Harbor Country is a veritable hive of activity as studios and galleries from Sawyer to New Buffalo get ready for Art Attack 2013. Set to take place April 26-28, this year’s event promises exhibits and demonstrations across the arts from painting to glassworks, writing to repurposing. Food and wine will flow freely and there will be door prizes galore.
“This is the 20th year of Art Attack,” said Julie Nitz, owner of JLN Studios in New Buffalo and marketing coordinator for the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, “and it’s always the last weekend — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — of April.”
While individual shops will hold their own programs throughout the weekend, a collective “artists reception” takes place 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday Artists will be on hand in all venues for meeting and greeting, chatting and noshing on snacks.
“I have a gallery so I invited four other artists, and myself, for a total of five artists showing their work,” said Nitz. “They’ll be here. They’ll have their work here. We’ll have refreshments. There’ll be door prizes.”
At the Local Color Gallery in Union Pier, owner Rita Cochran opens her latest exhibit “Abby Girl,” a varied collection “derived from children’s literature and children’s art.”

Four other artists join Cochran at the Local Color Gallery. Dawn Grofvert demonstrates glass bead formation, Twyla Butler and Leslie Shelhart create glass mosaics, and Jay Lefkowitz works in a variety of media. On Sunday, Homemade Jam will join the artists, providing accompaniment on dulcimer, banjo, guitar, and bass.
Also in Union Pier, Floyd Gompf and Linda Hoffhines invite everyone to tour the “magical garden” and enjoy an exhibit of their new works.
In Sawyer, Fritz Olsen Sculptures and Contemporary Fine Art will host a weekend of art and music with Bonnie Koloc and Robert Wolf. Both artists will exhibit visual art, Koloc will perform songs from her new CD, and Wolf will offer readings on Saturday, and will conduct a mini writer’s workshop on Sunday.
The Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks hops all weekend with an exhibit of paintings by Kim Pruitt and live music by Venitia Sekema and Mike Caron.
Practically across the street from the Journeyman is Studio b. Gallery. This is owner Bridget Verdun’s ninth year of ArtAttack, and she expects the atmosphere to be “lively.”
“It attracts thousands of people every year,” said Verdun. “It really is the kickoff to the arts season up here in Harbor Country. Everybody’s ready to be out and about and finding out what’s new.”
Studio b. Gallery will feature new artist Angie Consalvo from the School of the Art Institute. Consalvo creates collages using paper, vintage fabrics, and paint.
The gallery will also exhibit the prints and paintings of Sandra Dawson and Patrick Reid O’Brien, the “reinvented” chairs of Kelly Hansen, and the license plate bracelets and screened t-shirts and tote bags of Megan Lee Designs
A list of events is available from HarborCountry.org.