West Michigan – “The Arts” can conjure many different images in people’s heads, from oil paintings and musical performances to theatrical productions and ice carving! And we’ve got all of these (and more) right here in West Michigan! Read on to take our tour of the many art offerings of the area.

Art in West Michigan: South

The Franke Center for the Arts is located in the heart of Marshall’s National Historic Landmark District. The Center provides business and social space for service club meetings, senior citizen groups, business/board meetings, receptions, private parties, youth-oriented programs, dramatic arts, and art exhibits. More than 8,000 people attend events at the Franke Center each year under the direction of the Marshall Civic Center Trust. The Franke Center is home to the Marshall Civic Players, celebrating 62 years in service. In the upcoming months, plan to visit for “Harper and Midwest Kind Acoustic Trio” on January 8th, their Americana Roots Festival on January 16th, and  “Ice, Wine, & Blues” on February 5th and 6th.

Experience art unique to winter at the Certified Professional Ice Carving Competitions in St. Joseph on February 5th through 7th. Watch the carvers magically turn frozen blocks of ice into works of art! Friday at 7:30pm, join them for the official kick off to the 12th Annual Magical Ice Fest weekend with a breath-taking display of fire and ice. On Saturday, get ready for the fourth annual Ice Wars! Watch pro carvers duel it out in 15 minute bouts of ice-carving chaos! The crowd is the judge for this event as these carvers go head to head to see who can create the best sculpture the fastest. Other events you can get involved in during the weekend include the Ice Fest 5K Chocolate Walk/Run, Fire and Ice Party, and the Snow Biz Scavenger Hunt to win a St. Joseph Today Gift Certificate!

Ledge Craft Lane in Grand Ledge is an art cooperative, boasting two floors of unique gifts and art for everyone. You’ll find paintings, photography, fabric art, and household novelties like napkins, table runners, towels, chenille pillows, and scrubbies. There is pottery, jewelry, note cards, as well as hand-knitted, crocheted and quilted items, all available for purchase in their store year-round. New to their store is “Stair Art,” which you’ll be able to view as you make your way to the second floor of their historic building. Their January Artist of the Month is David Carrigan, whose creations are inspired by a wide range of subject matter, including Native American themes, wildlife and fantasy. He strives to use his art to convey the sense of the mystery that he feels for this wonderful plant and the miracle of existence which we all share. David’s art will be on display for the entire month of January. You are invited to come and enjoy the intriguing art of David Carrigan.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra provides soul-prodding musical experiences and educational programming that stimulate audiences from the inside out. During the current season the orchestra will perform more than 40 concerts, reaching over 100,000 people in eight counties of southwest Michigan, and make 450 educational and community engagement appearances. This January, they have three great performances that you’ll want to get on your calendar. On January 10th, they’ll be presenting “The World of Vivaldi” at the Dalton Recital Hall at WMU. Their “Classics on Tap” series returns with a performance on January 23rd at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, featuring works by Bach and Shostakovich. Their Family Discovery series will be presenting “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery” on January 31st, with tickets only $6 to $12.

Additional Art: South

• Khnemu Studio on Fernwood Farm, Fennville
• Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
• Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theater Training, Augusta
• Farmers Alley Theatre, Kalamazoo
• Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater
• Island Art Fair, Grand Ledge

Art in West Michigan: Central

Muskegon is home to a number of art galleries where you can admire and/or purchase original works by local artists in every media imaginable. They are also host to the annual Lakeshore Art Festival, featuring hundreds of fine artists and crafters, a Children’s Lane, street performers, festival food favorites and interactive art all along the beautiful streets of Downtown Muskegon.  The festival is happening this summer, July 1 & 2, 2016!

Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts is June 3, 4, and 5 in 2016. It is the largest regional arts celebration in West Michigan, and is currently accepting performance applications from musicians and performers in Kent County and eight counties around Kent County. For more information, go to http://www.festivalgr.org/applications.

The Holland Area Arts Council will be holding a unique fundraiser at New Holland Brewing Company‘s outdoor beer garden Thursday, January 28th. Save the date for something a little unexpected. And a little chilly.

Every summer, Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids produces five main stage productions from May through September. The summer season consists of three musicals and two plays, performing more than sixty performances and playing to over 20,000 local theatre patrons each year. Circle Theatre also produces one Magic Circle production as a way to involve more young people in the experience of community theatre. Magic Circle focuses on the re-telling of classic stories, myths and fairytales for a modern, youthful audience. Their 2016 season includes productions of Cats in May, Perfect Wedding in June, First Date in July, Over the River and Through the Woods in August, Rock of Ages in September, and Charlotte’s Web in June/July.

Grand Haven’s ArtWalk is an art event that enables artists to display their works in public or private spaces throughout Downtown & Centertown Grand Haven. The public can explore art, interact with artists and vote for their favorite pieces in the following categories: photography, painting, sculpture, and drawing/mixed media. Grand Haven ArtWalk also hosts many fun events during the 18 day event, including the ArtBike Parade & Family Art Day, Community Art Project, Youth Exhibit Award Event, and Art Market. 2016 dates areSeptember 21st through October 9th.

This January, the Grand Rapids Symphony will feature several concerts that embody the theme of art, whether through dance, singing, or music. First, on January 8 and 9 at 8:00 P.M. in the DeVos Performance Hall, The Grand Rapids Symphony will present Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony, alongside acclaimed guitarist Pablo Villegas performing a concerto based entirely on baroque dances. Second, as part of the Crowe Horwath Great Eras series, the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform “The Classical Concert” on January 14 in Royce Auditorium at St. Cecelia Music Center. This concert is also accompanied by an earlier, one-hour matinee performance on January 15 as part of the Porter Hills Coffee Classics series. Third, the Grand Rapids Orchestra Pops present “What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong Tribute” on January 22-24. Celebrate the spirit of New Orleans with Byron Stripling’s electrifying and heartfelt trumpet tribute to Louis Armstrong. Music hits include What a Wonderful World, Hello Dolly, and Basin Street Blues.

