2024 Winter Invitation Jurors
2024 JURY ADVISORY BOARD
The Jury Advisory Board is a year-round Advisory Council to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair staff. They provide rules and standards review during the art fair. They also meet in a final composition session to review the invitations from the jury panels and establish a wait list.
Suzanne Boissy is a native Ypsilantian and has lived in the area for most of her life. She received an MFA in Fibers from Eastern Michigan University, where she has been a part-time lecturer for 7 years. Additionally, she’s taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Interlochen Arts Academy, where she is also an alumnus. Her current work involves embroidery and three-dimensional embroidery on non-traditional surfaces like petri dishes and tampons to explore themes related to societal and intellectual infection, and issues relating to feminism and misogyny. Her work has been exhibited locally and throughout the Midwest.
Lynda Cole Lynda Cole paints in encaustic and oil paint and cold wax and also creates large scale 3 dimensional geometric pieces. She has exhibited widely and won awards for her work, including Art Prize 2011 where she won third prize for her work titled ‘Rain’. She graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Textile and Clothing Design. She continued her education at the University of Michigan where she studied Botany. From 1976 - 1990 she ran her landscape design company - Wildwood Flower.
Maxwell Davis designs and constructs custom home furnishings and figurative glass sculptures, as well as acts as a concept and design consultant. He’s exhibited in over 130 national and international exhibitions and competitions and has been privately collected by dozens of furniture and fine art collectors. His work is in collections at the High Museum in Atlanta, GA, and the Detroit Institute of the Arts, and he’s been a featured artist on HGTV High Noon Productions, “Modern Masters,” and “Look What I Did”. From 1973 to 2018, Maxwell taught at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. Throughout his 44-year tenure, he provided instruction in the areas of ceramics, glass, industrial design, and for nearly twenty years he served as head of the furniture area. Maxwell holds a BFA from Southern Illinois University, and a MFA from the University of Michigan.
Nicholas Dowgwillow joined the Stamps School of Art and Architecture in 2014 as 2D Media Coordinator. He provides organizational, technical, and logistical support for the printmaking, painting, and drawing studios. His expertise spans the range of 2-dimensional media with emphasis in traditional print. Dowgwillo is a practicing printmaker and has exhibited his work in numerous national and international exhibitions, participated in multiple artist residencies, and worked as printer and partner on a variety of collaborative projects. He received his BFA in printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2007 and his MFA in printmaking from Arizona State University in 2011.
Adam Shirley is an artist, designer and educator living and working in Detroit, Michigan. Adam began his career working as an apprentice for a master jeweler, learning the traditional techniques and processes of metalsmithing. Shirley received his BFA in jewelry and metals from the College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI and his MFA in metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Mi. His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and he is represented by Simone DeSousa Gallery, Detroit, MI.
2024 GUEST JURORS
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair’s jury process is unique in that applicants are juried by one of four panels that are category specific. Guest jurors are selected for their experience and expertise in a range of related media. A variety of backgrounds and skills are sought, including artists, educators, and museum curators. Panelists join Jury Advisory Board members to ensure both new and experienced jurors serve together.
Panel One – Metal, Jewelry
Melis Agabigum is an Assistant Professor and the Area Coordinator of Metals/Jewelry Gwen Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University. Melis Agabigum is an educator and studio artist from Michigan. She received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Intermedia (Jewelry/Metals, Sculpture, Installation Art, and Fibers), and received her BFA in Art&Design from the University of Michigan. She has taught Jewelry/Metals, Sculpture, and 3D Fabrication courses at the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Boise State University, and San Francisco State University, and Earlham College. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of Metals/Jewelry in the Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University. Provoked by an interest in material fiction, Melis’ work examines desire, loss, repetition, and the notion of burden that individuals carry from their relationships. Her soft sculptures explore the unseen tether of the physical and emotional weights that affect individuals in how they perceive their connection to others, their bodies, and space. Her work has been shown at the national and international level in the United States, Canada, Australia, Greece, Turkey, France, Portugal, Hungary, England, Romania, Spain, China, and Lithuania. Melis is an active contributor to Art Jewelry Forum.
