Arts Alive

COLDWATER – The community is invited to attend an artist reception celebrating area student artwork and the final night of Arts Alive’s annual Kids’ Art Rocks! gallery show on Monday, August 16 at 6pm at Tibbits Opera House.

The juried exhibit features over 125 pieces of student artwork on display, with 15 chosen for the final lease program exhibit. Those pieces have been professionally framed and will be entered into the art lease program for businesses to sponsor and display for one year.

Lease program winners, featuring students from preschool through high school, include Molly Sabaitis, Lakeland Elementary; Landon Longstreet, Jefferson Elementary; Haley Johnson, Evergreen High School; Lincoln Clark, Reynolds Elementary; Gabe Erwin, Bronson Schools; Emmanuel Rodriguez, Bronson Schools; Alexander Thenen, Union City Elementary; Aimee Irwin, Marshall Middle School; Tristen Gray, Anderson Elementary; Payton Longstreet, Lakeland Elementary; Adalie Mayer, Bronson Schools; Sierra Rinehart, Anderson Elementary; Kodie Patrick, Union City Elementary; Harper Anglin, Lakeland Elementary; and Phoenix Haviland, Bronson Schools.

The reception, which features People’s Choice voting, will take place in the Tibbits Art Gallery from 6-7pm. Light refreshments will be provided and the presentation of cash prizes and art supply giveaways for young artists in attendance at the conclusion of the reception will take place on the terrace in front of Tibbits, weather permitting. All artwork not chosen for the year-long lease will be available for pickup immediately following the reception. Businesses that attend the reception will have first choice of artwork for the lease program.

The gallery shows rotate approximately every six weeks in the lower level art gallery of Tibbits Opera House, located at 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, Michigan. The next Arts Alive gallery exhibit is “All that Glitters is Gold” show, which will hang from August 17 through October. To be included in this art show, artists should drop off all pieces at Tibbits’ Administration Office at 93 W. Chicago St. before August 16 at 4:30 pm. The final 2021 gallery show will be “Holiday Leftovers”.

For dates and details of these exhibits or the Kids’ Art Rocks! reception, or to become involved in Arts Alive, call Steph at Tibbits at 517-278-6029, email sburdick@Tibbits.org or visit the Arts Alive Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater.

COLDWATER – The latest exhibit by Arts Alive in the Tibbits Art Gallery invites artists to submit artwork of all mediums inspired by the theme “All that Glitters is Gold”.

The exhibit runs August 17 through October 2021 at Tibbits Opera House. Artists may submit up to three pieces at $5 per submission. Paintings, photographs or drawings should be ready to hang using hanging wire. Sculpture or other mediums are accepted and encouraged as well. “All that Glitters is Gold” is totally up to the artist to interpret the theme as he/she sees fit.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top artists based on audience votes.  Artists can also sell their work on commission.

To be included in this art show, artists should drop off all pieces at Tibbits’ Administration Office at 93 W. Chicago St. before August 16 at 4:30 pm.

The art gallery currently features artwork by area student artists who submitted pieces for the annual Kids Art Rocks contest. It is open one hour before and during all performances as well as by appointment in advance weekdays from 9-5. There is no admission charge for the gallery and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork.

The gallery shows rotate approximately every six weeks. After the “All that Glitters is Gold” show, the final 2021 gallery show will be “Holiday Leftovers”.

For dates and details of these exhibits, or to become involved in Arts Alive, call Steph at Tibbits at 517-278-6029, email sburdick@Tibbits.org or visit the Arts Alive Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater.

COLDWATER – Tibbits Art Gallery reopened with a burst of color in a spring art show titled “Big and Bold” presented by Arts Alive.

From large-scale acrylic paintings to pottery, “Big and Bold” showcases work from a variety of area artists. The gallery show will run until late May. With a desire to give artists the most exposure of their work, dates for the gallery shows have been fluid. The gallery is mostly enjoyed by attendees to the theatre. With so few events, those wishing to enjoy the artwork are encouraged to call to make an appointment during normal business hours. The Opera House is not otherwise open during the day.

Artists wishing to submit their pieces for this gallery show may still do so. Upcoming gallery shows include the student art show “Kids Art Rocks” as well as “All That Glitters is Gold.” To be included in the art shows, artists should drop off all pieces and their entry fees at Tibbits’ Administration Office, 93 W. Chicago St. To become involved in Arts Alive or additional information on the art gallery shows, call Steph at Tibbits at 517-278-6029 or visit the Arts Alive Facebook page at Facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater.

