“Power Imbalance” Receives Juror Award at Carnegie Center Competition, 2016

Power Imbalance has received a Juror Award at the 2016 installment of the annual art competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan.

"Power Imbalance", 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 in., by David Jay Spyker

“Power Imbalance”, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 in., by David Jay Spyker

Greg Waskowsky, one of three jurors for the exhibition, and now-retired Curator of Special Programs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, wrote this wonderful paragraph about Power Imbalance:

In choosing a juror’s award from among the 2-D works, I was repeatedly drawn to David Jay Spyker’s Power Imbalance. I was impressed not only with how the artist used his considerable technique to capture the specific feeling of a landscape (such as the way in which the purplish light of the distant storm front is reflected off the dark waves in the foreground), but also how he subtly provides a symbolic dimension to the landscape, as evidenced by the tiny lights along the far shoreline. Taken as a whole, Spyker’s realism shows us that the world we live in is more mysterious and affecting than we might assume.

I really could not have said that better myself. My sincerest thanks go out to Greg.

"Power Imbalance", 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, Detail, by David Jay Spyker

“Power Imbalance”, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, Detail, by David Jay Spyker

The most distant set of lights is at the nuclear power plant in South Haven, Michigan, where clouds of steam can be seen billowing back up over the shore.

2016 Regional Competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts

You are invited to the opening of the annual regional art competition in Three Rivers this Sunday, the 24th, at the Carnegie Center for the Arts. I will be showing three of my paintings: Power Imbalance, Harvest Tide, and The Last Days of Autumn.

CCA-2016-Regional-Announcement-Card-Spyker-David-JayThe reception is from 2-4 pm with awards announced at 3 o’clock.

Carnegie Center for the Arts
107 N. Main Street
Three Rivers, MI 49093

2015 Solo Show at Mixed Media Gallery, Saugatuck/Douglas, MI

I would like to invite you all to the opening reception for my solo show at Mixed Media Gallery on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 6-8pm.

David Jay Spyker, "Convergence", 2014, Acrylic on Alupanel, 16 x 12 1/2 inches

“Convergence”, 2014, Acrylic on Alupanel, 16 x 12 1/2 inches

David Jay Spyker, "Power Imbalance", 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20

“Power Imbalance”, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches

David Jay Spyker - Photographing a Painting

Photographing “Harvest Tide” in the studio before delivery to the gallery.

The show runs Oct. 9-25, 2015. The beautiful lake shore towns of Saugatuck & Douglas are hosting their 38th annual gallery stroll October 10-11; enjoy visiting all the participating galleries and artist’s studios in the area.

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Artwork delivery at Mixed Media Gallery, Douglas, MI

 

Mixed Media Gallery
25 East Center St.
Douglas, MI 49046
(269) 857-873

Barricade

In this watercolor and drybrush piece we’re on the beach of Lake Michigan looking back toward the woods that rise up out of the dunes. The woods’ edge is akin to a dark, mysterious barrier, very primal and wild to me. Ever since childhood, the sight of a wooded tree line has always excited a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore.

Barricade, 2010, Drybrush and Watercolor on Paper (Fabriano Artistico 300 lb. Cold Pressed), 12 1/2 x 11 in., by David Jay Spyker

Barricade, 2010, Drybrush and Watercolor on Paper (Fabriano Artistico 300 lb. Cold Pressed), 12 1/2 x 11 in.

Trish and I were at Hoffmaster State Park, just north of Grand Haven, Michigan. At the end of the day, we were heading out of the park at closing time – pretty much right on the minute – with 6 or 7 other cars only to find the kid manning the gate had locked it already. We had to sit there for over an hour while we waited for someone to come from the nearby campground to let us all out.

I am always happy when a title comes to me that fits more than one meaning; “Barricade” seemed perfect for this little painting.

Barricade, 2010, Drybrush and Watercolor on Paper (Fabriano Artistico 300 lb. Cold Pressed), Detail, by David Jay Spyker

Barricade, 2010, Drybrush and Watercolor on Paper (Fabriano Artistico 300 lb. Cold Pressed), Detail

Sudden Flight at Muskegon Museum of Art

Sudden Flight will be included in the Muskegon Museum of Art’s 87th Regional Exhibition, which is open to all Michigan artists.

spyker-painting-acrylics-sudden-flight-2013-700px

The annual competition runs June 4 through August 5, 2015 with the reception June 4 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.The Museum also has a small, but highly outstanding permanent collection with many superb paintings.

Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Birds of a Feather Group Show, 2015

As the official grand re-opening, Mixed Media Gallery will be hosting a themed group exhibition titled “Birds of a Feather” starting over Memorial Day weekend.

mixed-media-gallery-birds-of-a-feather-1
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Come see some great art and meet some artists at the reception, May 23, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. I’ll have ten of my own pieces in the gallery with two of them as part of the group show. The exhibition runs two weeks.

Mixed Media Gallery
23 Center St.Douglas, MI 49406
(269) 857-8738
www.mixedmediadouglas.com

 

15 May 2015, 12:16pm
Exhibitions
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2015 MAAC at the Box Factory for the Arts

“Regatta” and “Whisper” are in the Michiana Annual Art Competition at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan. The show runs May 13 – June 27, 2015.

Regatta and Whisper by David Jay Spyker at 2015 MAAC, box Factory for the Arts

Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI 49085
269.983.3688
boxfactoryforthearts.org

25 Mar 2015, 3:59pm
Galleries
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Mixed Media Gallery, Douglas, MI

Yesterday I delivered nine paintings to Mixed Media Gallery in Douglas, MI (Saugatuck).

David Jay Spyker, Art, Mixed Media Gallery, Douglas, MI
David Jay Spyker, Art, Mixed Media Gallery, Douglas, MII had worked with Mixed Media Gallery more than ten years ago until it closed its doors. When the owner, John Thomas, contacted me about the gallery re-opening, I was pleased to offer him some work for display. If you’re in the area, stop by to have a look, they’re getting new art in and setting up through the weekend.

The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review

A request by small poetry publication, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, to use one of my older paintings in their upcoming issue prompted me to re-shoot it. I happened to still have this one, and I emailed an image of Watchers to them today.

"Watchers", 2002, Acrylic on Panel, 5 7/8 x 14 in., by David Jay Spyker

“Watchers”, 2002, Acrylic on Panel, 5 7/8 x 14 in., by David Jay Spyker

It will appear as an inside, black-and-white image in the Winter 2015 issue.

The Last Days of Autumn Wins Memorial Award

“The Last Days of Autumn” (featured in my last article) received the Donna Balavitch Memorial Award in the Winter Arts Festival Competition at Gallery Uptown (Grand Haven, MI) last night. Donna was a watercolorist who loved and grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. She was also the mother of Lee Ann Frame, who is the chair of the Winter Arts Festival in Grand Haven, MI.

In my correspondence with Lee Ann, who is now a print maker, she expressed how she loved sharing art with her mother; in fact, they used to share shows, galleries, and regular critiques.

I was very happy to hear how much Donna would have enjoyed my painting, and am honored to receive this award in her memory.

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  • “I put a lot of things into my work which are very personal to me. So how can the public feel these things? I think most people get to my work through the back door. They’re attracted by the realism and they sense the emotion and the abstraction — and eventually, I hope, they get their own powerful emotion.”
    ~ Andrew Wyeth

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