Explore Saugatuck’s Winter Art Exhibits

There’s always been a great mystery to the Great Lakes. Maybe it’s their unexpected presence in North America, those characteristic stormy seas that have sunken ships and taken lives, or just the sheer size of each one. After all, the Great Lakes contain more than 80% of the continent’s fresh water within a cycle that can take up to 200 years to reach the ocean, so it’s important to keep that water clean.

Unlock the mysteries of the Great Lakes, discover its majesty and its power, and contemplate the dangers of pollution as Lake Michigan’s waters struggle to stay clean, drinkable, and safe. The Saugatuck Center for the Arts hosts the photographic exhibit titled “Surface Tension: Beauty & Fragility in Lake Michigan” featuring photographs by Nelson Armour and Ted Glasoe as well as handcrafted surfboards designed and constructed by Tim Folkert. The exhibit seeks to raise awareness and start a conversation about Lake Michigan and its current state that is usually kept hidden, just beneath the surface. The photographs, with the beauty of Glasoe’s displayed beside the unsettling statement of Armour’s, challenges viewers to consider the reality of pollution and the importance of clean water supply. Afterwards, browse the stunning surfcraft of Tim Folkert, an art within itself. As the owner of Migration, this west Michigan native began his outdoor adventurer brand with unique and handcrafted surfboards. Start learning a new skill (maybe wait until the summer) or indulge in your greatest passion with one of these custom boards.

Whether you’re a Great Lakes native (one of about 40 million) or an out-of-town visitor, part of what makes your stay with us so special and memorable is discovering a new land and learning something about another part of the world. From far away or right next door, taking a moment to bask in the beauty of Lake Michigan while contemplating her health and the role we play in it through the photographs at Saugatuck’s Surface Tension exhibit makes for a tranquil, meaningful afternoon, especially if you’re an eco-friendly savant or photography admirer. And if you’re more into the surfing, invest in a brand new, handcrafted surfboard by a Michigan west coast native, and plan your summer stay with us to put that surfboard to use.

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts also has on display for its Corridor Series, the multimedia exhibit titled “CANVAS” which explores the subtleties of a blank canvas and all its possibilities. With plaster recreations of blank canvases, Ryan Klotz demonstrates the elegant beauty and simplicity of something “blank” that is full of an unlimited amount of possibilities.

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts exhibit, “Surface Tension: Beauty and Fragility in Lake Michigan” is on display from January 12, 2018 to March 8, 2018. The Corridor Series: CANVAS is on display from January 11, 2018 to March 8, 2018. Click here for more information on Surface Tension and CANVAS.

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

400 Culver Street

PO Box 940

Saugatuck MI 49453

269.857.2399