50 | JULY 7 • 2022 

W

alk inside the Janice Charach 
Gallery in West Bloomfield 
by Aug. 11 and look up before 
your eyes move to the walls.
The current exhibit, Flight, asks visitors 
to join into the idea of letting go for a while, 
writing a wish or a thought on a small piece 
of paper to be added to the ones slowly 
moving along from the ceiling. 
A motor propels the thoughts as the writ-
ers take in the sights of the gallery and look 
at the diverse images of Flight as they relate 
to different senses of the word. Currently, 
there are 120 representations from 75 artists. 
“Our goal for this show has been to 
empower artists of all backgrounds and 
experience levels to participate,
” said Natalie 
Balazovich, gallery director. “In addition, 
everyone who views the show gets to be 

part of it.
“The results have been astounding, and 
we are excited for the public to experience 
the representations. The all-media exposi-
tion explores human connection, diversity 
and innovation. The messages moving 
around the ceiling are moving to further 
illustrate the idea of Flight.
” 
With some artists selected to show more 
than one image, the theme expands to 
capture variations moving from realistic to 
abstract. The images adorn 5,000 square feet 
of gallery space divided between two floors.
“The idea is to be as inclusive as possible,
” 
Balazovich said.
To that end, the gallery issued an open 
call for art, encouraging everyone to submit 
three artworks based on the word Flight 
with a guarantee that at least one piece 

would be included in the exhibit. 
“This allows all people to participate no 
matter where they are from and regardless 
of whether they have shown artwork in a 
gallery,
” Balazovich said. 
Judy Vine, who moved from Michigan to 
New York to be with family, presents realis-
tic images with some innovative twists
“I went into pastels, and I am very satis-
fied with my work,
” she said. “I thought this 
piece might have three components — a 
black-and-white image of my aunt, a type-
writer and an old clock. Together, they are 
to communicate a flight back in time.
”
Vine, 77, who has been doing artwork 
since childhood, took lessons at the Detroit 
Institute of Arts, and she works in art every 
day. Because her parents were affected by 
the Depression, she became a teacher with 
stints in Roseville, Royal Oak and Madison 
Heights.
“You learn so much when you’re mak-
ing art,
” said Vine, who was a member of 

ARTS&LIFE
ART

Exhibit at the Charach 
Gallery encourages 
visitors to become a 
part of the show.

SUZANNE CHESSLER 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Taking

Jennifer Kesler’s 
Ice Pond 

Judy Vine’s 
A Letter to 
Roselyn

Jamie Feldman’s 
Pollination

COURTESY OF THE JANICE CHARACH GALLERY

