FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2025

Crooked Tree Arts Center Announces IMMERSED: A Comprehensive Summer Celebration of Water Through Art, Culture, and Community, beginning May 22

PETOSKEY, Mich. — This summer, Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) – Petoskey invites the community to dive deep into IMMERSED, a free, multi-faceted public program and exhibition exploring the aesthetic, cultural, environmental, and historical dimensions of water. From May 22 through Aug. 31, 2025, IMMERSED will bring together visual art, lectures, artist and author talks, workshops, films, and community conversations — all designed to deepen our appreciation and stewardship of the water that shapes Northern Michigan.

Anchored by a major exhibition on view in the Bonfield and Gilbert galleries and complemented by a robust schedule of free public events — including the beloved Coffee @ Ten lecture series — IMMERSED is more than an art show: it’s a holistic celebration of the life, legacy, and future of our Great Lakes waterways.

“Water is central to our lives here in Northern Michigan — it shapes our geography, our communities, and our sense of place,” said Sheila Ruen, CTAC’s Visual Arts Director. “With IMMERSED, we wanted to create a space where artists, scientists, storytellers, and citizens could come together to reflect on our shared relationship with water. This summer’s programming is a chance to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and celebrate the many ways water sustains and inspires us. IMMERSED embodies our mission to create ways to connect, learn, and grow through the arts.”

About the IMMERSED Exhibition
On view May 22 – Aug. 31, 2025, the IMMERSED exhibition transforms CTAC’s galleries into a multimedia experience combining visual art, sound, artifacts, and motion. The exhibition features over 30 artists, scientists, and cultural contributors interpreting the many dimensions of water — cultural, spiritual, environmental, and artistic.

Opening Reception
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 5 – 7 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Participating Artists include:
Sara Adlerstein-Gonzales, Calla Beers, Dewey Blocksma, Gretchen Dorian, Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean, The Gijigowi Anishinaabemowin Language Department (GALD), Ladislav Hanka, Deanna Hergt-Willmott, Harold Herman, Sarah Innes, Little Bay Boards, The Repatriation, Archives and Records Department for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Susan Lyman, Natalie Miebach, Bryanna Manning, Heidi Marshall, Mary Bea McWatters, John Murphy, Elizabeth Pollie, Senghor Reid, Sarah Schilling, Bill Schwab, Scott Smith, Dennis Swarzlander, Amelia Sweebe, Takeshi Takahara, CCS Transportation Design Dept., Susan Tusa, The Miller Van-Winkle Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Van Dam Boats, CTAC School of Ballet, Tip of the Mitt Watershed, and Patrick Wise

IMMERSED is made possible thanks to the Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation, Boyne Boat Yard, Van Dam Custom Boats, and Bay View Association, as well as many in-kind sponsors.

IMMERSED: Free Public Programming Schedule
A wide array of lectures, films, panels, and workshops will accompany the exhibition from May 29 - August 31. Here are a few upcoming events:

• May 29 | All Too Clear Film Screening (registration required)
  5:30 - 7:30 p.m. – A 90-minute documentary on the profound impact of invasive quagga mussels on the Great Lakes ecosystem, presented with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB)
• June 28 | The Death and Life of the Great Lakes: Author Dan Egan in Conversation (registration required)
  5:30 - 6:30 p.m. – Egan and Greg McGlinchey of Great Lakes Fishery Commission will explore issues related to the ecology, culture, politics, and commerce of the Great Lakes
• July 17 | Northern Michigan: A Life on the Water with author, Jerry Dennis (registration required)
  6 - 7:30 p.m. | CTAC Theater – A discussion about the health of our rivers and lakes and the challenges they face
• July 31 | A Two Hearted Tale Film Screening & Talk (registration required)
  7:30 - 9 p.m. | CTAC Theater – A heartfelt look at the history of the iconic trout label adorning the most popular IPA beer in America, and its eccentric artist, Lad Hanka
• Aug. 14 | Intro to Fly Tying Workshop (registration required – limit 20)
  6 - 8 p.m. | Visual Arts Studio – An introduction to the history, equipment, materials, and steps required to get started in the craft of fly tying, open to all 
• Aug. 31 | Bad River Film Screening (registration required)
  2 - 4 p.m. | CTAC Theater - A documentary film that chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band’s ongoing fight for Sovereignty, presented in collaboration with the “Water is Life” Festival

All events are free and open to the public; some require advance registration or tickets. For the full schedule and details, please visit crookedtree.org/Immersed2025.

Coffee @ Ten: Summer 2025 Lecture Series
Held every Thursday morning at 10 a.m. in Gilbert Gallery at CTAC Petoskey (461 E. Mitchell St.), this free series brings speakers to the community for a lively conversation and exploration — fueled by complimentary coffee and pastries from Roast & Toast. Here are a few upcoming events:

• May 22 | Amanda Weinert, LTBB Curriculum Specialist
  LTBB Odawak Nme (Lake Sturgeon) Teachings Curriculum – Amanda will share the significance of Lake Sturgeon to the Odawa people and our ecosystems, and how the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are bringing this knowledge into classrooms
• June 12 | Beth Wemigwase, Program Coordinator/Curator, Harbor Springs Area Historical Society
  Putting the “Spring” in Harbor “Springs” – Discover how Ephraim Shay helped create the town’s first waterworks system, connecting local geology and natural history
• June 26 | Dr. Andrea Miehls, Communications Associate, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
  Great Lakes Sea Lampreys: From Crisis to Control – Meet the infamous sea lamprey and learn how scientists are managing this invasive species—all attendees will have an opportunity to meet and hold these vampire fish of the Great Lakes if they so choose
• July 24 | Ann Baughman, Associate Director, Freshwater Future
  Great Lakes and Climate Change: What does it mean for Northern Michigan? – Explore current models and future scenarios for climate change impacts on Northern Michigan and the Great Lakes, and how we can best prepare and adapt
• Aug. 7 | Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Author
  A Conversation with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Author of Braiding Sweetgrass – Join Crooked Tree Arts Center for a special moderated conversation with the acclaimed author and plant ecologist, blending scientific and Indigenous knowledge
• Aug. 21 | Bruce Lynn, Executive Director, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
  Gales of August: The Sinking of the Western Reserve – Dive into maritime history with the story of the Western Reserve, a freighter lost on Lake Superior in 1892

For the full lecture schedule, please visit crookedtree.org/PetoskeyLectures.

One Unified Experience

Together, the IMMERSED exhibition, Coffee @ Ten lecture series, and special public programming offer a dynamic, season-long experience that connects our community through the shared lens of water. Whether you’re drawn to the science of sturgeon, the poetry of waves, or the stories of those who protect our lakes, IMMERSED promises something for everyone.

For the full summer schedule and program updates, visit crookedtree.org or call 231-347-4337.
 

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About the Crooked Tree Arts Center: The mission of the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is to create ways for people to connect, learn, and grow through the arts. CTAC offers exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events, and so much more, from its campuses in Petoskey and Traverse City. For more information, please visit www.crookedtree.org.

Media Contact:
Keely Bomee Platte, Marketing & Communications Manager
Crooked Tree Arts Center
231-550-6868 | keely@crookedtree.org

Crooked Tree Arts Center
461 E. Mitchell St.
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-4337
www.crookedtree.org