By Donna Schuld
Correspondent

GREEN BAY – A diverse collection of artwork will be on display at The Art Garage in Green Bay in April, as “The Annual Spring Art Exhibit” runs until April 25.

Hosted by Green Bay Arts Unlimited (GBAU), the works are from artists around Northeast Wisconsin, and many are available for purchase.

There will be an opening reception for the exhibit Friday, April 2, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Organizers chose to skip the jury process for entries this year.

Diane Lovegren, De Pere, is the chairperson for the exhibit, and has three entries in the show.

“This year we decided just to emphasize just the arts, and how needed the arts are no matter what the nation is going through,” Lovegren said. “We’re trying to emphasize the art, and we’re not going to do a juried art show this year. We did want to show that artists are still producing art, so we’re doing just an exhibit this time around just to emphasize the appreciation of art in Northeast Wisconsin.”

There are between 35 and 40 pieces in “The Annual Spring Exhibit,” and Lovegren appreciates the efforts from members.

“I’m very happy with that,” she said. “It’s been difficult for artists at this time, too, because artists love and appreciate talking to other artists, and we haven’t really had a chance to do a lot of meeting this past year.”

GBAU is a non-profit organization and has been meeting since 1982.

Meetings are usually held monthly at The Art Garage, and include demonstrations.

Kaye Solomon, Appleton, is GBAU president, and has two pieces in the exhibition.

“Our membership includes people at all levels of art appreciation and creation including professional artists to those who do not produce, but appreciate it,” Solomon said. “We also include all types of art media such as painting, photography, pyrography, sculpture, wood carving, fabric, etc.”

Lovegren said the practice of creating art has a beneficial effect on her.

“I think in today’s world it gets so hectic, and people can get so stressed out,” she said. “I don’t know about other artists, but when I start doing a piece of art it’s almost like a Zen thing for me, because I’m focusing and making decisions and I’m totally immersed in what I’m doing at that point and it’s almost like a meditation. So, if I’m all stressed out for something that’s going on I can go into my art studio and concentrate on this particular piece that I’m working on, and it calms me down, it makes me focus. It makes me a better artist and a better person because I’m just so totally into the moment.”

Solomon agrees on the therapeutic value of producing art.

“The production of art will focus the artist’s attention on the work at hand, blocking out, for the moment, all the stresses of daily life,” she said. “The enjoyment of art can also bring your focus to that piece, sometimes transporting your thoughts to the message the artist has conveyed.”

Lovegren said she hopes the public will come to see the artwork.

“They can view it online (if they can’t make it during business hours) at TheArtGarage.org.” she said. “We’re also on Facebook, at Arts Unlimited Green Bay.”