Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, poet, and mystic wrote: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Research in neuroaesthetics, a field that explores the biological basis of aesthetic experience, demonstrates that sustained artistic practices and engagement with the arts can contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and communities. The exhibition will explore relationships between sustained creative practices, experiences with art, and wellbeing.
Artists residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario), who are at least 18 years old, are invited to submit up to 3 original works to Process and Practice: Crafting Wellbeing, juried by Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean. Individual works may be comprised of multiples or series'. The exhibition will run from September 15, through November 1, 2025, in the Bonfield Gallery, at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, in Petoskey, Michigan.
Three cash prizes will be awarded: First Place award of $500, Second Place award of $300, and Third Place award of $200.
Applicant Calendar:
Image credit: Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean
The opportunity is open to artists residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario) who are at least 18 years old. All media, except video and primarily AI generated work, are eligible.
The juror, Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean, MFA, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized and award-winning transdisciplinary artist, educator and occasional writer whose focus is on the transformative and healing power of the creative spirit. At the core of her approach is her deep spirituality and strong eco-consciousness and her love of the natural world and sharing this with others.
Her artwork has been exhibited in museums, universities and art galleries including the Springfield Art Museum, Butler Institute of American Art, Memorial Art Museum and the Ross Museum. Her work is also held in numerous public and private collections, including Huntington Corporation, Price Waterhouse and the New Mexico History Museum. It has also appeared on the covers of more than 15 international myth and depth psychology journals and books.
She has been Artist-in-Residence at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, and at The Ohio State University. As an author, Elizabeth has written several books and numerous essays, two of which have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her two essays, Ariadne and Labyrinth: A Metaphor for Transformation, were published in Mythology: A CD-ROM Encyclopedia.
A passionate and committed teacher, Elizabeth has taught for over 45 years in a wide range of venues, including the Columbus College of Art and Design, Denison University and Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she was a founding faculty member for the Humanities Program. She has also taught and worked with inner city youth, at art centers, museums, church groups, and Jung associations across the county. Her popular workshops reach out to a range of individuals who seek to expand their own creativity, clarify their authentic voice, and become aware of archetypal patterns within their lives.
She received her BFA (Phi Kappa Phi) from Rochester Institute of Technology, an MFA in Painting and Design from the University of Washington, and her PhD in the Mythological Studies with emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica. Loving to expand her knowledge, she is currently studying Druidry, Tarot and Sophrology.