Hardy Gallery’s “Picture This!” Photography Exhibit

The Hardy’s “Picture This” exhibit features works with solely photographic origins, and has been a popular exhibit for locals and visitor’s alike.

“Visitors are captivated,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director for the Hardy. “Photography isn’t exclusively photography in the traditional sense any longer,” she says. “Processes are continually changing, and there are so many ways to manipulate the medium — and that’s what is compelling for viewers; they can relate to the work.”

Professional and amateur photographers alike submitted 151 works, with 88 of the entries being selected for inclusion. Jurors for the exhibit included a diverse panel of professional photographers: Suzanne Rose, Dan Anderson, and Sarah Detweiler.

The “Picture This!” exhibit ends the Hardy Gallery’s 2011 season, and will be open to the general public for viewing through Tuesday, October 11 at 5 pm. The gallery is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. For more information about the “Picture This!” exhibit, call 920.854.2210 or visit www.thehardy.org.

Join in the conversation with The Hardy Gallery on Facebook.

The Community Mosaic Project: Complete Artworks 2008-2009

In celebration of its 49^th year, the Hardy will give each day’s 49^th gallery visitor a free copy of the organization’s self-published book, The Community Mosaic Project: Complete Artworks 2008-2009. The exhibit on which the book is based, the Community Mosaic Project, is now on display at the gallery. The book, just released this past year, is a behind-the-scenes look at the Project’s inaugural years.

The Community Mosaic Project, now in its fourth year, connects all members of the Peninsula’s community to the arts, drawing participants from local youth, professional artists, Sunday painters, annual tourists and aspiring artists of all skill levels and ages. This year, 312 6-by-6-inch works are included in the mosaic, including pieces by noteworthy Door County artists Donna Brown, Emmett Johns, Margaret Lockwood, Brigitte Kozma, Sandra Martinez, Carl Mengert, Bonnie Paruch, Charles L. Peterson, Karsten Topelmann, and Rob Williams.

The canvases are available for purchase via a “blind-buy” system: the public is invited to purchase a number correlating to the pieces; however no-one knows which number belongs to which piece. At the close of the exhibit, the individual canvases are assigned numbers, packaged, and shipped directly to patrons. The thrilling part of the process is not knowing which piece will be received! The proceeds generated from the project benefit the non-profit Hardy Gallery.

The Community Mosaic Project: Complete Artworks 2008-2009 was inspired by the overwhelming success of the Project’s first years.

“It quickly became evident that we had a runaway success with this idea,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Hardy, “but it was a challenge to give the public access to the writings which accompanied the works of art. These statements often help people connect to the works on another level – something that is key to our mission as a community arts organization.”

To that end, the idea for the book was born. It includes a forward by esteemed Door County artist Charles L. Peterson and images of over 650 works of art as well as the thoughts behind the works of art submitted during the first years of the Project.

Community Mosaic Project numbers are now on sale for $25 at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim, WI. The book is available for purchase at local booksellers as well as at the gallery. An additional list of local and regional book outlets can be found on the Hardy’s website, www.TheHardy.org.  Alternatively, books may be purchased by calling the Hardy Gallery office at 920.854.2210, or by e-mailing info@thehardy.org. The cost of the book is $29.95 (plus tax) and all proceeds benefit the Hardy’s operations and programming.

The Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, Inc., also affectionately known as the Hardy Gallery, is a non-profit art organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The organization supports initiatives that address the needs of the local artist community, the creative enrichment of local youth, the education of the public, and the promotion of the visual art and artists of the Door County Peninsula. The iconic Gallery is located on Ephraim’s Anderson Dock and is open 10 am – 5 pm daily. For more information about the organization or to purchase a Community Mosaic Project book, please call 920.854.2210. More information can also be found by visiting www.thehardy.org.

The Hardy Gallery is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Canvases for the Community Mosaic Project have been provided by the Artists Guild, a Winsor & Newton Premiere Art Centre and custom framing center located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

BOOK SUMMARY:

Title:  The Community Mosaic Project: Complete Artworks 2008-2009
Author:  Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, Inc.
Publisher:  Interpress, Ltd.
ISBN:  978-0-615-36519-0
7” x 7” soft cover, 244 pp., 650 color illustrations, $29.95 (plus tax)

Artist Marcia Nickols at Door County Festival of Fine Arts 2010

Artistic demonstrations at art festivals may be commonplace, yet few festivals require every artist to demonstrate their skills to the public as they agree to do in the invitational DCFA. Each artist that participates in the annual event shows off their talent not only with finished pieces of fine art at the Festival, but by demonstrating their artistic process to the public during at least two scheduled times in the day. This concept of demonstrations by each artist is unique to the DCFA and brings to the Waterfront Park in Sister Bay an air of participation and engagement from the public.

