Introducing Ed and Kate Coleman

The Bud Vase Series
Approximately 5" - 7" tall, this is a series of bud vases that is a collaboration between Ed and Kate. Each one is handbuilt. They are great for a single flower of found object — sticks, branches, etc. $36

Large Clique Vases
Approximately 12" tall, shown with the regular size clique vase. Each large clique vase is an original one-of-a-kind. $68

Clique Vases
Approximately 8" tall, each clique vase is unique. They come in a variety of textures, forms and glazes. $38

Clique Mugs
Approximately 5" tall, these mugs are oversized for many uses. They are dishwasher and microwave safe. $38

Tumblers
Approximately 7" tall, these tumblers can be used as drinking glasses or vases. $36

Ed and Kate Coleman's work is a collaboration between two artists, separate people with ideas that merge. They believe that life is more beautiful and more livable when surrounded by things that are made by hand. Their work is created for those who search for this quality in fine crafts and objects. They share this connection with those who own their work.

Each piece is one-of-a-kind and handmade in Swannanoa, North Carolina by Ed and Kate. Because of this, their work is sold in assortments. They will always take special requests for colors, designs, and other specifics, but feel the work is stronger when they are given the freedom to create. Each piece is truly a work of art when it is an original.

For more information or for our current selection, call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775.

Introducing Cathy Broski

"I enjoy the story and form that grow together as each piece evolves. Creating a connection to my work for the viewer is important to me."


"Play Ball"
The artist found inspiration for this playful pose from her lovable dog, Porter. The natural coloring of the dog is achieved by applying a glaze then wiping the highlights of the texture to leave behind glaze that has a flashing quality. The dog is affixed to the ball with the aide of a steel rod. The ball is filled with sand to create a stable sculpture.
Dimensions: 13.0in H x 9.0in W x 5.0in D
$500


"House of Poppies"
The artist found inspiration for this playful pose from her lovable dog, Porter. The natural coloring of the dog is achieved by applying a glaze then wiping the highlights of the texture to leave behind glaze that has a flashing quality. Each is fired multiple times and is made from stoneware clay.
Dimensions: 16.5in H x 7.0in W x 7.0in D
$650


"Let's Play!"
The artist found inspiration for this playful pose from her lovable dog, Porter. The natural coloring of the dog is achieved by applying a glaze then wiping the highlights of the texture to leave behind glaze that has a flashing quality. The bird is fired separately and attached with wire.
Dimensions: 6.0in H x 6.0in W x 12.0in D
$300


"Heart in Hand"
Each unique hand made sculpture is carved individually from stoneware clay. The surface is achieved by wiping off the high points to leave the glaze in the carved lines. This evokes a found object feel the artist strives for. The heart is fired separate and attached after firing. Each piece is unique, and will vary slightly from that shown. Hearts symbolize the love felt or given.
Dimensions: 4.0in H x 3.0in W x 4.0in L
$100


"Bird in Hand"
Each unique hand made sculpture is carved individually from stoneware clay. The surface is achieved by wiping off the high points to leave the glaze in the carved lines. This evokes a found object feel the artist strives for. The bird is fired separate and is unattached. Each piece is unique, and will vary slightly from that shown. Birds symbolize our inner voice or spirit.
Dimensions: 4.0in H x 3.0in W x 4.0in L
$100


"Safe Landing"
Each unique hand made sculpture is carved individually from stoneware clay. The surface is achieved by wiping off the high points to leave the glaze in the carved lines. This evokes a found object feel the artist strives for. The birds are fired separately and attached after firing. Each piece is unique, and will vary slightly from that shown. Birds symbolize our inner voice or spirit.
Dimensions: 8.0in H x 3.0in W x 3.0in L
$100

Ceramic artist Cathy Broski's work is steeped in archetypal and personal symbolism. Figures, houses, boats and pottery are all vessels to contain things we hold dear, and sometimes those things we would cast off. Cathy chose these forms to work with because they have several levels of meaning she finds intriguing to explore. She loves found objects, because of their wear and marks of their journeys. This is the feel Cathy tries to achieve on her surfaces by using a layering technique.

Cathy begins each piece on the potters wheel or with slabs. The pieces grow with the application of coils or additional slabs. When each piece is completed, She carves or textures the surface. The base colors of terra sigilattas and slips are applied and fired. Once the first firing is complete, Cathy applies and wipes off a combination of stains and glazes, then fires again to cone 6. This process is repeated until the desired effect is achieved.

