MANISTEE — The idea to host the Soul Sisters exhibit began when a local Realtor discovered several pieces of glass art in the home of late artist Kelly McLain.
McLain created glass sculptures and large-scale installations. She worked in Seattle and taught at the Pilchuck Glass School in northwestern Washington before relocating to northern Michigan. She died in 2020, but her work is still on display throughout the country including at the Portland Children’s Museum and SeaTac Airport.
When McLain’s estate donated several pieces of glass art and acrylic paintings to the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, curators Lynn Williams and Mary Wahr were inspired to construct an exhibit dedicated to art created by local women.
“Soul Sisters” is a free exhibit featuring local women artists on display at the Ramsdell’s Hardy Hall.
The exhibit opened March 12 and will run until April 16. It’s open from 4-6 p.m. on Fridays and noon-3 p.m. on Saturdays.
“More women have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they take on more responsibilities with online schooling and domestic work,” Williams said.
She added that Michigan is a state with a lot of historic ties to women’s rights.
Women in Michigan petitioned the legislature for the right to vote as early as 1855, according to the National Parks Service. Michigan women won the right to vote through a state constitutional amendment in 1918, a year before women’s suffrage would be guaranteed nationally through the 19th amendment.
“It also happened to work out that this is Women’s History Month,” Williams said.
The exhibit features fiber arts, acrylic paintings, oil paintings, charcoal drawings and photography. Quilts are hung on walls, glass sculptures are propped in vintage suitcases and there are clusters of chairs and couches grouped throughout the hall, lending the room a cozy and eclectic atmosphere.
“We wanted the show to have the atmosphere of a home, since the focus was on women,” Wahr said.
Wahr and Williams asked for submissions from local female artists of all ages. There are 133 pieces from over 40 local artists on display. Artists from the age of 5 to 80 contributed pieces.
The Ramsdell hosted an artist’s reception with water and wine and music performed by pianist Nikita Sokolov on Friday. About 75 people attended.
“A lot of people are getting their second (dose of) the COVID-19 vaccine so it was just the perfect time for a show,” Williams said. “People were really celebrating the vaccines as well.”
Williams and Wahr also recently curated an exhibit dedicated to mask art and creativity during the pandemic.
After this exhibit closes, they'll be taking a break for a bit to focus on their own art, Williams said.
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