Art show

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Gogebic Community College’s Art Space displayed student art Friday and Saturday, with 12 artists showing their work. The show will be open through graduation on Thursday.

Kaite Anderson, a graphic communications student, has several pieces in the showing.

“Drawings are about the emotions that we hide,” Anderson said. Photography is her favorite medium because she likes the challenge.

“I like to take something broken, like an old building, and make it beautiful,” she said Anderson plans to continue her education after taking a summer job as a photographer in Hayward, Wis.

Anderson’s photograph, “Moo,” was entered into 42 contests, and won a second place National Photography Award from St. Louis Art Academy, said art and graphic communications instructor James Klingforth.

Another student exhibitor and model Paige Gwyn, said, “I like to try everything — it helps you to see what you’re good at.”

Mark Marley is a nontraditional student exhibiting in the show. He was employed in Ontonagon for 25 years at Smurfitt Stone before the plant closed. Last year during spring break he decided to make a book called “Favorite Upper Peninsula Waterfalls” as a project for a class. He included GPS coordinates, directions, and maps in the book to help readers find the waterfalls depicted.

“Attitude is everything. If you work at something you can accomplish pretty much anything you want,” Marley said.

Marley’s work was recently on display at the Downtown Art Place, where a couple hundred people saw it. “It helped to get used to shows, and it’s nice to hear if people like your work,” Marley said.

Marley’s main obstacle in starting coursework at GCC was learning to use the computers, programs and digital cameras. He had never used a digital camera prior to class.

“I wouldn’t go back to film now,” Marley said.

After graduation he is contemplating a move to Seattle, Wash.

Klingforth said that that the weather caused a poor opening Friday night, with only 23 people coming to see the students’ work. GCC closed Thursday afternoon, so Klingforth was at the college at 5 a.m. on Friday to complete preparations.

Klingforth plans to continue holding the art show annually.

“It better acquaints the students with the public, and what to say and do with potential clients,” Klingofrth said.

He is designing a class that would require students to prepare a show in order to graduate.

Retired art instructor Paul Castagna started Art Space. Klingsforth said the space will be converted into offices soon and he hopes to find a new home for the Art Space in the near future.