This exhibit is a small collection of artwork that shadows Johnson’s tradition. The bulk of the works are by West Michigan artists of color. The subjects of these artists represent a cross section of society, of occupations and of time periods. The portraits capture the soul of the sitter—not a quick selfie but an indepth look at the person. Sponsored by Bayard Art & Frame.

www.grpl.org

Have something to say? Have something that rhymes? Do you make beauty, tragedy, inspiration, and understanding out of words. The Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition invites Kent County residents and students to submit their work February 1st- March 1st for the 47th annual event.

• National Book Award winner, MARK DOTY, as the National Judge
• $900 in prizes, publication in voices with Mark Doty’s comments on winning poems.
• Divisions: K-8th grade, high school – college, graduate – adult.
• The competition is open to Kent county residents 5 and up, who may submit up to three poems. Area college students, including GVSU, as well as Kent County students studying elsewhere are eligible to enter.

The Awards Reading will be held during June 2015’s Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts.

Check website for guidelines: www.dyer-ives.org

Outstanding artwork by lower West Michigan artists will be highlighted in this visual treat of an exhibit. Come see the entries for this year’s West Michigan Regional Art Competition.

Artwork drop-off dates are February 19,20 and 21 at the King Gallery in Lowell. Artwork is selected in all visual art media by artists 18 years and older who reside in a 15 county region. A total of $2,000 in cash awards are presented in five categories.

For more information and gallery hours, visit www.lowellartsmi.org

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rey Weidenaar, the exhibition will showcase a large portion of Weidenaar’s prints, plates, tools and personal effects. The collection speaks to the history of Grand Rapids from the artist’s point of view. Over 100 works by Weidenaar will be on display, including 75 prints and 25 digital images. The exhibition will focus specifically on how Weidenaar incorporated local scenes, humor, and his own personal worldview and politics into his art.

The new exhibit will ask visitors to contemplate Weidenaar’s self-designated role of chronicler of his community – not just its physical features, but its moods, sensibilities, and peculiarities. Visitors will gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the work of this widely acclaimed artist, from right here in our own backyard.

Weidenaar was a master at including humor and satire in his prints, often in subtle and unexpected ways.  Visitors to the exhibit will be able to use magnifying glasses and high resolution scans to explore prints like “It Was a Terrible Day” and “They Who Go Down to the Sea in Ships” for hidden messages and ridiculous situations.

www.grmp.org

Living up to the title of Beer City USA, Grand Rapids will celebrate by featuring more than 50 local restaurants and breweries that have created a plethora of perfect food and beer pairings for their menu. Beer-infused dishes and complementary beer pairings will flood local restaurants with an experience that will have beer lovers and food enthusiasts falling in love with Grand Rapids all over again.

For more information and a list of participating places, visit www.experiencegr.com

Grab a pint and cheers to the 4th Annual GR Beer Week in Beer City USA! Beer Week celebrates and promotes the craft beer culture in the greater Grand Rapids area through a series of unique events. Keep up on them by visiting the Beer Week Facebook page at www.facebook.com/grbeerweek.

www.beercityusagr.com