Since receiving her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1990, Cathy has worked in the ceramics field in many capacities. Presently she is represented by numerous galleries, teaches several pottery classes, instructs workshops, sells work at art fairs, and has been published in several ceramic periodicals. In 2000, she and her husband built a studio right outside their backdoor. And in 2007 they completed a 40 cu ft gas car kiln.

For more information, or to see Cathy's work, visit Gallery Fifty at the Grand Traverse Commons or call 231-932-0775.

Carolyn Hudson: Attention to Detail

Carolyn Hudson: Attention to Detail
August 6 - September 30, 2010

Carolyn Hudson draws her inspiration from the local landscape and wildlife and she is best known for her beach stone drawings and dog portraits. She started her career working primarily with graphite, but slowly added colored pencil to her repertoire and has been working strictly with that medium for the past twenty-five years. She has recently added the silver-point drawing to the mix which has the feel of her old roots in graphite. Hudson is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and received her bachelor of art degree from Waynesburg University.

The public is invited to an opening reception at the Grand Traverse Commons location on Friday, August 6 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.; 231-932-0775. Can't make it to the show? Explore our virtual exhibition at www.galleryfifty.com after the opening.

'Woodchip': Furniture Artist Chip Gadek

30" Glass Top Cocktail Table
Dyed Maple with Wenge Accents
$750

Carnival Foyer Table
31" x 22" x 42" Color Dyed Curly Maple
$1,350

Off-Kilter Mirror
21" x 34" Satinwood and Wenge
$445

Raised in the shadow of New York City and deeply influenced by two older sisters who were highly involved in the arts, Chip Gadek learned at any early age the intoxication of creativity. “When I was a teen, I would play hooky from school and go to all the great New York museums — the Met, the Museum of Modern Art the Guggenhiem — I’d spend the whole day there," he says. "And even now, with 25 years of building high quality furniture, I still consider myself, first and foremost, an artist.”

Gadek's schooling took him to Colorado State University where majoring in Painting gave him absolutely no real world job abilities. After college, he moved to northern Michigan. While working as a graphic artist at a small printing company Gadek was selling two-dimensional work at regional galleries. Slowly, the paintings he was selling evolved into unique mirrors and tables. After 15 years, Chip left his job as a graphic artist to put all of his time into building ‘art furniture.’ Now with more then a thousand pieces under his belt, furniture is still what he wants to create. “I still paint for myself, but I really enjoy making things that can be used on a daily basis,” he says.

The artist now sells work in galleries throughout Michigan, Florida, Arizona and California. This is where he can work on new ideas, creating furnishings that push the envelope. And of course, this is where potential customers that might order special items, can see the beautiful handcrafted work that he offers. “My work is contemporary, but not modern. It has the ability to look good in any surrounding.” Like all fine craftsman, he only uses traditional joinery methods, such a mortise and tenon and dovetails; doing as much of the work as possible, by hand, including layer upon layer of hand-rubbed oil finishes.

For more information on Chip Gadek, or to see some of his incredible art furniture, visit either of our Gallery Fifty locations: 321 East Front Street; 231-946-0610 or 800 Cottageview Drive; 231-932-0775, Traverse City, Michigan.

Here are some examples of the kinds of work that have already sold. Ask about a commission.

Gallery Fifty introduces Kristen Jongen

Attempting Flight
24" x 36" Mixed Media on Canvas, $5,200

We've admired Kristen's work for years and have recently ironed out details for gallery representation — not only for her best-selling line of books and prints, but also her gallery wrapped canvas giclees and a few large original mixed media paintings. We plan hang her work at our Downtown location to start and then possibly do a larger show in the Mercato at the Commons in the fall.

Flying High
16" x 20" gallery wrapped canvas giclee, $525

Love is Still Bigger
24" x 32" gallery wrapped canvas giclee, $795

Trying Yes
24" x 24" gallery wrapped canvas giclee, $575

Kristen Jongen's inspirational work has rocketed to the forefront of the American art movement. She has been featured in national magazines and won acclaimed recognition for her raw and uncanny poetry. Jongen owns Soul Soup, a creative enterprise that features her original large format paintings, prints, limited editions and books. The artist and writer currently lives in northern Michigan with her three children and a host of unruly pets.

Kristen's work will be available after July 12th. For more information, call or stop into our downtown location: 321 East Front Street, Traverse City, 231-946-0610.

