Member Show 2026
The Member Show celebrates the creative voices that challenge, inspire, and reflect the world around us. This annual exhibition highlights the depth and diversity of work created by members of the Jordan River Arts Council, offering a wide-ranging look at the talent, imagination, and perspectives within our artist community.
Featuring new and recent works across a variety of mediums—including painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, mixed media, and more—the Member Show brings together distinct artistic approaches under an open theme, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for viewers.
JRAC Plein Air Painters Group (Copy)
The Jordan River Arts Council (JRAC) is hosting meetups for Plein Air painting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month starting May 19 and running through October. All media and experience levels are welcome. No instruction will be given—just camaraderie and encouragement! Please bring your own painting supplies. Plein Air venues will rotate between Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. If you’d like to be added to the Plein Air group list, reply to Linda Miller at jordanriverarts@gmail.com. Feel free to forward this to anyone with potential interest.
Our first meetup will be Tuesday May 19 from 1-3pm at Sportsmen’s Park at 85 Bridge Street in East Jordan. This venue offers views of the Jordan River, sculptures along the Jordan River Art Walk, and a historic train. Amenities include picnic tables, a boardwalk with benches, a public restroom and a gazebo that offers cover for slightly inclement weather.
To be notified of future meetups, send an email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385 with the request to “put me on the Plein Air group email list.”
Sketchbook Group (Copy)
Sketchbook Group is a casual meet-up for artists with an interest in sketching, exploring various media, trying new techniques and sharing tips and tricks. This is a drop-in format with no registration required. Artists bring their own materials.
The Group meets from 2-4 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, generally at JRAC; however, the group occasionally meets at other locations. If you’re attending for the first time, you may want to contact Cynthia Tschudy at ctschudy@torchlake.com or call JRAC at (231) 536-3385 in advance.
JRAC Plein Air Painters Group (Copy)
The Jordan River Arts Council (JRAC) is hosting meetups for Plein Air painting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month starting May 19 and running through October. All media and experience levels are welcome. No instruction will be given—just camaraderie and encouragement! Please bring your own painting supplies. Plein Air venues will rotate between Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. If you’d like to be added to the Plein Air group list, reply to Linda Miller at jordanriverarts@gmail.com. Feel free to forward this to anyone with potential interest.
Our first meetup will be Tuesday May 19 from 1-3pm at Sportsmen’s Park at 85 Bridge Street in East Jordan. This venue offers views of the Jordan River, sculptures along the Jordan River Art Walk, and a historic train. Amenities include picnic tables, a boardwalk with benches, a public restroom and a gazebo that offers cover for slightly inclement weather.
To be notified of future meetups, send an email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385 with the request to “put me on the Plein Air group email list.”
Alchohol Ink
Alcohol Ink with Nancy Carey. . Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
Sketchbook Group (Copy)
Sketchbook Group is a casual meet-up for artists with an interest in sketching, exploring various media, trying new techniques and sharing tips and tricks. This is a drop-in format with no registration required. Artists bring their own materials.
The Group meets from 2-4 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, generally at JRAC; however, the group occasionally meets at other locations. If you’re attending for the first time, you may want to contact Cynthia Tschudy at ctschudy@torchlake.com or call JRAC at (231) 536-3385 in advance.
Garden Walk
Tuesday, June 30 from 11:00 to 4:00
This event highlights the community sculpture walk, six local gardens and creative outdoor spaces, offering a relaxed way to enjoy art, nature, and community.
Ticket sales will begin mid-May in the JRAC gallery and online. Early bird pricing of a $25 ticket will be offered through Sunday, June 28. Day of event price is $35/ticket.
Your first stop on the day of the Garden Walk will be at JRAC, which will open at 10:30 am. There you will show your online purchase receipt or purchase a ticket to receive a map with all seven locations and a packet containing local coupons and special Garden Walk offers.
Jordan River Arts Council
301 Main Street, East Jordan
T: 231-536-3385
JRAC Spring/summer hours
May 10-22: Thursday - Monday, 12:30 - 4:30 pm
Starting May 31: open daily 12:30 - 4:30 pm
Sponsored by Erin O'Donnell, Realtor with Pat O'Brien & Associates, 701 Bridge St., Charlevoix, 231-736-0110
Slow Stitched Lino prints
Slow Stitched Lino prints with Kathy Amerman. Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
Nature Journaling Class
Class will be held at Jordan River Watershed Center, 101 Union Street, East Jordan
Discover a deeper connection to nature through mindful observation. Disconnect from stress and tune into the sights, sounds, and rhythms of our local Northern Michigan environment at the Jordan River Watershed. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to change your outdoor walks into meaningful, illustrated notes, and pages in a nature journal. Slow down and enjoy nature.
No artistic experience is needed, just curiosity!
Perfect for nature lovers, artists, and the curious at heart.
All art materials will be provided
Bring a water bottle and lawn chair or blanket
Presented in partnership with Friends of the Jordan Watershed and Jordan River Arts Council
Roots
What grounds us? What helps us grow? What stories from our past continue to shape who we are today?
In recognition of our nation’s 250th year, the Jordan River Arts Council presents Roots, an exhibition exploring history, heritage, and the experiences that define us. The works in this exhibition reflect personal, cultural, family, and environmental connections—examining how traditions, places, and pivotal moments influence identity and creativity.
From family legacies and cultural shifts to landscapes that leave a lasting imprint, Roots invites viewers to consider the many ways our backgrounds inform who we are and how we express ourselves. The exhibition features work across a wide range of artistic mediums, united by a shared exploration of origin, connection, and growth.
