The artwork above received the Grand Prize. It is Michele Shelton, A Moment to Remember, paper, fabric, metal, beads. This picture is credited to the Kalamazoo Institute of Art website.
I am inspired. Thursday I took my advanced eighth grade art class to the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. None of my students had ever been there before. We had a great time. On exhibit was the “West Michigan Area Show”. It is what inspired me and my students. We were all blown away by the diverse collection of art in the show. http://www.kiarts.org/page.php?page_id=104
The exhibit was selected by Chicago artist Gladys Nilsson. Her selection showed much diversity from realism to abstraction. Many pieces were an explosion of color but all seemed so unique and able to stand on their own let alone be part of this wonderful exhibit. Many pieces begged discussion and wonderment as to what drove the artist. Gladys Nilsson’s art really explains how she was able to select such a wonderful show. Her artwork is full of color and while it is representational in its subject matter it is full of elongated shapes, disproportions that create whimsy and a sense of borderline abstraction. Her work reminds me of Marc Chagall although there really isn’t a connection. I love the rhythmic way her work is full of movement. She uses color to saturate ones mind as though one is standing outside in a warm mist of color filled rain.
It is no wonder that this talented artist was able to select such an interesting exhibit for the West Michigan Show.
When I went home I marveled at the awesome ability of these west Michigan artists. I thought that many of them probably benefited from a great public school education. It is this creativity that has to be nurtured in our schools today. In out effort to become the best we can be in our schools with test scores we sometimes lose sight of this much needed creativity. It is the creativity in our country that develops new products that forces us to think outside of our limited boxes that we put ourselves in. We must nurture this creativity through the arts. Whether it be the visual arts, music or drama all of the arts nurture that creativity that is so necessary to the continuation of our own humanity. It is this spirit of creation that drives us all to be unique enough to not blend into the sea of humanity that just goes with the flow. These are the people that just continue to follow whatever they are told to do like mindless sheep. The spirit of creativity makes us stop and think about what we are doing and how we can make improvements to our lives. It is this spirit that I believe built our country and made it strong.
I enjoyed this show even more than some of the exhibits I’ve seen of famous artists. This exhibit inspired me and my students to come back and make art. I know my students are now anxious to get to their final painting that they will do this year. Many found inspiration in the colors and shapes and subject matter they saw in the show. The hour of our tour zoomed by and the students were very curious and inquisitive. When I talked with them individually I know they were excited about what they saw. This was a visual treat for all them and myself. I hope anyone that reads this that has an opportunity to see this exhibit will attend the show. It is well worth the drive. You will be inspired and you will go away feeling like you participated in something special. I say, “Kudos” to the Kalamazoo Institute of Art for bringing such a wonderful exhibit to the public and finding sponsors to make it free to the public.