Dexter Township Art Show Celebrates Outdoor Sports

About 30 artisans and artists will be featured at the Great Lakes Sporting Arts Show, set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8, at 12075 Island Lake Rd. in Dexter Township.

Visitors will see how longbows, flint lock guns, bamboo rods and hunting knives are made, and will enjoy demonstrations of gun engraving, fly-tying, boat building, and more. They can browse antique and rare books, as well as fine crafts and fine art related to fishing, hunting, and sporting dogs.

The new show is the brainchild of Dexter Township artisan Lauren Kingsley, owner of The Painted Trout.

“People should know about these traditions, the skill involved, the artistry,” says Kingsley, who also hosts the annual event each fall.

“They should know about the history of these sports, not just the sports themselves, and they should be able to share in their celebration through exposure to the fine artists who honor these sports and the wildlife involved," Kingsley continued.

Kingsley started to pull this show together last November.

“That’s not counting all the conversations with artists I’ve had for the two years before,” she says. “Lord knows it’s a ton of work getting a show like this off the ground."

Artists include: Dave Ruimveld, a renowned watercolorist, Dennis Potter, Scott Spears, Ron Barch from Alder Creek Angling, Ann Arbor basket maker Mary Coscia, Chris Chantland, who specializes in dog and people portraits, master bladesmith Doug Noren, and knife-maker Don Cowles, as will various nonprofit groups.

Admission and parking are free, and the show is handicapped accessible. Pilar’s Tamales of Ann Arbor will have refreshments to purchase. For information, visit greatlakessportingarts.com, call 734-424-4822, or email lauren@greatlakessportingarts.com.