COLDWATER – From tables to wine racks to entry benches, artists and crafters interested in recreating, upcycling and reinventing chairs for Arts Alive’s fundraiser, “A Chair Affair” will have the opportunity to exhibit their talents, win cash prizes, and support the local arts group.

Participants are being asked to take a chair of any kind and transform it for the fundraiser. Businesses interested in participating can create their own chair or find an artist to create one for them. The cost is $10 per entry with a limit of three entries per person. People’s Choice cash prizes will be awarded to entries with the highest bids.

All entries are due by November 20. While the program placed chairs in area businesses as part of ArtWalk last year, this year’s event will feature all chairs as an art installation in the Tibbits Art Gallery. They will also be listed online for the silent auction fundraiser from Nov. 23 through Dec 12.

“The cool thing about this gallery show is that there are so many possibilities,” said Arts Alive member Stephanie Burdick. “People can turn a chair into something totally different, like a shelf or a blanket ladder or wine rack…or they can give a specific holiday theme or just enhance the bones of the chair that’s already there.” She added, “On the flip side, you could also take found or unusual items and turn those into a chair.”

The $10 entry fee and chair entries must be submitted to Tibbits Opera House at 14 S. Hanchett in Coldwater. Chairs can be dropped off Nov. 16-17 and 20 from 9-5 and Nov 18 or 19 from 9-6pm. Artists are asked to call the Tibbits Admin Office at 517.278.6029 so someone can meet them at the theatre for drop off.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Arts Alive for the continued promotion of community art events, exhibits and arts education within Branch County. Those who wish to view the chairs in person before bidding can stop by the theatre Dec 9-11 from 12-6pm. Final bids will end Sat. Dec 12 at 8pm with pickup at the opera house Dec 14-18.

For more information, please visit Tibbits.org or contact Stephanie at Tibbits at 517.278.6029.

COLDWATER –From fairy tales, wings, and castles, to watches, clocks and more, the latest exhibit by Arts Alive, hosted at Tibbits Opera House, invites artists to submit artwork of all mediums inspired by the theme “Once Upon a Time.”

The exhibit runs August 10 through September 8, 2020 at Tibbits Opera House. Artists may submit up to three pieces at $5 per submission. Paintings, photographs or drawings should be ready to hang using hanging wire. Sculpture or other mediums are accepted and encouraged as well. “Once Upon a Time” is totally up to the artist to interpret the theme as he/she sees fit.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top artists based on audience votes.  Artists can also sell their work on commission.

To be included in this art show, artists should drop off all pieces at Tibbits’ Administration Office on 93 W. Chicago St before Aug 7 at 4:30 pm.

The art gallery currently features artwork by area student artists who submitted pieces for the annual Kids Art Rocks contest. Even though the theatre remains closed for performances, by executive order the art gallery is open weekdays from 9-5 and by appointment. There is no admission charge for the gallery and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork.

The gallery shows rotate approximately every six weeks. After the “Once Upon a Time” show, the final 2020 gallery show will be “A Chair Affair” fundraiser in November and December. For dates and details of these exhibits, or to become involved in Arts Alive, call Steph at Tibbits at 517-278-6029, email artsalivecw@gmail.com or visit the Arts Alive facebook page at www.facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater.

COLDWATER – Arts Alive celebrates summer by bringing a collection of artists, food, and music to Coldwater’s South Monroe Street Saturday, July 11 with the annual ArtWalk.

“From what I’ve noticed, everyone is getting pretty sick of endless screen time, zoom meetings and email threads. I’m so excited that we can all get out of the house, support our local artists, musicians and restaurants, and enjoy this outdoor event.” said Arts Alive board member Stephanie Burdick.

The street will be lined with paintings, stained glass, photography, digital art, sculptures, jewelry and live music and more from 2-10pm. The alley by Southern Roots will feature an interactive chalk wall for festival-goers to create their own works of art and take selfies.

Local restaurants, including JT’s, El Taco Loco, and Broadway Grille will be interspersed at tables throughout the festival area, each offering its own food specialties to festival-goers. Carey’s Cakery and Kukui’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice will be on hand with sweet treats.

Open mic time from 2-6pm will allow area performers to entertain the crowd for “a dollar a ditty.” The live band “Usual Suspects” will keep the evening of fun going from 6-10pm.

ArtWalk is being presented by Arts Alive with support from the City of Coldwater and the Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce.