Courtesy photo Gallery assistants from the Gaber Gallery on the Central Michigan University campus are shown with Carol Irving, an Escanaba artist, after hanging Irving’s Pitcher’s Thistle Wildflower panel.

ESCANABA — Escanaba artist Carol Irving is one of four artists chosen to exhibit art on billboards for the US 2 Public Art Exhibition sponsored by SaveArtSpace and the Erickson Center for the Arts.

Art will be featured on billboards in the eastern Upper Peninsula along US 2 from June 22 through July 19. Irving’s exhibit will be located off US 2 and H-33, Gould City, close to Curtis.

Irving, a weaver and fiber artist, chose to submit pieces from her series called, ‘A Weaver’s Journal of Michigan’s Endangered Wildflowers’.

“I applied to SaveArtSpace’s call for art and submitted four pieces,” said Irving. “I thought ‘what the heck’, and was thrilled when I was notified they chose one of the four pieces.”

Irving’s chosen piece displays three Michigan endangered wildflowers — Lakeside Daisy, Pitcher’s Thistle, Michigan Monkey Flower. Katie Eberts, whose credentials allow her to judge art, chose the pieces travelers will see on billboards. Work by Sarah Tule, Joanna Walitalo, and Shena Sloboda join Irving along US 2 on separate billboards.

Erickson Center for the Arts, located at N9224 Saw-Wa-Quato St., Curtis, is exhibiting art from all artists who submitted pieces.

“Six of the 12 handwoven wall hangings from the series will be in the exhibit,” said Irving.

Irving chose to enter four pieces from her 12-panel series, ‘A Weaver’s Journal of Michigan’s Endangered Wildflowers’. Catering to what she thought would get the most broad appeal.

“Out of my different series of work, I thought the one that would get the most broad appeal specifically would be the endangered wildflowers of Michigan. I enjoy their beauty and look deeper in what they represent,” said Irving. “A Weaver’s Journal is my handweavers journal … I’ve shown it throughout Lower and Northern Michigan and outside the Chicago area.”

SaveArtSpace.org — turning ad space into art space, was founded 2015, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The non-profit organization gives artists the opportunity to show their art on a billboard where many people can see it. Artists get more exposure because of it.

Irving was first introduced to weaving by a friend in high school who weaved off a frame loom.

“I have been weaving for over 40 years. While working towards a botany degree I took art classes. The whole time I worked toward my accounting degree and at DS Tech, I was weaving. Now that I’m retired I can put more work into my weaving,” said Irving.

Irving is very committed in helping people become aware of the endangered wildflowers in Michigan.

“We often hear about animals being endangered, but there are plants as well,” she said.

According to Irving, a wildflower becomes endangered because of a loss of habitat — someone creating a parking lot, or how the environment changed — water flow has moved.

“Some plants need very specific conditions to grow, type of soil, amount of sun,” said Irving. “It all affects the growth of a wildflower.”

Irving has created a partnership with the non-profit, Wildflower Association of Michigan and pledged 5% of her sales of the endangered collection to the association. Recently Irving sold a panel to a professor at Northern Michigan University and made the donation.

“I think it’s great to see art up for all to see and even more exciting that local artists will be featured,” said William Bonifas Fine Art Center Executive Director Sue Roll. “Carol has been involved with the Bonifas Arts Center in many ways for many, many years. She’s been an exhibited artist, a volunteer, and a board member. She is a talented and gifted artist.”

On July 3, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Erickson Center for the Arts will hold an artist reception. People in attendance are asked to follow CDC guidelines.

The entry details supplied to SaveArtSpace included — 2-D art form, fiber, created 2017, Depth 1/2 inch, width 42 feet, height 6 feet.

For more information visit CarolIrvingFiberArtist on Facebook, or carolirving.com.