 Steph Joy Hogan is a Mixed-Media Painter, color enthusiast, visual storyteller and self-styled whimsical world-builder from Lansing, MI, who studied Fine Art at Michigan State University and the University of Iowa. Working primarily with acrylic paint, ink, and scraps of found paper ephemera, Steph intuitively creates layered skyscapes, imaginary universes, and the whimsical creatures that inhabit them. Inspired by her parents’ talents and encouragement, Stephanie makes art that is joyfully created to fuel your imagination and energize your corner of the cosmos.
Stephanie’s work is currently featured at Katalyst Gallery in Old Town Lansing, Main Street Art in Milford, MI, and Northville Art House in Northville, MI. Her work is permanently on display in Impression 5 Science Center, The Susan and Jack Davis Nature Pavilion and Gallery at Fenner Nature Center, and the new headquarters of The Davies Project. Stephanie’s work has also been seen previously on an Art in the Sky Billboard, in the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, Keys to Creativity, Blue Owl Coffee, the East Lansing Art Festival, the Flint Art Fair, Art Feast, Scrapfest, Cherry Capital Comic Con, Art & Craft Beer Fest, and multiple exhibitions with Working Women Artists and Mid-Michigan Art Guild. Stephanie is a back-to-back-to-back Lansing City Pulse Top of the Town ‘Top Artist Award’ Finalist finishing in the Top 3 in 2018, 2019, & 2020. She placed third in the Keys to Creativity Drawing and Illustration Exhibition in 2018. In 2019, she placed second in the Mid-Michigan Art Guild 12x12 Show & was the Gallerist Award Winner. She also won that year’s Mid-Michigan Art Guild All Creatures Great and Small Award of Excellence. She placed third in the 2020 Mid-Michigan Art Guild Member Exhibition, and was the People's Choice Award Winner for the 2020 Working Women Artists 50.50.50 Exhibition. In early 2021, Steph recently received an Honorable Mention in the Northville Art House Shear Madness Juried Collage Exhibition. Sixty international artists were represented in this international show. Steph was one of only 2 artists to have multiple works accepted and her two pieces were two of the three to sell during the exhibition. In addition to being an Opportunity Arts Affiliate, Steph is also a member of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, Mid-Michigan Art Guild, Cedar Street Art Collective, & All SHE Makes. She is also a member of Working Women Artists, where she served as a Past President. Stephanie has been featured by a variety of publications & news outlets including The Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Lansing City Pulse, Hello Artist with Marissa Tawney Thaler, The Oakland Press, and East Lansing Info. Stephanie has served as an Arts Council of Greater Lansing smARTS Workshop Panelist for "Responding to the call for individual artists 2019", and as a Guest Juror for the Lansing Art Gallery, “Ingham Student Art Exhibit" in 2021. Stephanie has been featured on the Lansing Made 517 Day Broadcast Celebration on Fox 47-WSYM, in the 2018 East Lansing Art Festival promotional fundraising video, and as a presenter for the 2020 Creative Placemaking Summit 6, "Making a Place: Live Art-Making Experience" where she created an original mixed-media painting, 'I am Lansing', prints of which are now available and the sale of which will raise over $3000 to support the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. Steph works out of a studio space she shares with her husband Daniel, located within Lansing’s top arts incubator Cedar Street Art Collective. Stephanie & Daniel have collaborated together on a collection of original watercolor illustrations as well as a series of mixed-media/digital art prints. When not doing art, the Hogans enjoy spending time with their 5 adorable cats. To find out more about Stephanie, her work, and her most popular collection entitled Scrapscapes, visit: www.stephjoyhogan.com.
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 Daniel J. Hogan is a cartoonist who makes comics and other illustrations, with a focus on whimsy and humor, creating illustrations that get a smile or a chuckle out of the viewer. His inspirations include the goofy creations of Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson, and Harvey Kurtzman. He works both digitally as well as traditionally with watercolor, gouache, & mixed media. In addition to visual art, Daniel is also a writer creating novels, comics, blogs, copy, & freelance articles, including a self-published Young Adult novel, The Magic of Eyri, which he then adapted to a free podcast, found at www.magicofeyri.com. He also self-published a collection of his Foxes & Boxes comics in 2019 & is currently working on what will eventually be a volume two.
