THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24TH
GALLERY U, ROYAL OAK MICHIGAN 6-9PM
The Royal Oak Retailer's Association invites you to join them for "Snap Judgement".
Featuring Work by Janna Coumoundouros Bissett, including never before seen works.
The event will feature the work of local photographers displayed in downtown businesses.
Snap Judgement was in the Daily Tribune:
Photography by local and national artists will be showcased in shops, salons and restaurants throughout downtown Royal Oak in the first annual Snap Judgment Photography Event, Feb. 24-27. Sponsored by the Royal Oak Association of Retailers (ROAR), the photo displays will also raise awareness and funds for the Royal Oak Animal Shelter. A VIP Preview, 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, will start out at the new Fifth Avenue where guests enjoy a drink and appetizers and then head out for an evening that's part “art walk” and part “poker run.” Each participating business will hand out playing cards, and guests with the best poker hands at the end of the night will win bottles of wine, gift certificates and other prizes.
“Any time during the evening people can go back to Fifth Avenue to turn their hand in. We'll have envelopes to collect the cards and we'll contact the winners,” said Linda Isrow, owner of Stella Boutique, who headed up the event's organizing committee.
The VIP Preview will also provide an opportunity to meet the artists. Photographer Ken Music won't have far to travel, as his Studio 326 is right across the street from Vintner's Cellar, the venue showcasing his work.
“Most of the things I'll show will be my own personal images rather than what I do for clients,” said Music who specializes in photos of cars and products for ad agencies and businesses.
One of Music's photos is a close-up of the tail fin of a ‘59 cherry-red Cadillac. A hand is seen gently buffing the chrome with a cloth. For Plymouth photographer Brian Hill, an image of a Corvette logo or a Mustang hubcap represent letters in his letter art photographs, which will be on display and are sold at Ladybug Craft and Frame Shoppe.“He takes photographs of signs and things and puts them together to make a word,” said store owner Laura Harrison. “I've got one that says, ‘I love Royal Oak.' The ‘I' is from Oak City Grille. ‘Love' is a heart is from Shrine Church. The ‘R' is from the Royal Oak Music Theatre, and the ‘O' is from Memphis Smoke ... With each letter art piece you get the story of where he took the pictures.”
Local artist Jon Pickell's hand-colored black and white photos will be showcased at Lift Designer Toys & Gallery. And if you like small scale “photo-centric” art, check out the Art-O-Mat at Lift. The refurbished cigarette vending machine will be fully stocked with a variety of photo art for a mere $5 each.
Many participating businesses will offer discounts and surprises during the VIP Preview. At Gallery U, Hula Hooping experts will entertain, as visitors view works by Clawson photographer and jewelry artist Janna Bissett, and New Jersey mixed media photographer Erica Resnik.
“We're also going to feature photographs by most of our clients who work at the gallery,” said vocational rehab technician Ashley Cook, of the unique art space that shows work and is operated by people with traumatic brain injuries as part of their recovery and transition back into the community.
Tickets for the VIP Preview (21 and older) are available in advance at participating venues for $15, or $20 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Royal Oak Animal Shelter. BlackFinn, a participating photo venue, will host an additional fundraiser for the shelter, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. For a $5 donation guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers and drink specials.
The photography display is open to the public, and a second poker run, free to those 21 and older, takes place Saturday, Feb. 26. Just visit the venues displaying photographs (www.roarevents.info), pick up playing cards and turn them in at Fifth Avenue or at one of the participating businesses for a chance to win prizes.
Additional events are still in the works for Snap Judgment. To learn more, call (248) 677-1873 or visit www.roarevents.info.