A

rtist opportunities 
are opening up at 
the Janice Charach 
Gallery in West Bloomfield 
with the appointment of Natalie 
Balazovich as director. 
The soonest 
opportunity invites 
any artist 18 and 
older to submit 
works to be con-
sidered for the next 
exhibit, “Flight,
” as 

long as each work offered sug-
gests the theme, has never been 
shown before, reaches a size no 
larger than 36” x 36” x 36” and 
is available for sale. 
Interested artists must dig-
itally submit their works for 
consideration by Monday, May 
16, and be prepared to transport 
any accepted piece to and from 
the gallery.
The exhibit will run June 
26-Aug. 11.

“My goal is to see 
how many different 
interpretations we can 
get of that one word,
” 
said Balazovich, pro-
moted from her posi-
tion serving as gallery 
coordinator for 10 years.
“I want to make this gal-
lery, housed at the Jewish 
Community Center (JCC), 
more reflective of the commu-
nity, and I want to partner with 
other departments whenever I 
can.
“With so many valuable 
artists within the Jewish com-
munity, I feel the artwork can 
be more driven by Judaism and 
Jewish culture while keeping 
in mind services to the entire 
community as a whole.
”

A HISTORY AT THE JCC
Balazovich has a career history 
with the JCC that precedes 
her work in the gallery. A 
graduate of the College for 
Creative Studies in Detroit, she 
painted murals for the Shalom 
Street Museum, designed and 

built sets for The 
Berman Center for 
the Performing Arts 
and taught draw-
ing and painting at 
the Frankel Jewish 
Academy. 
When Balazovich applies 
her own artistic instincts away 
from the gallery, she often 
creates representational paint-
ings in watercolors, acrylics 
and oils. Her paintings have 
been displayed in many group 
shows, including those pre-
sented by the Northville Art 
House, Livonia Public Library 
and Detroit’s Russel Industrial 
Center. Solo shows have been at 
the Charach Gallery and Scarab 
Club in Detroit.
The first planned exhibits in 
her role as gallery director spot-
light glass and are on display 
simultaneously through May 18 
— The 4th Bi-Annual Michigan 
Regional Glass Exhibition and SIP
.
“I have a great appreciation 
of all forms of art because of 
my background working in the 
gallery for so long,
” Balazovich 

Artists 
Wanted

Natalie 
Balazovich

82 | APRIL 14 • 2022 

New Janice Charach Gallery 
director aims to promote 
emerging artists.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

An example of 
the new direc-
tor’s recent work: 
“Your Dream is 
My Nightmare” 
by Natalie 
Balazovich. Mixed 
media on paper, 
26” x42”

ARTS&LIFE
ART