Dream a Little Dream...

There was over 2 feet of snow as I watched the last bit of a large storm system break up over Lake Michigan. This is a view from in front of the BilMar Restaurant on January 25th, 2008.

Ahh!!! Grab your bikini, flip flops and a good drink and get comfy in the -15 degree wind chill!

2008 Winter Festival Juried Art Exhibition

I'm pleased to announce I will have a piece featured in the 2008 Winter Festival at The Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven.

Located at 201 Washington in Grand Haven, Michigan - the "2008 Winter Festival" juried art exhibition will hang from February 1 - February 25, 2008. The show was juried by Chris Stoffel Overvoorde, Professor Emeritus, Calvin College.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 1st from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at 7:00 p.m. For additional information, call 616-846-5460 or visit the gallery. Their website URL is www.galleryuptown.net.

Weather permitting (and certainly are getting our share of bad weather!), I will be attending the reception. Please come on out for a visit and to see the show. This is one of Michigan's oldest and finest galleries. The Gallery Uptown has been voted "Best Gallery" three years in a row by the Grand Haven Tribune.

My Work in a New Retail Location - Elementals

Elementals opened in downtown Rockford in September of 2007. They carry items from all the five elements of nature: earth, wind, water, fire and metal.

Their product portfolio consists of:

• unique and tasteful coffees and (flowering) teas
• exotic chocolates
• rich and aromatic candles
• art from exceptional local artists
  
• a variety of books
• all-natural chemical-free skin care line
• silken robes, skirts that can be worn in various ways, and bamboo slippers
• Bonsai trees / Coco palms / Lucky bamboo / Knotted money plant in a tea cup
• wind chimes
• wooden figurines
• jewelry
• huckleberry jams, jellies, BBQ sauce, vinaigrette salad dressing, and more!

They even offer massage services and will be offering acupuncture soon.

The store is currently displaying and selling my work along with the wonderful work of Brian Buck, who creates paintings all comprised of hundreds of thousands of tiny dots. This form of art is called Pointillism. Learn more about pointillism here, and see more of Brian's art here.

I am offering framed pieces, matted prints, boxed card sets and individual greeting cards at Elementals. They are located in downtown Rockford:

67 E. Bridge St.
Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 866-2700

People's Choice Award?

There's a strong possibility I may have earned a "People's Choice Award" at the Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church Celebration of the Arts show!

At the lovely reception held on Friday, January 25, I was pleasantly surprised to discover my Holy Cow! image marked with a special green star indicating it would be voted on by the FUMC congregation to be purchased as part of their permanent art collection. I think I may find out the results of the voting when the show over on February 6, 2008.

This is very exciting news - as there were approximately 382 entries into this popular show!

Click on the image itself to see the detail:
In honor of the Holy Cow! - I'm offering prints at a reduced rate through the end of February 2008.

• Save $10.00 on the purchase of an 8x10 print
  (normally $35 - now $25.00)
  
• Save $15.00 on 11x14 prints
  (normally $55.00 - now $40.00).
  

8x10 Holy Cow! Print - $25.00

11x14 Holy Cow! Print - $45.00

For those of you wondering where this image was taken - it is the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parnell, Michigan. I asked a farmer whose home is across from the church if I could have permission to photograph from his backyard in the fall of 2006.

Join Me at Robinette's This Saturday!

I will be at Robinette's Winery & Fine Art Gallery this Saturday, January 26, 2008 (weather permitting) presenting a series of my photography images set to music. I'll also be answering any questions you may have about photography and the other local West Michigan artists who display their work in the Gallery. Stop on by!

Current winter hours are:
Thursday-Friday-Saturday
12:30-5:30pm

Robinette's is located on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, at 4 Mile and M-37 (commonly known as East Beltline). During the winter and early spring, cider is still made daily, and crunchy sweet apples are sold from a cooler located inside the Winery/Gallery.

The tasting bar is in the cellar of the family's 1881 barn. While enjoying your souvenir wine glass and tasting sampler (which includes a taste of six wines), you can browse through a selection of works by local Michigan artists including Mary Lou Moll and Susan Gersch Supanich.

Photograph Accepted into Celebration of the Arts!

After checking the website for the Celebration of the Arts competition held at Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church,
I'm pleased to announce I have a piece accepted into the show!

This is quite an honor, as the Celebration, now in its 35th year, has grown to represent one of the largest sacred juried art shows in the country.

There will be an Artists' Reception on Friday, Jan. 25 from 7pm-9pm. I do plan to attend (unless we continue to have some very bad weather). The church is located at 227 East Fulton Street in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

SHOW OPEN
Sat., Jan. 26 - Tue., Feb. 5, 10am - 6pm
Wed, Feb. 6 (Ash Wednesday), Gallery Hours: 10am-4pm

GALLERY WALK
Sun., Jan 27: 9:30 - 10:30am
Wed., Jan 30: Noon - 1pm
Wed., Feb. 6: Ash Wednesday

Celebration of the Arts - A Festival of Spiritual Arts

A Little Help?

Hey - if you like my images below - please go online to vote for them in the "I Am Kenya" Photo Contest sponsored by Outdoor Photographer! The Grand Prize is a 14-day Kenya trip for two for a fabulous photo safari and a whole bunch of cool photo gear!

Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Awards (one vote per person, per category) during the voting period from January 7 through January 14, 2008. Once you see a picture you like, look for the “Click here to vote ” link right under it. If you’re sure about your choice, just click the link to vote.

Click here to visit the galleries!

Please note that multiple votes received from any person or email address will be void - so please - only cast one vote. Votes generated by script, macro or other automated means or with the intent to impair the integrity of the voting process will be void.

Eye See You

Native Hands

Winds of November

Pine River Audubon Society Event

Pine River Audubon Society
invites you to their monthly program meeting at
7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 15
at First Congregational Church, 200 E. Harris St., Cadillac, MI
Public Welcome, Refreshments Served

Michigan Nature Photography
Presented by: Stacy Niedzwiecki
Beautiful!
Inspiring!
See you Jan. 15th!

Enjoy the sights of the western Michigan’s landscape, including Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes, animals, birds and flowers presented by Rockford photographer and graphic designer, Stacy Niedzwiecki. She’ll present her award-winning photography set to music and give tips and information about equipment
and taking pictures.

View Larger Map

Economy Rough for Nature Centers...

If you value the opportunities and educational experiences that nature centers offer - please take time to visit, contribute, donate, and support them.

Our local WOOD-TV8 just reported our local Blandford Nature Center is struggling to make ends meet. It's another example how our public nature areas are having a hard time without sponsors and donors, and the support of everyday folks like you and me.

They (like many other nature centers all over) are putting up the call to ask us - who use and enjoy these areas - to help.

Do what you can. Drop a little cash into their office donation box the next time you visit. Otherwise we might not have places to go look at owls, birds of prey, take strolls in the woods, and let our children explore.

A Great 2008...

My sincere wishes for a wonderful and prosperous 2008... and peace...