A portrait sitting in an art studio recently opened the door to a much broader conversation.
Grand Valley Artists, a nearly 70-year-old organization dedicated to supporting local artists through live-model sessions, exhibitions and critiques, invited Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington to take part in one of the art’s best-kept creative traditions: portraiture. The live portrait session doubled as a conversation about the future of the arts in Grand Rapids. As charcoal, chalk, and paint took shape, members of the organization discussed the challenges facing local artists, including the absence of a citywide arts council and the void left by the closing of Festival of the Arts after its 55-year run.
While ArtPrize transforms Grand Rapids into an international arts destination each fall, Grand Valley Artists continues its quieter mission of bringing artists together at its 29th Street studio year-round. Washington’s visit offered a reminder that the city’s creative ecosystem depends not only on marquee events but also on organizations that have faithfully nurtured working artists for generations.
One of the ways Grand Valley Artists has been able to maintain its studio and keep its doors open to artists of all abilities and backgrounds is through its annual 100 for $100 art sale, held at the start of the holiday season. This year, holiday shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind gifts can find original local art at Grand Valley Artists’ 100 for $100 sale Nov. 6-7.
The sale features a variety of mediums, including paintings, photography, drawings and three-dimensional works, with affordable pieces by area artists available at Grand Valley Artists Studio & Gallery, 2661 29th St. SE, Suite B, behind Schuler Books in Grand Rapids. More than a holiday shopping event, the sale helps support the studio’s ongoing mission of providing a welcoming space where artists can create, connect and grow together year-round.
Learn more at grandvalleyartists.org.