June/ July 2010 Virtual Exhibition: Rufus Snoddy

Innocuous
Mixed Media; 16" x 23.5"
$1,200

Summer Harvest
Mixed Media; 35" x 17.5" x 7"
$1,500

Rolling Up North
Mixed Media; 38" x 16" x 4"
$1,000

Specimen
Mixed Media; 24.5" x 17.5"
$1,200

Hidden Future
Mixed Media; 22" x 11" x 11"
$1,000

Ritual
Mixed Media; 27.5" x 18"
$1,500

Mickey Rat on the Yellow Brick Road
Mixed Media; 36" x 24"
$2,500

Camo Chic
Mixed Media; 35" x 11.5"
$600

Piece of Perception
Acrylic on Wood; 26" x 24"
$500

X
Acrylic on panel and wood; 25" x 22"
$800

Worm Man
Acrylic on Panel; 29" x 23"
$600

Enigmatic Elements
Mixed Media; 55" x 20.5"
$2,500

Remnants of Past and Now
Mixed Media; 57" x 19.5" x 7.5"
$4,000

Duality
Mixed Media; 16" x 18" x 9"
$600

Pissing On/Off The Bull
Mixed Media; 54" x 32" x 7"
$4,000

Journey to Cherryland
Mixed Media; 20.5" x 12" x 5"
$800

Trophies
Mixed Media; 60" x 31" x 11"
$3,500

Center
Acrylic on wood; 30" x 24"
$500


Conversation on the Hill
Mixed Media; 19" x 14" x 10"
$800

Tribute to the Seasons
Acrylic on Canvas and Mixed Media; 46" x 85"
$5,000

Texture with Detail #1
Acrylic on Board; 10.5' x 12.5"
SOLD

Texture Detail with Limb
Acrylic on Wood; 18" x 10"
SOLD

Post Urban - Northern Mid-West: New Work by Rufus Snoddy

Now showing in the Mercato, adjacent to Gallery Fifty at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons through July 31, 2010.

Rufus Snoddy moved from Los Angeles to northern Michigan eight years ago, and this show is his response to that change. The artist describes his "head space" as The Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland while creating this new body of work. Sticks, twigs and accumulations of nature have replaced the motherboards, industrial remnants and collections of urban refuse. Elements of urban angst have slowly morphed into serene textures of a more natural environment. Though Snoddy is "not in Kansas," nor L.A. anymore, he has been seduced by the Midwestern spirit and is loving it.

Artist Statement
Northern Michigan is a long way from Los Angeles, evidenced by the colorful reactions I often get when bringing up my city of origin. The most common reactions are those of overwhelming traffic, way too many cars and way too many people. Most L.A. natives have these sentiments also. Other reactions might include the typical urban issues of crime, vice and corruption. The clichéd “Land of fruits and nuts” has also been heard rolling off the lips of some. All of these, clichés included, fueled my creative drive while growing up and living in el cuidad de Los Angeles. So, some may wonder what the affects of relocating to Northern Michigan are having on the creative inspiration of a transplanted west coast visual artist. I am one of those.
Having worked and lived here for eight years, a budding Michiganian, this is the first work I have done from the perspective of a genuine hybrid. As with Los Angeles, my day to day living environment has had much influence on my sensibilities and direction. The Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland is somewhat descriptive of the head space I have been in for the past two years while creating most of this work. Trying to find place and direction as an African American male, after following a now ex-wife back to her home, was a bit like Alice following the white rabbit with the watch.
Living on the northern bays of Lake Michigan is often dreamlike in its beauty and charm. It's also simultaneously confusing in its provincial seasonal rituals, to one who grew up in a place of constant seventy degree weather. The seemingly slavish-like devotion to hunting and fishing seasons is at odds with my city-dwelling sensibilities. Worlds of gang culture, movers and shakers and the commonplace nattily attired gives way to a world of farmers, outdoor recreation and camo.
I have learned to embrace the grays and whites of winter and celebratory colors of fall. Northern cool blues and greens replace the western warmth of reds, ochres and browns. The melted snow and other of Mother Nature's liquids are absorbed by the soil and our souls. Spring blossoms, and preps for harvest fill our world. They are slowly replacing the Pacific Coast's Urban-Chic yields of asphalt, vanity and beaches. Sticks, twigs and accumulations of nature replace the motherboards, industrial remnants and collections of urban refuse. Symbolic textures of urban angst are slowly morphing into the serene textures of a more natural environment.
The political climate is the one constant. Dogma tends to be more conservative in these parts than the west coast. But the “Mickey Rats” are found on the “yellow brick road” as they are found in the “Hills of Beverly”, just not as often. It is becoming commonplace for me to feel like Alice, swimming in a pool of my own tears and offending those who are swimming with me by talking about the things I love.
Though “I am not in Kansas” nor L.A., I am being seduced by the Midwestern spirit and loving it.