This not so summery weather seemed to call for something fun inside today. Newaygo County, known for its outdoor activities, has plenty of hidden treasures for these occasions. However, this morning, I was really in for a special treat as I ventured into an inspirational place: Newaygo County Council for the Arts (located at 13 Main St, Fremont). On June 15, 2019, the awards for NCCA-Artsplace 2019 Statewide Photography Competition were presented during a public reception. The hum of people chatting in admiration and photographers giving away a few of their secrets for how to create these magical glimpses of life, created an infectious mood of creativity.
The NCCA-Artsplace studio’s space itself is creatively perfect. It’s in a renovated building from the beginning of Fremont’s days. The entry has big glass windows and doors that call you to peer in. With your interest peaked, you enter into a place of exploration. To your right is a colorful exhibit (currently, the photo contest); however, this space is updated regularly by staff member, Lindsay Isenhart. On the left side is a local artist market full of handmade, unique, whimsical gifts for sale. As you venture towards the back, there is a hallway which continues the gallery of photographic art along its white, tall walls. Off the hallway are the studios for painting, pottery, glass fusion and other messy art, as well as the darkroom.
“NCCA-Artsplace provides many levels of visual art activities people enjoy experiencing. Our programs are designed to be packed full of intense, high quality, mult-dimensional experiences. All year long, youth and adults can participate in classes, view monthly art exhibits, shop the artist market, and surround themselves with art. We also provide outreach programs such as Golden Arts in collaboration with Newaygo County Commission on Aging and Positive Impact through the Artsin partnership with Newaygo County Juvenile Courts,” explained Marianne Boerigter, executive director. For a few dollars a student (just to cover the art supplies used), local schools can bring their students in for a day of art filled with meeting artists, seeing others art, and creation of their own art. Isenhart added, “As a non-profit, we are fortunate to have local artists who share their expertise by teaching some of our classes. Also, we utilize many volunteers throughout the year for a variety of projects. Volunteers earn Art Dollarswhich they may use on class fees.”
The way each space is organized with all the supplies needed made me feel like a kid in a candy shop, ready to get my hands dirty with some clay or paint. They have a schedule chocked full of classes for every age and in a variety of visual arts. Today during the reception, in the art room, 20+ children 3-12 years old were painting spring butterflies guided by an instructor. Beyond taking classes, you can go on your own during open studio time. Once you know what to do but don’t want to splurge on big ticket tools (such as a darkroom, kiln, pottery wheels, matting tools), you can create at the NCCA- Artspace for very reasonable prices. When you’re done with your creation, all the tools have their permanent home that don’t have to do double duty as a dining table, so clean up is a breeze. So, if you find yourself in the mood to get out of the house or the tent and get your art on, this is the perfect arts’ place.
To find out specific information on art classes and open studio times and costs, check out the the NCCA-Artsplace Facebook page or their website at http://www.ncca-artsplace.org/classes/. Their website also has a great listing for more arts and culture in Newaygo County: http://www.ncca-artsplace.org/around-newaygo-county/
By Katie Clark
Fall Colors: A Bird’s Eye View
Flying amidst the clouds, high above Newaygo County, Doug Harmon captured Newaygo County's fall beauty perfectly. It's the season, jump in your car and head North! Newaygo County is here to greet you. Grab a bite, even stay the night! Come explore the rivers,...
Fall Means Apple Cider Slushies
The cider slushies are the best-tasting brain freeze I have ever had, and I look forward to it every year.
Christmas Season Festivities
I grew up in Newaygo country. My memories of the area are rich odes to the senses. There’s the feeling of the cold river running over my feet in the summer, sunlight on my face as it blinked through the rustling tree branches along the bank. There was the taste of...
Church’s Tree Farm
Finding the right tree!Snow fell, and we said goodbye to fall as if it were a thing that never existed. There were never leaves of red, yellow, or orange decorating the skyline. There were no greying trees of exposed branches and bark. There is only this place, this...
Something for Everyone at the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts
Just outside of Fremont proper, off of West 48th street (which really is a continuation of West Main street in downtown Fremont) is a beautiful, easily accessible facility named Dogwood Center for Performing Arts. “We have something for everyone throughout the year,”...
Fresh From the Farm
Agriculture has long been a staple of the NewayGo County economy. One reason why Gerber Baby Food put the area on the map was because of its relationship with local farmers. You’ll see the same focus on agriculture and locally produced fruits and vegetables at...
Studio37 Arts and Culture Center: A Grassroots Underground for Community Creativity
Being new to Newaygo County, I am loving discovering all the secret treasures this area holds. My husband and I chose to move to the area because of the bountiful wilderness and outdoor activities. However, we’re beginning to find that this natural gem has even more...
Exploring Newaygo’s Past
Growing up, in an area, we often become familiar with local history. It is taught in schools, on field trips, family members talk about "back when...", and traditions are born in recognition of the history. When you're raised in a community, you often become tired of...
Agritourism
I recently heard the term Agricultural Tourism or Agritourism for short, and was immediately intrigued by the idea, that individuals go out of their way to visit areas because of the agriculture. After a little bit of research, I realized that the idea of visiting an...
Hunt for Karner Blue Butterflies at Sanctuary
Sometimes you want to do something different than follow a path through the woods. Maybe you want to create an adventure or a bit of a scavenger hunt for an endangered species. One of the good things about the late spring/summer season is the endangered Karner Blue...
