Revitalizing the Arts Culture

In art – like all things – it is often a small idea that leads to a monumental happening. For my gallery, this monumental happening was our most recent art show. The show titled, Social Discourse: An Arts Experience, was a juried exhibition of Michigan artists’ work. It started as an idea among local art enthusiasts and – with the help of Michigan State University – evolved into a thought-provoking exhibit.

It officially opened on May 22, with the grand opening on June 6. Despite raging storms, more than 400 people attended the grand opening reception. The show closed on Saturday, June 28 with total attendance counts exceeding 2,000.

The Social Discourse exhibit gave our Michigan artists an opportunity to use their art to ask questions and ponder answers to the most pressing issues of our time. From politics to the environment, artists stirred interest and inspired discussion.

The multi-media exhibit featured many provocative pieces. Some artists used drama, while others used humor. No matter the approach, each piece evoked emotion in the audience members.

For me this was an extremely successful show. While the numbers were impressive, the unique nature of the show – and the success of the show taking into account its unique nature – was really what stood out. The fact that such a progressive exhibit could stir so much interest in our city is inspiring. For me, this represents a first step toward the establishment of a renewed focus on arts and culture in our downtown. It is very, very exciting.

Here’s to small steps. Here’s to the big picture. Here’s to art.