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