Fine Arts Committee

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The Fine Arts Committee of The Peoples Church (TPC) is dedicated to making The Peoples Church one of the leading supporters of the arts within our community.  Its work has grown out of  the great traditions of the Christian church as a patron of the arts. It reflects the church's belief that the arts exist at the heart of faith and contain within them the power and capacity to lift the human spirit. This belief inspires and infuses the committee's efforts.  

The committee is made up of members of the congregation who wish to beautify and enrich TPC through art.  While it was originally formed to include all elements of the arts including drama and poetry, the committee currently focuses on the visual arts: prints, oil painting, water colors, photography, sculpture, textiles and other crafts, architecture and interior design.  These areas, linked to with a well-established music program, form the broad spectrum of the arts celebrated in The Peoples Church.

HISTORY

The Fine Arts Committee was formed in 1967 as the Fine Arts Council with the charge of promoting a coordinated and creative use of the arts to enrich the programs of Peoples Church. 

At its beginning, the committee was chaired by Dr. William Gamble, Professor of Art at Michigan State University. He served in that role for several decades.  Marilyn Down and then Jan Reed succeeded Dr. Gamble as chair. The current Committee Co-chairs are Chance Liscomb and Jann Angell. Serving with them on the committee are Betty Moore, Cara Ronk, David Stowe, Jim McClurken, Mary Liechty, Sue Mills, Sue Patterson, and Sydney Litterer.

Currently,  the committee's primary focus is on developing and installing four major art exhibits in the church each year. Each exhibit is usually on display for 90 days. The art is displayed in several locations throughout the church, including the Northwest Hallway  adjacent to the Sanctuary, the Thomson Case in the South Hall and the Kiosk, located in the East Hall.  As a point of history, the Kiosk was commissioned by the Fine Arts Council in 1982, to honor Linda Bauer Thomson. It was built by Charles Finkel and paid for with memorial funds donated in Linda’s honor.

The committee is also responsible for setting policy regarding acceptance of donated artwork and conservation of artwork in the Church's permanent collection.

In addition, the committee sponsors select music events, such as the annual MSU Holiday Brass Concert, organized in partnership with the MSU College of Music.

If you are interested in joining The Peoples Church Fine Arts Committee, you can learn more about the committee and its duties here.

RECENT ART EXHIBITS

Moments in Time by Janis Barr McElmurry (March 5 - June 4, 2026)

This exhibit showcased the paintings of Lansing-based artist Janis Barr McElmurry, whose work captures vibrant moments of life. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Janis was raised in a family of artists, fostering a lifelong passion for drawing and painting that has remained a constant thread throughout her life.

While art was her first love, Janis has also dedicated her life to the service of others. Her journey has included a year spent studying art and literature in England and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Andrews University, followed by a distinguished 38-year career as a Registered Nurse at Sparrow Hospital.

Janis’s work is characterized by its warmth and bold use of color, inspired by light as it highlights her subjects. Primarily known for colorful, traditional watercolors, she also enjoys experimenting with oils and acrylics. Her garden serves as a primary muse, where she draws inspiration from nature and light. She is also inspired by her travels and people in her life, particularly her family. Janis often uses photography to capture a moment in time before transferring that emotion onto paper, always seeking to convey the essence of a special memory.

Today, Janis lives with her husband, Neal, and family in Bath, Michigan, where she continues to refine her craft through workshops, local inspiration, and travel.

Numinous Light by Anthony Cairo‍ ‍(December 4, 2025 – March 5, 2026)

Anthony M. Cairo is a traditional artist living in Lansing, Michigan. He received his BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2015 with a focus in drawing. After graduating, he took on an apprenticeship at the Michigan State Capitol Building learning traditional oil painting techniques and fundamentals of decorative art restoration. In 2017, Anthony began teaching himself how to paint landscapes after viewing an impactful exhibition of plein air works by Frederic Edwin Church and Claude Monet at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Today he works as a nationally awarded landscape painter and artist for the Michigan State Capitol. His work is regularly exhibited in the United States and can be found in various private and public collections, including the Michigan State Capitol. His paintings have been featured in Southwest Art and Plein Air magazine. 

