Call For Entry
March 10,11,12,13, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri
Urban Edge
March 20 – May 2, 2009

The vibrancy and urgency that make up the urban scene can be interpreted in as many ways as people filter information they receive thru visuals, sounds, interactions, and reactions. City problems are sometimes masked by visual beauty. The sight and smell of wild sweet peas growing in desolate urban meadows, or, the creative graffiti decorating abandoned city buildings are two examples. Beauty and blight, hope and despair, are part of urban scene that make up the urban edge. What is the pulse, the flux of the city, its people, its buildings, its open spaces? As an artist, how do you interpret the urban edge? Define, redefine interpretation is part of the art. The artists define what it is and McGee will judge.

Sure, if you ask him, artist Charles McGee, 84, will share plenty from his rich life. The incredibly sharp-minded and dynamic artist has a long list of accomplishments as an educator and community leader, and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. All McGee really wants to riff on is art. You can pry him about the various details of his life, but his stories eventually turn philosophical about art and ideas, and his need to constantly create. McGee makes use of abstraction to show the passage of time and a passion for life. Whether in colorful painting or black-and-white sculpture, The creates a constant dance of movement through snaking, elongated shapes, through zigzags and curves, letting circles and solid stripes provide resting points for the eyes. You might imagine you’re looking at tribal markings or protozoa zipping through a microscopic soup, but his pieces are often inspired by far more ordinary things.

Charles McGee is a fastidious and studious worker in his northwest Detroit studio. He has, over the years, curated several exhibitions, including Seven Black Artists at the Detroit Artists Market in 1969. That show was pivotal in his career, leading him to establish Gallery 7, an artists’ collective that lasted 10 years. In 1979, McGee, along with artist Jean Heilbrunn and others, founded the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) in an attempt to invigorate the art scene. To this day, the organization continues to work toward realizing the original vision of a permanent contemporary art center.

“McGee’s paintings, assemblages and sculptures are in prestigious national and international collections, and are on permanent display in such formidable local institutions as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. His work is in Troy Beaumont and Detroit Receiving hospitals, and it’s on constant display for riders of the downtown Detroit People Mover who pass through the Broadway station. It’s hard to believe that after decades of working, he still maintains a feverish exhibition pace.” – Nick Sousanis, former editor of thedetroiter.com.

“Charles McGee has been recognized and honored during 2009 by The Kresge Foundation with the award of Eminent Artist and a $50,000 grant. The Kresge Eminent Artist award was created with College for Creative Studies to honor a Michigan artist who, as foundation President Rip Rapson says McGee, “has selflessly contributed to the artistic growth of others, and who creates art of the first order.” Charles McGee is one of Michigan’s foremost artists, and one of the state’s most beloved. A longtime teacher, his courtesy toward and encouragement of younger artists have become the stuff of legend.” – Michael H. Hodges – The Detroit News 02/07/09

The Grosse Pointe Art Center welcome’s back Charles McGee to jury Urban Edge.

Show Awards
First Place: One Month Show in Gallery; Second Place: Bristol Watercolor Sketching Easel;
Third Place: Gift Certificate, and Honorable Mentions
Eligibility and Specifications
Participation is open to all artists 18 years and older. Work must have been done in the last three years. Works completed under an instructor are not eligible. Work juried into a prior Grosse Pointe Art Center show is not eligible. All art forms except room installations are acceptable. A diptych or triptych will be considered as one piece, if attached. Companion pieces are considered separate pieces. No size limitations. Two & three-dimensional work to be hung must be properly wired for hanging. Physical take-in preferred, but digital or CD imagery acceptable if complete view of piece and dimensions are provided. Email Subject: “Urban Edge” Submission. gpaa@grossepointeartcenter.org Final acceptance is dependant upon juror & Grosse Pointe Art Center.
Entry Procedure and Sales [Check calendar for specific dates]
All work must be for sale. No price on request. No changes in price after entry. Submission limit: two (2) pieces per artist per entry fee. Additional pieces accepted at $10 a piece. Entry fee $25 for members and $35 for non-members. All work 35% commission upon sale. All sales payable to: GPAA
Liability/Agreement
Entries will be handled with all possible care. GPAC will not be responsible for loss by fire, theft, or other damage, whether caused by the negligence of its officers, members or others. GPAC reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries for publicity purposes. GPAC reserves the right to alter dates or cancel the show at any time. All works remain until show ends.
Calendar for URBAN EDGE Exhibition:
Submission of Art Work: March 10, 11, 12, 13, Tues – Fri 12 – 5 pm
Jurying & Notification Calls to Entrants: [We will call you.]
Pick-up of all work not in show: Tues – Thurs, March 17, 18, 19 12 – 6 pm
Show Opens: Reception & Awards: Fri, March 20 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Show Closes: Sat, May 2 5 pm
Work Pick-up: May 5, 6, 7, 8, Tues – Fri, 12 – 5 pm

ENTRY FORM TO BE SUBMITTED WITH ART WORK for URBAN EDGE – MARCH 20 thru MAY 2, 2009:
Artist________________________________________________________Phone__________________.
Address____________________________________________________________________________.
City/State/Zip______________________________________Email_______________________________.
Signature________________________________________________________Fee Paid $__________.
Entry #1 Title________________________________________________________________________.
Price$ Media_________________________________________________________.
Entry #2 Title_______________________________________________________________________.
Price$ Media________________________________________________________.
ENTRY LABELS TO BE ATTACHED TO BACK OF ARTWORK:
Entry Label #1 – Affix to bottom, or back upper right of art work
Artist:______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone_____________________________________________________________________________________
Entry #1 Title_______________________________________________________________________________
Media____________________________________________________________________Price $___________
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – cut here – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Entry Label #2 – Affix to bottom, or back upper right of art work
Artist:_____________________________________________________________________________________
Phone____________________________________________________________________________________
Entry #2 Title______________________________________________________________________________
Media____________________________________________________________________Price $___________
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – cut here – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Location of Grosse Pointe Art Center: 313.821.1848 www.grossepointeartcenter.org
16900 Kercheval, Kercheval Ave. between Cadieux & Notre Dame in city of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, 48230
I94 West to Cadieux exit, Left on Cadieux (you will be in Detroit) Cadieux into Grosse Pointe until you reach Kercheval. Turn Left on Kercheval travel one half block. Gallery is on your right. I94 East to Cadieux exit
Right onto Cadieux (you will be in Detroit) Cadieux into Grosse Pointe until you reach Kercheval. Turn Left on Kercheval travel one half block. Gallery is on your right.
GROSSE POINTE ARTISTS ASSOCIATION A 501 (C ) (3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION