Artist Talks: Bringing Community and Artists Together
Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center presents Artist Talks. Artist Talks provide an opportunity for the community and gallery members to learn more about exhibiting artists and their work.
Brown Bag Lunch Series
These virtual lunch time breaks offer participants the opportunity to learn more about current exhibiting artists and be able to ask questions.
Upcoming Artist Talks
Registration is required - Click to Register Here
Thursday, September 22, Noon
Zoe Beudry
Combining figuration with surreal elements, my painting practice closely examines the relationship between the self, the physical body, and the metaphysical body in a contemporary context.
I’m interested in the ways that embodied existence causes people to crave “connectedness” while simultaneously striving for individuation. I aim to recreate that tension in my work, often using the visual languages of photography, screens, browser windows, and digital effects to imply nested existences or an illusory reality.
While online avatars and selfies allow for new forms of existential expression, raw corporeal existence is an unavoidable experience that demands consideration and care. Inspired by the teachings and mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, I emphasize embodied presence as necessary for self-knowledge and empathy and represent the body as a potential site for revolution.
Past Brown Bag Lunch Artist Talks
Click on the artists' name to view the talk.
Ashley Pahl
August 25
Ashley is a nature-inspired artist based in East Lansing, Michigan. Painting professionally since 2019, she has been observing and capturing the natural world since her time studying plant geography at Michigan State University. A self-taught painter, Ashley's art education was more scientific in nature, based on field sketches and lab illustrations. Despite designing stationery for over a decade, Ashley never lost touch with her love for observing and documenting the natural world.
Now as a full-time watercolor artist, Ashley's paintings capture the unique landscapes and wildlife of Michigan. Her textured, loose, and dreamy watercolor paintings feature the rich and earthy color palette of the Great Lakes region. From her home studio space, Ashley handcrafts these paintings into keepsake ornaments, art prints, and paper goods.
July 28, 2022
Jessica currently lives in Beulah, MI. Her journey includes years of working in the field of philanthropy, a doctorate in education, directing a small environmental action group, and teaching at the college level. Jessica’s art is deeply influenced by a strong desire to connect her head with her heart and her passions with action. Through her work, she tries to communicate the power of relationships at all different levels. “I love working in mixed media because of the meanings that can evolve out of the layering as well as the richness of color, patterns, and texture that help to tell a story. Combined together they make my heart sing.
Jenny Schu
June 23, 2022
Jenny is a local artist residing in Lansing, who is originally from Fenton, MI. She obtained her Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan School of Art and Design in 2004, concentrating in Fibers. Jenny is most known for her beadwork and large woven works which have been in numerous galleries and exhibits. Jenny’s signature artwork features dramatic beadwork designs, robust color pallets, and beauty found in nature. Jenny strives to produce unique jewelry pieces that are not only inspiring but are functional for everyday use. Jenny has exhibited nationally with Handweavers Guild of America’s Exhibits and Conference; she has been awarded grants and received several awards from exhibits over the years. In 2013 Jenny accepted Best in Show and People’s Choice Awards at MLH Conference for her piece “She Can’t See the Forest through the Trees.” In 2014 she had the honor of attending two artist residencies including being the Artist in Residence at the Porcupine Mountains. Jenny gives programs and workshops through various Fiber Guilds and teaches bead weaving to interested students.
Laurén Brady
May 26, 2022
Laurén Brady is a visual artist and educator living in Charlotte, Michigan. She holds an MFA in Studio Art from Michigan State University and a BS in Studio Art from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her paintings explore landscape, memory, and responding to current environments through expressive mark-making and bold use of color. Her work has been included in several solo, small group, and national juried exhibitions including Customs House Museum and Cultural Center in Clarksville, Tennessee, Eastend Studio and Gallery in Marshall, Michigan, The Sarratt Gallery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, Jackson Dinsdale Art Center at Hastings College, to name a few. Laurén has been awarded artist residencies with Golden Apple Studios, The Sable Project, and La Macina di San Cresci. Her work has been featured in CandyFloss Magazine and Studio Visit Magazine Volume 44, and she is a member of All She Makes, a curated directory for women creatives worldwide. Laurén teaches in the Foundations Area at Michigan State University.
Christine Beals
March 24, 2022
Christine Beals is a local artist who utilizes geometric designs, quilt patterns, and the beauty of nature as inspiration for her work. She meticulously maps out on a wooden board, carefully paints and embellishes it, and finally varnishes it to give it a protective coating. The finished product is very similar to examples of folk art, in that it features bold, clean lines and vibrant colors.
Ruth Egnater
February 24, 2022
Ruth has experimented with many mediums including pottery, oil painting, watercolor, life drawing, jewelry making, basket weaving, and loom weaving. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and formal training in fine arts while working and raising her two daughters. Since retiring from 35 years of nursing, Ruth has been creating art full time. Currently working as a full-time printmaker.
January 27, 2022
Jane is an artist, teacher, and librarian residing in Lansing, Michigan, since 2000. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on weaving and textile design. As a mixed media collage artist, Jane enjoys combining various materials, text, fabric, paper, and fiber. She uses stitching, drawing, and painting along with color, texture, and pattern to create vibrant, lively works. As a teaching artist, she loves to impart a spirit of play, discovery, and experimentation to students. As a librarian, Jane often reuses books and incorporates words into her art.
Past Brown Bag Lunch Series Artist Talks
Mark Chatterly
Lad Hanka
Aj Prajzner
Tom Tomasek and Sally Rose
Art Scholarship Alert Award Winners
Luzhen Qiu and Cathy Jacobs
ArtPath Artist Talks
During the summer of 2021 we were able to hear talks from the following artists:
Wendy Shaft, Site 05 l Friend Of Pollination
Michael Sklenka, Site 14 l Remote Learning
K.W. Bell l Site 01 Sacred Sorrow
Waleed Johnson l Site 13 Unbothered
Sinclair Chase Korte l Site 09 Help
Nancy DeJoy l Site 20 Notes on Coming Off the Endangered Species List
To view, a recording of the ArtPath artist talks click on the artists' name.
- June 16, 2022 at 6pm
Doug DeLind, Site 8, Cat Bench\ - June 30, 2022 at 6pm
Nevin Speerbrecker, Site 4, Lansing the Hidden Garden - July 7, 2022 at 6pm
Hannah Tamiko Mackey, Site 6, In Memory Of A Pond - July 28, 2022 at 6pm
Joan Bambery, Site 15, Fish Fighters Lansing - August 11, 2022 at 6pm
Marissa Tawney Thaler, Site 16, One Wish - August 25, 2022 at 6pm
Kelly A. O'Neill, Site 1, Mondrian Windows
For more information about ArtPath, visit https://lansingartgallery.org/artpath/.
Past Exhibition Video Highlights
Markers of Time l Mark Chatterley
2021Art Scholarship Alert High School Exhibition
Dreamscapes | Luzhen Qiu & Cathy Jacobs
Symbiosis and Interspecies Collaborations | Lad Hanka