In his words: “Numinous Light is an exhibition of 29 of my latest paintings. These paintings are a personal reflection of the complex and endless beauty of the natural world. Fleeting light produces momentary experiences, but for many of us it can form unforgettable memories. These memories envelop our senses, connecting our minds to something true and universal. I still find magic in these natural spaces, and they have become my greatest teacher. My deep love and connection to the landscape came from the consistent practice of plein air painting, backpacking, and camping. Observing and studying directly in the field is an important part of my process”.

Land, Body, and Spirit: The Art of David Youngman (September 4 – December 4, 2025)

This exhibit showcased the works of David Youngman, a contemporary realist artist from Hillsdale, Michigan. David became a full-time artist in 2017 after a 15-year career as a professional musician and has won many regional awards for his work. In his own words:

“To say my pursuit in art is to seek truth and beauty might sound like every artist’s mission statement—but I believe it’s a worthy pursuit,and it is my pursuit. Whether through a portrait, landscape, still life, or spiritual piece, I am chasing something real—sometimes intentionally, but often just by nature of how I see the world.

I never knew how beautiful things really were until I started painting. You might stand at the beach and feel the sound and power of the waves—but painting it forces you to ask deeper questions: what are you actually seeing? Why is water that color? What shapes are forming and disappearing before your eyes?

Beyond the physical, every line, color, texture, and form expresses something emotional and spiritual.

What I’ve noticed is that many artists chase truth and beauty while avoiding God—the source of both. On the other side, many Christian artists play it too safe, afraid to say something bold and truthful out of worry to offend. I don’t claim to have found the balance, but I hope you can see the reaching.

Pieces like Remember and Every Word from the Mouth of God came from deep conviction and spiritual imagination. Others—landscapes, portraits—may seem quieter, but they come from the same posture: paying attention and honoring what deserves to be seen. I try to bring out the soul of whatever I paint—not from a lofty idea, but from a natural curiosity that’s always been in me.

I don’t paint to decorate.  I believe art is the greatest communicator of the spirit. In a world ruled by logic and data, the soul often gets crished—but when the soul leads, logic finds its proper place. That’s what I’m after in painting: something deeper. Something from God that helps us love better, love better, and work to his glory.

There’s no final resolve to this pursuit. No clean conclusion. These works are complete in their own time, but they’re also steps toward something greater. I’ve only scratched the surface of what I believe I’m meant to create. Honestly, if you want to know what I’m really after, you might find it in my sketchbooks. They lack polish, but they usually get closer to the  heart of it. I haven’t arrived—but I know exactly where I’m going: deeper into truth, deeper into beauty, and always toward the voice of God.

Lots of time to read: An exhibition of photographs by Frank Geiser (March 6 – September 4, 2025)

This exhibit featured photographs by Frank Geiser, an artist, arts writer, and art educator based in the greater Chicago area. He was born in Milwaukee and grew up in rural Southeast Wisconsin five miles off the coast of Lake Michigan. Geiser started painting at the age of 13 years old, which he continued all throughout his teenage years. In 2014, Geiser received a scholarship to study art at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also discovered his passion for photography.

In 2017, Geiser was awarded a Winter-Cohen Family Brueggeman Fellowship, which provided initial funding for a journey to India, Greece, France, and Italy to create photographs of monastic and ascetic life in different socioreligious contexts. Upon completion of his BFA degree in 2018, Geiser also received a Xavier University Art Award.

In 2018, Geiser was awarded a fully funded graduate TA position at the University of Kentucky, where he taught classes in digital art and photography until he completed his MFA studies in 2021.

Geiser is currently an assistant professor of practice in Visual Communication and Design at Purdue University Northwest. His art has been exhibited internationally and several of his artworks are a part of 21c museum’s collection.

Elemental Expressions: Scott McCormick’s Visions of Land and Sea (December 5, 2024 – March 6, 2025)

This exhibit featured paintings by Scott McCormick. In his own words:

“Nature has always spoken to me, not with words, but with its textures, colors, and rhythms. In ‘Elemental Expressions,’ I invite you to experience the world as I see it—alive with the raw forces of the earth and sea, yet filled with the quiet moments that anchor us to our surroundings.