“By demonstrating our techniques, I work to open up the doors that have been opened for me,” says Sister Bay-based artist Tom Seagard. “I invite people in, to their level of expression and understanding, so they too can understand the artistic process.”

Whether they travel the world or remain in Wisconsin for their inspiration, the DCFA only features fine artists who call Door County their home or who use the Door peninsula as their  base of operations. As a means of engaging creative minds at every artistic level, the DCFA hosts an Activities Tent, where art lovers of all ages can unleash their creativity through a variety of media.

“When you give children (and adults) an opportunity, they express themselves effortlessly. All you have to do is get out of their way,” Seagard says.

Seagard taught art at public schools and continues to teach classes around Door County.

Artists, like Egg Harbor-based watercolor painter Kari Anderson, have participated in DCFA for years, some since the Festival’s inception at the Hardy Gallery in 2003.

“The show has developed a strong reputation for high quality work,” Anderson explains. “It’s unique, because it’s an invitational show for Door County artists, which gives people from other cities an opportunity to see how artists make a living here on the peninsula.”

Also returning this year, is a free-entry drawing for pieces of fine artwork donated by participating DCFA artists. Anyone who attends the Festival is eligible to enter and receives a free raffle ticket! For more information, call 920.854.3230 or visit: www.cometosisterbay.com.

Participating Artist Roster for DCFA 2011

Arnold Alaniz: Trained in Madison, WI and got his MFA in the late 1960s. He opened his first gallery in Ephraim in 1981. In the mid-80s, Arnold was represented by 2,200 galleries worldwide, and has been the top-selling landscape artist in the U.S.

Kari Anderson: Has been painting in watercolor for a good 30 years. Her style is easy to recognize as a splashy, colorful watercolorist who captures so many glimpses of our beautiful Door County peninsula. She likes to paint outside the lines! Kari stays very busy with teaching watercolor as well as being involved in county government.  In 1980 she married Paul Witalison, together they reside in a renovated old one-room schoolhouse near Jacksonport.

R.D. “Bob” Bentley: His familiar signature has been seen throughout the United States on hundreds of public portraits of congressmen and businessmen, and private paintings for individuals and families. Yale honors major and student at the Art institute of Chicago, Bob is known for his boldness with oil paint. While portraits have long been Bob’s life as an artist, he has progressed from portraiture to (and including) landscapes. Some of his most special paintings are “portscapes,” which allow the subject to be portrayed in a casual, informal setting.

Ernest Beutel: Most of Ernest’s imagery is based within the subconscious, although at the same time it is representational. His imagery reminds us that life is a balance between the grotesque and the playful, the real and the surreal. The process of painting is as important as the end result. Through examination of Ernest’s painting, one will notice the layers of acrylic paint and spray paint that recedes into space.

Kelly Bresnahan: says, “My style of turning wood is very traditional. I use native wood from northeast Wisconsin.”

George Burr: George Burr resurrected his high school art studies when he visited Door County at the age of 51. Picking up his pastels he discovered a talent within that had quietly matured over the years. Concentrating on pastel landscapes George’s brilliant use of color and texture captures and extends the vistas that surround us. The soft pastel pigment portrays nature with a soft beauty unique to the medium.

Gary Chaudoir: Gary has been a glass artist for many years working with the slump process and stained glass. While he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied
drawing and pottery elsewhere, Gary is self-taught in the art of glass, except for brief private tutoring with Green Bay glassworker Bob Kersching in 1978. Gary specializes in original stained arid fused glass art, custom glass designs, repairs and restorations, appraisals, etching, tempering, sandblasting and glass-hole drilling services.

Sue Donohoo: Contemporary, urban sophistication in a rustic, rural setting with just a touch of humor describes the work of resident fiber artist Sue Donohoo. She creates her one-of-a-kind, original designs to reflect the natural beauty of her surroundings. It has long been her philosophy to take what is right in front of her, respect its unique personality, and draw out the beauty from within.

