Meet the West Michigan 8…

Posted by Laura Bergells

September 14, 2007

Next Friday, I’m going to meet some of the greatest artists in the world. You can, too.

They’re going to be right here, in downtown Grand Rapids, at the Eyekons Gallery.

You can meet (most of) them personally and see their latest works.

So who are these dudes?

Armand Merizon had a movie made about his life in art.
Chris Stoffel Overvoorde paints mesmerizing landscapes.
Larry Blovitz is a highly decorated pastel and portrait artist.
Jack Brouwer is a master of transparent watercolor techniques.
Jon McDonald watercolors ae feature famous blues musicians.
Jim Markle paints en plein air throughout Europe and the US.
Collin Fry creates magical landscapes in both pastels and oils.
Carl Forslund is in the Masters Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies.

And they’re all in Grand Rapids. Hey, even Harry Connick Junior knows that building a community among generations of artists is important work. Music, writing, sculpture, painting — it doesn’t matter which medium. As cartoonist Hugh McLeod notes in his excellent GapingVoid blog,

Art is simply using the tools at hand to ask the question, “What is possible?”

So what’s at hand — and what’s possible? Visit your local galleries and find out! Discover and learn from masters, as well as newer generations of fine artists. Grow.

Art isn’t just a New York thing. Music isn’t just a New Orleans thing. You can find an abundance of beauty and possibilites in your own community.

See you next Friday! I’m the tall redhead…