The Old Art Building in Leland has announced a rare and captivating summer feature: “Find Beauty & Light: A Gayle Kabaker Exhibit,” running daily from Saturday Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 16.
The highly anticipated event kicks off with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 7 , from 6 to 8 p.m., giving the public a first look at the collection alongside the internationally acclaimed artist.
Kabaker is an award-winning painter, writer, and visual storyteller celebrated for her work through a distinctly feminine lens.
Best-known for her iconic New Yorker covers — including her debut 2012 cover “June Brides” celebrating marriage equality, and nine subsequent covers since — Kabaker’s career highlights also include painting 100 portraits for the book and Kennedy Center exhibition “Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower,” as well as authoring The Washington Post column, “Sketching My Way Through Crisis.”
“Finding Beauty & Light” explores Kabaker’s love of painting and her ongoing quest to capture the extraordinary thread of beauty found within everyday, ordinary moments. The exhibition weaves together quiet observations of daily life, intimate scenes and travelinspired landscapes — including paintings deeply inspired by the shifting of light on water and coastal scenery right here in Leland.
“We are incredibly honored to host Gayle Kabaker at the Old Art Building,” said Sarah Mills, OAB executive director. “Her ability to elevate the ordinary into the luminous is remarkable. Having an artist of her global stature not only display her work but also engage directly with our community through public talks and hands-on workshops a profound opportunity for northern Michigan.”
In addition to the daily free exhibit, community members and visiting artists can engage with Kabaker through a curated lineup of workshops and events:
• Aug. 10, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — “Anyone Can Sketch Workshop” is a low pressure, playful onehour warm-up sessions designed to train the eye to see and interpret a simple still life naturally. Cost is $20 per person.
• Aug. 10 — 6 to 7 p.m. — Artist Talk with Gayle Kabaker — An intimate conversation exploring Kabaker’s creative process, her work with The New Yorker, and her artistic inspiration ranging from Leland’s waters to the intimate female form.
The talk is free. However, registration is required.
• Aug. 12 —4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — “Family Workshop: Let’s Draw Monsters,” is inspired by the joyful sketchbook practice Kabaker shares with her 5-yearold granddaughter. This handson workshop invites families to create imaginative drawings together. Cost is $15 per person.
• Aug. 16 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — “Perfectly Imperfect: A Full-Day Painting & Drawing Workshop, a comprehensive masterclass where participants will learn to observe the work with fresh eyes, establish a sustainable sketchbook practice, and learn to paint not just what they see, but how they interpret it.
Finding Beauty & Light will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the exhibition and the opening reception is free to the public. Due to limited spacing, advance registration is require for workshops and the free Artist Talk.
To register for workshops, view scheduling, or learn more about the event go to www.oldartbuilding. com/events/findingbeauty- light-a-gayle-kabakerexhibit or call 256-2131.
