Crooked Tree Arts Center

Petoskey, MI  49770

www.crookedtree.org

231-347-4337

New Exhibition Series at Crooked Tree

In an effort to continue investing in artists and help keep our creative communities growing, Crooked Tree Arts Center is starting the “Local Color” exhibition series. This series highlights outstanding examples of art, design, and craft created by artists in the region.

The kick-off of the “Local Color” exhibition series will take place during CTAC’s Swirl on April 25, with each forthcoming exhibition to coincide with future Swirl events. A total of eight “Local Color” exhibits will occur per year. Exhibitions will remain on display for either one month or two, depending on the Swirl event schedule.

Each exhibition will feature two artists who are selected by a team of area artists in conjunction with CTAC staff. The inaugural exhibition will feature the work of Kurt Anderson and Robert Scudder, both of whom are featured in this year’s Paint Grand Traverse plein air festival in Traverse City.

Kurt Anderson was raised in Motown during the ‘60s, which greatly influenced his love of the arts. His love for the outdoors was fostered by many backpacking and canoe trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1995, while working as a surgical Physician’s Assistant, raising a family, and running an organic farm, Kurt set sail on a self-guided journey to rekindle his creative spirit through painting. He retired in 2016 and has been happily painting full-time ever since. An outdoor lover, Kurt naturally gravitated to plein air painting, which pairs two of his favorite activities.

Kurt’s recent work reveals the beauty that can be found in unexpected places. Sidewalks and alleyways are regular subjects for him. Through his thoughtful observations and sensitive representations, Kurt transforms these frequently overlooked scenes into something more, something beautiful.

Robert Scudder is mostly a self-taught painter. He moved up north in the late 1960s to pursue a painting career after receiving help and encouragement from two outstanding high school art teachers. After marriage, family, and owning and operating an outdoor advertising in business in Petoskey for 40 years, Robert retired and was able to return to his original goal to paint. Mostly a representational artist with a traditional approach to painting, Robert has recently explored contemporary paintings using realistic subjects. He is a current member of Crooked Tree Arts Center Artists Guild, Portrait Society of America, an associate member of Oil Painters of America, and has been accepted into national and regional exhibitions.

Heartfelt and personal, Robert’s paintings of farmlands, people at work, and families depict an iconic slice of rural America.

This exhibition series is made possible thanks to input and support from Northern Michigan artists.

For more information about the “Local Color” exhibition series and Swirl events, contact the Crooked Tree Arts Center, 231-347-4337 or visit www.crookedtree.org. The Crooked Tree Arts Center is located at 461 E. Mitchell Street, downtown Petoskey.

Photos:

1)      Work by Kurt Anderson will be on display as part of the inaugural “Local Color” exhibition series on Thursday, April 25.

2)      Robert Scudder’s work will be included in the inaugural “Local Color” exhibition series, which coincides with CTAC’s April Swirl.

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