Local artist Marie Marfia and her husband Steve stand beside her winning entry in the Great Lakes Pastel Society’s 2023 members’ exhibition. Courtesy photo.
By Pat Stinson
Ludington artist Marie Marfia received an “honorable mention” recently for her entry in the Great Lakes Pastel Society’s 2023 Members Juried Exhibition showing through Friday, Aug. 25, at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City.
Marfia received the Jack Richeson Award for her pastel, “Walking in the Dunes”.
The Great Lakes Pastel Society hosts a juried exhibition each year for its members. This summer’s show includes 65 works by 58 Great Lakes area artists. Kathleen Newman, guest juror, reviewed and selected the entries.
Brian Iler, CTAC gallery and volunteer coordinator, said he was struck by the pastel exhibition’s diverse offerings.
“There’s an incredible variety of scenes and subject matter apparent in the show,” he said.
“From a smile to a pear,” added Kristi Wodek, CTAC’s Traverse City vice president.
Wodek said the photo realism of entries in the show is “intriguing,” and that gallery visitors will walk up assuming that what they see from a distance are photographs.
“It’s really kind of mind-blowing to get up close and see that it’s not a photo,” she said.
Each year, the Great Lakes Pastel Society exhibition travels to a different location within the region. According to statements on the society’s website, GLPS was formed in 1997 and today has approximately 200 members in 12 states. New members are welcome. For more information about the society, visit: https://www.greatlakespastelsociety.com/.
The Crooked Tree Arts Center is located at 322 Sixth St. in Traverse City. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more about the show and the gallery, go to: https://www.crookedtree.org/.
For more about artworks by Marie Marfia, visit: https://www.mariemarfia.com.
