June 27 – August 7
Reception: June 27, 6 - 8 pm
A 50+ year tradition, the Bonifas Membership Show has encouraged members to share their creative explorations at every level of ability. It is a rich and varied exhibit where emerging artists show side-by-side with our experienced and professional artists. This exhibit is a community favorite and worth taking a walk through. Enjoy!
We would like to thank the Dorothy Vogt Family for sponsoring the 1st and 2nd place prize money.
Award Listing:
Placement awards:
1st Place JoAnn Deuel Shelby of Marquette, MI Fantasy Garden 2nd Place Larry Godfrey of Gladstone, MI Broken Promises
Honorable Mention Joan Miron Escanaba, MI Layers Of Swirling Energy
Honorable Mention Naom^i^s Photography Escanaba, MI Peru Man
Barb Symon Scholarship Winner: Naomi Fletcher
-Gladstone City Hall
Jeanne Gilley Escanaba, MI My Calendulas
Austin Ash Escanaba, MI Seahorse
Janice LaFond Gladstone, MI Oranges & Lemon
Dan Young Escanaba, MI "Lightfall" Scott Falls, Alger Co. 2024
Erin Mielcarek Gladstone, MI Cube II
Lynn Thomason Cornell, MI Jarhead: Owl
Kim Arntzen Cecil, WI Onlookers
Diane Kribs-Mays Rock, MI Nature Accepts All. Do We?
Ray Swanson Gladstone, MI Early Fishing
Ray Swanson Gladstone, MI Stoney Shores
Lauren Hovland Escanaba, MI Knockin' on Heaven's Door
- Escanaba City Hall
Dan Young of Escanaba, MI "Winter Gold" Frosted Rye Grass, 2024
Ray Swanson Gladstone, MI Early Fishing
Ray Swanson Gladstone, MI Stoney Shores
Brian Burroughs Escanaba, MI The Evolutionary Blot
Kim Arntzen Cecil, WI Pumpkin String
Lauren Hovland Escanaba, MI Blue Eyes
Lauren Hovland Escanaba, MI Knockin on Heaven's Door
- Bonifas Membership Show Featured Artist Award:
Kim Arntzen of Cecil, WI for Onlookers
August 22 – October 17
Opening Reception August 22, 6 - 8 pm
This exhibit will give you insight as to where we came from, where we are currently, and where we are planning to go. Celebrate our 50th anniversary by looking at old photos and art along with seeing the impact we have had on the community.
November 7 – December 28
Reception: November 7, 6 - 8 pm
Northern Exposure Mission Statement: The Bonifas Arts Center supports its annual regional competition, Northern Exposure, expressly to both encourage Upper Peninsula artists to create new artworks and to showcase a comprehensive look at the contemporary artwork being created in the U.P.
January 11 – February 22, 2024
Reception: January 11, 6 - 8 pm with awards at 7 pm
We are highlighting the Upper Peninsula in photos. We asked our U.P. photographers, amateur to professional, to show us what THEIR U.P. looks like. This exhibit is sure to delight as we get to celebrate the place we call home—the U.P.—through the artist’s lens.
This exhibit is a competition with a judge awarding cash prizes to the top 3 placements and there is also a Peoples’ Choice Award that will be announced at the end of the show with the winner receiving a 1 year individual Bonifas membership. The winners of this year's photography competition show are:
1st place: Living the Dream, by Bill Savage
2nd place: Yooper Talk is an Open Book, by Heather Calouette.
3rd place: A River Runs Through It by Ben Rzonca
Honorable Mentions:
Wilderness Freedom, by Michael Olson
Ice Framed Lighthouse by Samantha Buttry
Reverberations in Time, by Katheryn Lund Johnson
Thank you, Doug Hagley, for sponsoring the award prize money this year.
