Art in Public Places

 The Saginaw Charter Township Art In Public Places is proud to present the State of the Arts Exhibition 2024.  This year’s annual event is hosted by the Saginaw Township Art In Public Places Committee.  The show opens Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., with awards presentation at 3:00 p.m.  This show is open to the public free of charge.  This is a juried exhibition with cash awards.

The Art Juror for this year's Exhibition is Laura Whitesides Host of Birmingham, Michigan.  A lifelong resident of Michigan, Whitesides Host received a BFA from the University of Michigan Architecture and Design School majoring in painting and ceramics.  She has taught art in Ann Arbor and Birmingham for students from 3 years to High School.   After moving to Birmingham, she discovered the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center and found her art family.   After taking watercolor classes for 13 years, she began to teach experimental water color classes in 1993 and has continued for 30+ years adding monoprints to her teaching schedule.  The excitement of playing with water colors led to fluid acrylic paint and then a class in monotypes enlarged her focus to creating monotypes along with her water media paintings.   In 1987, after a friend decided to change her art gallery to a cooperative gallery, Host joined the gallery roster.   She is the last of the 12 original members still in Lawrence Street Gallery and is currently the president.   Active in the Michigan Water Color Society and the Birmingham Society of Women Painters since 1989, Host has served on their Executive boards for many years.   Host has had numerous solo shows and has been juried into many exhibits both locally and state-wide.

The art exhibit will be shown at the Saginaw Charter Township Hall, 4980 Shattuck Road, Saginaw, Michigan, during business hours Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.,    April 21 through May 31, 2024.

Accepted Artists 2024

2024 Award Winners


Brief History of Saginaw Township Art in Public Places
On September 12, 1986, by joint resolution of the Township Board an Art in Public Places Committee was established. The Committee functions primarily to: Advise the Township Board on art and culture-related issues, promotes the display of art in public buildings, organizes the Annual State of the Arts Exhibition and selects works of art to be permanently or temporarily displayed in facilities owned by Saginaw Township.

Former Saginaw Township Manager Robert C. Homan first investigated ways in which to promote art appreciation in Saginaw Township. The Township Board appointed a committee of seven individuals with various art backgrounds to organize activities and schedule displays. The original members; Bonnie Bellinger, Patricia Shaheen, Patricia Koucky, Luther Hale, Walter Nagel Jr., Rev. David Bracklein and Marian Tincknell held their first meeting on November 13, 1986. At that first meeting they discussed the possibility of showcasing a monthly art display at the Saginaw Township Hall. During the remainder of the year and the year following, the Committee organized an art show featuring Michigan artists and their works. This annual show is now referred to as the "Annual State of the Arts Exhibition".

The Committee appointed Bonnie Bellinger as Chairperson and through her and the Committee's hard work a successful arts appreciation program was established for Saginaw Township residents. Bonnie Bellinger retired as Chairperson in 1990, but her projects live on. In 2004 the Annual State of the Arts Exhibition dedicated the exhibition to Patricia Koucky who unexpectedly passed away earlier that year.

The Committee is now Chaired by Saginaw Township Manager Brian Rombalski.

Committee members include:

• Karen Gerhardt
• Bob Lewis
• Gaye Sass
• Marion Tincknell
• Barbara Walworth
• Jim Kelly --Board of Trustees