“On Art and Inspiration”

Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center Speaker Series Continues
From our friends at the NCMHC:
On Wednesday, June 20th at 6:30 pm, Gabe Shillman, proprietor of Studio 37 of Newaygo, will speak about art and inspiration. The presentation highlights his personal journey, which led him to open up a space to celebrate the transformative power of art. Another main theme is the inspiration behind the incredible mural and panels that he and his business partner Stacey Kirk created for the Museum, art that forms the backbone of the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center’s newest exhibit “A Delicate Balance; Our interaction with Newaygo County’s Natural Resources”
Studio 37 opened in February of 2016 in downtown Newaygo. The studio’s mission is make art accessible to everyone, and they do an admirable job of it, hosting art exhibits and openings, teaching classes to all age groups from children to seniors and all in between. The studio also acts as a venue for local music and as a gathering spot for the art community and those interested in art to come together.
Gabe is a Flint native who ended up in Newaygo County with his wife Nina, a native of Grant. An accomplished author of 5 books and a gifted singer songwriter whose works have appeared in TV commercials and been used by John Mellencamp.
Gabe’s foray into the painting is relatively new. A self-taught artist, he began painting about three years ago as a way of dealing with a bout of depression. The therapeutic value of art spoke so powerfully to him that he sold his substantial construction business to open the studio to share art with all. Although he originally opened the studio alone, he developed an excellent working relationship with local artist Stacey Kirk, who now acts as his partner.
The forty-minute presentation, the second of this year’s Heritage Speaker series, will be followed by a time of questions and answers. The Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center is at 12 Quarterline in downtown Newaygo. Doors are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are matched at 50 percent by the Fremont Area Community Foundation, which provides core operational support for the organization.

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