Lowell Arts is pleased to announce the opening of Trilogy, an engaging and colorful exhibition featuring three distinct bodies of work united by themes of history, beauty, and identity. On view May 2 through July 11, 2026, Trilogy invites visitors to explore art that is simultaneously rooted in the past and urgently alive in the present.

 

Emerald Green features 34 juried art quilts by SAQA members from Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana responding to the haunting history of Scheele’s Green and Paris Green, arsenic-based pigments whose vibrant beauty came at a deadly cost to workers and consumers throughout the 19th century. Each work incorporates a touch of today’s safe emerald green as a quiet nod to that tragic past. The exhibition was juried by Kathie Kerler, a fiber artist, NQA Certified Judge, and mixed media writer based in Portland, Oregon.

 

Full Bloom presents the work of M. Joy Lemon, a professional artist and instructor trained in the atelier tradition whose work explores the quiet drama of light across floral subjects in oil, charcoal, chalk, and graphite. Her paintings and drawings pair medium with subject to create luminous, three-dimensional form through dramatic light, refined shading, and expressive color.

 

Dialogue of Souls brings together Merima Smajlović and Mary Jane Pories, Grand Rapids-area artists whose shared experiences of displacement and resilience fuel deeply personal bodies of work. Smajlović’s series Voyage de Sabur layers dark tones, Bosnian script, and personal narrative to explore inner strength, while Pories’ series Living in Place draws on Blue Mind Theory to examine how nature and water shape our inner lives.

 

Trilogy is supported in part by Arts Midwest, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. “Arts Midwest is proud to support organizations that are sparking creativity and connection across the Midwest,” said Torrie Allen, President and CEO of Arts Midwest. “This year’s GIG Fund grantees are expanding access to the arts and enriching lives in their local communities.”

 

More information at: lowellarts.org/gallery-exhibits/trilogy

Exhibition & Events

The Lowell Arts Gallery is located at 223 W Main Street in Lowell, Michigan, and is open Tuesday–Friday 10am–6pm and Saturday 12–5pm. Trilogy runs May 2 through July 11, 2026. Admission to the gallery is free.

 

Gallery Reception | Sunday, May 3, 2–4pm

The public is invited to celebrate the opening of Trilogy with a free gallery reception on Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4pm. Meet the artists, explore the work, and enjoy light refreshments.

 

Artist Talk | Thursday, May 14, 6–7:30pm

On Thursday, May 14, the artists of Trilogy will come together for a facilitated conversation about their creative processes and the stories behind their work. Free and open to the public.

Masterclasses

Lowell Arts is offering three hands-on masterclasses led by artists from the exhibition. Each workshop runs 1–3pm on Saturdays and costs $25 ($20 for Lowell Arts Members). Registration is required at lowellarts.org.

 

Weaving Memory: Fabric, Story & Belonging | Saturday, May 16

A participatory workshop with Merima Smajlović and Mary Jane Pories exploring memory, migration, and identity through textile and storytelling.

 

Radiant Florals: Precision in Graphite & Color | Saturday, May 23

Join M. Joy Lemon to learn foundational classical drawing techniques, including the block-in method and form-turning for shading.

 

Dimension on Fabric: Paint Sticks | Saturday, June 6

Explore masking, stenciling, and rubbing techniques with artist Monica Johnstone to create texture, shadow, and luminosity on fabric.

 

Community Activity

 

Toxic to Beautiful: Cyanotypes | June 25 & 26, Open 12-5pm

 

Before synthetic dyes existed, textile workers risked their lives for vivid color. At this workshop, participants can create stunning blue-and-white works using nothing more than sunlight and water.

 

Artist facilitators will guide participants through cyanotype sun printing on fabric, arranging natural and found objects on light-sensitive cloth to produce images both haunting and beautiful. Individual panels will be assembled into a collaborative artwork displayed in Lowell Arts’ Main Street windows through July 11.

 

All materials are provided. No experience is necessary. Families are especially welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $5 ($3 for Lowell Arts Members). Sessions begin at the top of the hour, from 12-4pm. Register at lowellarts.org.