March 29, 2024

Art Appeal: Gallery on Main

April 25, 2007
Northern Michigan plays host to a hotbed of talented artists, and Bay Harbor’s Gallery on Main is no exception. The gallery, open since Memorial Weekend 2005, boasts a tremendous variety of work – from pottery to prints to furniture to paintings – certain to please local residents and vacationers alike.
“We can hold about 25 artists,” says Larissa Flynn, gallery manager and artist herself. “About half are from the area, here year-round. The other half are kind of scattered around Michigan or spend their summers here.”
Large windows create a welcoming entry and the compact space is neatly arranged with groupings of artists’ work spread throughout the gallery.
“I try to have a wide range of things to appeal to many different tastes,” says Flynn. “We have abstracts, we’ve got bronze wildlife sculpture; we try to keep it Northern Michigan.”

SOME OFFERINGS...
Dyed silk and wood lamps created by Richard Allen, a kayak builder from Leland, are a beautiful and commanding presence in the gallery.
A steamer chair made of Australian Jarrah wood – reminiscent of the Titanic – invites visitors to sit and relax. Handmade by retired steel engineer and furniture maker Gale Satterlee, the chair (with three coats of UV protection) is designed to withstand many seasons of unpredictable Northern Michigan weather. A built-in lumbar provides casual comfort, no cushion required.
Plein air landscape paintings (paintings completed without the use of a photograph) by retired automotive designer Robert Hubbach are a popular item. “We carry his watercolors and they were flying out the door last summer,” says Flynn. “He says he’ll stand in a spot for an hour, just absorbing what’s around him, then go into the studio and paint it from memory.”
A Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance poster artist, Hubbach often paints his landscapes on crinkled rice paper to create more texture, and is most known for designing the Dodge Viper.

LOCAL TIES
Prominently showcased on a front wall is Charlevoix resident Meredith Krell’s horse art. One of last year’s featured artists, Krell’s oils, prints and monotypes are a big hit in the area.
Phil Fisher and Natalie Guess, Florida winter residents, display work in Bay Harbor as well as in their own gallery in Florida. “(Phil’s) been coming to Michigan every year since he was a kid growing up in Ohio,” explains Flynn, “so he comes here every summer and paints his way from Mackinac Island down to Traverse City.”
Oil paintings by well-known local artists such as Trude Bigelow are on display, as well as distinctive pottery by area residents Bonnie Staffel and Kim Krumrey.
In lieu of that great summer family photo, art lovers may prefer an original oil painting instead. “We have an artist who specializes in portraits of children,” says Flynn. Impressionist artist Linda Tyson, who has over 15 years of experience, does oil demonstrations in the gallery every Sunday from mid-June through mid-August, and she may be commissioned for pieces year-round.
Upcoming summer events include featured artist shows accompanied by wine and cheese opening receptions, as well as live demonstrations.
Though well-stocked, the gallery is always on the lookout for new and unusual works. “I want people to come here for a reason,” says Flynn. “I think that we feature artists that are not featured in many other places.”
Gallery on Main is located at 4184 Main Street in Bay Harbor. Hours of operation are Mon.-Sat., 10-5, Sunday, 10-3. Please visit their website at www.galleryonmainbh.com or call them at 231-439-2745.

Trending

Mysterious Michigan Reads

We can’t think of a better way to spend spring break than with a great book. Northern Express asked local bookseller... Read More >>

Heirloom Recipes With Heritage, History, and Nostalgia

Before we begin to stash our coats and put winter behind us, let us remember what years past have taught us…fake sp... Read More >>

A Floral Family Affair

In the quaint downtown of Elk Rapids sits Golden Hill Farms, a shop where the artistry of floristry meets the rustic charm... Read More >>

A Look at Originalism

O Tempora O Mores! Oh the times, oh the culture. This Latin phrase relates to both the 18th century and our current times.... Read More >>