The War Memorial Unveils Refurbished Art Gallery in Conjunction with Grosse Pointe Artists Association Exhibition, “Soul Searching”
The War Memorial is pleased to announce the opening of its new art gallery in tandem with the opening of the new Grosse Pointe Artists Association exhibition, “Soul Searching.” Occupying the former public access television studio, the new gallery space is located in The War Memorial’s Education and Community Wing. This exhibition will be one of the first public community programs hosted on The War Memorial’s campus since it began a phased reopening in June; it follows a handful of socially-distanced concerts and the recent 9/11 Service of Remembrance. The renovated gallery will host “Soul Searching” from October 22 through December 17, 2020.
For the exhibition, artists were asked to share their work done during the COVID-19 pandemic. As anticipated, they were “Soul Searching,” savoring memories and preparing themselves for a bright future. Grace Serra, curator for the Wayne State University Collection, as well as The University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex and Detroit Medical Center, juried the show. A record 41 artists, primarily from Michigan but also from adjacent states, submitted 84 pieces to be considered. Forty pieces were selected and will be eligible to receive awards.
“In times like these it is even more clear how important art is in the lives of individuals and the community,” said Grosse Pointe Artist Association President Karen Pope. “Opening a show in this new gallery space is a powerful antidote to COVID fatigue. We can’t thank The War Memorial enough for this new space and we look forward to people stopping by on Thursday afternoons to see the exhibition.”
Offered to the community in a hybrid format, this exhibition will be available for both socially-distanced in-person visits, as well as on the Grosse Pointe Artists Association website. Serra will host a virtual gallery talk and awards ceremony on Friday, October 23 at 7pm. Mark Zapico, a professor at College for Creative Studies, will host a virtual artists forum on Sunday, November 8 at 2pm. Details on how to join will be posted on the Grosse Pointe Artists Association’s website.
Completed this spring, The War Memorial Gallery is a newly refurbished space, once occupied by the former WMTV public access television studio, and located in the Education and Community Wing. Renovations include refinished drywall, fresh paint, an aggressive revamp of the floors, new gallery lighting, and artwork hanging systems. In the process, the Grosse Pointe Artists Association offices were also moved to a larger space directly overlooking the gallery. While “Soul Searching” will be the first public program offered in the new space, The War Memorial looks forward to operating the gallery for additional community programs including intimate concerts, lectures, and film screenings.
“During this pandemic, The War Memorial team has utilized our creative energy to reimagine and revitalize many aspects of our extraordinary space,” said War Memorial President and CEO Charles Burke. “As we forge ahead with our audacious future, I am inspired by the multitude of ways we can showcase this space; both by work with our community partners, as well as the broader metro-Detroit region.”
The exhibition and gallery space will be open to the public on Thursdays from 2-7pm, October 22 through December 17 (excluding Thanksgiving Day). Gallery visits will be limited to 10 people at a time and face masks, temperature checks, COVID-19 waivers, and social distancing will be required. Individuals with a fever will not be permitted to enter the building; likewise, anyone who has recently been ill, or has come in contact with an ill acquaintance, will be denied entry. To learn more, visit www.grossepointeartcenter.org.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, is a legacy-filled institution with a reenergized determination to emerge as a regional driver of arts, learning, patriotism, hospitality and connectivity. Situated on the grounds of the historic Alger Estate, The War Memorial serves an estimated 250,000 individuals with over 3,000 functions annually, including programs to honor veterans, engagement experiences for adults and children, community events and celebrations, and premier hospitality services. With new programming and innovative leadership, The War Memorial is a unique, dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan with a mission to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader.
About Grosse Pointe Artists Association
In 1927 when the Grosse Pointe Artists Association (GPAA) was organized, the founders had a mission. They wanted to “improve the quality of life in the Pointes by making art an integral force in the community.” The Association continues on that mission while broadening its reach to deeply enrich the lives of individuals and communities by sharing an interest in art. The Association offers classes, lectures, exhibitions, and community programming for veterans and their families, senior citizens and their caregivers, and area high school art students.
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Media Contacts
Jessi Kaminski
Manager of Communications and Programming
313.332.4053
jkaminski@warmemorial.org
Photography Assets
Prime Event Center, Kale Serrato Doyen
Description: Displaced by the pandemic, Kale spent summer 2020 working with her grandpa's analog camera to document the landscape of her hometown.
Dimensions: 11"x14"
Material: matte photo print
The First Four Months by Katie McNamee
Description: This is a sort of visual diary of life in one family in the first months of Covid.
Dimensions: 11"x30"
Material: watercolor and ink
Civic Matters by Sylvia Bandyke
Description: Photo collage with current downtown scene and message of awareness
Dimensions: 14"x14” framed