Three Visions at Gallery 194

Three Visions featuring the art of Robert Huebel, Ronald Schmitz, and Vera Peltonen Bean opens Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Gallery 194 in downtown Lapeer. The show will run through Saturday, Feb. 9. The public will be able to meet and engage with the artists at a free reception Friday, Jan. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Three Visions brings three established artists with three unique styles and perspectives to Gallery 194. While their styles might all be very different, each artist is connected to the other through mutual friendship and respect for one another. Robert and Ronald have long been mentors to Vera and sponsored her membership to the Flint Artist Market, an organization to which all three artists now belong.

Artist Robert Huebel has spent most of his life studying and teaching art. He taught in the Flushing Community School district for 36 years. He now works as an artist full time and presently works in mixed media.  His works are influenced by trips to South America, Central America, Mexico and the American Southwest.

“I find myself motivated by rich native traditions, variety of culture, religions, landscapes, textures, architecture, and the spiritual energy of these areas,” says Huebel. In his work, Robert tries to incorporate as many native and natural materials as possible. Robert Huebel is the current President of the Flint Artist Market and has recently exhibited his work at Buckham Gallery in Flint, and at a one man show at Bay College in Escanaba.

Ronald Schmitz is a retired Flint area educator who confesses to never having any formal art training; however, after retiring he did take a few adult education classes.  Ronald says that  his passion for painting comes from his wanting to translate the complexity that he sees in nature and the world around him by conveying this beauty for others to experience.  One will be immediately struck by the artist’s use of detail, detail that defines this “complexity” that the artist observes and is conveying to the viewer. Schmitz now paints exclusively in watercolor, has exhibited in many shows both individually and as a member of Flint Artists Market. His work can be seen in collections locally, nationally, and internationally.

Vera Peltonen Bean is a retired world class cyclist  turned artist, who now works out of her studio, “Emotions in Motion,” located in Downtown Lapeer inside the Lyric Mall.  She has transformed the emotion and motion of over ten years of world class bike racing into an array of creative expressions ranging from black and white pen and ink work to sculpture, to acrylics on canvas.

“I would very much like to believe everything is as simple as black and white, however… it’s not. It’s only black and white on the surface. If you take a closer look… things become just a little more complex and a little more complicated. Just as all of us,” says Peltonen Bean.

Peltonen Bean’s work is of expressionism, abstract ideas, emotions, dreams, memories, journeys, and spontaneous fragments of thought and explores black and white as well as bold, vibrant colors. Her designs have been featured on QVC, she has been a guest speaker for the Otter Lake Literary Club, and is a proud member of the Flint Artist Market.

Three Visions at Gallery 194 is a very unique show.

“It brings together three different artists that all have their own styles but are all connected through friendship,” says gallery director James Alt.  “Working with these three artists to put this show together has been an energizing and amazing experience and I think visitors to the gallery will really be able to connect with the artists’ work and feel their energy and passion toward their art.”

Three Visions featuring the works of Robert Huebel, Ronald Schmitz, and Vera Peltonen Bean will be on display for the public to enjoy through Feb. 9. Gallery 194 is located at the corner of Court and West Nepessing Streets in downtown Lapeer next to the historic Pix Theater. Gallery 194 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is always free and open to the public. For more information log onto www.gallery194.com, LIKE Gallery 194 on Face Book or call 810-667-1495.

Thumb Area Traveling Show at Gallery 194

“Cannonball” by Kimberly Santini is on display at Gallery 194 through Nov. 10 as part of the Thumb Area Traveling Art Show.

The top ten works from the Thumb Area Art Exhibit (TAAE) are now on display at Gallery 194 in downtown Lapeer, through Nov. 10. The exhibit is put on by the Romeo Guild of Art (RGA) featuring works by nine different artists and is presented in Gallery 194’s emerging artist hallway.

The Thumb Area Art Exhibit features original artwork submitted in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing, and sculpture. The top pieces were chosen as the “best of” from a larger show that originally took place at the Starkweather Arts Center in Romeo this past September. That show featured 37 different artists and offered 58 different pieces.

Don Wieland, president of the Romeo Guild of Art, said the exhibit was judged by Victor Pytko, who is an art instructor at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center and has been a past speaker at guild meetings. Wieland who paints still life art of vintage toys and collectibles took second place at the show with his piece entitled “Fresh Meat.” It is one of the works featured in the traveling exhibit at the gallery. The top ten pieces, chosen by Pytko, travel to sponsoring galleries throughout Michigan’s Thumb area including Gallery 194.

Wieland chose the President’s award which this year went to Sharon Will for her work, “Asian Satin.” He said he chose her work because of her composition style and the high quality pastel work she does. Sharon also received the first place award for her piece “The View From Above.”

