‘Our Town Art Show and Sale’ supports Michigan artists

BIRMINGHAM — For the 38th year, artists of various mediums will be displayed at The Community House’s “Our Town Art Show and Sale” in downtown Birmingham.

Over 293 pieces from 125 artists will be included in the show, open to the public March 31 and April 1. Pieces include paintings, pastels, sculptures, glassworks, fiber works, photography, jewelry and mixed media works.

Artists will directly see 65% of the proceeds from the art sales, with the remaining 35% going towards The Community House’s outreach programs for adults and children.

“Our Town” co-founder and artist Julie Dawson said she was asked to start the art show by Beverly Hoglund, who was working at The Community House at the time.

“The idea is two-fold. One is to make opportunities for artists in Michigan, and the other is to make money for The Community House. And it does both,” Dawson said.

Our Town will be free and open to the public March 31 and April 1. An Opening Night VIP Party will be March 30. Tickets for the opening night party can be purchased online.

“This is a Michigan-only artist venue where, for a lot of these artists, it is the only opportunity for them to display their artwork in a gallery-like setting,” said Christopher Smude, the senior vice president of The Community House Foundation.

The show was juried by Barbara Heller, the director and conservator of special projects for The Detroit Institute of Arts; and Grace Serra, an art collection curator at Wayne State University and an exhibition curator at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex.

In addition to the in-person show,  all juried pieces can be purchased online March 31-April 14. This online component began during the pandemic, and organizers have decided to continue it due to its impact.

“It really gives the artist an opportunity to expose and market themselves, not only throughout the state of Michigan, but throughout the country,” Smude said.

Dawson has had work in the show every year it has been held. Her specialty is watercolors.

This year, three of her pieces will be included in the show. Each piece is a painting of a different animal: a bear, an alpaca and rabbits.

Dawson paints a variety of subjects, including animals, flowers, people and more. Much of her inspiration comes from traveling. For example, she has several paintings that were inspired by the animals she saw while visiting Africa.

As for the paintings in the show, the bear painting, “I’m Dreaming of a White Salmon,” was inspired by a trip to Alaska, where she watched bears eating at the Katmai Peninsula.

The alpaca painting, “Hair I Am!” was inspired by her experience at the National Association of Alpaca Breeders, where she was surrounded by 900 alpacas, which she found hilarious looking.

She painted the photo of the rabbits, “Double Trouble,” based on the popular demand for rabbit portraits each year.

To see these paintings in person, along with a variety of other interesting pieces, visit The Community House March 31 and April 1.