February 29 – March 28
Open Houses: 3 - 6 pm
Grades K - 5th & Learning Center: March 13
Grades 6th - 12th: March 14
The Bonifas Art Center sets aside its gallery spaces each year to honor the creative learning in Delta County area schools. As part of a nation-wide celebration, we remind our community of the importance of creative learning options and of our commitment to the creative spirit. Nearly 700 pieces of children’s artwork brighten up the gallery spaces and herald the coming of spring with a flourish of color. Awards will be announced via a facebook video on Tuesday, March 12th and everyone is invited to the open houses from 3 - 6pm on March 13 and March 14. The award ribbons will be ready for pickup on these days. You are sure to leave with a smile on your face after visiting this show!
Thank you to our award sponsors: Billerud, Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, GFWC: Escanaba’s Woman’s Club, Kiwanis Club, Michigan Education Coordinating Council #17B, and the Bonifas Arts Center
April 4 - May 2, 2024
Reception April 4, 6 - 8 pm
We are opening our walls for the artists of East Ludington Gallery to display during the month of April to bring awareness of how wonderfully talented these artists are. They recently lost their current gallery space after a tragic fire next to their building. Most of the artwork was damaged by smoke and ELG is currently "homeless" until further notice. In efforts to help our fellow artists, we will also be holding a bucket raffle during the run of the exhibit with items donated by the ELG artists and others. Tickets will be for sale at the front desk for $5 each or 5 for $20. All proceeds from the raffle will go to ELG association.
If you would like to donate online between now and May 2, here is the link to donate at: https://htru.io/SHct
May 8 - June 20
Reception: May 8, 6 - 8 pm
This exhibit’s intent is to showcase the best of Northern Michigan University’s upper class art students and in doing so, to present a backdrop to the type of study and growth available at Northern Michigan University’s School of Art and Design. This show gives real world exhibiting experience to the Junior and Senior classes of NMU School of Art and Design students and in turn gives us a glimpse into the future of art and the added bonus of knowing that is was created right here in the UP!
January 9 – February 20
Reception January 9, 6 - 8 pm
All Mixed UP is a new competition show for all of our mixed media artists. What is mixed media? Artwork that was created using more than one medium. Assemblages, collages, and sculpture are three common examples of art using different media. Come see how artists use materials in unique ways to create a work of art. Awards will be given out to the top three artworks, chosen by fellow artist, Mara Manning. This is the first exhibit of its kind here at the Bonifas and we are hoping to add it to our rotation of competition shows--joining Fabrications and the Photography exhibits.
February 27 – March 27
Open Houses: 3 - 6 pm
Grades K - 5th & Learning Center: March 12
Grades 6th - 12th: March 13
The Bonifas Art Center sets aside its gallery spaces each year to honor the creative learning in Delta County area schools. As part of a nation-wide celebration, we remind our community of the importance of creative learning options and of our commitment to the creative spirit. Nearly 700 pieces of children’s artwork brighten up the gallery spaces and herald the coming of spring with a flourish of color. Awards will be announced via a facebook video on Tuesday, March 12th and everyone is invited to the open houses from 3 - 6pm on March 13 and March 14. The award ribbons will be ready for pickup on these days. You are sure to leave with a smile on your face after visiting this show!
Thank you to our award sponsors: Billerud, Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, GFWC: Escanaba’s Woman’s Club, Kiwanis Club, Michigan Education Coordinating Council #17B, and the Bonifas Arts Center
April 3 – May 15
Reception: April 3, 6 - 8 pm
Upper Peninsula (U.P.) artists are showing off their repurposing skills by making artwork out of recycled materials, which helps the planet by reducing waste in local landfills. The artwork for U.P. Cycle must be comprised of at least 85% recycled material and will feature a variety of mediums. Be sure to stop into the exhibit to see how Art can save the Earth!
Artists are encouraged to enter U.P. Cycle exhibit. Help save the planet one artwork at a time! Interested artists should register by filling out an application, which will be available early January at bonifasarts.org under the “Artists/Vendors” tab. Artwork drop off is between February 28th - March 28th. This show is not juried but we will have placement awards. A small entry fee will be charged to help fund the placement awards.
