Milford, MI Art Exhibit

The Milford Times

Husband and wife pair up their artwork for November exhibition at Highland Township art gallery

Visitors to the Huron Valley Council for the Arts gallery on Nov. 6 can expect a flurry of activity — not only from the Empty Bowls event that evening, but also from the excitement generated by opening night of the Helen and Grant Fischer exhibit and sale.

Empty Bowls is a program that raises money for the needy through sales of pottery bowls crafted by artists and others in the community. The Fischers, the gallery's featured artists for November, said they are thrilled to share the spotlight with such a worthy cause. It all begins at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served and musical entertainment will be provided by Dave Armstrong. Dressy attire is requested.

“I think it's kind of cool, kind of neat,” said Grant.

“I think it's great,” added Helen. “We'll have a nice, full show.”

Among those attending the Fischers' reception will likely be plenty of Lakeland High School students — since Helen has been an art instructor there for nearly 20 years. And through the month of November, it's Helen's time to step out of her teacher role and show the public what she can do. She'll have a variety of her works on display, mostly acrylic paintings.

Her style?

She describes it as “all over the board.” “I like to try different things,” Helen said. “As I've gotten older, my style has evolved and changed. I flip-flop between abstract and realistic.

“But if I had to categorize, I'd call myself a colorist. I love color,” she said.

Her husband, Grant, makes up the other half of the artsy couple. He's retired from Howell High School, where he taught art for 33 years. His style is quite unlike Helen's, and he typically chooses landscapes as his subject material.

“I have always had a love of that. I spent a lot of time as a kid on my family's farm and in the woods. That gets into your psyche,” Grant said.

He also taps into scenes of nature he has experienced during his travels through the western United States.

“I really enjoy the challenge of painting. It's an elusive chore to get a really good one. That's the beauty of it all, to get a good one — a jewel,” he said.

The Fischers will also display sculptures in their show.

“There will be diversity — something for everyone,” Grant said.

The HVCA gallery is at 205 W. Livingston Road, just west of Milford Road in Highland.

By Aileen Wingblad • STAFF WRITER • October 29, 2009