Fall for Art in Leelanau

Oct. 4, 2006

The Leelanau Peninsula is loaded with artistic talent and numerous galleries. Michigan’s little finger plans to showcase in two art events this weekend. Galleries and shops in Suttons Bay will host the first annual Suttons Bay Art Stroll on Friday, October 6. Several galleries throughout the Peninsula will participate in the second annual Fall for Art Friday through Sunday.
The Suttons Bay Art Stroll was born out of a reception planned by Michigan Artists Gallery owner Sue Ann Round.
“We were planning on hosting a reception for artist Carla Sutton who won the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Commemorative Print Competition,” said Round. “This is the official release party of the print. With the Fall for Art going on that same weekend and all the colors, we expect a lot of people touring the peninsula, so expanding my event into the rest of Suttons Bay only made sense.”
Gallery and shop owners put the Suttons Bay Art Stroll together just two weeks ago. 

THRIVING SCENE
“We have heard so many positive things about the Art Walk in Traverse City and the Gallery Walk in Petoskey that we felt it would be fun here in Suttons Bay,” said Round. “Our area is thriving with talented artists and this region certainly has many wonderful galleries. This is going to be a great weekend celebration of art and the Leelanau Peninsula.”
The Downtown Art Walk in Traverse City recently attracted 1,500 participants and merchants, who reported a festive environment that attracted customers buying works of art and gifts for the coming holiday season.
Each gallery and shop participating will feature art and will be a part of the Stroll card. Participants move from gallery to shop receiving a stamp on their card. Once their card is completed they may redeem it at the afterglow party at Samuel’s from 8 to 11 p.m. A completed card may be redeemed for a complimentary glass of L. Mawby sparkling wine. At 10 p.m. a drawing for Leelanau Wine Trail Event tickets, art and other gift certificates will take place.
Stroll highlights include the artist reception with Carla Sutton of Northport at the Michigan Artists Gallery. A limited number of signed commemorative prints titled “The Boskydel” will available, numbered and signed by Sutton and winemaker Bernie Rink. Sutton won the the Second Annual Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Commemorative Print Com-petition (47 artists from around the Midwest entered), winning a cash prize of $500, a case of wine from the peninsula and her work featured on the cover of the Leelanau Peninsula’s 2006-’07 brochure. The gallery will offer Leelanau Peninsula wines including a selection from Boskydel and an assortment of appetizers.
 
WHO’S WHO
“Art to Wear and Wine to Taste” will be the theme at Hats and Haberdashery.  They will feature their more avant garde clothing lines and offer some special pricing.  They will serve a selection of Gill’s Pier Wines. At the Silvertree Deli a collection of works from artists Del Michel, Sue Brightheart, Desiree Vaughn, Peg Keeney, Kathie Briggs, & Kathy Rowe will be displayed.
Other participants include The Suttons Bay galleries’ dealers and consultants in Fine Art featuring Antiquarian Prints, and paintings by Albert Krehbiel, Russell Chatham, and Bill Hosner. Treeline Gallery features works from painted glassware artist Lindalee and noted artists Charles Murphy and Kathleen Kalinowski. The 45th Parallel’s Candy World will showcase the “Art of Sweets” and the Bayside Gallery features something for everyone.
The Suttons Bay Art Stroll is Friday, October 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. with the afterglow party at Samuel’s starting at 8 p.m. For a complete listing of participants visit www.lpwines.com or visit area merchants to pick up a Suttons Bay Stroll Card.
Several galleries throughout the Leelanau Peninsula have banded together to create Fall for Art. Similar to a downtown gallery walk, Fall for Art is instead a driving tour and spans the whole weekend. On Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., participating galleries will have a yellow Fall for Art sign in their windows.
Each gallery will have their own offerings of art and some will offer nibblers and beverages. Pick up a Fall for Art map and brochure at any participating gallery, and at each gallery have your brochure signed. On Sunday participants may bring their complete brochures to North Restaurant on M-22 (across from Little Traverse Lake) for a post event celebration starting at 3 pm. A drawing for $5,000 in prizes will take place. For additional information call (231) 256-0026.