Christmas Market 2013 gets more ink!

Check out the great article written by Stephen Bitsoli in the special section "Shop Till You Drop" in Sunday's Macomb Daily. Find even more pictures of Christmas Market 2013 on the Anton Art Center's Facebook page.

Christmas Market is almost open!

The annual Christmas Market is always a highlight for The Anton Art Center, and Christmas Market 2013 is going to be great!

The whole process is months in the making. In August the "Call for Artist" announcement went out to all potential  Christmas Market 2013 artists. The submissions started to come in. The art was chosen, and new work was judged.

The more physical work began on October 20. We dismantled The Gift Shop, and cleared The Art Center galleries down to bare walls. On October 25 we began to receive the artwork that would become the wondrous gifts that will be on display for the Market.

Since then dedicated volunteers have worked daily to set out and skillfully arrange thousands of pieces of art. Everything from jewelry, clothing, books, cards, wall art, ornaments, toys, art dolls, pottery, garden art, soap, carved wood, home decor, and of course Christmas items of all kinds, will be ready for your gift giving pleasure!

Christmas Market 2013 will open on November 14 with a members and sponsors preview party 5:30pm-8pm.
Christmas Market 2013 will be open to the public November 15 - December 22.
"Meet the Artists" reception Sunday November 17 1pm-3pm.

Shop early and often. This year's Christmas Market will not disappoint! 

Jewelry: Ribboned & Recycled

We have some very pretty ribbon jewelry on display here at The Gift Shop. They are made by jewelry artist Altha Wargelin from a lovely fiber that is a cross between yarn and ribbon. The color choices range from bright and vibrant, to natural, and pastels. Each necklace is adjustable. Some, as you can see, also have matching earrings.

Another of our jewelry artists, Janna Bissett makes her necklace pendants from recycled / found objects. Some are fashioned from camera parts, some from typewriter pieces, and others from bike parts! All are really interesting. The larger/chunkier ones may even appeal to those hard-to-shop-for men in your life.

Come in to see these and other treasures soon, because Saturday October 19 is the last day to purchase from The Gift Shop. After that date we will begin to prepare The Anton Art Center for our annual Christmas Market.

This week is also the last week to see the Monstrous and Things I See exhibits.

The Gift Shop does Anton Art Center.

I have shared with you before about the cards here at The Gift Shop being little pieces of frame-worthy art. Well, we also have cards created by photographer Michael Robinson that depict several different views of our own Anton Art Center. They can be sent as cards, of course, but they are lovely framed.

Here are three examples of Mr. Robinson's cards. Come in to see the rest.

And while you are at The Gift Shop be sure to go upstairs to the Community Gallery for "Things I See".
This show features original works inspired by a visit to the DIA's Elsworth Kelly exhibit. We open "Things I See" with a reception on Saturday, October 12 from 1pm to 3pm.

Time to think Halloween!

We have some fun choices in jewelry for you, and decoration for your home here at The Gift Shop just in time for Halloween.

This wonderful hand stitched witch by artist Connie Sochacki would look "scary" as a centerpiece, or flying on her broom in your front window to greet the trick-or-treaters.

And so that you can look your best we have ceramic pins, earrings, and necklaces from a new artist at The Gift Shop, Rosi Triano. Most of her jewelry at this time has a Halloween theme, but some are great for fall...or anytime. So cute!

Get here soon, because on October 20 we start dismantling The Gift Shop to get ready for Christmas Market which opens November 15-December21.

And don't forget:

Mount Clemens Zombie Walk

The Anton Art Center presents the 3rd Annual Mount Clemens Zombie Walk Fundraiser!   When: Saturday, October 26, 2013, 9PM Where: Downtown Mount Clemens, MI

Zombie Registration at 7:30PM at the Art Center:

Zombies 21 & Older $5; Under 21 $3

  Food Truck Rally for hungry ZOMBIES Best Zombie Prize Free Zombie Makeup Workshop (Thursday, 10/24)

Contact The Anton Art Center for more information at 586-496-8666.

We have more hand-made quilts!

We had a very good response to the wonderful hand-made quilts for sale in The Gift Shop during The Anton Art Center's "Quilts of Gee's Bend" exhibit. So good, that we asked the quilters of First United Methodist Church, here in Mount Clemens, to bring us more to offer in The Gift Shop. Each quilt is beautifully done. Some are in bright colors, others are in earth tones, and still others have a softer palette. Each cozy quilt is about 4'x5', just right for over your lap.

The quilts will be available through October 19. On October 20 we start taking down The Gift Shop to make way for the annual Christmas Market, which opens November 15.

Art has a sense of humor!

Daren Dundee is one of our most collected artists at The Anton Art Center, and he has pieces in The Gift Shop that you can have for your own. He creates each work from found objects and his vivid imagination. Even the title for each piece is so clever it will bring on a smile and a chuckle! Here are a few of his little gems.

This piece is called: "24 Foot Trawler"....(see the little feet in the hull?)

"Crystal Bonsai"

"Wedding Toast"

Come in and take a look for yourself!