Step inside the colorful home of someone who appreciates – and buys – locally produced works of art and you won’t have to prod them to get them talking about their collection, or what the art brings to their life. For Linda Frey, art “communicates a part of another human’s spirit. It’s a way to bring human beauty into my world.”
Linda Nemec Foster and her husband Tony had their growing art collection in mind when they bought their home. “When you have a home you want to cover it with what you love, art was the natural choice,” Linda Foster said. "[Art in the home is] always with you…morning, night, doing the dishes, it’s always there for you.”
For Heritage Hill residents Janice and Gary Walker, art brings life into their home. Janice believes that many “people live but have no life, art brings life. It’s like living in creation. It makes me feel.” Most of the Walkers’ works are originals. They appreciate that someone has touched each piece, that someone spent time contemplating and creating each piece in their collection.
Clearly, there are people of passion in the Grand Rapids art market. And it’s not just the artists.
If not familiar with the local art scene, which these collectors describe as “thriving”, “wonderful”, and “surprising”, one need only start talking with a local enthusiast or gallery owner to discover just a sampling of the visual art venues that exist in Grand Rapids.
From taking classes and viewing student shows at area colleges (Kendall College of Art and Design, GVSU, Aquinas, etc) to the vacant-storefront Free Radical art exhibitions, the West Michigan Potter’s Guild, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), Division Avenue for the Arts, Festival of the Arts, plus museums, galleries, warehouse studios, street fairs, art walks, and charity auctions, there really is an amazing variety of choices.
Print or Original
When asked if the local scene satisfies her want for art, Linda Frey quickly responds that she “doesn’t hesitate with the local art market. We just have so many great places to look at art around here. And much of it is surprisingly affordable.”
The Fosters started collecting art together in 1974. They didn’t have a lot of money then. A New Orleans street artist and her image of the St. Louis Cathedral got them to part with their cash. It was years before they could afford to have it framed. Today Foster said it’s “surprising how affordable art can be.” Affordable enough, in fact, that their home is almost out of room for any more pieces.
The Walkers encourage young people to buy original art instead of “cheesy posters from Kmart.” They say the price to get an original “non-mechanized” piece of art that’s only been done once isn’t much more. Gary said they “don’t decorate with art, and don’t care if it matches the sofa.” The Walkers buy art based on what catches their eye.
“There are so many talented artists here in Grand Rapids, we enjoy collecting local artists," Gary said. "It’s fun to start collecting their earlier phases and watch them grow,” Janice added.
Local Talent Abounds
Which local artists do these enthusiasts collect? Their combined collections include over 40 local artists whose work covers painted dishware, wood carvings, textile art, religious icons, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, glass, photography, as well as their own works or that of their children.
James Karsina is one the Fosters' favorites. They have three of his pieces, and Karsina has gifted their soon-to-be-married son and his fiancé with one of his paintings. Works by Mary Ellen McNaughton, Stephen Schousen, David Lubbers, and David Wong are also part of their collection as is Kathleen VanDeMark who illustrated Linda’s first published poetry books.
The Walkers don’t single out any favorites, equally drawn to all of their pieces. Their collection includes Jane Lubins, Fred Bivens, John Dupree, and Lynn O’Rourke. O’Rourke does torn paper collages and did the original artwork for a Festival of the Arts poster, which the Walkers now own. They are actively involved in the annual festival.
Reb Roberts is the first local artists Linda Frey acquired, and he remains one of her favorites. She owns seven of his contemporary folk art paintings. In her first trip to his gallery, she walked out with four pieces. Other favorites include Tim Lowly whose work she says makes her cry, and the late Kenneth Lee Wells.
Popular Grand Rapids’ galleries regularly cited by these local collectors include Gallery 154 in Eastown, LaFontsee Galleries/Underground Studio on North Monroe, and The UICA downtown. The art gallery that is part of Heartside Ministries downtown also impressed Linda Frey early on in her collecting.
“Part of the fun is exploring the places that have art” she said. And the UICA was “an unexpected space in GR,” she adds. Both Frey and Foster credit the UICA for exposing them to a variety of artists.
Got Art
What makes them bring a piece home? “What it does to your psyche when you see it," according to Foster. "There is sometimes that one piece that evokes ‘I want to live with that’.” Some of the Foster’s collection has come as gifts, “no art is ever turned away” she said.
The pull is similar for the Walkers. The art that they bring home “affects us, moves us, and calls us.” Both the Fosters and the Walkers have also commissioned pieces from local artists or through local galleries, indicating their wishes to the artists. One such work stands solidly in the middle of the floor in the Walker’s library. It is a large wood sculpture, commissioned from Marsha Perry, of a well-endowed woman who emanates honest affection. It is homage to Janice’s late mother.
The Fosters are already planning what will happen to their art after they die, they care about it that much and want it cared for when they’re gone. One place some of it may inhabit next is a local college library.
Linda Frey’s coffee mug professes that “Life is brief and art is long.” She too knows that art has a lasting presence in our world. “I am honored to have art,” Frey said, “think about art not being in our lives” contemplating all that would be missing.
Janice Walker used to “feel sorry for people who missed art,” then she realized that “they don’t want it.” She now knows, however, that “art is there for anyone who wants to reach out and get it.”
Photographs Copyight Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved
Images top to bottom:
The interior of LaFontsee Galleries and Underground Studio
The black and white photographs of David Lubbers hang in The Photography Room
The blue wall at The Photography Room
Interior of LaFontsee Galleries and Underground Studio (courtesy photo)
An installation of mixed media photographs at The Photography Room