The kick-off to the Leelanau Peninsula Vinter’s Association Taste the Passion weekend takes place on Friday, February 3, 6-8 p.m. at The Homestead in the Mountain Flowers Lodge.

The kick-off to the

Taste the Passion weekend takes place on Friday, February 3, 6-8 p.m. at The Homestead in the Mountain Flowers Lodge. The

will be hosting “Art from Michigan’s Wine Country.” Art will be on display and for sale from local artists. Admission fee includes a wine sampling and small plates prepared by Chef John Piombo. A portion of every ticket will be donated to the Glen Arbor Art Association for class scholarships and to support the free after-school art program for Glen Lake area students.

Entrance fee of $20 (advanced sales) and $25 (at the door) per person includes small plates and ticket for one glass of wine. Additional wine tickets are available for purchase ($4/ticket or 3 tickets for $10). To purchase tickets call The Homestead (231) 334-5100.

Fiber artist Char Bickel opens the 2012 “Talk About Art” series Thursday, January 26, 7:30 p.m., at the Glen Arbor Art Association. Bickel, a Northport resident, creates hand painted silk collages, a technique she developed over the course of her 20-year practice as a studio artist and teacher.

Fiber artist Char Bickel opens the 2012 “Talk About Art” series Thursday, January 26, 7:30 p.m., at the Glen Arbor Art Association. Bickel, a Northport resident, creates hand painted silk collages, a technique she developed over the course of her 20-year practice as a studio artist and teacher. These framed pictures depict dancing bears, her view of the night sky, beaches and other animals. The compositions are charming and evocative, “not too realistic, not too abstract, with lots of color.” Bickel received a BFA in painting from the University of Michigan and an MFA in fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Bickel has taught at The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit; Wayne State University; Northport Public Schools; and Suttons Bay Middle School.

“Talk About Art,” a series in which local and regional artists talk about their art making and thinking, begins its fourth season in 2012. It’s one of a wide range of programs created to fulfill the Art Association’s mission of fostering and stimulating the arts in the Glen Lake region. The talks are free but contributions are welcome. The GAAA is located on Studio Lane, across from The Cherry Republic. For more information, please call (231) 334-6112.

Wednesday, January 25, 7:00 p.m

The Glen Arbor Art Association proudly presents its new dramatic venture, a Readers’ Theater performance on Wednesday, January 25, 7:00 p.m. The performance will take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6012 Lake Street in Glen Arbor. “The Case of the Dead Adventuress” and “The Murder in the Casbah,” two adapted Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, are directed by Harriett Mittelberger. This event is free and open to the public; goodwill offerings will be accepted at the door. Call the GAAA at 334-6112 for more information.

Artcenter Traverse City is now accepting applications for the 2012 edition of Art & Craft Trails, a guide to local art galleries, studios, and events.  If you are interested in being a part of this fun and functional guide to art in northern Michigan, please send your completed application to:

Artcenter Traverse City
5152 US - 31 N
Williamsburg, MI  49690

Click here for the letter.
Click here for the application.

We are saddened to announce the passing of one of our local legends, Roland Roycraft, on Tuesday, June 21.  Please keep Roland's family in your thoughts.

An obituary, which may be found in the Record Eagle, is below.

Stefanie Vallee has also created a blog, with an opportunity for others to comment about their thoughts and memories of Roland.

Victor Roland Roycraft, 93, of Beulah, died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at The Maples in Frankfort.  He was born November 23, 1917, in Osseo, Wisconsin, the son of Lester and Nina (Rowland) Roycraft. 

Victor is survived by his best friend, Jean Bowers of Beulah.  He was the proud father of: Philip (Merri) Roycraft of Cadillac, Jeanette Roycraft of Wisconsin, Lois (Rich) Bell of Florida, and Joan (Oscar) Salamon of Tennessee, all of whom survive him.  Victor is also survived by his grandchildren, Evan, William, Catherine, Sherry and Susan; several great-grandchildren; and his sister, Evelyn Newman of California. 

 Victor was preceded in death by his wife, Dorthy Roycraft, in 2005.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at the First Congregational Church U.C.C. in Benzonia, with Pastor Daniel E. Furman officiating.  The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Artcenter Traverse City, 720 S. Elmwood Ave., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684.

 The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home, in Beulah, is in charge of arrangements.

Bennett-Barz Funeral Home

Sheffield's Gallery in Traverse City is offering packaging material to artists for their artwork.  The material includes layered paper and foam, which works nicely for protecting artwork.  For more information, call Sheffield's at (231) 933-0690.

Did you know that you can receive a tax rebate for contributing to Artcenter?  Your generous donations to Artcenter Traverse City qualify for a 50% Michigan tax rebate!  You can support local art and receive up to a $100 tax rebate ($200 for couples filing jointly)!!

Public art always speaks well of a community, but this project, initiated by Artcenter Traverse City, is quite unique.  Not only will the finished work be displayed in a public view on Ace Hardware, but the public was invited to participate in the creation of the work.

Artcenter secured the talent and experience of Terry L. Dickinson to direct the project.  Dickinson began painting murals in 1974 in Bay City, Michigan.  He also has a mural presence in Frankenmuth, Saginaw, Clio, Flint, Ludington, Petoskey, Grayling, and Roscommon, as well as Michigan Tech and Purdue University, having completed nearly a thousand murals in his 36-year career.  He has directed two similar community murals in Grayling.

Professional artists contributed to the project at two levels; one, the submission of fine art to be considered for the image used in the mural , and, second, several artists were be chosen to assist and instruct the general public, as individuals from across the talent and age spectrum chose to get involved.

The mural, when completed, will be 13' x 50' and consist of 2,600 six-inch squares.  Artcenter set up work tables at several public events, including the Downtown Art Walk, Union Street Art Fair, Cherry Festival, Artcenter Traverse City Outdoor Art Fair, and other art-related events. At each of these events, the public was be invited to paint one or more of the pieces.  At the conclusion of each event, the painted pieces were fastened in place on the south wall of Ace Hardware on West Front Street.  The mural grew on the public as each painting session adds more pieces, and the final image was not be generally known until the project neared completion.

We have finished painting all 2,600 tiles!!  They will shortly be fastened into place on the wall at Ace Hardware.  Look for details about the mural party in November!

We need volunteers to help with this special event!  Volunteers are needed to help with affixing tiles to the wall, helping with the party, and working with the database.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kathy Lienau at (231) 941-1806.