Also included in the exhibit is “Cannonball” by artist Kimberly Santini. Her painting captures the joy in a Golden Retriever as it jumps into water. “Cannonball” was chosen as Best of Show.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be chosen.” says Santini. “This exhibit represents so many people with talent in our area. It just gets better and better.”

Visitors to the gallery will be able to enjoy the show through Saturday November 10th. Gallery 194 is located at the corner of Court and West Nepessing Streets in downtown Lapeer next to the historic Pix Theater. Gallery 194 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is always free and open to the public. For more information log onto www.gallery194.com, LIKE Gallery 194 on Face Book or call 810-667-1495.

Easy Striders cruise the Southern Links Trailway

We had the Southern Links Trailway all to ourselves Saturday morning. As you can see, it was absolutely spectacular. I was there with the Easy Striders, our local group of beginner/intermediate runners. We covered nine miles Saturday. To think we might have missed this amazing scene if we hadn’t planned our run. Simply incredible. Saw a deer on the trail, too. All this while enjoying the good company of friends. And we topped off our exercise with our fave breakfast at Curly’s Lakehouse Grill in Columbiaville.

Sunday, I covered another six miles on the Paint Creek Trail. Simply superb.

Gallery 194: From Above and Below

From Above and Below featuring the art of Susan Clinthorne, Alexander Clinthorne, and Sally Thielen is now open at Gallery 194 in downtown Lapeer. These talented artists bring their unique vision to the Main Gallery from Tuesday, October 9th through Saturday, November 3. The public will be able to meet and engage with the artists at a free reception Friday, October 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sisters Susan Clinthorne and Sally Thielen might be familiar to visitors of Gallery 194. They brought their traveling social art exhibit “Letter’s Home/Searching for the Key” to the gallery in 2011. This year each artist will be displaying their own unique works of art. Also displaying is Susan’s son,  Alexander.

From Above and Below is a distinctive exhibit for Gallery 194. The show brings together three different styles that all complement each other in organic and creative ways. The name for the show is derived from each of the artists’ creative thoughts. Sally describes it as an “interest of nature from the underearthly to growing and soaring objects above the earth’s surface with plant roots being the meeting point.”

Artist Susan Clinthorne explains, “Most of what we produce is quite fanciful and are interpretations of our natural environment.”

Susan exhibits with Ann Arbor Women Artists and Ann Arbor Area Pastelists and is a member of the Great Lakes Pastel Society and Michigan Watercolor Society. She teaches watercolor at the Ann Arbor Art Center and has shown her work in venues across the state for the last 10 years. Along with her work in watercolor, she is also immersed in other painterly mediums such as dry pastels, printmaking, collage and acrylics.

Before studying art, artist Alexander Clinthorne studied languages. “I like how sentence structure can hold words together to translate coherent thoughts from one mind to another,” explains Clinthorne. Now he is taking his love and fascination for language and applying it to art. Alexander has compiled a visual vocabulary of recurring drying patterns in nature and then builds that language out of clay. He has spent time studying art and language in Egypt, Japan, and Iceland and now works as a part time instructor in clay at the Ann Arbor Art Center. His work has been displayed nationally and internationally.

Sally Thielen, “South Eagle Woman,” is a descendant but non-tribal member of the Michigan Chippewa tribe. She works in a variety of mediums and enjoys exploring new styles and mediums. Her love for heritage and culture is very prominent in her work. Thielen has shown her work in galleries throughout the United States and Canada and in Embassies throughout the world. She has been featured in several publications including “Michigan History Magazine” and “Who’s Who in American Art.” In 2004 Sally was invited to Washington DC for the 40th Anniversary of the Art in the Embassy Program.

From Above and Below at Gallery 194 features a large variety of work from these very talented artists. Included in the display are several of Alexander’s paintings that are debuting at this exhibit and set the atmosphere for his sculptures. In addition to visual art the show includes an audio soundtrack created by Alexander that will create a very immersive art experience for visitors to the gallery. The soundtrack for the show will first be heard during the meet-the-artist reception on October 12. Visitors to the reception will also get to hear special spoken word art written by Sally Thielen as well as meet and engage with the artists.

From Above and Below featuring the works of Susan Clinthorne, Sally Thielen, and Alexander Clinthorne will be on display for the public to enjoy through November 3. Gallery 194 is located at the corner of Court and West Nepessing Streets in downtown Lapeer next to the historic Pix Theater. Gallery 194 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm and admission is always free and open to the public. For more information log onto www.gallery194.com, LIKE Gallery 194 on Facebook or call 810-667-1495.

Marathon Township hosts THE MIGHTY MAC IN MARATHON

Labor Day Community Walk
Community Members Come Together to “Get Michigan Moving”

The mini Mackinac Bridge heralds the start of the Southern Links Trailway in Columbiaville on Labor Day.

