Don’t complain there’s no culture in Lansing before taking a stroll through Old Town Lansing this fall.
Five art galleries in Old Town held the First Sunday Gallery Walk on Sunday to introduce new artists and exhibits, most of which will run through October.
“Each gallery has a new artist,” said Todd Mack, owner of Todd Mack Custom Framing Gallery, 307 E. Grand River Ave. “It’s a day of art in Lansing, something you don’t often get.”
This month Mack’s featured artist is Todd Mack. His tiny sculptures are what he describes as a mix of old nostalgia in a new medium.
In a handout next to the display, Mack describes his creations as “extremely visual but highly unnecessary.”
The other four galleries are the Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St., Sir Pizza Grand Café, 201 E. Grand River Ave., Otherwise Gallery, 1207 Turner St. and Spider House Antiques & Gallery, 515 E. Grand River Ave.
At the Creole Gallery artist Nora Mendoza is featured along with several other Latin-American artists. Owner Robert Busby said Mendoza was such a hit last year, he decided to bring her work back.
“We just happened to open her show last year and the community decided favorably,” he said.
Artist Jesse Gonzales was on hand Sunday to speak with patrons about his work. He said he hasn’t displayed his photography for several years, but has been active in photography for many years.
“It’s good being back with artists,” he said. “I’ve been doing photography since high school.”
Gonzales contacted Busby about displaying Robert de los Santos’ paintings, and ended up with his material on the wall right next to Santos’, his brother-in-law.
“I like to take pictures that are recognizable as Chicano-Mexicano,” he said. Many of his photos depicted images of the virgin of Guadeloupe and cultural icons like Mexican lottery tickets.
Gail Johnson, an art instructor at Lansing Community College and a 1966 MSU graduate, was at the Creole Gallery to check out some local talent. She said she tries to get her students to do the same.
“I always encourage them to partake in the arts in our community,” she said.
Across the street at the Otherwise Gallery, the atmosphere was just as lively. Clif McChesney’s acrylic paintings were well received by patrons.
“I love the luminescence, the way the paint picks up the light,” East Lansing resident Alice Williams said.
The Grand Café’s offerings are the creations of Julie Vander Galien, whose art depicts scenes from around the Lansing area.
At the Spider House, a range of artists from jewelry to mixed-media are on display.
All exhibits run through the end of October except Mack’s which ends Oct. 5 and McChesney’s at the Otherwise Gallery, which ends Sep. 30.
“There’s a lot of talent, so we thought it would be a good idea to showcase the talent,” Busby said.
