The Traverse Area District Library is pleased to welcome and host local artists Beth Bancroft Bynum and Kristy A. (Zitta) Avery in September at the Main Branch on Woodmere.
Sharing a love for world travel (collectively, these two women have visited almost 20 different countries) and a passion for creating, local residents Bynum and Avery will join forces displaying mixed media artwork from their "second" careers as artists. An opening reception will be held Sunday, September 9 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. in the McGuire Community Room. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and meet the artists and view their artwork.
With an artistic background and training resulting from formal education, life experiences, and career opportunities, Avery says she feels fortunate to have been able to thread her love for art throughout the tapestry of her life.
"Global travel...opened my eyes to art history, art techniques and a wide range of scenes and images that I captured in photography or in my memory to inspire my future artwork," said Avery.
A Kingsley native and retired teacher, Bynum has taught with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Arizona on the Navajo Reservation, in New Mexico, and for the duration of her teaching career with the Buckley Community Schools. Throughout her teaching years, she found time to travel the world visiting places as far away as Japan, and India. Since retiring she has put her energy into her mixed media art. Finding inspiration from her travels and interest in cultures around the world, her art reflects her joy of learning.
"When I start a piece, I never know where it will take me," said Bynum. "The thrill is in the process. All of my art pieces have a story."
Avery, who in addition to mixed media and collage, works in acrylic paint, photography, pottery and glass. She is active in continuing her creative exploration of art technique and meeting and finding inspiration from other artists in the area.
Both artists have exhibited their work in the Northern Michigan art scene and beyond. This year, Bynum's artwork was selected as part of the juried show at the Dennos Museum. She received Third Place in the Mackinac Island Historic Parks Exhibition showing at the Manoogian Gallery on Mackinac Island. Receiving an Honorable Mention at the Art and the Garden Show sponsored by Artcenter Traverse City, Bynum has displayed her artwork in shows sponsored by the Ann Arbor Women Artists in Northville and Ypsilanti and will be showing at the upcoming LowellArt Center, BigArt Exhibition in Traverse City, Artcenter Member Exhibition, Elizabeth Oliver Fall Juried Exhibition, and Crooked Tree in Petoskey.
Most recently, Avery's artwork has been displayed at Crooked Tree in Charlevoix, the Oliver Art Center in Frankfurt (Crystal Lake Art Center), Jordan River Arts Council in East Jordan, ArtCenter Traverse City shows, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Museum on Mackinac Island, the Traverse City Art and Design Studio, and the Lowell Arts (Collage Exhibition). She is a member of several Northern Michigan art councils. Both Avery and Bynum are volunteers for ArtCenter Traverse City.
An enthusiastic supporter of libraries, Bynum served on the TADL Board that built the Woodmere library and she was the founding president of the Kingsley Friends of the Library and an active member helping to build the Kingsley Branch Library. She currently teaches art classes at the Kingsley Branch of TADL. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, working on her house, creating art, hanging exhibits for Artcenter Traverse City and of course travelling, with an upcoming trip to Paris!
Bynum attended Northwestern Michigan College and graduated from Central Michigan University with Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education majoring in Social Science and with a minor in Biology. Learn more about Bynum's artwork and upcoming shows by visiting her blog at http://bethbynumartist.blogspot.com
Avery's professional career and experiences includes working as a corporate graphic artist and as an executive travel/event planner with Fortune 500 Company, Dow Corning Corporation.