Born in Detroit and raised in Harper Woods, Daniel relocated to Lansing in 2005 after completing a degree in film and video production with an animation emphasis from Grand Valley State University. While attending GVSU, Daniel received a grant to attend a stop-motion animation workshop & was awarded the Best Student Animation at 2004 Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts for his animated short “Lunch Date”. He is a self-taught comic maker and artist. Daniel is the winner of the 2015 Webcomic Category & the 2015 Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo Prize (SPACE) winner for Clattertron (clattertron.com). He is the winner of the 2018 Sycamore Park Neighborhood Sign Topper Design Contest & also finished in the top 3 in the 2019 Brighton Main Street Wine Art Music Festival. Daniel has also been featured in both the Lansing State Journal and Lansing City Pulse as well as in a story about selling his art at Seams in East Lansing on Fox 47. Daniel’s work has been on display at multiple locations throughout the state including at the East Lansing Art Festival, Flint Art Fair, West Shore Art Fair, Brighton Main Street Wine Art Music Festival, Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition, Makers Market at the MSU Broad Art Lab, Michigan State University Comics Forum, Cherry Capital Comic Con, Motor City Comic Con, Capital City Comic Con, Sunrises & Smokestacks Exhibition at Fenner Nature Center, Arts Night Out, ArtFeast, Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE) & Found Cartoons: a solo exhibition for the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. Daniel works out of a studio space he shares with his wife Steph, located within Lansing’s top arts incubator Cedar Street Art Collective. Stephanie & Daniel have collaborated together on a collection of original watercolor illustrations as well as a series of mixed-media/digital art prints. When not doing art, the Hogans enjoy spending time with their 5 adorable cats. To learn more about Daniel and his work, visit: www.danieljhogan.com.  Emily Scott a dancer, instructor, and choreographer who also dabbles in acting and singing. She was born in Dayton, OH, but moved with her family to Mid-Michigan when she was a toddler. Emily danced competitively throughout elementary school & junior high, and has performed in the Nutcracker with the Children’s Ballet Theater at the Wharton Center, with the Cincinnati Ballet Company at the Detroit Opera House, & the with the Moscow Ballet at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.
While majoring in performance dance at Eastern Michigan University, Emily also had the opportunity to perform at Pease Auditorium and Quirk Theater. She currently teaches at the Foster Community Center in Lansing, and in Okemos at her alma mater Happendance where she was also featured in their local commercial. Over her career, Emily has had the opportunity to work with a multitude of dance professionals including Kristi Faulkner, Joori Jung, Joanna McNamara, Sherry Wilkinson, Phil Simmons, Jeremy Blair, & Haleem Rasul. Dance has always been Emily’s “escape from reality” and the one constant in her life. She knows she can always turn to dance when life gets crazy. Emily’s main focus in regards to teaching dance is to try to break the cycle of mental trauma that some young dancers have had to endure growing up in the art form. Emily had heard many horror stories about what dancers go through as kids, and she wanted to change that. She focuses on having a very body positive atmosphere, not playing favorites, and trying to catch the warning signs of perfectionism, burnout, and anxiety as early as she can, and give her students ways to work through it. Emily loves the opportunity to pass her passion for dance on to aspiring dancers for generations to come. To find out more about Emily, her work, & her classes visit: www.tiktok.com/@dancingmach  Michaela Clark is a self-taught, professional photographer from Lansing, MI who focuses on Family, couple, & newborn photo shoots while capturing authentic moments. She has had the opportunity to photograph multiple families throughout Mid-Michigan. Michaela is also able to provide professional headshots for business professionals, artists, & creatives. In addition her passion for photography, Michaela also took ballet & Irish step dance for over a decade.
When not engaging in the arts, Michaela enjoys spending time at the lake, enjoying a cup of coffee, or at her job as an Administrative Assistant at Modern Woodmen. She is also the mother of an adorable two year old! For more information about Michaela & her work visit: www.mclarkphotography81.mypixieset.com  Tamara A. Glenn is an Author & Investment Executive. The Lansing native is a lover of arts and enjoys writing, painting, photography, modeling, acting, singing, dancing, yoga, and meditation. She is a Reiki Master & energy healer. The mother of 3 sons, Tamara inspires others to find peace and release the past so they will have trust in themselves & their God.
