Ever notice how so many artists reside in our Grand Traverse Bay region?  That’s because it’s so remarkably gorgeous!  From aquamarine waters to paper-like birch bark to the call of the loon, we are blessed with beauty.

Celebrating this beauty deepens our connection with our land and waters, which in turn instills a sense of stewardship.  The Watershed Center will foster this process with its Art of the Watershed series in 2009.  This is thanks to a generous grant from the Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation.  The Art of the Watershed series is a proud part of the Lake Effects art movement.

We will feature a different artist each quarter in our eco office.   We will showcase painters, photographers, poets, musicians, weavers, sculptors—the whole gamut of artistic expression that captures the majesty of our freshwater community.  Each exhibit will kick off with an artist’s reception, so watch your mailbox for an invitation!

Artists interested in being featured should contact Advancement Director Denise Baker at 231~935~1514 or dbaker@gtbay.org.

Paul Laporte's installment of our Art of the Watershed exhibit series begins January 14 and runs through April.  The exhibit features Laporte's exquisite watercolors.  A portion of all artwork sales support the Watershed Center's vital work to protect Grand Traverse Bay and its majestic watershed. 

Paul Laporte's tribute to water is as varied as the ways water touches the daily lives of every individual who lives in northwest Michigan.  From agriculture to tourism, to providing an aesthetically pleasing place to live, his work celebrates the beauty of our water and our region.  In recognition of the natural beauty that surrounds us, his work underscores the continuing need for us to protect this precious asset, use it responsibly, and work toward sustainable solutions to our water issues.

Visual Artist Glenn Wolff 

Author Jerry Dennis

Chad Pastotnik of Deep Wood Press

Visual Artist Kaye Krapohl

Poet Fleda Brown

Stand Up Paddleboard Engineer Larry Bordine

Visual Artist Joan Bonney

Composer Jim Bonney

Poet Ann Bardens-McClellan

Visual Artist Paul Laporte

Poet and Essayist Michael Delp