Next, as part of the PNC Lollipops Series, along with the Grand Rapids Ballet, the Grand Rapids Symphony will present “Hansel & Gretel” on January 23 at Sunshine Community Church. A magical world comes to life with this version of the classic children’s tale where modern-day Hansel and Gretel go into the neighborhood looking for an adventure. There is a cell phone, a babysitter who just watches TV and a pair of fun-loving main characters. Last, the Grand Rapids Symphony will be performing Dvorák’s Seventh as part of the Richard and Helen DeVos Classical series on January 29 and 30 at 8:00 p.m. in the DeVos Performance Hall. Guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen returns to lead works of joy and love. Young violinist Karen Gomyo traverses Max Bruch’s sunny concerto, and Dvorák’s Seventh Symphony brings melodies and rhythms evoking his native Bohemia.

Additional Art: Central

• ArtPrize, Grand Rapids
• Broadway Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids
• LowellArts!, Lowell
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids
• Van Singel Fine Arts Center, Byron Center
• Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids
• St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids
• Fallasburg Fall Festival for the Arts, Lowell

Art in West Michigan: North

The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City is a premier cultural facility in northern Michigan offering a dynamic array of exhibitions and programs in the visual arts, sciences and performing arts. Visit during the month of January for a wide selection of art in their three current exhibitions. Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and the New Edge is a two-part exhibition that features artwork from established and emerging textile artists from around the world. The first part of the exhibition is comprised of the artwork of some of the world’s top fiber artists, and the second part of the exhibition features artwork selected from entries by artists from around the world. The Michigan League of Handweavers presents their Biennial Fiber Show at the Dennos. The League will award best of show prizes in Fiber Art, Functional Fiber, and more. Not Ready to Make Nice: Guerrilla Girls in the Artworld and Beyond is a major presentation of the Guerrilla Girls, which illuminates and contextualizes the important historical and ongoing work of these highly original, provocative and influential artists who champion feminism and social change. The museum also features the 367-seat Milliken Auditorium, which offers performing events all year.

Stormcloud Brewing Company is proud to partner with the historic Garden Theater in downtown Frankfort for the 3rd Annual Dark & Stormcloudy Film Series. The series pairs award-winning films with small batch beers, handcrafted specifically for each movie selection by Stormcloud Brewing Company. The film series begins in January with the first film and beer, then continues in February and March with a second and third film and beer pairing. The theme of the 2016 Dark & Stormcloudy Film and Beer series is music.

• January Film: Amy, a 2015 British documentary film that depicts the life and death of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of her life and career.
• January Beer: Back to Black. Black ale aged with red wine soaked oak chips and pumps (in honor of Amy). Named after Winehouse’s second and final studio album.
• February Film: Whiplash. A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.
• February Beer: Caravan Stout. Foreign Extra Stout. Spiced with Cayenne, Coconut, Cumin, Curry, and Kaffir Lime.
• March Film: Straight Outta Compton. The group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
• March Beer: Malt Liquor Noir. Malt liquor brewed with dark malt.

The Petoskey Area is an art enthusiast’s dream come true! From the fun and eclectic to upscale fine art, you will find it in the multitude of galleries dotted throughout the region. In addition to the storefronts though, several art and arts and crafts shows take place alone and within festivals throughout the summer. Mark your calendar for a very artful season!

• May 14 ~ 56th Annual National Morel Mushroom Festival, Boyne City
• June 16 ~ Gallery Walk, Petoskey
• June 24-25 ~SOBO Arts Festival, Boyne City
• July 13~Women’s Club Art Fest, Harbor Springs
• July 16~Art in the Park, Petoskey
• July 16~North American Indian Art Fair, Harbor Springs
• July 28 – 31~Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers Engine & Craft Show, Walloon Lake
• August 20~The BIG Art Show, Petoskey

Also of note:  In February, 2016, Petoskey will celebrate the leap year with a month-long arts and entertainment festival entitled “The 28 +1 Days of February.”  Area organizations and businesses, including North Central Michigan College, Crooked Tree Arts Center, the Petoskey District Library, Downtown Petoskey, the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, Little Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Bay View Association, Petoskey News-Review, Little Traverse Civic Theatre and more are working collaboratively to create a calendar and promotion for events happening throughout the month of February.  We hope that this month-long event will become an annual tradition. Information on all of these events will be available at:http://www.petoskeyarea.com/events-5/

For all of its small-town charm, Traverse City possesses plenty of big-city sophistication – thanks in large part to its established and thriving arts community. In addition to performing arts, the area is overflowing with fine artists and artisans — many of whom display their work at local shops and museums, and at local art fairs throughout the region. The renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts attracts internationally acclaimed artists, and each summer concert-goers can enjoy performances by artists like Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Josh Groban in the Center’s open-air 4,000-seat amphitheatre overlooking Green Lake. The Traverse City area boasts several excellent art events, too. Favorites include the May 6th Spring Downtown Art Walk, the Traverse City Wine & Arts festival in June, the Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair on June 26th, the Traverse Bay Outdoor Art Fair on July 30th, the August 6th & 7th Suttons Bay Art Festival, the September 9th Fall Downtown Arts Walk, and the 14th Annual Fiber Festival in Leland on October 7th & 8th.

Additional Art: North

• Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, ON