|
We appreciate your interest. The following
information has been placed online for your convenience. Please feel
free to contact us
if you would like any additional information, need clarification or items
formatted differently.
 Download Hi-Resolution
Press Ready Images
Blue
Coast Artists’ LLC Fact Sheet 2008
MISSION: the Blue Coast Artists LLC is a juried group of
working studio artists joined together for the purpose of creating,
educating and enhancing public appreciation of hand made craft and fine
art, and to preserve the culture and heritage of the
region.
HISTORY: The group was founded in 1989. The Blue Coast Artists was the
first group in the region to promote culture and heritage through a
defined tour. This
self-guided tour guide offers a behind-the-scenes look into the studios of
working artists. In 2006, the
group expanded its cooperative to include additional cultural and heritage
significant businesses, as well as the juried Member studios. The group’s artistic, cultural and
economic influence on the region is widely known, and the term
“Blue
Coast” is now used to describe
the lakeshore region from South Haven to Saugatuck.
LOCATION & BOUNDARIES: All participants must be located
in Allegan
County between South Haven and
Saugatuck, MI., along the shoreline of Lake
Michigan. Baseline Rd. is the
South boundary, the railroad tracks at approximately
56th St. is
the East boundary, up to Wiley
Rd. on the North and Lake
Michigan as the boundary to the West.
MEMBERS: The Blue Coast Artists’
2008 Membership includes six
working studio artists.
Members include:
Jessica Bohus - Blue
Roan Studio
Mark
Williams - Blue Star Pottery
Barb Hogarth – Blue Star Studio of Wood & Glass
Dawn Soltysiak – Khnemu Studio LLC
Lee McKee –Lake Effect Pottery
Suzi Lattner Zwissler – Lattner Studio
Art
mediums represented by Members: pottery, (high-fire stoneware,
raku and pit-fired), glass (flame worked, blown and stained), wood (turned
and marquetry), painting (pastel, oil and acrylic)
GROUP HOURS: All Member studios will open on May
2nd, 2008. Group hours
will include Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 5pm.
Outside of group hours, individual Member studios may be open
additional hours and/or months throughout the year.
ACTIVITIES: In addition to
the group hours, the Member Studios host two events
annually.
19h Annual Fall Tour of
Studios on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4th &
5th, 2008 from 10am-6pm
The event will offer
complimentary refreshments, open house and live art-making demonstrations
at each studio. The Fall Tour
of
Studios was conceived as an educational tool to give customers
an opportunity to see how a work of art is actually made, and to further
the visitor’s understanding of the artists’ commitment to creating
this work. Over the years,
this event has grown to attract over 2,000
visitors over a two day
period.
The Annual Holiday Open House is held on
the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend from
10am-5pm. Both events are
free to the public and artwork is available for purchase at each
location.
Individually,
Member studios and invited businesses offer other activities such as
gallery openings, exhibits, classes, workshops and special
events.
BUSINESSS ASSOCIATES: In 2008 there are 12 invited
cultural & heritage business associates . These businesses include
agri-tourism farms, wineries, art galleries and culturally based
restaurants. The invited businesses are must be locally owned and promote
one or all of the following:
locally grown, visual or performing arts, antique, ethnic or
non-profit. Together, we make
this region an even greater cultural and heritage destination.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Application for Blue Coast
Artist Membership is a group
jury process that consists of a slide/resume/artist’ statement review, a
site visit and a group interview session. Applicant Member studios must also meet the
following requirements 1.) Be located within the Blue Coast Artist
geographic region 2) Agree to the financial commitment divided among the
group for advertising, printing, graphic design, web site and postage
expenses 3.) Be open mandatory group business hours of: Friday, Saturday
and Sundays from 11 a.m. – 5
p.m. starting the first weekend in May through the weekend in
October closest to October 15th. Application for Blue Coast Artist
business associates is by a
written invitation from the Blue Coast Artist Members.
The
off-season allows time for Members time to create art, teach,
write, and promote their businesses and the group. The public may call individual
studios for an appointment during this time.
Please
contact us for additional
details. |