Door County Art League: DCAL is a membership organization available to all persons interested in promoting and enjoying the creative arts in Door County. The League welcomes everyone interested in the arts, in making new friends, in associating with artists and supporting them, becoming inspired, gaining knowledge and trying their hands at new pursuits. Our members may be photographers, sculptors, potters, fiber artists, as well as watercolorists or painters working in oils, acrylics, pastels, mixed media and folk arts. Skills range from art lovers to novices to artists with national recognition.

Marcy Farber: Marcy is a self-taught decorative country folk painter. She’s been painting for 25 years. She paints on recycled items such as chairs, etc., and she also does wearable art. This past year she discovered needle felting and has been designing scarves, jewelry and other wearable items.

Kathy Glasnap: A peaceful serenity captures the mood and tone of many of the watercolors by Kathy Glasnap. From the intricate detail of architectural designs to the soft and gentle nature of her landscapes, the nostalgia of rural America is depicted with charm and sensitivity. Her unique style of painting combines a traditional form with an impressionistic flair. Kathy’s move to Door County (in 1995) now allows her to live amidst the natural beauty that has so influenced her work.

Marlene Hopfensperger: Marlene is from Appleton, WI and retired to Sturgeon Bay. She began painting seven years after retiring, while spending winters in Naples, FL. She had no previous interest or artistic ability, however art soon became her passion, and the rest is history. She is a member of the Door County Art League and the Naples Artcrafters.

Diane Kirkland: Finders Keepers was the name of my shop in Ephraim from 1983-1988, where I carried and always appreciated handmade jewelry and other art objects. Now that I’m retired from my job as Administrator/Clerk in Ephraim, I have time again to make jewelry and other items in leaded glass, wire, mokume gane and other techniques in polymer clay, and beads. I rarely duplicate a specific pattern or style.

Ken Klitzman: Ken’s work is aptly called, “Sand Art.” He uses glue and sand in creating trees, fish, and unique frames for his pen and ink drawings and Paint Etchings. The etchings are done on glass, wood fired copper, brass, and various tiles.

Pat Klitzman: Pat is a woodcarver who works with basswood and cypress in creating unique one-of-a-kind carvings. She specializes in Old World Santa’s and nautical carvings, many of which include Door County scenes.

Brigitte Kozma: Brigitte responds directly on canvas to the natural world around her. The color and strengths of the people and landscape she creates are linked in a very personal relationship between her work and the environment that she sees. The colors of Door County as well as the Caribbean, Key West, and South America fill her work with vivid reflected light.

Judy Barnewolt-Jones: Choosing watercolor over mediums, I started painting professionally in 1997. I use a color glazing process and application technique which lends an illusion of texture, movement and a mood evoking a sense of light to my paintings.

Win Jones: Win Jones’ watercolor artwork is surreal, but not disconcerting – peaceful, yet provocative, drawing the thoughts and feelings into fresh areas. He is a self taught watercolorist, influenced more by personal vision than by the styles of others. He resides on Washington Island, Wisconsin, in the summer and St. Augustine, Florida in the winter.

Erin Klein: Specializes in beaded jewelry using such materials as pearls, semi-precious stones, crystals, wire and glass. Most pieces are constructed on a flexible beading wire base with crimp beads galore, and then I may incorporate other embellishments with needle and thread or wirework, depending on what each design wants to be. Her jewelry is intentionally created to be worn with evening gowns and jeans alike. Each piece is a tiny, standalone world.

Liz Maltman: Liz Maltman has lived in Fish Creek since 1974, mostly working in the decorative arts and design fields and pursuing her love of the “silent” sports and the outdoors. In 2004 she discovered plein air painting, found it a perfect match, and has been dedicated ever since. Working primarily in pastel, Liz has won awards for both her landscapes and portraits, and is honored to have her work in private and corporate collections throughout the country.

Marcia Nickols: I am an Ephraim oil painter currently working on a series called the ‘Cana Island Prisms’. I also create paintings of Door County and the water scenes that are all around us. I love the effects of colors reflecting off the water surfaces.

Audrey M. Off: Door County native, Audrey Mae Off, works in various art forms to reflect a profound influence of water and nature. She operates her own gallery in Sturgeon Bay and is an expert custom framer, with more than 30 years experience.

