Thunder Bay Arts presents the 46th Art on the Bay outdoor fine art and craft show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Bay View Park in Alpena, featuring more than 100 artists/vendors and a variety of concessions.

The show has been a staple in Alpena since 1977, and always promises a wide variety of unique, high-quality pieces in every price range.

Some of those pieces include Michigan-themed wall hangings and ornaments made by local artist Dean Huey, who will be in the show with fellow Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery artist Kelly Belew. Both make wooden tables as well as other colorful and creative items.

“This is my first year,” Belew said of being in Art on the Bay. “Dean Huey and myself are sharing four booths. We’ll have epoxy tables, lots of choices. We do epoxy ornaments, and I do epoxy nightlights with wooden bases.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley These unique Michigan pieces were made by local artist Dean Huey, and are seen at Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery in downtown Alpena. Huey will sell his wall hangings, ornaments, and wooden tables at Art on the Bay.

Belew is the president of the gallery, and Huey is the vice president of the gallery.

“We both complement each other,” Belew said. “We work together on a lot of things. He has taught me some things, and, hopefully, I’ve taught him a few.”

She added that it will help to have more than one person in a four-booth space, and that Huey’s wife, Dee, will help at their booth, as well.

“We get along well, and we just like to work together,” Belew added.

She explained why being in a show like Art on the Bay is beneficial and important to an artist.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This unique Michigan piece was made by local artist Dean Huey, and are seen at Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery in downtown Alpena. Huey will sell his wall hangings, ornaments, and wooden tables at Art on the Bay.

“It’s a really neat opportunity to be able to network with other artists and to engage in the public more,” Belew said. “Maybe create a following of some sort, and find people that might like your style or your work for potential repeat customers … If somebody likes your stuff, they come back.”

She added that it’s wonderful to belong to the gallery.

“We have the most incredible group of people that work together and help each other and support each other,” she noted. “It’s just an amazing place to belong.”

Belew can’t wait to see everyone at Art on the Bay.

“There is something for everyone,” she said. “There is absolutely a huge variety of original artwork all over the map, and I would challenge someone to find nothing that interests them. It’s such a long-running show, and they pride themselves with keeping it original. Everything is juried in, so you can’t just bring in something off the street. It is not a craft show. It is not a garage sale or a flea market. It is a fine art show, and that’s really the standard that we’re trying to keep.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This unique Michigan piece was made by local artist Dean Huey, and are seen at Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery in downtown Alpena. Huey will sell his wall hangings, ornaments, and wooden tables at Art on the Bay.

Thunder Bay Arts Council First Vice President Clint Kendziorski said all 152 booths will be full, and there are people on the waiting list, too, in case of a last-minute cancellation.

“There are 152 booths, and some of the vendors have more than one booth,” he explained. “So I’m thinking we’re around at least 100 different vendors.”

He said people come from out of state to participate in the show, booking a year in advance.

“We’ve been sold out for about a month now,” he said in early July. “It’s terrific.”

Kendziorski said vendors and shoppers alike love Art on the Bay.

“Because sales are so great in Alpena — we have such a great turnout of people coming through — they look forward to the Alpena show,” he said of the vendors. “We hear that over and over again. Alpena just turns out, and it’s such a good time.”

He’s hoping for good weather, and a great turnout.

“We normally have around 3,000 people that come shopping over the two days,” he added.

He said there will be more concession options this year, as well.

“You can either have lunch or dinner, or just come through and have a snack of some sort,” Kendziorski said. “I think it’ll be an exciting time.”

Darby Hinkley is Lifestyles editor. She can be reached at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@thealpenanews.com.