Her first book “We Are One: B-Love is available for purchase on Amazon as well as in local Lansing area booksellers including at Everybody Reads LLC in Lansing, MI, The Bookshelf in Holt, MI, and Schuler Books in Okemos, MI. For more information about Tamara and her work visit: www.facebook.com/tglennbelove  Torrey Gray is a music producer, and hip-hop artist that appreciates the craft for the trait it was created through: Versatility. He feels he is at his best when he’s tapped into the freedom of sound and genre exploration. The founder of Define Detroit, Torrey has become a fixture in the underground music scene of multiple cities throughout Michigan.
Torrey grew up in Detroit and Downriver in Southeast Michigan. He was raised by his mother, who in addition to being a single mom, also served in the US Army during his youth. She introduced him to music from the MP3 player she brought back from overseas containing a variety of music her fellow soldiers had uploaded. This would be the foundation for Torrey’s love of music. Throughout high school Torrey played the Baritone and Tuba for orchestra and marching band while also taking piano lessons. After high school, Torrey attended Henry Ford College as a graphic design major. He began spending time with artists and developed cover art and various forms of promotional content, ultimately leading him back to creating music. He would go on to study at The Art Institute and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Following in his mother’s footsteps, Torrey would join the US Armed Forces, and currently serves in the US Air National Guard. Torrey has performed for his fellow service members at a US military base in the Kingdom of Jordan. He has also performed here in the United States at the College for Creative Studies, multiple Artist’s Umbrella events in Lansing, in collaboration with visual artist Mila Lynn for Inktober 2020, and at the Enjoy Detroit’s 7th Annual Barbecue Event. He has been featured in The Palm Reader, & on the Nate & Drew Podcast. With intentions to help others do what he loves to do, Torrey created & founded Define Detroit in 2019 as a platform to showcase some of Michigan’s hidden talents, and provide opportunities that may not be available otherwise. Torrey has produced music in his home studio in Detroit, as well as running sessions for artists at GameTime in Auburn Hills, MI. Torrey has had the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of professional artists & musicians including Kyle Mack, Dominique Mary Davis, Swam Lewis, & Bryce the Third. When not making music or helping others make music, Torrey enjoys playing Playstation games under the Shooter and Action RPG genres. For more information on Torrey & his work visit: www.redefinedetroit.com Seizing the Opportunity: Cedar Street Art Collective Becomes an Opportunity Arts Affiliate.10/8/2020  Cedar Street Art Collective was founded in 2017 with a mission to promote local artists and build a venue where artists can show and sell their work. Under the managerial direction of Annie Signs, and the creative direction of sculptor Andrew Sandstedt, Cedar Street Art Collective has established itself as Michigan’s “Visual Arts Motown” with creative studio space for up to 14 artists. Some of the Artists in Residence at Cedar Street Art Collective include mixed media artist & body painter Sarah Sanders, painter Tod C. Parkhill, interdisciplinary artist Moira Maloney, sculptor & oil painter Justin Troisi, paleontology artist Charlie Worthington, photographer Jona Lee, mixed media artist Anne Wojtkowski, illustrator & painter Emily Kibbe, abstract expressionist Svitlana Martynjuk, fantasy artist Lucy Synk, & Hula Hooper Nat Spinz.
Located in the old Dicker & Deal location at 1701 S. Cedar Street, The Cedar Street Art Collective houses two galleries and creative retail space in addition to their artist studios. The collective also hosts drop-in & virtual art, life drawing, hooping, & dance classes, as well as special events & pop up markets. They have hosted the Michigan State University MFA Graduate Show, and multiple fundraisers for local non-profit organizations. The Mayor’s Arts & Culture Commission, as well as the Arts Council of Greater Lansing have both presented events at Cedar Street Art Collective. For more information on Cedar Street Art Collective, their work, the work of their resident artists, or to inquire about rental space and classes, contact Annie Signs at (517) 402-2497 or visit: www.cedarstreetartcollective.com  Autumn Hopkins is a mixed media artist & illustrator who is also knowledgeable in printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, wood making, & sewing. Born and raised in her favorite city, Lansing, MI, Autumn currently lives in East Lansing where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Michigan State University. Her work has been presented locally at Old Town ArtFeast, at Michigan State University, where her ceramic work was selected for the Undergraduate Art Show, and at The Artist’s Umbrella, where she has been the speed painting champion on multiple occasions.