Pat Olson: Pat creates fine art paintings and whimsical designs in pastels and acrylics, specializing in florals, landscapes, and whimsical Door County posters and prints.

Judy Ritter: I am an eclectic artist and enjoy knitting, crocheting, making fused glass pendants, fiber/bead necklaces, Raku and other jewelry pieces, as well as photo tiles made from contemporary and heirloom pictures.  I enjoy taking the colors and textures of Door County and incorporating them into my art pieces. 

Tom Seagard: Tom Seagard is a mixed media artist. His subjects vary from wildlife to Indian images but, all of his work goes beyond the surface in his capacity to portray the unique and individual character and strengths of the subjects he sees. His work also includes images from Door County, Wisconsin, the Caribbean, Key West, and South America.

Rolliana Scheckler: Creates handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, heirloom quality jewelry. She is a retired harpist, classical singer and harpsinger. She has designed and crafted two lines of jewelry, Antonía Pendants with dichroic glass or gemstones, hand wire-sculpted with 14kt rolled gold or anti-tarnishing sterling silver, and RollianaGlass without wire-sculpting and with beaded and dichroic glass.

Linda Shurla: Began making jewelry and learning on the job in the early eighties. I started my own business in 1985, making and selling my jewelry at art and craft fairs. The metals I work with are mainly gold filled, sterling silver and copper.  Lately I have also added base metals in interesting colors.

Stacey Small-Rupp: Stacey has been painting with watercolors for the last 20 years since earning a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree from U.W. Stout in 1992. Her favorite landscapes are found around Door County, including shorelines, sailboats, barns and wildflowers. Words used to describe her work are serene, charming and fresh. As a native of the Door, she is inspired by its ever-changing beauty. Stacey is represented by the Cupola House in Egg Harbor and currently lives in New Franken, WI.

Kathryn Stanaszek: Kathryn has studied with numerous watercolor masters in her search for technical excellence. Her concern for the environment and her love of the natural world brought her to Door County, WI where she now paints and tends her garden in the woods.

Patsy Stierna: I started seriously working in clay 15 years ago at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Minnesota. When I moved to Door County four years ago, I participated in Community Clay at the Peninsula School or Art, and worked at Off the Wheel Pottery. I have exhibited at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts and the Peninsula School of Art. My studio is in Sturgeon Bay and my work can be viewed at the Door County Art League Gallery in Fish Creek.

Len Villano: Len is a Door County, Wisconsin-based photographer creating Fine Art, Commercial and Editorial photography specializing in capturing the spirit within all his subjects. As photographer, artist, musician, songwriter, producer and architect, Len finds plenty of inspiration in Door County. Specializing in Nature and Wildlife photography Len was a founding member of NANPA and ASMP, an APA member, and his work has been published in more than 30 different countries. Extensively featured in the Go Door County Go Guide, Door County Magazine and the Door County Vacation Guide, Len strives to capture the beauty that surrounds him.

Bonnie Warecki: From “early on”, art, fishing, and the call of open water have always been an integral part of Bonnie’s life. As a local Door County artist, Bonnie became well recognized for her exceptional ability to capture the essence of Wisconsin wildlife in her distinctive chainsaw creations now found through-out the Midwest. More recently, while “snow birding” in Florida, Bonnie was introduced to the ancient oriental art form known as Gyotaku, meaning “fish rubbing” in Japanese. While in Florida, Bonnie was afforded an unusual opportunity to learn different techniques from renowned artists and soon developed her own distinct styles. She says that she finds the new media “challenging and exciting” as she constantly strives to capture new perspectives and innovative techniques.

Lou Williams: Lou creates art from wood. Never knowing what the final piece will reveal, he loves uncovering the beauty within. He lives just outside Sturgeon Bay, and has been turning wood since 2004, following a successful career as a public relations practitioner in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

GHS student at Off the Wheel Pottery in Egg Harbor working on sgrafitto design

The ETC program was established in 2007 in conjunction with the Friends of Gibraltar (FOG) and pairs the students of Gibraltar High School (GHS) with experienced local artists for specialized learning in a variety of creative fields. Half-day workshops offered this year included basket-making, creative writing/poetry, ceramics, rug hooking, jewelry design, film making, collage, songwriting/creative expression, figure drawing, knitting, cement sculpture, radio and more. In this year’s program, over 150 GHS students participated in two different free half-day workshops (30 workshops total) taught by 24 area artists and arts professionals.

