CURRENT EXHIBITS

On display June 21-August 16, 2010

STATIONARY STRUCTURES: ACRYLIC PAINTINGS
Amy Lou Gieschen-Thill
Amy Lou Gieschen-Thill has an obsession with the blue sky above.  A photo representational painter from the Upper Peninsula specializing in lighthouses and beachscapes, Gieschen-Thill and her husband and son enjoy traveling to many lakeshore communities and walking the beaches and public piers. She appreciates the strong edges of manmade forms in contrast with the fluidity of the ever changing sky and lakes, and she explores how the environment directly affects the surfaces of these structures in her paintings.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center North Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

FISHING FOR FUN: SCULPTED & PAINTED WOOD
Middy Potter
Ann Arbor artist Middy Potter has creativity at the center of his life. When composing a sculpture, he adds a dash of humor, a bit of whimsy, and a pinch of wonderment. Self-taught as an artist, Middy realizes the connection between science and art. His formal training includes a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, a form of art in itself. Texture, color, technical challenges and different materials are part of his creations. Materials for Potter's sculptures include wood, cloth, glass mosaics on three dimensional forms, stone, metal, cast stone, and found objects.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center North Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

ANNUAL UMHS EMPLOYEE EXHIBITION
UMHS Employees & Volunteers
Each year Gifts of Art presents an exhibition of artwork by staff of the University of Michigan Health System. This eagerly anticipated event showcases the exceptional talent and creativity of the people who work at UMHS. This  year, the show will be juried by Orian Neumann of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. There are ribbon awards for "Best in Category" and "Best in Show," and a "People's Choice" award will be determined by the votes of visitors to the exhibit. Winners will be announced at the Artist Reception and Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the exhibition gallery.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center South Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Top of page

IMAGINARY SPACES: ACRYLIC PAINTINGS
Diane Aronoff
An Ann Arbor resident since 1983, Diane Aronoff has been experimenting in the medium of painting for several years. As a fine art photographer, she developed a keen eye for color and composition and enjoyed exploring the painterly qualities of the medium. The focus of her purely abstract paintings, represented in this exhibition, is on color and composition, along with an interest in design, texture and the geometry of space. Similar to some of her photographic work, these paintings convey a sense of mystery and enchantment.
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

BEFORE HIS EYES: PASTEL PAINTINGS
William Hosner
Based in Traverse City, Michigan, William Hosner paints solely en plein air — in the open air, where the spontaneity of life inspires his work. According to Hosner, “over a painting session, everything is moving, changing... the artist as well as the subject... Painting ‘en plein air’ lifts my spirit.” Trained in art at Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies, Hosner left a career as a commercial illustrator to recommit himself to his passion: creating representational works of art which reflect the places and people he encounters — creating original art from life.   
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Corridor, Floor 2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

100 PAPERWEIGHTS: HAND BLOWN GLASS
april wagner & jason ruff, epiphany studios
April Wagner and Jason Ruff have been working together as Epiphany Studios since 1993. Epiphany is a state of the art private hot glass studio in Pontiac, Michigan. No molds are used during the creation of any of their pieces.  They work together to create exquisite and natural forms that reflect the true nature of glass as a molten material. Both Michigan natives, Wagner and Ruff show work in over 300 galleries worldwide and are featured in prominent private and public art collections.   
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Corridor, Floor 2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display June 21-August 16, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Top of page

On display April 19-August 16, 2010

POWER OF CHOICE: CLOTH DOLLS
Charlie Patricolo
Doll making is Charlie Patricolo’s creative expression. A hobby that began in the 1960’s became a passion and business in the 1990’s. She spent 10 years in western North Carolina connected to the John C. Campbell Folk School learning new techniques and defining her style and methods. Now in Chelsea, Michigan, Patricolo creates dolls representing loved ones in life stages. From Grammie, to Legacy, to New Mom, to Cancer Dolls, Patricolo’s work signifies the struggle and strength necessary to deal with life’s joys and challenges. She says, “Life will show through in the work of any artist who will permit the outside to have a glimpse of her own truth.”
Gifts of Art Gallery – Comprehensive Cancer Center, Level B2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display April 19, 2009-August 16, 2010
Open M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

IMAGES & PATTERNS: NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Lori Franzen
Lori Franzen has been a freelance photographer for the past 20 years. Her love of the visual arts and natural history has strongly influenced her work. Her photography covers a wide range of nature subjects, from scenics, to wildlife, to macro images. In many of the images, Franzen explores patterns in nature. Franzen’s work has been published in magazines such as Nature’s Best and the National Wildlife Federation’s Children’s Magazines Ranger Rick and Your Big Backyard. Her images have also been published in Audubon calendars, among others. Franzen is a retired occupational therapist and lives in Ann Arbor. 
Gifts of Art Gallery – Comprehensive Cancer Center, Level 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display April 19, 2009-August 16, 2010
Open M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Top of page

On display August 23-October 11, 2010

CROSS STITCH PAINTINGS: HANDCRAFTED SILK EMBROIDERY
Don Tran
The youngest of thirteen children, award winning artist Don Tran is a native of Vietnam and has a MBA from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. The art of handcrafted silk embroidery was passed down from his mother to him as a part of a multigenerational family tradition. Black fabric forms the background for these cross stitch paintings so that the vibrant colors and delicate shades of the fine silk threads stand out brilliantly. Tran begins with free hand drawings in chalk, using simple, light lines, and then with imagination, patience and skill, he stitches in the threads to create the image. 
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center North Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

