann Arbor Pastelists. Pastels by Susan Clinthorne, Jane Darling, Ava Gilzow, Marcy Gray, Linda Klenczar, Tony Salemi, Carol Spahlinger, Terry Titus, Jill Wagner, Marty Walker, Jan Weidmeyer and Carolyn Weins will be featured. An artist reception will be held on Friday, August 28th from 6 to 8 p.m.

Paintings by Mary Van Kampen

2009-07-07T15:49:19Z

We've just added Mary Van Kampen's work to the gallery and are very excited to include these wonderfully layered and textural acrylic paintings on clayboard. Her work is inspired by the land around her homes in Holland and New Mexico. Quaint lawn furniture, barns and agricultural bounty feature strongly in the richly hued paintings. Stop in to The Side Door Gallery to see her work.

Generations

2009-06-06T14:55:54Z

At the Gallery through June 30, 2009
Generations... featuring the artwork of four families - Marilyn Marsh and Caron Valentine-Marsh; Sarah, Ray and Camille Stanton; Greta Weekley and Marietta Van Buhler; and Susan Clinthorne, Jonathon Clinthorne and Sally Thielen. Come and see how the artistic impulse manifests itself through multiple generations. Join us for a reception and meet the artists on June 26 from 6-8 pm.

Fourth Friday in Dexter

2009-05-22T20:40:05Z

Tonight is Fourth Friday in Dexter. The Side Door Gallery, Artistica and Daisy Lake Art Gallery will all be open late with food, wine and great art. Stop by The Side Door Gallery to see our current Generations show, featuring the work of related artists.

Pictured left is Marilyn Marsh's 'Safely Grazing.'

Circle of Art at The Side Door Gallery

2009-05-12T21:30:09Z