“The membership show is one of our more highly attended events for the gallery because it is a bunch of our members,” Kate Oman, gallery coordinator at the Bonifas Arts Center, said. “They want to support the Bonifas, and they want to meet other members who are artists and connect that way.”

Art submissions were open to any members of the Bonifas, and they were able to enter up to two pieces for the show. This year’s exhibit has submissions from artists based in several locations across the Upper Peninsula, including Marquette, Autrain, and Rapid River. However, members of the Bonifas are not limited to the U.P. In fact, individuals from New York and Washington have shipped pieces to the Bonifas to be featured in this annual event.

“Our artist community is smaller because we are not a large city, but because it is smaller we are able to make more intimate connections with each other,” Oman said. “It is a nice opportunity of sharing for the artists and the community can come in and comment on these pieces as well.”

The Bonifas Membership Show is a judged art show, varying greatly from the alternative of a juried show. Juried art shows require that submitted materials are reviewed before being accepted into the exhibit. Meanwhile, judged shows accept and include all submissions in their exhibit. Art pieces in judged shows are equally evaluated, and stand-out pieces will be given special ­recognition and awards.

Andie Balenger | Daily Press Austin Ash of Escanaba displays “Frankie,” an intricate piece of metal work, in the Powers Gallery at the Bonifas Arts Center for their annual Bonifas Membership Show. A wide variety of mediums, including glass, wax, paintings, and pastels, will be represented at the show, which is open for public viewing from July 7 to August 25. Community members are invited to join the featured artists at the show’s reception on July 14 from 6 to 8 p.m., where conversation regarding the art is encouraged.

“Judges are usually familiar with a lot of the artists, and that is why with a jury show we try to get a juror from out of the area,” Oman said.

The judge for this year’s Membership Show was Jacqueline Beach, tattoo artist and co-owner of Black Iris Studio LCC in Escanaba. An entire wall in the Powers Gallery has been dedicated to her for the current exhibit, displaying a few select pieces of her artistic work.

“[Beach] is going to be a hard judge on these guys, but I am interested to see who she will pick,” Oman said.

The reception gave members of the public a chance to interact with local artists, most of whom were present for the event. The award ceremony, which began at 7 p.m., honored Beth Cox and Austin Ash, Beach’s first and second place selections, respectively, with an award from the Dorothy Vogt Fund. Meegan Flannery and Anne Murphy Schaaf received Beach’s two honorable mention awards. Several Escanaba and Gladstone City Hall honors were given out as well.

“You never know what members are going to submit to the show,” Oman said. “Some of our artists are trying different mediums, so it is interesting because you think you know what they are going to submit and then you are completely wrong.”

Photo courtesy of Bonifas Arts Center photographer Paula Jordan Community members gather at a reception for the Bonifas Arts Center’s annual Bonifas Membership Show, which will be running from July 7 to August 25. This show has been a tradition at the Bonifas Arts Center for over 40 years, allowing artists of all ages and skill-levels to submit their work. Located in the Powers Gallery, the variance in submitted art makes for a unique gallery experience.

As an organization, the Bonifas Arts Center works to enhance and inspire the cultural and creative life of the local community. With members of the center being the creative aspect of the community, this show in particular highlights their artistic contributions to the area.

“Art is all about interpretation and feeling. When someone walks in and they get a feeling on a piece, whether it is good or not, that invokes conversation,” Oman said. “That conversation spreads throughout the community.”

The Bonifas Membership Show, which began on July 7, is free and open to the public for viewing during the Bonifas Arts Center’s regular hours. The Bonifas, which is located at 700 1st Ave. S. in Escanaba, will be running the show until August 25. More information about upcoming events, classes, and exhibits can be found on the organization’s website, bonifasarts.org.

“This event helps the members put their artwork out there so the public can see what they have been or are currently working on,” Oman said. “It is neat to watch the progression of the artists as they grow.”