TONGUE TIED: RE-"SPIRITED" MEN'S TIES
Brooke Costello
Who would have thought that burgeoning bundles of thrift shop bound ties and scarves could undergo a creative transformation and assume a fashionable second life in the form of totes, togs and treasures? Tongue Tied, Brooke Costello’s Chicago design enterprise, specializes in forging new life into these time weary, forgotten treasures. From cast off ties, scarves, ascots, suspenders, bows and buttons, Costello “respirits” these heirlooms into one of a kind women’s accessories that are chic and stylish, eco-friendly accessories for your head, neck, shoulders, arms and waist.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center North Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

FARMSCAPES: PHOTOGRAPHY
Abram W. Kaplan
Raised on a steady dose of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, Abram Kaplan now exhibits in the Summer Art Fair as a photographer with an eye for elements in our natural world that we see but often fail to notice. Kaplan has taught Environmental Studies at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for 16 years and has exhibited his art in galleries and competitions around the nation. This exhibition centers on the food system: the tools and machinery, the land and the products produced through our agricultural processes. These images highlight the calming nature of our agrarian landscape and reconnect viewers with our rural heritage.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center South Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Top of page

WILDLIFE WOOD SCULPTURES
Bob Guge & Joshua Guge
The Guge Institute of Wildlife Art in Gilberts, Illinois is the setting for Bob and Joshua Guge’s wildlife wood sculptures of birds and fish. They work and teach classes out of the studio, but they also travel around the US and teach seminars for all ages. Their pieces range from primitive decoys to highly detailed realistic depictions. Wood, metals, epoxy and acrylic paints are all used to create their lifelike pieces. Each one is carved with power tools, drills, and skilled handwork, and then they are meticulously hand painted. Bob is a five‑time World Champion Bird Wood Sculptor, and Josh is a two‑time World Champion Fish Wood Sculptor.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center South Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

TRAVELS: MIXED MEDIA PAINTINGS
Susan Crawford
Connecticut based artist Susan Crawford explores the idea of travel and the intangible benefits that occur while being immersed in a place outside of daily life. While hoping to share the "essence" of locations such as Viareggio and Sorrento, Italy; Seville, Spain; and Santorini, Greece; her goal is to bring the viewer more fully into the experience. Crawford's artwork is recognized by its dramatic color and detail, and it is enhanced by three dimensional elements. She earned a BA in marketing, and has completed postgraduate study in painting and art history at the University of Hawaii, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. 
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Lobby, Floor 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 

LIBRARY SERIES COLLAGES
Karen Gallup
Karen Gallup loves to use the elements of perspective and scale to create scenes which combine whimsy and implausibility. She invites the viewer to make sense of how so many variant pieces can combine to make one seamless and harmonious whole. Being intrigued with images of books — their colors, texture, size and arrangements — Karen created the Library Series. Born and raised in Midland, Michigan, Gallup has a BFA from Michigan State and a MFA in Metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and a dog and cat.
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Corridor, Floor 2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

PEARS & STONES: JEWELRY & MIXED MEDIA
Cynthia Mann & Suzanne Manji
Growing up in Michigan and vacationing at many of the Great Lakes gave Cynthia Mann the opportunity to collect many stones and fossils along the shorelines. With her artistic talents showing up early, this life-long love of minerals and gemstones naturally applied to jewelry making. With over thirty years of creating her unique jewelry, Mann now showcases her work in galleries and juried shows. Suzanne Manji graduated from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC and now lives in Royal Oak, Michigan. For the past 14 years she has been obsessed with pears. She paints them in all sizes in oil and watercolor and has sewn them in canvas and placed them in mixed media assemblages. Manji paints pears because they remind her of all that is good and pleasing about the female form.
Gifts of Art Gallery – University Hospital Main Corridor, Floor 2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display August 23-October 11, 2010
Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Top of page

On display August 23-December 6, 2010

YOURIST STUDIO COMMUNITY CERAMICS
Studio members with Kay Yourist
For Kay Yourist, improving the health and welfare of people is a fundamental part of her business. Part of the remarkable business of Yourist Studio Gallery is that through the artistic journey, the community studio members are provided with an avenue to express thoughts and feelings as well as to improve skills and techniques. This process helps create a synergy of learning and creativity, reason and the heart. The gallery offers classes and workshops by a variety of instructors, and the community members come from varying backgrounds, all pursuing their passion for ceramic art together. In addition to Kay Yourist, you will see work by Jerry Bricker, Marilyn Pearce Edington, Thea Fish, Darcy Bowden, Barbaranne Branca, Rachel Jensen and Joanne Daniels.
Gifts of Art Gallery – Comprehensive Cancer Center, Level B2
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display October 23-December 6, 2010
Open M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

DRAWN FROM MOMENTS: PHOTOGRAPHY
Philip Dattilo
Philip Dattilo's photographic assignments have ranged from Europe to the American West. During his career, areas of special interest have been the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and photography as fine art. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Business Week and U.S. News and World Report. Dattilo says, "Photography's attraction lies in the medium's ability to open our eyes to a world of visual literacy many never see. Ask any photographer and it is that aspect of sharing tableaus drawn from moments in time that brings satisfaction to our work."
Gifts of Art Gallery – Comprehensive Cancer Center, Level 1
1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
On display October 23-December 6, 2010
Open M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Top of page