Autumn can create work that is more consumer focused and targeted toward what people want to decorate their homes, or purchase for their loved ones, as well as doing commercial work such as creating logos for new growing businesses. She also has a passion for collaboration having recently created artwork for multiple professional writers, and hopes to one day collaborate with other artists in her community on a mural project. When not creating art for someone else, Autumn finds comfort in creating art that is more personally satisfying to her, and that helps her grow as an artist. Autumn comes from a family of artists & creatives, and in 2017, she was inspired to start Aura Lee Gallery in memory of her grandmother Oralie who was an extremely talented individual, who in Autumn’s words “never really got to show the world what she was capable of.” She continues, “My grandmother struggled with her own personal demons, but when she created art it was always something so beautiful and happy. I found inspiration in her ability to find beautiful moments even during something that seemed daunting.” To honor her grandmother, Autumn sells artistic works that bring happiness and love to people, and work that connects to them on a personal level. Autumn’s Aunt Sarah has also served as an idol & mentor, and Autumn credits her with helping her become a better artist & person. Autumn believes she would not be who she is today if it were not for the influences within her family. Much like how Autumn’s grandmother & aunt have inspired her, Autumn hopes to inspire her 9 younger siblings to follow their dreams, love what they do, follow their instincts, and to create their own future. For more information on Autumn and her work visit: www.auraleegallery.com  Lithic Creations is a women owned, Michigan based jewelry & precious stone business founded in 2019 by Danielle Smith, along with her parents, Steve & Robin Smith. Lithic Creations focuses on creating one of a kind jewelry from stones while providing stone work including slabs, specimens and collectables. Whenever you purchase a piece from Lithic Creations’ collection, the company provides you with information about where your piece came from, and how it was made. There is a unique story behind every piece they create. This has built a customer base that values the pieces they purchase, not just for their quality, but for the knowledge they gain of where their pieces come from.
A large number of Lithic Creations collections consist of stones indigenous to Michigan, and they pride themselves on showcasing the beauty of their home state. They also use recycled materials, and they recycle their scrap metal back into their production creating a sustainable business that is environmentally conscious. Each piece is custom cut & custom wrapped, even if it comes from the same stone or slab, insuring that when you purchase one of Lithic Creations’ pieces, you will be the only one who has it. In addition, while some of the wire wraps are silver plated, every ring and pendant is set in .925 sterling silver. Lithic Creations also offers custom sizing to ensure that your piece fits just the way you like it. They also offer free shipping on any & all orders. Danielle & Robin also has a passion for giving back to the community that has helped them grow their business. They do this by having Lithic Creations sponsor many local charity organizations & charity auctions. They also partner with other businesses & creative entities to help give emerging artists & stone workers a platform to showcase their skills in gem stone cutting, wire wrapping, polishing and setting, while providing them knowledge to help their creativity grow. For more information on Lithic Creations or to purchase their abundance of one of a kind products, visit: www.lithiccreation.com.  Opportunity Arts is proud to announce that Hannah Vercelote has joined the team as the new Director of Social Media. Hannah will be handling the social media creation, engagement, & management for Opportunity Arts Affiliates & Clients. Hannah is proficient on a variety of social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, & TikTok.
Currently residing in the City of Chicago, Hannah received a Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in Public Relations from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL in 2016. Since then, she has worked in social media in the Chicagoland Market, and has worked on social media projects for companies including The Hertz Corporation, Erb Equipment Company, & Home Run Inn Pizza. When Hannah isn’t busy advancing her career & the careers & followings of her clients, she enjoys watching Netflix, and spending time with her boyfriend, & two adorable cats! Quote from Mike Marriott, Owner of Opportunity Arts: “We are very excited to have Hannah join the Opportunity Arts family. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge in social media & experience in the industry that I think is going to be extremely advantageous for us as a company, allowing us to provide a higher standard of social media services. I also believe that having Hannah on our team is going to be immensely beneficial to the artists & creatives who trust us to handle their social media needs.” Quote from Hannah Vercelote, Director of Social Media for Opportunity Arts: "I'm extremely excited to be joining the Opportunity Arts family, and I'm grateful to be a part of an organization that cares so much about artists and creatives. I'm looking forward to being able to grow Opportunity Arts and myself in this position." |
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February 2021
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The Poetry Room with Masaki Takahashi becomes Opportunity Arts Affiliates. |
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