Visit to New Territory Art Association in Benton Harbor!

The Friday after Thanksgiving I went on a little field trip with my elderly parents and my brother Tom, who was in town from DC for the holiday. I took them to the Art Hop in the Benton Harbor Arts District, and that turned out to be a very good choice of things to do.

We visited the Water Street Glassworks, a public access school for the study of glass arts owned by Kathy and Jerry Catania, and it is just amazing. Not only do they have a really wonderful shop in the front, and the attached Vesuvius Gallery, but they have a catwalk where you can actually stand and watch glass artists blow and work with glass in the four or five furnaces. My father said "What are we doing here again"?

There were so many things I wanted to buy! They sell work that their students have done, and have vases, bowls, paperweights and all kinds of other things for sale. I think I'm going back for this stunning clear glass bowl with yellow ribbons of color throughout. The Krasl is in cohoots with the Water Street Glassworks and offers a discount to all Krasl members.

We visited the Benton Harbor Gallery of Fine Art owned by Carl Brecht, and that is a really wonderful place, too. I did not make it to the Richard Vance Gallery, nor the Richard Hunt Studio Center, which displays the work of famous sculptor Richard Hunt. Next time! And then I may hit "the Livery" too, a popular microbrewery-restaurant nearby.

Tomorrow I visit the Detroit Institute of Arts—very exciting!

Something always happening in St. Joseph!

The last few weeks have slipped by and I've barely had time to think. The Krasl is gearing up for its holiday classes, and is anticipating the Member Show on January 18. Don't forget to enter that one. No admission charge, just membership to enter.

On November 10, I attended a wonderful open house at the Brookview Montessori School in Benton Harbor. Krasl art teacher Christina Worthington was in charge of the decor and it was stunning. Little clear mini-lights, luminaries; the place looked like a fairy tale! What a great school that is. It almost makes me wish my sons were still little (not). And the food was great. Don't miss this one next year.

On Friday, Nov 16, I toddled to downtown St. Joe to witness my first Luminary Festival. What fun! People singing in small groups, stores open late, people crowding the streets talking to friends (and it was like 35 degrees!), and free food! I real small-town atmosphere. I was able to see two of the new carousel animals for the park below the bluff--one a baby giraffe, and the other an Indian pony. They were really gorgeous.

And tonight is the big Box Factory Bearclaw cafe opening reception. Does it sound like all I talk about is food?

Just a reminder, too, that Friday Nov 23, 6 pm, is the Benton Harbor New Territories Hop & Shop. Our kids (from our Krasl outreach programs at LOFT, and Turning Point after school programs) will be selling artwork that they made themselves. Our Director of Education, Julia Gourley, will be on hand in case you want to buy it all! The program is all about teaching kids to be artists, and marketing and selling is all a big part of it. I will be there, too, bringing all my holiday visitors, like it or not. No Hop-No Eat!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Krasl,

'Toon Exhibit Opening

Last Friday evening I attended my first art exhibit "opening" at the Krasl Art Center. The exhibit was "Art in the 'Toon Age," which featured artwork done by more than thirty artists, spanning three generations—from seven countries. All thirty-two artists were clearly imspired by comics graphics. They have used their own style of "comic art" to raise commercial art up to a fine art. This traveling show is owned by the Kresge Art Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

The place was jammed. The food was great, the work was fabulous, the wine (Tabor Hill) was delish, and my husband hated the exhibit. But then, he is 20 years older than me, and European. His idea of art still don't include comics. And he isn't convinced about graphic novels either. But I have to tell you that this show is fabulous! Do try to see it before it closes on Dec 31.

The next opening will be for the Member Show on January 18 from 5:30-7:30 pm and I hope to see you all here. This is a great time to become a member and submit your work.