Come see all the innovative solutions for the Anton Art Center’s new gift shop space, from emerging architects and designers, in the Shop Shack Design Competition Show. The exhibition opens March 8 and runs through March 29, 2009.

The Shop Shack competition was an open call for proposals for a re-design of the center’s Gift Shop area. Nearly 30 entries were received from within Michigan and around the world. All the entries received will be displayed in the center’s Community Gallery.

Architects and designers were invited to compete for a budget of $8,000, funded by generous private donations to the Anton Art Center, and by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

James Andrachuk and John Williamson of Joint Task Force were selected as finalists for their submission, Layer Cake. Now working as MakeShift, the team is working with Anton Art Center staff and the Shop Shack Committee to see their winning design through. Construction is expected to be in progress during the Shop Shack exhibition.

A Closing Reception will be held Sunday, March 29, 2009, from 1-3 pm. Donors to the renovation effort will be recognized and thanked.

For more information, call the center at 586-469-8666 or visit www.theartcenter.org. The Anton Art Center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; and Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm. The center is closed on Mondays.

The Anton Art Center, the hub for the arts in Macomb County, is located in historic downtown Mount Clemens on the southeast corner of Southbound Gratiot Avenue (M-3) and Macomb Place. Convenient public parking is located in the adjacent Roskopp Parking Lot. For more information please visit www.theartcenter.org.