Stephanie Trenchard providing instruction on glass casting at Popelka Trenchard Glass Studio in Sturgeon Bay

One change in this year’s ETC program was the goal of bussing students off-campus and out into the studios and galleries of Door County’s working artists.

“We made it a priority this year to get the students off-campus so that the students could witness the artists at work in their own space,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, the Hardy Gallery’s Executive Director. “Aside from the exposure, one of the messages we want to get across with this program is that being an artist is a viable profession. Nothing says that more than seeing an artist in his or her own gallery or studio space.”

Meissner-Gigstead also says that the collaboration with the peninsula’s local artists is imperative to the success of the ETC program. “Not only do the students benefit from the knowledge of the peninsula’s vibrant arts community, but it also provides a way for our area’s artists to engage in educational work in the off-season. It’s a great way to align the needs of the students with the immense resources offered by our peninsula’s artists.”

Now that the two-day workshops have been wrapped up, the focus is on the accompanying ETC Mentoring Program. This program pairs students with local artists for one-on-one or small group instructions. The mentorships provide encouragement, support, and in-depth training by professionals in an arts field of their choice.

The student artwork created during the ETC workshops is currently on exhibit in the Link Gallery, which is located inside of Fish Creek’s Door Community Auditorium. The exhibit is free, open to the public, and will be on display through Sunday, May 22.

GHS students hard at work in the metals workshop at Hands On Art Studio in Fish Creek

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The gallery on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock is open 10 am – 5 pm, mid-May through mid-October. For more information about the Hardy or the Exposure to Creativity (ETC) program, visit www.thehardy.org or call 920.854.2210.

by Emmett Johns

Take a chance on wining one of three commissioned landscape portraits depicting a property of the winner’s choosing. Three professional Door County artists: Emmett Johns, Wayne Caldwell Simmons, and Frances Vail will work with the winners of the raffle to paint a home, a cottage, or a family landmark that is important to the winner.

Three raffle winners will be chosen (one piece per artist) and one (1) framing certificate from Ephraim’s Paint Box Gallery will accompany each prize.

Tickets are $5 each or five (5) for $20, with proceeds from the raffle to benefit the non-profit Hardy Gallery. As part of the Hardy’s ongoing “Art from the Heart” initiative, the gallery will gift 10% of the raffle proceeds to Door County’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity is a nationwide organization that works in partnership with local communities to extend a “hand up” to help others acquire and own affordable housing. In 2009, the Hardy was able to donate $1,000 of the proceeds from the “Hawaii on the Hardy” raffle to Door CANcer Inc., a Door County non-profit organization that helps families who are affected by cancer in their time of need.

The winners of the “Paint a Property” raffle will be announced at the Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza & Grille on Thursday, October 28 at 5 pm. The Hardy Gallery is being featured as Wild Tomato’s Donation Creation for the month of October, and the public is encouraged to come for the raffle drawing and stay to enjoy Wild Tomato’s delicious pizza. Winners need not be present to win one of the prizes.

“This raffle is a great way to immortalize a place that is special to you, and because of the donation to Habitat for Humanity, it’s also a great way to ensure that a family in Door County is able to have a special place of their own,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Hardy.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Hardy Gallery on Anderson Dock in Ephraim, the Hardy Gallery office in the Svalhus across from the Ephraim Historical Foundation on Anderson Lane in Ephraim, and through Habitat for Humanity by calling Executive Director Rick Nelson at 920.743.2869.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit arts organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The Gallery is located on Ephraim’s Anderson Dock and is open 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday though Sunday, with extended hours from 10 am — 8 pm on Mondays. For more information about the Hardy or to purchase tickets for the “Paint a Property” raffle please call 920.854.2210. More information on the Hardy can also be found by visiting www.thehardy.org.

Sunset at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim

Door County artists Dan Anderson, Brigitte Kozma, Donna Brown, John Dietrich, and Len Villano made up the panel of jurors for this year’s exhibit. The jurors narrowed down the number of works down to 87 from the 165 that had been submitted for the show.

