Glen Arbor Art Association’s Artist in Residence presentations begin May 3

From staff reports

The Glen Arbor Art Association is pleased to announce the 2012 roster of Artists-in-Residence. The residency program provides visiting artists with a respite from daily responsibilities, which enables them to concentrate on their work in a unique locale. Residencies are considered in writing, visual arts, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics, music, philosophy and creative research.

This year, the program begins in May and continues into February 2013. The Artist-in Residence selection committee received 32 applications for the twelve residencies available. Residencies are generally two weeks in length.

As part of the program, artists are asked to make a public presentation at the end of their residency. These talks are open to the public at no charge. The first artist, Linda Walker of Mattawan, MI, will give a talk on Thursday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Art Association.

Linda Walker is a visual artist specializing in painting and digital media. Originally from Chicago, she received her BA in studio art from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb. She also studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Oxbow Campus. Early in her career she had a business in computer graphics and mural painting, primarily working on children’s rooms.

Walker relocated to SW Michigan and established her mural business there. She became an active member of the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan and participated in group art exhibits with the Kalamazoo Artist’s Alliance Center, a nonprofit organization which she helped to establish “to bring together local artists to promote their work and community awareness.” In 2010 she participated in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids exhibiting a digital transfer on aluminum.

While in residency in Glen Arbor she anticipates engaging with nature as her subject and gaining further accomplishment in her painting ability. She looks forward to her time as a “very important experience both artistically and personally.”

Walker’s presentation to the public will take place on Thursday, May 3, at 7:30pm at the Glen Arbor Art Association located on Studio Lane, across from Cherry Republic on Lake Street in Glen Arbor. The program is free and refreshments will be served.

2012 GAAA artist-residents are:

•Painter Linda Walker of Mattawan, Michigan/presentation Thursday, May 3, 7:30 p.m.

•Printmaker Rachel Drelles of Muskegon, Michigan/presentation Thursday, May17, 7:30 p.m.

•Painter Robert Raack of Cleveland Heights, Ohio/presentation Thursday, May 31, 7:30 p.m.

•Painter Laura Gajewski of Westphalia, Michigan/no presentation

•Painter David Westerfield of Glenview, Illinois/ presentation Thursday, June 28, 7:30 p.m.

•Painter Marianne Miller of Columbus, Ohio/ presentation Thursday, August 30, 7:30 p.m.

•Painter Steven Walker of Westerfield, Ohio/ presentation Thursday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.

•Writer Dorothy Brooks of East Lansing, Michigan/ presentation Thursday, September 27, 7:30 p.m.

•Painter L C Lim of Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania/ presentation Thursday, October 11, 7:30 p.m.

•Writer Elizabeth Buzzelli of Mancelona, Michigan/ presentation Thursday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.

•Photographer Susan Tusa of Detroit, Michigan/presentation Thursday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.

•Photographer Aubrieta Hope of DeKalb, Illinois/presentation TBD

This GlenArbor.com story was sponsored by Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak.