Almanac

Come see Dave Varga's collection of vintage lighters on display at Alden District Library. The display runs June 2nd-28th and can be viewed during normal library hours. Mon, Wed, Th, F 9:30a-5p, Tu 9:30a-6p, Sat 9:30a-2p. 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318. Free Event. At a later date, a video of the display can be viewed on the library's website, aldenlib.info and look for "On Display" link at left.

Come to the museum and join an informal tour of our current exhibitions with one of our docents.

Tours are free with museum admission and will begin at 12:00 PM. Please meet by the front desk a few minutes before the tour begins.

Tickets are not required for this event, and registration is not necessary. Please pay admission when you arrive.

Meet the Traverse Area District Library Youth Services team at the museum for art-inspired storytime this summer.

Each session will feature a different artistic theme and will be followed by a related art project with Dennos staff and volunteers.

June 18th | Drawing & Painting
June 25th | Fiber Art & Fashion

Drop in, free. Tickets are not necessary for this event.

Thursday, June 19th | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FILM SCREENING | 3:00 PM
JUNETEENTH BLOCK PARTY | 5:00 PM

Kick off Civic Season (Juneteenth to July 4th) with free admission to the Dennos all day, a screening of the film Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America at 3:00 PM followed by a block-party style celebration and educational programs in the courtyard between East Hall and the Innovation Center at 5:00 PM with NMC and Northern Michigan E3.

ABOUT THE FILM
Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.

Drop in, free. Tickets are not necessary for this event.

Paint Grand Traverse is an annual plein air (outdoor) painting festival and competition, presented by Crooked Tree Arts Center and located in Traverse City, Michigan. Each summer, talented artists from across the country come to Traverse City to be inspired by the region's beautiful landscapes, Lake Michigan shorelines, and charming town and villages. The festival includes classes, live demos, kids activities, art sales, exhibitions, and more!

Tickets for Friday, June 20th, Fresh Paint Party are on sale now online or in-person at Crooked Tree Arts Center of Traverse City. You won't want to miss out on an evening of the first and only opportunity to see the entite collection of paintings created throughout the week of the festival paired with live music, wine and appetizer pairings (curated by Lake District Wine and Sugar2Salt), and continue in celebrating the artists and their accomplishments. We hope you will join us!

Earlier in the day, the artists will have delivered a minimum of 5 framed paintings to be juried for awards and prizes. The Fresh Paint Party is the public's first and only opportunity to see the entire collection of art on display. It will never exist in this form again. As art sells throughout the evening, it may be removed from the walls and taken out of the galleries with the buyer. If you know you are going to buy art, we suggest you select the Purchase Award ticket. This ticket will gain you entry into the event for FREE. The price of your ticket can be applied directly to the price of a painting. If you want to bring a guest, the ticket price for that guest is only $50 (as compared to the $75 general admission price).

For more information, please visit www.paintgrandtraverse.com

Join us for our summer opening reception to celebrate our new exhibitions. Doors will open at 5:45 PM. Enjoy an evening with food from the Cordwood BBQ Food Truck, and drinks from our cash bar. Each guest will get one drink ticket upon arrival.

Members get free admission and double discounts in the Museum Store the night of the event. Guests of members and the public are welcome to attend for the cost of admission. Please RSVP in advance. Limit of 300.

Our Summer 2025 Exhibitions

Matt Shlian: Every Line Is A Circle If You Make It Long Enough

Joan Fitzsimmons: Into What World?

Reclaimed: The Art of Recology

PALETTE KNIFE PAINTING:
Lily Pond

JUNE 21, 2025
SATURDAY
10am - 3pm

REGISTER BY: June 17

CLASS FEE: $125, or $112.50 for members​

FORMAT: in-person

Expressing nature through palette knife painting can be an exhilarating experience. In this
workshop, you will gain knowledge of the palette knife techniques using heavy-bodied acrylics. We
will start by creating a deep, smooth, and moody underpainting on an 18" x 24" canvas using a
large brush and feathering method. This will serve as an ideal contrast to the bold lily pads and
surface waters that we will paint using the palette knife. Finally, we will add the finishing touches of
thick impasto flowers. As your painting will still be wet, bringing a box for safe transportation is
recommended.

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SUPPLY LIST

A variety of Acrylic Paints - I use Golden acrylics: White, Payne’s Grey, Cad Yellow, Med, Cerulean Blue, Magenta, Ultramarine Blue, Black, Quinacridone Gold, light purple.
Various Acrylic Brushes; be sure to have a 1” flat.
18”x 24” Canvas
Palette paper
Spray bottle

Join artist Joan Fitzsimmons for A Walk in the Woods, a hands-on workshop exploring cyanotype and photogram techniques. Begin with a walkthrough of Joan’s exhibit to discover the inspirations behind her work, then take a short walk in the nearby woods to gather ideas and materials.

Back in the studio, cut paper to create imaginative imagery, assemble your cyanotype, expose it outdoors, and develop it with water. The workshop concludes with a sharing session, where participants discuss their images and stories. A perfect blend of nature, creativity, and photographic exploration!

Limit of 25.

Learn to make comics with Marvel Comics Artist Jerry DeCaire in his signature workshop!

Jerry DeCaire will share tips for how to make a comic from start to finish in his live drawing workshop and performance. Signed demo drawings will be offered to lucky participants for free at the end of the program, so don't miss out!

Teens and adults of all ages are invited to join in the fun in the McGuire room.

Come see Dave Varga's collection of vintage lighters on display at Alden District Library. The display runs June 2nd-28th and can be viewed during normal library hours. Mon, Wed, Th, F 9:30a-5p, Tu 9:30a-6p, Sat 9:30a-2p. 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318. Free Event. At a later date, a video of the display can be viewed on the library's website, aldenlib.info and look for "On Display" link at left.