Of the pieces that were selected to be in the exhibit, four works won Juror’s Awards and one piece earned a People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by visitors to the Wall-to-Wall Salon Exhibition prior to the juried show and is not awarded based on artistic merit. The award winners include Daryl Asbury, who won a Juror’s Award for his oil painting entitled Ephraim Rain on Cedars, Rob Williams, for his piece Peninsula Park, Quiet Evening (oil), Zheng Ping Wu, for Yu Zhe (photography), and Dannica Walker, who won two Juror’s Awards for her watercolor Peace with Strings Attached. The 2010 People’s Choice Award was awarded to Anthony Beadell for Echarpe Colore, his enamel and oil painting. The 2010 Juror’s Awards and the People’s Choice Award were sponsored by The Artist’s Guild, an art supply and framing center located at 117 N. Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

“The jurors had some extremely difficult decisions to make as far as narrowing down the body of work for this exhibit,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director for the Hardy. “Overall, the artwork submitted this year was exceptional.  The resulting exhibit is one of the most diverse I’ve seen in recent years, which is always exciting.”

The 48th Annual Juried Exhibition is on display at the Hardy Gallery through Sunday, July 18. The Gallery is located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock and is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm, with extended hours to 8 pm on Monday evenings in conjunction with the Ephraim Business Council’s “Evenings in Ephraim” concert series. The Hardy will be open on Monday evenings beginning Monday, June 21.

The historic Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. For more information about the Hardy or its annual Juried Exhibition, please visit www.thehardy.org or call 920.854.2210.

The Hardy Gallery

“Our annual juried exhibition is the premier juried artist exhibition in Door County,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Hardy. “It’s one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season.”

By nature, a juried exhibit is a competitive event. Similar to a performing artist, visual artists “audition” for the opportunity to be a part of the Hardy’s Juried Exhibition, and the artwork is selected through a process of careful deliberation by a diverse panel of jurors, all of who are active professional artists on the Door County peninsula. The result of this selection is a fresh and innovative grouping of artwork representing a wide range of media and styles. The jurors for the 48th Annual Juried Exhibition include John Dietrich, Donna Brown, Dan Anderson, Len Villano, and Brigitte Kozma.

The exhibition offers exposure to artists of all levels and experience, giving emerging artists the opportunity to gauge their development and established artists the chance to explore new ideas and techniques.

“This exhibition gives artists the opportunity to have their worked viewed by visitors from around the world,” says Meissner-Gigstead. “The preceding Wall-to-Wall Salon (where visitors have the chance to see all the works submitted for the Juried Exhibition) was a huge success this year, and we’re hoping that people come back to enjoy what the jurors have selected for the show. The wide variety of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and mixed media work is always exciting to see.”

The Juried Exhibition runs through Sunday, July 18 at the Hardy Gallery, located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock. Awards selected by the jurors, as well as the “People’s Choice Awards” – votes cast by visitors for their favorite pieces during the Wall-to-Wall Salon Exhibition – will be announced at 6 pm at the opening reception on Friday, June 11.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The Hardy is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. For more information about the Hardy and its upcoming exhibitions and programs, please call 920.854.2210, email info@thehardy.org, or visit www.thehardy.org.

The Community Mosaic Project is both an outreach and fundraising project for the Hardy Gallery. The project raises awareness of the arts and makes them accessible to each member of the community. Each 6-inch by 6-inch canvas is crafted by a community member and then hung for display at the Hardy Gallery. No artistic background or experience is needed for participation in the project. All members of the community – young or seasoned, professional or amateur – are encouraged to take part in this unique opportunity.

The workshop at the Miller Art Museum Annex is free and will be staffed by professional artists. Reservations for the workshop are appreciated and can be made by calling 920.854.2210 or by emailing info@thehardy.org. Canvases and supplies needed to complete a canvas will be supplied free of charge. There are no requirements for subject matter or medium, only that it be appropriate for display.

The Mosaic Project canvas is a way for a participant to make a statement about something personal to them. The workshop will be a great way to receive advice from artists and will most likely be your last opportunity to participate in The Community Mosaic Project, with virtually all of the canvases for the project already distributed. The deadline to return a Mosaic Project (with its accompanying Artist Statement Form, which is provided to participants when they check out a canvas) is Monday, June 28. The 2010 Community Mosaic Project will officially be unveiled during the Opening Reception for the Collection Invitational Exhibit on Friday, July 23 from 5:30 – 7 pm.

