It’s Tuesday evening in Toledo, and about 15 people are painting, drawing, and creating at a large cluster of tables throughout the bottom floor of Sip Coffee at 3160 Markway Rd. It’s Art Jam, an after-work creative hotspot that’s the best show in town.
Organized by Dorian Strange (born with the Oscar Wilde-worthy name Dorian Grey), Art Jam goes off every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Strange has been hosting Art Jam for two years.
The idea was suggested to him by Sip owner Courtnay Cousino, who wanted to host a regular art gathering at her coffee establishment.
“Art Jam works because at its core, it’s about sitting down in a safe environment and conversing with other creative spirits,” said Strange, who is also a stage magician. “We have really talented artists who show up but don’t bring their projects. They just come for the conversation.”
Every Tuesday, Strange shows up lugging a big batch of art supplies — paints, markers, canvases, even old magazines to use for collage materials. Everything is free to use and the crowd size usually averages 20 people.
“Mostly we get people who are just wanting to have fun,” Strange said. “There are times when we only have our regulars, and other times whole families come in. It’s just a great way to come and create.”
For more information, visit siptoledo.com.
■ The 577 Foundation wants your gently used arts supplies.
In honor of Earth Month, the 577 Foundation hopes to reduce waste by recycling all kinds of arts supplies into community projects. Between 3 and 7 p.m. Monday, bring your unused supplies by the 577 Foundation, located at 577 E. Front St. in Perrysburg.
For more information, visit 577foundation.org.
■ April 20 is not an official holiday, but for marijuana enthusiasts it’s a special day to celebrate the world’s most controversial herb. Over at Copper Moon Studio, they’re celebrating 4/20 with a creative streak.
The 4/20 Make ‘n’ Bake Fused Art Glass class invites participants to make a rolling tray, ashtray, platter, or other paraphernalia. This is a special adults only event between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cooper Moon is at 8007 Airport Hwy. in Holland. Price ranges from $75 to $105, depending on the object participants make.
For more information, email Suzie Yeager at info@coppermstudio.com.
■ This is the last week to catch The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
This photographic exhibition features the works of Black photographers in a series of color portraits, conceptual images, and fashion pictorials. The exhibit ends on Sunday. Admission to the DIA, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, is free.
For more information, visit dia.org.
■ The No Boundaries exhibit at the Hudson Gallery comes down on Saturday, so don’t miss your chance to explore this homage to surrealism and abstract art. Featured artists include Susan Morosky, Matt Wolcott, and Skot Horn.
Hudson Gallery is located at 5645 N. Main St. in Sylvania. For more information, visit hudsongallery.net.
■ April 22 is the last day to enter artwork into the juried art competition for the Maple and Main Art and Music Festival, running June 4-5 in downtown Sylvania. There’s a jury fee of $25, and up to six pieces can be entered. A variety of cash awards are available, including $1,000 for best in show and $500 for first place.
For full rules and details, visit sylvaniaarts.org.
■ If you live in the Lake Erie Shores and Islands region, you won’t want to miss Art Dock, a community arts organization that allows you to take — or teach — a variety of creative classes. Some classes are held in Port Clinton, others in Marblehead and Oak Harbor. Learn everything from macrame to wine glass painting to how to create a fused glass suncatcher.
For a full schedule of available classes, visit artdock.org.
Send news of art items at least two weeks in advance to Jason Webber at jwebber@theblade.com.
First Published April 14, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