June 27 - August 7
Reception: August 2, 6 - 8 pm
Vicki Shirley has been a working artist for over 50 years. A life-long Michigander, she has been influenced by various locations and landscapes around the state. Stop in to learn about her process and see her wide collection of works on display in our Studio Gallery.
August 22 - October 17, 2024
This Studio Gallery exhibit will feature artwork by the winner of the Bonifas Featured Artist Award given out at the Bonifas Membership Show. This award gives the winning artist the experience of a solo show, greater visibility and potential sales opportunities. This is the ideal opportunity for the artist to reach new audiences and gain valuable exposure. To find out who will be featured this year, come out to the Bonifas Membership Show reception on June 27th.
November 7 – December 28, 2024
This exhibit will show off the artworks made by participating artists during the 100dayproject, which launched January 22 – April 30. The works created and on display were made and worked on every day for 100 days. We hope you find some inspiration to create your own artwork after visiting this show. If you are interested in participating in our next round of the 100 Day Project, please let Kate know via email (kate@bonifasarts.org) and she will keep you in the loop with the details.
Jan. 11 - Feb. 22, 2024
Katherine Sirvio & Roni Israel-Weaver won the Bonifas Invitational Award during
Alberta House’s annual juried show. Between both fiber artists, it was too hard to select only one, so we invited both to be on display in our Studio Gallery. Katherine will have her recent wood turned works and Roni will have her needle felted portraits.
February 29 – March 28
Open Houses: 3 - 6 pm
Grades K - 5th & Learning Center: March 13
Grades 6th - 12th: March 14
The Bonifas Art Center sets aside its gallery spaces each year to honor the creative learning in Delta County area schools. As part of a nation-wide celebration, we remind our community of the importance of creative learning options and of our commitment to the creative spirit. Nearly 700 pieces of children’s artwork brighten up the gallery spaces and herald the coming of spring with a flourish of color. Awards will be announced via a facebook video on Tuesday, March 12th and everyone is invited to the open houses from 3 - 6pm on March 13 and March 14. The award ribbons will be ready for pickup on these days. You are sure to leave with a smile on your face after visiting this show!
Thank you to our award sponsors: Billerud, Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, GFWC: Escanaba’s Woman’s Club, Kiwanis Club, Michigan Education Coordinating Council #17B, and the Bonifas Arts Center
April 4 - May 2, 2024
Come see what 13 female artists came up with after being challenged to make a piece of artwork with a panel board that was provided and incorporate at least 1 Blue Moon bottle cap into their work. The artworks were donated to the Bonifas to be part of the Golden Gala this year (June 1st at The House of Ludington). Online bidding for these and other works starts May 1st .
Artists involved were Mary Penet, Pasqua Warstler, Carol Irving, Mara Manning, Rose Peltier, Phyllis Fleury, Diane Kribs-Mays, Donna Thurston, Kate Oman, Stella Larkin, Patricia Frueh, Ginnie Cappaert, & Christine Saari
May 8 - June 20
This exhibit will highlight the marvelous wildlife images of the late Joshua Parrott.
“I spent my childhood summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I discovered my love for all critters and the beauty of nature. ... As a long–haul truck driver, I have had the good future of being able to travel across this nation and discover the different birds of America’s different geographic areas. … I enjoy showing people how wonderful the natural world is and in so doing convince people to make choices that will preserve earth’s amazing creatures.” - Joshua Parrott
In his thirties Josh discovered the wonder and accessibility of birds and became involved in the birding community. He joined the National Audubon Society in Skagit Valley, Washington and landed two photographs in the National Audubon top 100 photo contest in 2010 and 2016. Joshua Parrott moved on from this world unexpectedly on April 9, 2023 at age 47. Images of his works can also be viewed at: https://www.northwestimage.com/joshua-parrott