Alex Gulko is an Ann Arbor custom jeweler as well as an internationally recognized jewelry designer and goldsmith. Born in Ukraine, Alex apprenticed with a jeweler whose father worked for the fabled Fabergé atelier. His workmanship bears the hallmarks of both historical and modern perspectives, with designs inspired by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco epochs and by his contemporary brilliance in marrying geometric planes and open architectural elements.Alex is a top craftsman in his field attaining Master of the Union of Artists of the USSR by partaking in Ukrainian and international artists exhibitions. The Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine acquired two Alex Gulko pieces for their preservation collection. In 2012, Alex was listed "Best Ukrainian Jewelers" by the Fabergé Foundation, St. Petersburg, Russia. Alex is a member of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) and of Polygon.As a highly skilled master jeweler, Alex devotes tremendous attention to detail and quality, consistently creating timeless and elegant jewelry in his Ann Arbor studio. His skill and design ethic notably underpin his creations of high jewelry. Distinguished by exquisite form, rare gemstones, and select materials, his expertly crafted private commissions produce peerless masterpieces. Alex has earned a revered reputation in designing beautiful jewelry set with exquisite gemstones from around the world. His gift for satisfying customer aspirations to find the perfect ring, pendant, or earrings is the very promise that links his talent to his jewelry creations. “Fine jewelry is a combination of sculpture, of painting, of maybe literature, and even some music.”
Alison Rivett is Associate Director of the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan and a practicing visual artist. She received her MFA in art and design from the Stamps School at the University of Michigan in 2007 after studying both classics and art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She worked in exhibition design and visitor services at the Getty Museum, Los Angeles; American Museum of Magic, Marshall MI; and U-M Museum of Natural History. She taught painting at the University of Michigan before moving to Bangalore, India to teach and develop new programs at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology for seven years. Her current creative practice involves interpreting PhD dissertations through image-making.
Panel Two – 2DMM, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Digital
Jennifer Cantley is the Community Gallery & Advisory Manager at the Toledo Museum of Art and a visual artist focusing in physical science and abstraction. Jennifer’s work has been sold and exhibited nationally, and she has work included in the collection on view at the Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering & Bioscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Jennifer co-founded the Alluvium Gallery at Kendall College of Art & Design (Grand Rapids, MI), and has directed and curated various galleries including Center Gallery at StudioSwan (Metro-Atlanta, GA), the Limelight Gallery (Atlanta, GA), and most recently the new Robert C. and Susan Savage Community Gallery (Toledo, OH). In addition, Jennifer has worked as an Art Consultant for an international luxury art consulting firm based out of Atlanta, where she selected and installed art worldwide. Jennifer has a passion for sharing art with her community and has worked in youth and adult art education for many years. Recently, her focus has been on art education and outreach in low-income communities. Jennifer holds an MFA from Kendall College of Art & Design, as well as a BFA from Eastern Michigan University.
Amy Davis is faculty / LEO Lecturers at Stamps School of Art & Design As a lens-based artist and educator, I am deeply engaged in storytelling and exploring cultural identities through photography. My art delves into the construction of self in the digital age, particularly through social media's influence. My interactive installations, like "Inference," examine the voyeuristic nature of online identities, inviting viewers to ponder the narratives we craft from our digital footprints. My current work, "Assimilation," reflects a personal journey into the dual identity experiences of immigrants in America. This photo and video project spotlights the complex interplay of cultural assimilation and tradition, aiming to spark discussions on identity in our contemporary society. My role as an educator and my artistic practice are intertwined, focusing on fostering understanding and dialogue around the nuanced ways we express and perceive identity in our increasingly connected world.
John Stanley has been in the art museum world for over 40 years. He spent the first 17 years of his career at the Toledo Museum of Art. Beginning as a stock boy, he held a number of positions, including Chief Operating Officer (COO) over his last 10 years. Stanley then worked for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, for 13 years, serving as its COO and Deputy Director for Programs. Following Boston, Stanley spent nearly 11 years in NYC at the Whitney Museum of American Art, as COO and Deputy Director. He finished his career, again at Toledo, as its 10th Director, President and CEO. With an undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo, Mr. Stanley earned an MBA from Bowling Green State University, attended the Museum Management Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, and pursued postgrad course study in art history. In his various roles, Stanley has overseen many large, complex building projects from renovating historic structures to constructing a new museum building for the Whitney. He has worked with several Pritzker Prize winning architects - Frank Gehry, Norman Foster and Renzo Piano. Residing in Maumee, Ohio, Stanley continues in the museum field as a consultant.
Panel Three – Wood, Furniture, Glass, Ceramics, Sculpture, 3-D Mixed Media, Fiber
Danny R. W. Baskin is the current Director of Galleries at Eastern Michigan University. Originally from Arkansas and now living in Ann Arbor, Baskin co-founded FEAST Gallery in 2016 and has since worked as Museum Manager at 21c Museum and Project Manager at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. He has regularly worked as guest curator, project manager, and creative facilitator for different art organizations and projects around the Southern region and his writing has been published in numerous catalogs, art publications, and didactic materials. Outside of these pursuits, Baskin is an artist and furniture maker, holding an MFA in sculpture from the University of Arkansas School of Art and a BFA in Fine Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Jeremy Noonan is a Professor and Section Lead of Fiber and Textiles College for Creative Studies. Jeremy Noonan is a craft-based artist and acclaimed textile designer whose creative practice spans across the fields of art and design. He founded Noonan Studio LLC in 2008, with the aim of exploring innovative ways of using pattern, color, and materials for a diverse range of surface applications. His work has been recognized for its creativity, quality, and attention to detail, and has been featured in prominent design publications. As a textile designer, Noonan has collaborated with leading national and international companies in the industry, creating designs for a diverse range of products, including upholstery, architectural glass, area rugs, wallcoverings, and home fashion. His approach to design is rooted in a deep understanding of the potential of textiles as a medium for communication and expression. In addition to his commercial work, Noonan maintains an active art practice, which allows him to push the boundaries of his medium and explore new creative directions. He currently serves as a Professor and Head of Fiber and Textiles at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI, where he shares his passion and expertise with a new generation of artists and designers.
Matthew O'Brien is the Studio Lab Coordinator Eastern Michigan University School of Art & Design.
2023 Summer Award Jurors
Jennifer Cantley is the Community Gallery & Advisory Manager at the Toledo Museum of Art and a visual artist focusing in physical science and abstraction. Jennifer’s work has been sold and exhibited nationally, and she has work included in the collection on view at the Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering & Bioscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Jennifer co-founded the Alluvium Gallery at Kendall College of Art & Design (Grand Rapids, MI), and has directed and curated various galleries including Center Gallery at StudioSwan (Metro-Atlanta, GA), the Limelight Gallery (Atlanta, GA), and most recently the new Robert C. and Susan Savage Community Gallery (Toledo, OH). In addition, Jennifer has worked as an Art Consultant for an international luxury art consulting firm based out of Atlanta, where she selected and installed art worldwide. Jennifer has a passion for sharing art with her community and has worked in youth and adult art education for many years. Recently, her focus has been on art education and outreach in low-income communities. Jennifer holds an MFA from Kendall College of Art & Design, as well as a BFA from Eastern Michigan University.
Mike Han (b.1984) is a Detroit based artist and designer born in Ann Arbor, MI at the U of M hospital. Han’s creative practice strives to achieve dynamic balance in art and life by connecting people, places, and purpose through his organic and abstract character line work. Han’s artwork draws influence from Korean calligraphy, graffiti, and modern design. Mike has been commissioned to create art at Pitti Uomo in Italy for the MEDC, Bloomingdale’s 150th Anniversary celebration at their flagship location in NYC, and has exhibited collaborative work with Model No. Furniture during Art Basel Miami. Mike has exhibited in Seoul, S. Korea and has also painted in Osaka, Japan. Han has painted murals for Google for Startups, Ford Motor Co., LinkedIn and has artwork in the permanent collections of Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Somerset Collection, Huntington Bank, and Henry Ford Health Systems. He is proud to collaborate with great Michigan brands like Detroit Pistons, Gardner White, SEE Eyewear, and Leon Speakers. Han has been an awards juror for Art Prize, CSCA’s Creative Best, and the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original. He was the keynote speaker for APACC’s 2023 gala, and has been invited to speak to the Carhartt Global Design Team, CCS Fashion Design Students, and at the Strategic Staffing Solutions all hands meeting.
Alison Rivett is Associate Director of the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan and a practicing visual artist. She received her MFA in art and design from the Stamps School at the University of Michigan in 2007 after studying both classics and art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She worked in exhibition design and visitor services at the Getty Museum, Los Angeles; American Museum of Magic, Marshall MI; and U-M Museum of Natural History. She taught painting at the University of Michigan before moving to Bangalore, India to teach and develop new programs at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology for seven years. Her current creative practice involves interpreting PhD dissertations through image-making.
