First of all–about ISEA. That's the International Society of Experimental Artists–founded in 1991 by Maxine Masterfield and Gracie Hegeman, to connect, encourage, inform and promote individuals who create works of art by experimentation and exploration.

It is a society where members can come together and share ideas, and where each of us can grow and change. As experimental artists, we must be willing to take risks. We should trust that what we have to express in our work is our life experience as well as our own vision.

Our art is experimental in concept, attitude, materials and technique.

The 19th Annual Juried Exhibition opening reception was June 3, at the Forest Hills Fine Art Center, in Grand Rapids, MI. The show will run till June 29th. The juror this year was Edee Joppich, ISEA-NF, NCS.

You can see more about ISEA here

Along with the exhibit and symposium there is a group of Michigan painters that have a Paint-In each year before the exhibit (which moves to a different venue each year) and I was invited to join them. What an exciting time. That Paint-In was held at the Franciscan Life Process Center, in Lowell–a small town about 20 miles from Grand Rapids. Paint as much as you want, with rooms in the center. Here are a couple photos of the FLPC. The grounds there were beautiful, with lots of flowers and huge open fields. There's also a small working farm there.

The Forest Hills Fine Art Center (FHFAC) is a beautiful venue for an exhibit such as this. This outside picture shows an imposing structure with a lot of bright exhibit space, as well as a large stage and theater behind it.

Here's Helga Flower — first place winner, talking about her painting "So It Was" with Edee Joppich, juror. Here's Kathleen Conover (President. Helga Flower. First Place Winner, and Doris Larson. Kathleen injured her knee just before coming to Grand Rapids and carried on beautifully, with only a hint of a problem evident by her brace on her leg.
Wanda Gringhuis Anderson, and Linda Baker had an opening of a show at the Lowell Arts Council, and this is Wanda talking about her Assemblage, "Little Boy Blue."
Patti Sevensma, Vice President of ISEA at the FLPC–in the painting studio.

It was a great week. The exhibit is phenomenal, and if you are living anywhere withing 2-3 hours of Grand Rapids, get there to see it. If you need directions leave me a message.