COLUMBIAVILLE– Unable to travel all the way to Mackinac for the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk this year? Marathon Township is offering all community members a chance to participate in a Labor Day Community Walk right in their own backyard.

Marathon Township is organizing The MIGHTY MAC in MARATHON on Labor Day, September 3, at 9 a.m. at the Southern Links Trailway in Columbiaville as part of the Labor Day Community Walks that are held throughout the state in conjunction with the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk. For more than fifty years Michigan residents have gathered in St. Ignace for the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk. However, not all Michigan residents are able to attend the Bridge Walk. Marathon Township hopes to give more Michiganders an opportunity to participate in this walking tradition by encouraging residents to participate in their local community walk.

Pancake Breakfast * 7:30-11:00 am * Columbiaville Community Center

Fudge Taste-Off Contest * Interested in competing? * Call Kathy @ 793-2002

Pasties sponsored by Columbiaville United Methodist Church
Minis provided to walkers * full sizes to purchase.

Walkers about to pass through the mini bridge and set off on the awesome Southern Links Trailway last year.

“We are pleased to see that participation in our walk has grown every year,” said Dawn Johnson, Marathon Township Clerk. “We look forward to enticing more and more people to get out and move about while experiencing our amazing Southern Links Trailway. Come out and celebrate Michigan’s strong labor connection while doing something good for your health.”

Marathon Township is one of several Michigan communities holding a Labor Day walk, according to Johnson, Township officials believe the walk will be an important step toward helping its citizens lead healthier, more physically active lives.

“In addition to increasing physical activity and overall health among residents, there are many other advantages to hosting active community events,” explains Marilyn Lieber, president and CEO of the Michigan Fitness Foundation. “Active communities also gain economic and environmental benefits along with enhanced community connections.”

A physically active Michigan means a healthier Michigan. Take advantage of the wonderful opportunities to enjoy Michigan’s beautiful parks, trails and lakes while hiking, biking and swimming your way to fitness and health.

For more information please visit www.michiganfitness.org or call 800-434-8642. For more info on the trailway, check the trailway website here. The Southern Links Trailway really is one our county’s most amazing assets – get out there and find out why! Enjoy.

clikt-it: Robotics team Chimeras on Nepessing Street

Lapeer’s robotics team 1684 Chimeras manned a booth and strutted their stuff in the streets of Lapeer yesterday. Here, a Chimeras-built and competition-tested robot playfully tosses a ball to the man on stilts.

Becky Forfar doing us proud at USAT National Championship

32-year old Becky Forfar at the finish line of one of the many events she competed in prior to the Aug. 18 USAT Olympic Distance National Championship in Vermont.

Lapeer County’s own Becky Forfar competes tomorrow in the USAT Olympic Distance National Championship in Burlington, Vermont. She’ll be mixing it up with other top triathlon competitors from around the country. Winners will head  to London in 2013 for the World Competition.

Forfar will swim 1.5k, bike 40k, and run 10k. In local parlance, that’s 1700 yards (just shy of a mile) of swimming, about 25 miles on the bike, followed up with 6.2 miles of running.

Forfar’s not just ready for the grueling challenge, she’s loving it. She made the trek to Vermont with her young protege and accomplished triathlete, Morgan Turk, age 11 (check her story out here). Friends Kara Herderich and Jennifer Campbell also made the trip to Vermont with Forfar, where they will be enthusiastically cheering her on tomorrow.

Becky Forfar. Yeah, she rocks.

Forfar has already put nine IronMan competitions to bed, and has two more on her schedule this fall. This year alone, Forfar has already competed in more than ten running or tri events, consistently placing high up in the standings. This summer, Forfar finished first female overall at the Lexington Sprint Triathlon. The weekend prior she was the top finisher in her age group and third female overall in the Anchor Bay Triathlon. With her aggressive competition schedule, Forfar had no trouble qualifying for the USAT National Championship.

Team Aquaphor Healing Ointment-Active Ambassador, Brooks ID, Team Clif Bar-Active Ambassador and Headsweats are among her sponsors at the nationals.

Becky and her buddy, Buddy, at the track last year

Forfar co-owns and operates IronEdge Coaching, Fitness and Spinning with her fitness-oriented husband, Bret.  IronEdge currently offers spin classes and more at Lapeer’s Rec Center. September spin classes are forming now,  or sign up for personal training. As a certified personal trainer, Forfar shares her enthusiasm, motivation and considerable training and nutritional knowledge with clients.

Forfar encourages everyone to make ‘healthy’ a way of life. For her, it’s not as much about competition as the sheer excitement and joy of healthy living.

GO, BECKY, GO!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!