In 1999, a small group of artists from the Brighton area began meeting at the Brighton District Library to discuss forming an art organization for the Brighton area. The idea was to benefit the visual artists, and the community. A decision was made to canvass the community to determine if there was interest in such an undertaking. Thirty artists attended the first open meeting in October 1999. The Guild met monthly at the library until March 2002, when the meetings moved to a larger facility at the Michigan Group. A Newsletter has been published since 2000. In 2001, the Brighton Art Guild (BAG) received tax-exempt status from the IRS. Currently there are fifty members.
Members have contributed their talents to the Brighton High School art festivals in 2000 2001and 2002; painted in the gardens for the LACASA garden tours in 1999 and 2000; donated artwork or time to the Mayor's Commission on Art in Public Places; to Livingston Art Council auctions, Habitat for Humanity, Empty Bowls, Brighton Film Fest, and Rotary; juried for the Brighton Art Fair; painted business windows as a Livingston Art Council fundraiser for the Howell Opera House restoration.
Administered by the Brighton Art Guild is Art at the Library - a unique "art in public places" program offered in cooperation with the Brighton District Library. These juried exhibitions feature a two and a 3-dimensional artist exhibiting together for up to six weeks, with opening receptions, where the public can meet with the artists. The 2004 Art at the Library series marks the sixth year for this very successful program.
In 2001 the Art Guild launched an outreach program called Art by BAG. This venture is offered to businesses in the area, where individual Art Guild members install their artwork in local businesses for three-month mini-solo exhibitions. Currently there are ten businesses participating in the program.
2004 will see the fifth All-Member exhibition called Kaleidoscope. Installed at the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts the first part of October, there is a Gala the first Saturday of the show, where the public is invited to visit with the exhibiting artists. Local businesses contribute refreshments, there is "live" music, and everyone may participate in a "silent auction" of donated artwork by members. This is the Guild's fundraiser each year. This year the Brighton Chamber and the Guild will host an After Hours reception on Tuesday, October 5. Also, on Wednesday evening, October 6, while the exhibition is up, this year's Juror of Awards Donna Zagotta returns and critiques the artwork. The public is encouraged to attend this very educational program.
Art at the Millpond lends an atmosphere of festivity to Friday evenings. Held at the Brighton Millpond, families enjoying an ice cream, or going for a stroll after dinner may wander by and visit with the exhibiting artists.
For more information on all these programs and events, wander through this website.
OTHER BAG INFORMATION
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Brighton Art Guild
P. O. Box 65, Brighton, Mi 48116 | 810.220.9091 | Email