4/23/07 KIA Reception
I drove into Kalamazoo on Friday, 4/23/07 for the KIA Area Show opening reception, 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo.
Gene and I met old friends for dinner at the Food Dance Cafe and then made our way to the art center for the 6:30 p.m. ceremony. By the time we got there, the conference room was packed! I was so pleased at the turn out of the arts community. The awards were given, our photographs taken and many congratulations were received.
Afterwards I toured the show for the first time and saw work that was vibrant, edgy, stark and bold. Themes of isolation, desolation, depravity and pain were mixed in with pieces about beauty and humor. The show feaured works by artists from 14 counties. About 787 submissions were whittled down to 144 pieces by the show juror Louis Marinaro.
Of note was the fact that the KIA www.kiarts.org is one of the show with a high number of awards, both in number and in cash value. The area show awards thirteen prizes totally $4,000 in prizes - quite outstanding among shows in this region. Kalamazoo artists should consider themselves lucky! The work is on exhibit until May 6.
I was proud to have my work included!
