The Van Singel Fine Arts Center begins its 2016-2017 Artist Series featuring oil paintings by West Michigan artist, Mary Sundstrom. The exhibit, “Often Unseen But Always Imagined,” is on exhibit in the Gainey Gallery Sept. 6 through Oct. 21. An open house artist reception is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, 2:30 to 4 pm.
Sundstrom is an artist and illustrator currently working primarily in oil on canvas. Besides practicing art, Sundstorm designs art programming and instruction to all ages while working as the program director and exhibits co-coordinator at the Holland Area Arts Council. She resides in Grand Haven and can be found hiking the bayous along the Grand River finding inspiration.
“I like to paint and sculpt in a way that might be called Magical Realism,” Sundstrom said. “My artwork is inspired by the natural world around me as I hike the Michigan landscape. I don’t have to look hard to imagine a wild and exotic community of plants and fungi having associations with each other. My work has many influences but primarily I like to imagine a time as it might be before or after human’s settled it. I am also very inspired by the small Golden Book I have had since I was eight years old called ‘Pond Life.'”
The Van Singel’s Gainey Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 12 to 5 p.m. To check out some of Mary’s art go to www.marysundstrom.com.
