| Museums & Galleries |
Art and Culture Come Alive at Area Galleries Collectors and art enthusiasts will discover several hidden gems in Sault Ste. Marie, including an official U.S. Coast Guard artist specializing in oil paintings, a vast array of Native American arts, and even a shop that creates art through recycling.The work of award-winning painter Jeanne Tubman can be found throughout Sault Ste. Marie – sometimes in the most unexpected places. From walls murals at The Antler’s Restaurant to exhibited original oil paintings at Alberta House Art Gallery, Tubman’s handiwork deftly tells the story of the region’s history and its most predominant influence – the water. One of only 80 official U.S. Coast Guard artists, it’s no wonder that one of her favorites is also a favorite of her patrons: “Frozen Escort” depicts a Coast Guard vessel as it guides a freighter through icy waters. Tubman, who has been painting for more than 30 years, has produced 265 original paintings in the past four years alone. In addition to ships, she finds inspiration in lighthouses, waterfalls, and almost anything else related to the water, which is also the predominant view from her riverside home. Prints of her work can be found at several galleries and gift shops in the community and her original oil paintings are in galleries both locally and in nearby Petoskey.  Visitors who crave a unique experience can contact Tubman about one-day oil painting classes, where a flat fee includes all supplies and “students” leave with their own original painting of a Northern Michigan scene. For information about Tubman’s work and classes, call her at (906) 632-9612.From its beginnings, Sault Ste. Marie was first and foremost a Native American gathering place. The influences of the river, Mother Earth, and native culture can still be found on the walls and shelves of Mahdezewin International, a Native American art gallery located at 807 Ashmun Street. Collectors will find the works of important Native artists, including John LaFord and world-renowned painter Mishibinijima. The gallery features birchbark paintings, porcupine quill baskets, items made of pipestone beads, jewelry fashioned from a variety of natural materials, carvings, soaps and oils –all created by the hands of regional Native American artists. Interested in more than the next sale, the store’s owners, Richard Lewis and Maggie Marcle, consider their enterprise an opportunity to advance cultural awareness of Native American history and art. Maggie, for instance, speaks of the many school groups and others who visit the store for workshops on culture, language, and art. She welcomes inquiries from visitors yearning to learn more about the collaboration between Native American artists and the materials they fashion into works of beauty. With comfortable seating and the songs of Native American musicians playing in the background, Mahdezewin International creates an environment that lives up to the meaning of its name: Essence of life. Visit the gallery online at www.mahdezewin.com. Making the most of their cozy location at 413 Ashmun Street, Riverstone Gallery owners Greg and Donna Steele bring an entirely different kind of art to Sault Ste. Marie. Computer motherboards become art deco wall clocks, old camera lenses become delicate wind chimes, old-fashioned film reels become wall art – the list of creatively recycled objets d’art is long. Regional collectibles are also on hand, including Petoskey stones, pudding stone products, jewelry made from Upper Peninsula - mined stones and metals, and an array of photographic prints featuring U.P. landscapes. You can reach the Riverstone Gallery at (906) 635-6033. |