Jeff Gray, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary superintendent, is “nervously excited,” about the honor.

“I was surprised,” he said of being approached to be the juror of an art show. “I love Art in the Loft and I love the art culture in Alpena. I by no means am an expert at it, but I enjoy going up there and the programs they do are just absolutely amazing, and what they’ve added to downtown is amazing. So I’m a huge fan of Art in the Loft.”

While not a professional artist, he is an amateur nature photographer, often bringing along his camera on adventures boating, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, paddleboarding and more.

“I’m not an artist, and I’ve never judged something before,” Gray said, noting that he is very honored to have been selected. “I think it’ll be fun and challenging.”

Courtesy Photos Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Jeff Gray enjoys paddleboarding in the TBNMS. This year, Art in the Loft has decided to have an expert in the theme, “H2O,” judge the show, rather than a professional artist.

This year’s juried art exhibition theme is “H2O.”

“The topic, obviously, is a topic near and dear to my heart,” Gray said. “We’re surrounded by such incredible water resources, from the big lake, Lake Huron, and the sanctuary, to Long Lake and Grand Lake and Hubbard Lake and Lake Esau, and the Thunder Bay River, which is so amazing, such an amazing body of water itself … there are so many different ways to enjoy it.”

He often introduces visitors and professionals to the beauty of Thunder Bay River and area waters that connect to it.

“It’s just such a thrill to show them all the great water resources we have here, and it’s a reminder — I’m reminded almost every day how special it is when you see the reaction of outsiders when they come to visit.”

He spends much of his free time enjoying the water.

Above, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Jeff Gray talks on his banana phone in his underwater office.

“I love it. I like to spend as much time in, on or under the water as I can,” he said. “It’s so special, and it’s special year-round, not just the summertime.”

Gray said his children, Jade, 17, and Colt, 15, have grown up in Alpena enjoying the waters and all the natural resources the area has to offer.

Art in the Loft Executive Director Justin Christensen-Cooper said they wanted to branch out this year and try something new by bringing in an expert in the theme, rather than art itself.

“Every year we try to choose a pretty unique theme,” he said. “This idea came up through board meetings, committee meetings … and it was just one we didn’t want to pass up because we think the theme is just too good, especially for our area.”

He said this is the first time they have not used a professional artist or art expert.

“In all of our prior four shows, we’ve either had artists themselves or leaders or admin. of other arts nonprofits that are in the same capacity that we are,” Christensen-Cooper said. “And we thought, for this one, we think it’s going to be pretty wide open as far as what is submitted, and I think the range is going to be pretty great. So we said, ‘Well, why don’t we get a professional that knows the theme, as opposed to a professional in the medium, the art side of it?’ Because that person, then, would have a true appreciation, a true understanding of the water they’re looking at.”

So why not ask Jeff Gray?

“He obviously knows a lot about water,” Christensen-Cooper said. “He’s always taking it in — different times of the year, in different situations — I think he could have a true understanding of knowing water throughout the year, especially in Northern Michigan.”

Submissions are being accepted online today through Sept. 27. Submissions can be in any medium, from jewelry to pottery to painting to photography, and more. All submissions will be online. For submission details, visit artintheloft.org.

“H2O” will be open in-person at Art in the Loft from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7. As an added bonus this year, the show will be viewable online through Dec. 31.

Plans for an opening reception are tentative because of ongoing COVID-19 regulations. The reception may take place in an online format. More details will be released closer to the opening date.

The first place prize will be $300, second is $200, and third is $100. A people’s choice award of $50 will also be given.

“We’re super excited,” Christensen-Cooper said about the show. “Nothing for us this year has really been ‘the norm’ for what Art in the Loft does, so I think having our juried show brings us a little bit back to … staying on track with the timeline. And it’s something that we can look forward to.”

Every piece of art will be for sale as well. Christensen-Cooper said the show has grown every year, and last year saw roughly 160 pieces submitted, with just over 100 going on display in the gallery.

“We hope to exceed those numbers,” he added.