Local Authors’ day
Saturday, July 25, 12:30-4:30 pm
The Jordan River Arts Council is pleased to invite local authors from East Jordan and the surrounding communities to participate in a special Local Authors Day this summer.
This event is designed to celebrate the voices, stories, and talents of writers who call our area home. Whether you’ve published a book, written a memoir, created a children’s story, or compiled local history, we welcome you to be part of this community-focused gathering.
Participating authors will have the opportunity to:
Display and sell their books
Meet and connect with readers
Share their work in a relaxed, welcoming setting
Be part of a day that highlights the creative spirit of our region
We are especially interested in authors with ties to East Jordan and the immediate surrounding area, as this event aims to showcase the rich literary talent found right here in our community.
There is a $20 booth fee for participating authors. Space is limited, so early response is encouraged! Contact us at jordanriverarts@gmail.com
Needle Punching
Needle Punching with Dawn Swaim. Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
Small Expressions
A fiber show with small works.
Small in scale, rich in detail. Small Expressions invites fiber artists to explore the impact of compact work—where texture, technique, and concept converge in pieces measuring a maximum of 1,728 square inches (artwork dimensions determined by the artist).
This exhibition celebrates the quiet strength of small-scale fiber art: stitched stories, woven ideas, and tactile moments that invite close reflection. All fiber-based approaches are welcome, from traditional to experimental. Let your smallest works speak volumes.
Needle Felting
Needle Felting with Judy Wagner-Worgess. Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
Sketchbook Group
Sketchbook Group is a casual meet-up for artists with an interest in sketching, exploring various media, trying new techniques and sharing tips and tricks. This is a drop-in format with no registration required. Artists bring their own materials.
The Group meets from 2-4 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, generally at JRAC; however, the group occasionally meets at other locations. If you’re attending for the first time, you may want to contact Cynthia Tschudy at ctschudy@torchlake.com or call JRAC at (231) 536-3385 in advance.
Craft Afternoons
A Sweet New Series from JRAC
JRAC invites you to indulge your curiosity and creativity with a new, monthly hands-on art experience — each one paired with a little chocolate to sweeten the afternoon. Hours are 2:30–4:30 pm. Explore a new craft or revisit a favorite technique while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow creatives. Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
May 20- Polymer clay with Babs Young and Ginny Hawkins
June 17- Alcohol Ink with Nancy Carey
July 15 - Slow Stitched Lino prints with Kathy Amerman
August 19 - Needle Punching with Dawn Swaim
September 16 - Needle Felting with Judy Wagner-Worgess
Polymer Clay
Polymer clay with Babs Young and Ginny Hawkins. Fees are by donation to cover supplies and/or instructors. Reservations are required; send email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385.
JRAC Plein Air Painters Group
The Jordan River Arts Council (JRAC) is hosting meetups for Plein Air painting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month starting May 19 and running through October. All media and experience levels are welcome. No instruction will be given—just camaraderie and encouragement! Please bring your own painting supplies. Plein Air venues will rotate between Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. If you’d like to be added to the Plein Air group list, reply to Linda Miller at jordanriverarts@gmail.com. Feel free to forward this to anyone with potential interest.
Our first meetup will be Tuesday May 19 from 1-3pm at Sportsmen’s Park at 85 Bridge Street in East Jordan. This venue offers views of the Jordan River, sculptures along the Jordan River Art Walk, and a historic train. Amenities include picnic tables, a boardwalk with benches, a public restroom and a gazebo that offers cover for slightly inclement weather.
To be notified of future meetups, send an email to jordanriverarts@gmail.com or call 231-536-3385 with the request to “put me on the Plein Air group email list.”
Scholarship Show
The Jordan River Arts Council is pleased to announce the Scholarship Competition for 2026. Five scholarships plus three honorable mention awards will be given to high school Juniors and Seniors of Antrim and Charlevoix counties.
The Exhibit will take place at the Jordan River Arts Council May 10-22, 2026. An Awards Reception will be held Sunday May 17 from 12:30-4:30 pm. Awards will be announced at 2:00 pm. Students must be present to receive any award. coming soon.
JRAC Sketchbook Group
2026 dates and times for Art Drop-in Activities will be announced soon!
Deadline: Artist in Residence
Artist in Residence
East Jordan, located in beautiful Northern Michigan, is the perfect location for visual artists to experiment, explore and create. This community abounds with many local artists and a thriving arts council, Jordan River Arts Council (JRAC). The residence program offered by JRAC is a unique two week opportunity with housing provided free of charge and a large offsite studio space.
Deadline to register: midnight March 31, 2026
H2O
H2O is a multimedia exhibition celebrating water as both a vital force and a powerful source of inspiration. Essential, ever-changing, and deeply connective, water shapes our landscapes, our lives, and our imaginations.
The exhibition explores water in its many forms—rivers, lakes, oceans, rain, ice, and steam—as well as its symbolic qualities, from mystery and stillness to renewal and transformation. Featuring work across a wide range of mediums, H2O invites viewers into an immersive experience that reflects water’s beauty, significance, and enduring presence in our world.
The Art of Keeping a Personal Journal
This two-and-a-half-hour class explores different techniques for writing and keeping a personal journal. Through a series of demonstrations, guided discussions, and various writing prompts, participants will develop a journal that will help deepen their creativity and self-awareness. This class is designed for visual artists, writers, and other creatives.
The only supplies needed are a journal or notebook and yourself!