Artists will be on hand to mingle with guests at the free reception, which will include appetizers, live music, and a cash bar, all surrounded by original artwork in a beautiful setting.

The exhibit, featuring over 1,500 pieces by 34 artists, will be open until Sept. 9. Many mediums are represented in the eclectic exhibit, including painting, photography, pottery, woodworking, jewelry, mixed media, textiles, and more.

All the pieces in the gallery are for sale, and once they are sold, the artists come and replenish the stock with new original artwork, Art in the Loft Executive Director Justin Christensen-Cooper said.

“We’ll have live music from Dan White on the saxophone,” Christensen-Cooper said. “We’ll have our artists in attendance to discuss their work, and all items will be for sale, officially.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This mixed media three-eyed wolf is by Hannah Harte, one of 34 artists featured in Art in the Loft’s “SummerView.”

He added that prices range from $2 for sticker art to hundreds for some of the bigger pieces, but there are many affordable items in a wide variety of price ranges. Original artwork makes a great gift, or a unique addition to a home or office space.

Nine of the 34 artists are new to Art in the Loft. Those artists are Ann Biswas, a photographer from Dayton, Ohio, Dorothea Sandra, a painter from Rogers City, Janice Dumas, a painter from East Tawas, Jessica Adams, an enamelist from Harrisville, Julia Bartz, a textile artist from Lincoln, Juliane Richards, a student photographer from Alpena, Kenneth Nash, a woodworker from Onaway, Mariah Brancheau, a calligrapher from Lachine, and Matt Poli, a woodworker from Alpena.

Returning artists include Ann Krueger of Black River, Beth Cox of Perronville, Bev Wolf of Presque Isle, Cheryl Lemke of Alpena, Chuck Schroeder of Livonia, Elissa Sweet of Westerly, Rhode Island, Grace Hoeft of Alpena, Hannah Harte of Lyons, Jan Herring of Alpena, Jeannie Lamb of Ossineke, Jerry Mills of Alpena, Kathy Bower of Alpena, Katy Jo South of Somerville, Kevin Englund of Alpena, Leanna Springer of Lincoln, Marilyn Bachelor of Hubbard Lake, Mary Lightner of Alpena, Michael and Mieko Kahn of Greenbush, Mitchel Dipzinski of Ossineke, Peggy Little of Oscoda, Rachel Goodstein of Rogers City, Rick Houchin of Alpena, Sam Machulis of Alpena, Sharon Wade of Johannesburg, and Steve Petrides of Grand Rapids.

“With the cruise ships being in town, too, we’re trying to cater to a lot of tourists and out-of-towners this summer, as well,” Christensen-Cooper said, referring to the Viking Cruise Ships that have at least 20 scheduled stops in Alpena this summer. “Our artists have very sellable items to accommodate that.”

He said although there is no particular theme to “SummerView,” the renewal of spring and sunny days of summer are captured well in this exhibit.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Katy Jo South created this colorful oil painting featuring flowers in the foreground and a welcoming wooded path lit gently by the sun peeking through the branches. South is one of 34 artists featured in “SummerView.”

“Even though we don’t have a theme for ‘SummerView’ or our ‘WinterView’ seasons, our artists try to capture what Northeast Michigan is like at that time,” Christensen-Cooper said.

He added that each artist has a minimum of 10 pieces in the show, and the jewelers have many more because their items are small enough to fit on one table. All in all, over 1,500 pieces are on display, including all the jewelry, cards, prints, and stickers.

Art in the Loft is located on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in downtown Alpena. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit to artintheloft.org or call 989-356-4877.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This painting by Janice Dumas, a new artist at Art in the Loft, is on display and for sale in “SummerView.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This photograph of a bug on the stem of a flower is by Ann Biswas, showing for the first time at Art in the Loft.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley These handbags, handcrafted by Julia Bartz, are on display and for sale at Art in the Loft’s “SummerView.” All the artwork in the exhibit is for sale.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This photo of The Fresh Palate outdoors at night is by Juliane Richards, a student with artwork in Art in the Loft’s “SummerView.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley These photos by Leanna Springer feature a tree with reflection and a perspective view on a bridge.