East Hills gastro pub to connect artists with community at Art in the Garden

On Sunday, June 30 The Green Well Gastro Pub in collaboration with The Off Center Gallery will be hosting local artists from noon to 5 p.m. in the Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF) garden.

“Grand Rapids is already so successful in supporting local art and artists. We wanted to bring an event into East Hills that would do the same for our neighborhood,” says Marie M. Couretas, curator of The Off Center Gallery, a rotating gallery of work in Green Well.

Ten percent of each artist’s sales will be donated to Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and the other 90 percent will go directly to the artist. The artists’ booth fees will also be donated to Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.

“Art in the Garden will be featuring fine artists, original mixed media works and other artists such as Parliament the Boutique by Little Wings Designs, a new boutique that just opened up at 120 S. Division Ave.,” says Couretas. “There will also be live music at 4 p.m. by the Kent County String Band, a local group that provides amazing popular standards from the 1890s through the 1950s.”

Artist/musician Rick Beerhorst says an event like Art in the Garden for the Grand Rapids is important for the art community.

“It creates an environment where there can be an exchange between artists and people that are interested in art, or even people that may become interested in art just by having that initial experience,” he says.

Beerhorst sees the event as something appropriate for up-and-coming artists who are trying to get off the ground, and individuals who do art on the side.

“It can be a great way to begin things, like my daughter and my son, you know, are going to have things for sale there, and people that are just getting their careers started,” he says. “It’s out in the open; there isn’t the intimidation of a gallery or big, tall museum doors and an entrance fee and membership.”

This is the first true artists market in the East Hills area and the first event hosted by The Off Center Gallery. Couretas hopes that eventually Art in the Garden will become an event that is held on a more regular basis.

“There hasn't been an artists market yet in East Hills, so this event will be the very first and not the last. We hope to continue Art in the Garden each month!” says Couretas.