Buchanan Art Center will host a reception Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. for two new exhibits with many items for sale. In addition Southwestern Michigan College Select Voices, under the direction of David Carew and the Buchanan High School Redbud Chorale, under the direction of Sharon O’Brien, will present their annual “Choral Showcase of Traditional and Christmas Music” at 7 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public. New exhibits include Niles Art Association “Winter Break,” and Linda Canfield photographs “Art Deco of the 1920s.” A third exhibit, a competition, “Me, Myself and I: The Self-Portrait, Inside and Out,” will also open; however, the reception and presentation awards for winners of this show will be held Sunday, Dec. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. All three exhibits will run from Dec. 1 through Jan. 8.

The Niles Art Association (NAA) is a diverse ensemble of 30 artists. These artists work in many mediums —gouache, watercolor, acrylic, latex acrylic, oil, pastel, pen and ink, fine metals, wood, clay, fibers, paper-mache and photography — to create many styles of art from abstract to realism.

The NAA was formed in 2002 to foster the visual arts in Niles and to inspire children to experience the fun and challenge of creating visual arts projects. The NAA maintains a gallery in the 200 block of Second Street in downtown Niles that is open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m.

Linda Canfield has always been interested in the art deco period. She especially was impressed with the art deco area of South Beach in Miami. Finally, last spring she was able to see all the brightly colored buildings, which were much more striking than she had envisioned. This exhibit shows photographs of the buildings and a brief history of the time when they were built in the 1920s.

“Me, Myself, and I: The Self Portrait, Inside and Out” will be a juried show with prizes sponsored by AEP Indiana Michigan Power, and reception presented by Clevenger Storage. The three categories are “Me: My Best Outer Self” (as seen by the world; photograph required with work); “Myself: My Most Interesting Inner Self” (private and unseen); and “I: My Most Telling Self Among Others” (relationships to family and community).

All styles and media, both 2D and 3D, will be on exhibit. Student grade categories are grades K-2; grades 3-5; grades 6-8; and grades 9-12, with a $50 prize for the best in each category. No entry fee is required for students, and each artist may enter up to two pieces.

The student work should be done during the 2010 school year. Adult awards are $100 each for the best in each of three categories, with a $10 entry fee required for a limit of two pieces. All work must be ready to hang.
Work should be dropped off Nov. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. or Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and must be picked up Jan. 9, 1 to 4 p.m. or Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact BAC.

The Buchanan Art Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 2004 and is located at 117 West Front St. in Buchanan. The center features three galleries with rotating exhibits of regional artists’ works, a program of educational art classes to all ages and a gift shop featuring the work of local artists.

More information including a schedule classes can be obtained by calling (269) 697-4005 or on its website at www.buchananartcenter.org.