(NORWAY, MI)–It is with pleasure that the Jake Menghini Museum of Norway, Michigan announces that we will be hosting our fourth art show the weekend of Leif Eriksen Celebration, October 6th and 7th, 2017. The show will be held in the two buildings of the museum on O’Dill Road, just past the viaduct on US 2 in Norway. The main building and the restored Odill home will both have the displays of our local artists. Some of the groups that have committed to being a part of the Fourth Art Show will be the Borderland Art Group, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College painting class, Les’ Artistes, Through the Lens Photo Club, and many local artists of the Norway-Vulcan area.
This year the museum will have the talent of Crystal Hogan playing background music during the Friday night portion of the art show. On Saturday morning Roger Eklund will be playing his banjo with old favorites and in the afternoon Kathy Falls will entertain us with the soothing sound of her dulcimer. We are privileged to have these talented musicians to entertain us thru the weekend.
Each year the museum recognizes a local artist, this year we have chosen Robert (Bob) Braspennickx as our honored artist. Bob was a Vulcan native having graduated from Vulcan High School in 1958. After graduation he went on to serve his country in the United States Navy. When his military service was complete he attended Northern Michigan University graduating in 1966 then continuing on to receive his Master’s in Education in 1969. Mr. Braspennickx married Barbara Sturm in 1965 and completed his family with two children; son Kevin(Maribeth) and daughter Kerry. His children blessed him with four grandchildren; Bryce, McKenna, Paeyton, and Tyler. He was the son of Charles and Mema Braspennickx and brother to Barb (Larry) Partanen. Bob was a respected and loved art teacher and librarian at Iron Mountain High School in the 1960’s thru 1990’s. Mr. Braspennickx was the art teacher at IMHS for 32 years, but spent many of his summers teaching driver’s education. He brought out the artistic talent that was hidden in all his students. Bob worked with and taught many different mediums – we are privileged to have some of his work loaned to us from his children to display.
‘In the 1970’s Mr. B, as he was known to his students, taught art in a windowless basement corner classroom at IMHS where he gave to his students . . . not only teaching sketching, painting, pottery, photography and leatherwork, but he gave of himself. Mr. B. was not one to criticize our work, he “adjusted” how we looked at the world and our work. With a simple suggestion or a different stroke what would appear to be common became a work of art. He gave us light where there was none in a classroom filled with color, music, talent and his smile.’ Quote from one of his former students.
We are honored to have this commitment from the artists of the area to show their fine workmanship in our unusual setting. The Odill home has wonderful lighting and space to display many fine paintings, while the main museum building has wonderful old showcases and areas where both small and large items will be displayed to the advantage of the fine art.
The Art Show is again being held in conjunction with the Leif Eriksen Celebration. This year the Museum will be open on Friday from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm, and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 pm, self-tours will be allowed during the show, there will be an admittance fee of $3.00 for adults, students 12 and under will be $1.00 to view the artist’s renderings. The art work will not just be for display purposes; some of the artist’s work will be for sale! This will be an awesome opportunity for the viewers to purchase items from the individual artists.