‘Art of Water III’ in Algoma, May 3-5

Art Algoma invites the public to join more than 150 regional and national artists celebrating “our most vital resource” throughout downtown Algoma during the Art of Water III. Inspired by Algoma’s beautiful Lake Michigan coastline, the event focuses on the conservation and protection of water.

On May 3, Art of Water III features opening receptions, 5:30-8 pm. Friday’s other activities include Water’s Edge Artists, a group of plein-air painters at work throughout Algoma, 9 am to dusk. Finished paintings will be on display at Steele Street Trading Co. & Gallery. Families may participate in raku firings at Clay on Steele for a small fee, 5:30-8:30 pm. Yardstick Books will celebrate the publication of a limited-edition book that honors water in poems, essays and fiction pieces written by local and national authors. A special water-themed quilt for raffle will be on display at Amber’s Attic, 5:30-8 pm. Food will be available at Gourmet Corn Food Truck, 4-8:30 pm, and participants can enjoy a fish fry and other supper-club classics at Hotel Stebbins, 5-9:30 pm. Steele Street Hops will host musicians Levi Zeitler and Chris Rugowski, 8:30-10:30 pm.

The festivities will continue on May 4, with all locations open. Attend a special talk, “Kayaking the Ahnapee,” by Bay Shore Outfitters at James May North, 11 am; a water-poems reading at Yardstick Books, 1 pm; and a Story Board Walk on Crescent Beach featuring a story by local author Janet Tlachac-Toonen.

Exhibitions will continue at select locations on May 5. Yardstick will offer a reading from FIGURE 8 by author Jeff Nania, 2 pm. All galleries and shops will host their exhibitions during May.  

Donations will be collected to benefit the Friends of Crescent Beach, who promote – through advocacy, education and activities – the improvement, support, protection and enjoyment of Crescent Beach. For more information, visit artalgoma.org.