For more information about the Hardy Gallery’s upcoming Community Mosaic Project Workshop, or to register for the workshop, please call 920.854.2210 or email info@thehardy.org.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The Hardy is open daily from 10 am-5 pm. For more information about the Hardy and its upcoming exhibitions and programs, please call 920.854.2210, email info@thehardy.org, or visit www.thehardy.org.

"Burning/Curbside, Diptych," by Steve Wadzinski, Oil on Canvas, ca. 1985

The program is being held in advance of the Hardy’s 48th Annual Juried Exhibition for any artist who seeks a constructive dialogue for their work. The forum will provide the opportunity for artists to exchange ideas, receive feedback from peers and give insight into the jurying process.

“Each year we have such a wide breadth of artwork submitted to the juried exhibit and ultimately, the jurors are unable to accept all of the artworks,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Hardy. “We wanted to provide a forum for both professional and novice artists to come together prior to the exhibit to discuss their work in an environment that would promote positive growth and improvement.”

A juried exhibit is by nature a competitive event. For the Hardy’s Juried Exhibit, artwork is selected through a process of careful deliberation among a diverse panel of five jurors, who are professionals in the field.  The final exhibit ultimately reflects what the jurors feel will create a cohesive exhibit.  It is important to note that participation in this program will not guarantee acceptance into the final exhibit.

The event is free and open to the public, however artists who are interested are asked to call the Hardy at 920.854.2210 with their intent to participate to ensure space.  Artists are asked to bring no more than three works.  The Svalhus is located next to the Ephraim Historical Foundation offices at 3060 Anderson Lane in historic downtown Ephraim.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit arts organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The gallery is located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock and is open daily from mid-May through mid-October. For more information about the Hardy, please call 920.854.2210, email info@thehardy.org or visit www.thehardy.org.

Canvases are available for pick-up at the Artists Guild, LLC, located at 117 N. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay during normal business hours, which are Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Created by the non-profit Hardy Gallery in 2008, the event is a community outreach project as well as a fundraiser and was developed as a means to help raise awareness of the arts and to make them accessible for every member of our community. The display, hung in tandem with the annual Collection Invitational Exhibition, consists of a large-scale mosaic constructed of 300-plus 6-inch by 6-inch canvases. The Hardy will provide interested individuals with one 6-inch by 6-inch blank canvas to create a work of art. There are no restrictions regarding subject matter or the kinds of materials one can use to make the art, except that it must be appropriate for display at the gallery, created using the canvas supplied and must not exceed the 6-inch by 6-inch dimension.

In addition, the Hardy asks that participants complete an Artist Statement Form that will accompany the finished piece. This form will be distributed with the canvas but will also be available on the Hardy Gallery’s website under the “Downloads” tab. A Participation Agreement must also be filled out prior to receiving a canvas for the project. Participation Agreements are available at the Artists Guild, the Hardy Gallery office in Ephraim and the Mill Road Gallery in Sister Bay. Canvases are due back to the Hardy Gallery Monday, June 28 by 5 pm.

“The project provides the perfect platform to build awareness of the visual arts to both new and existing audiences,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “The excitement and enthusiasm surrounding last year’s event far exceeded our expectations. We had an array of incredible little artworks and, since the project also provides funds through the sale of the works, it was a super affordable way for patrons to support our organization.”

The Hardy is pleased to announce that Artists Guild, LLC is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2010 Community Mosaic Project. Artists Guild, LLC, is Door County’s source for fine art supplies and custom framing. As a Windsor & Newton Premier Art Centre, Artists Guild strives to meet the needs of both recreational and professional artists, carrying a wide range of products for the beginner as well as the experienced.

In addition to the Artists Guild, canvases will also be available in late April at both the Hardy Gallery Office, located in the Ephraim Historical Foundation Svalhus (the Svalhus is a small log cabin that is located adjacent to the Foundation at 3065 Anderson Lane, Ephraim), and at Mill Road Gallery, located at 2328 Mill Road in Sister Bay. The Hardy Gallery will be open 9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Anyone who is interested in obtaining a canvas for or has any additional questions about the 2010 Community Mosaic Project is encouraged to call the Hardy Gallery office at 920.854.2210 or email info@thehardy.org.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit arts organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The gallery is located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock and is open daily from mid-May through mid-October. For more information about the Hardy, please call 920.854.2210 or visit www.thehardy.org.