Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WSG artists on billboards

Adams Outdoor Advertising Donates Advertising Space
To Local Area Artists In New “Art In The Sky” Program
Ann Arbor, Michigan – Driving down US-23 or I-94 in the Ann Arbor-area, commuters may be surprised to see a work of art on a billboard which normally carries advertising. A local Ann Arbor company, Adams Outdoor Advertising (AOA), has launched an “Art In The Sky” program that transforms traditional public service space into a public art gallery (photos attached). AOA has a long-standing initiative to invest back into the local community by providing public service advertisements to non-profit organizations. The “Art In The Sky” program is an extension of this service.
AOA Real Estate Manager Shannon Bellers, in partnership with artist Elizabeth Schwartz, launched the initiative to bring art to the masses via the medium of outdoor advertising. The project, called “Art In The Sky,” debuted December 20, 2010 in multiple locations around Washtenaw County including Chelsea, Milan and Belleville. To date, AOA has provided donated space to three local artists: Elizabeth Schwartz, Connie Cronenwett and Lynda Cole. All three artists are affiliated with the WSG Gallery located in Ann Arbor, which can be visited on-line at www.wsg-art.com.
“We would like to potentially expand the program throughout our Ann Arbor market counties and even further into our otherMichigan markets,” said Bellers. “The feedback we have received from artists and the Ann Arbor community at large has beenoverwhelmingly positive.”
Robert M. Beckley, Professor and Dean Emeritus Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University ofMichigan, commented on the project through an unsolicited email, “I was both surprised and delighted…This effort by your company has made me see the potential for combining public art and commerce in a new way. I hope this initiative will carry on.”
The project’s goals are two-fold. First, project coordinators seek to bring art to those who may not have the opportunity to visit a traditional art gallery, in a new and unexpected way. Second, the project provides a showcase for Ann Arbor’s artists and thriving cultural community. Should the project expand as desired, AOA hopes to host a juried “mobile art show” later in 2011.
“Seeing my work on such a large scale, and knowing that others will see it as well, is quite a thrill,” said artist Elizabeth Schwartz. “I'm thankful to Adams for this exciting public art project, and look forward to seeing more ‘Art in the Sky.’"
“We're looking to see billboard art by local artists wherever we drive in Michigan,” added artist Connie Cronenwett. “We hope it catches on all over the state."
Artists in the Washtenaw County-area interested in being considered for this program are invited to send an e-mail to Shannon Bellers at sbellers@adamsoutdoor.com. Please be sure to include full contact information along with a website photo of your original art.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Adams Outdoor Advertising is committed to providing a return on investment (ROI) for every dollar spent on out-of-home advertising in our markets. Adams Outdoor Advertising operates in 17 markets with more than 12,000 billboard, poster and digital displays in eight states. To learn more about outdoor advertising solutions, visitwww.adamsoutdoor.com or call Shannon Bellers, Real Estate Manager, at
(734) 327-8999.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Art in the Sky


Several WSG artists are participating in an outdoor billboard campaign conceived o by Adams Outdoors, a billboard advertising company. If you're traveling I-94 anytime soon, check out Lynda Cole's at Belleville Rd. and Elizabeth Schwartz' westbound on I-94, just before the Chelsea Exit. Connie Cronenwett's is out there somewhere, too!
Visit Lynda's at her web address: http://www.lcole.com/lcole/stories/Pages/Egg_on_a_Billboard.html
and Betty's at Elizabeth Schwartz.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Michelle Hegyi at A2 Women's City Club



Gallery artist Michelle A. Hegyi has a solo exhibit Artwork by Michelle A. Hegyi at the Ann Arbor Women's City Club, running from mid October through mid December 2010. The Ann Arbor Women's City Club is located at 1830 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI. For more info, call 734.662.3279.

Selected image from A2 Women's City Club Exhibit, Artwork by Michelle A. Hegyi

The Space Between, No. 7
1/10
pigment ink on rag paper
edition of 10
image size 26.25"h x 37"w, framed 31.25"h x 39"w
©2009 by Michelle A. Hegyi

Monday, December 13, 2010

WSG's Holiday show continues

There's nothing like an Adrienne Kaplan painting to heat up a cold day outside! Her colors are spectacular! When you're driving down a Michigan road in winter, assuming you CAN drive down that road in winter, it seems like, sometimes, you're driving through a black and white photograph. Imagine arriving at your house, walking in the door and an Adrienne Kaplan painting greeting you inside, reminding you that you are, indeed, NOT living in a B&W photo - makes you catch your breath!

Well, the holiday show at WSG continues through January 2, 2011, and you can be the proud owner of an Adrienne Kaplan piece, or a Norma Penchansky piece, or a Nora Venturelli piece....or a Martha Keller piece......

You get the idea!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Nina Hauser photo


Nina Hauser is our photographer at the gallery. Not only does she exhibit and sell gorgeous photos she makes, but she also documents our shows at WSG, re-sizes and cleans things up so they are generally more usable. In this piece, Nina's talent for seeing something in a moment - a place - comes through as she captures a forlorn, yet peaceful homestead in a windswept setting.

The tree in the foreground seems like it keeps the house company. It is interesting that the scrubby tree and the house look to be nearly the same height, a visual perception that happens because of atmospheric perspective. Intellectually, we know that is not so.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Holiday Cheer Next Door to WSG


This is another great window celebrating the season downtown Ann Arbor. When you stop by the gallery to see the holiday show, you may work up an appetite talking about all the great artwork to choose from. You can just head a couple of stores down to "The Black Pearl" where this snowman was painted by John Copley and Mary Thiefels and replenish yourself!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Getting Ready for the Season

Get downtown and check out the windows all painted up for the holiday season! I came upon John Copley and his "minion" painter friend Mary Thiefels decking out the windows in such beautiful images as this garland with jewels somehow attached to the painting. This is in the window of Sieferts jewelry. Check out the wonderful work all over downtown windows!