EAST LANSING—Four local artists and one gardener will join forces to support the efforts of students in the Michigan State University Department of Theatre when Friends of Theatre presents its first Art in the Garden event, Wednesday, September 6, from 5:00‐8:00 p.m. The event will take place at Elinor Holbrook’s East Lansing garden. Tickets are available now for $25 at theatre.msu.edu or $30 at the door.

Artists participating in the event include Mark Chatterley, Doug DeLind, Pamela Timmons and Jim Wolnosky. The event will include hors d’oeuvres, sweets and drinks to enjoy as guests wander through the gardens and admire the art offered for sale from the four artists. Each artist is donating a portion of sales from the event to Friends of Theatre.

About the artists:

Mark Chatterley’s work has appeared in juried competitions around the country and he is the recipient of many awards. His work is featured in collections throughout the United States and in Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, India and the United Kingdom. He has been featured in publications that include “The Best of 500 Ceramics: Celebrating a Decade in Clay,” “Contemporary Sculptors,” the “New York Times” and “Ceramics Monthly.”

Doug DeLind, a professional artist for 35 years, is an adventurous clay artist willing to share his love of the materials and the tricks of the trade to students. His work is featured in art fairs and galleries throughout North America and uses the Raku‐firing process to create figures and totems ranging in size from a piece of jewelry to larger than life. His work has appeared in “American Craft Magazine,” “Ceramics Monthly” and “Art News” as well as local and regional publications.

Pamela Timmons works in a rural studio surrounded by gardens and the natural world, which provide inspiration for her work in clay and bronze. Her work was selected to decorate the Michigan Governor’s residence and is included in the permanent collections of Lansing Community College and Kalamazoo’s Bronson Hospital. Each piece is wrapped with copper wire and seaweed then buried in sawdust in a special kiln that was built specifically for this particular firing process. During the firing, salt and additional copper are added to the flame.

Jim Wolnosky describes his work as abstract expressionism, as he loves to dabble in non‐ordinary reality. Working mostly in wood, sometimes in metal, he designs and produces contemporary studio furniture, sculpture, and mobiles. His work references that of Henry Moore, Joan Miro and the great jazz artists of the 1950s and ’60s. His work has been included in “Fine Woodworking Magazine,” “The Chicago Tribune” and “Design Book 7.”

MSU Friends of Theatre is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting projects and activities benefitting students studying in the Michigan State University Department of Theatre. Included is support for Summer Circle Free Theatre, Summer Circle Kids’ Camp, The 4th Wall and ĭmáGen Immersion Project for Musical Theatre. In addition, Friends of Theatre provides community classes to enhance the experience of attending several of the university’s productions during the school year and organizes trips to area theatres to extend the experience of attending live theatre in the mid‐Michigan region. Membership is $35 and includes the organization’s monthly newsletter. Those contributing at higher levels receive additional benefits. Visit theate.msu.edu for more information.

Photo: work by Pamela Timmons.