Each painting in this collection reflects my connection to the natural world, where light, shadow, and movement converge to evoke emotions that are often beyond language. Through the use of various techniques—whether it’s the board strokes of impressionism, the dynamic energy of expressionism, or the fluidity of abstraction—I strive to capture the elusive moods of nature.

I hope these paintings transport you to places where the land meets the sea, where everyday becomes extraordinary, and where the forces of nature are both meditative and awe-inspiring. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.”

Impressions on Paper and in Clay: The Work of Laura and Doug DeLind (September 5 – December 5, 2024)

This exhibit by Mason-based artists Laura and Doug DeLind, featured linocuts and a sculpture, titled “Days of Creation,” consisting of five large Ruku-fired clay murals and two large figures.

Laura DeLind has been cutting and hand-printing linocuts for over 40 years. She offers print making workshops in the Lansing area and has taught at MSU, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Ghost Ranch (Albuquerque, NM) for many years. Laura’s prints have shown nationally and appear in public and private collections across the country. She collaborated with poet Anita Skeen in The Unauthorized Audubon (MSU Press: 2014) and Even the Least of These (MSU Press: 2024). In her own words:

“I am drawn to linocut because of its challenges and contradictions. It is an accessible medium and, thus, quite democratic in nature. Yet, it is also an extremely sophisticated and elegant art form. On the one hand, the linocut appears spontaneous and effortless. On the other hand,it requires a strong sense of composition and design as well as a clear understanding of positive and negative space. The linocut invites imagination. It’s also brutally honest and allows the artist nowhere to hide.

As the majority of my work suggests, I am fascinated by black and white design and by organic shapes – often those found in my own back yard. Birds, frequent subjects of my art work, provide me with a ready-made ‘excuse’ to play with shape and pattern and to see the world in simple, sensitive, and often whimsical ways.”

Doug DeLind has made a living creating the artwork he loves for 50 years. His work as a sculptor is inspired by ancient and basic civilizations, as well as the directness of children’s art.

“My intentions are to have a humorous show about religion, and how we see passages in the Bible and how they are interpreted and understood. My goal is to inspire, contemplate, and strengthen faith through good Christian humor and folly.”

Chance was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. His parents, both artists, influenced and inspired him as a child. In 1990, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communications from George Mason University. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Peace Corps serving in Mali, West Africa, from 1991-1993.

After completion of his service, he returned to George Mason and earned a Master of Arts in Education. In 1996, he went abroad for three years to teach art at the America School of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. Upon returning stateside, Chance taught high school art education while furthering his education at Virginia Commonwealth University. There he earned a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, specializing in sculpture and painting. Post-graduation, he served as an adjunct professor in art education at Lord Fairfax Community College. Chance has exhibited his sculptures and paintings throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has created many commissioned pieces and works independently with galleries, collectors, organizations, and communities throughout Michigan and Virginia.

This imaginative, fun exhibit, which is offered free of charge, will be on display through December 7. Pick up a catalog for the exhibit inside the NW entrance of the church. Hours for viewing are Monday through Friday, 10:00 am through 4:30 pm, Saturday 10:00 am through 3:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am through 4:30 pm. Visitors may enter from the church parking lot and pick up a catalog for the exhibit inside the Northwest entrance of the church.

“Where ART Thou?? −Playful Reflections on Religion and Scripture” is offered through an ongoing arts program organized by The Peoples Church in support of the belief that the arts exist at the heart of faith and contain within them the power and capacity to lift the human spirit.

A native of Kentucky, Michelle currently serves as the Director of Education at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. She came to the MSU Broad in 2014 after serving as outreach/programming coordinator and a faculty member in MSU’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design for nine years. There she regularly taught lecture and studio courses on the creative process, drawing, painting, and the collaged aesthetic. She holds a BA in studio art and art history from DePauw University and an MFA in painting from MSU. 

Michelle took a unique approach to creating this exhibit, in that some installed pieces were completed works, while other items in the Thompson Case and Kiosk, were all created on site.   

Interestingly, she did not assign names to individual pieces, rather she named them as groupings. For example, the three large pieces in the northwest hall are collectively called “With Love, from the Plantsman.” The pieces displayed in the Thomson Case are named ”Ghost Garden,” and the collection displayed in the Kiosk is called “Glass House of Floribunda.”

To learn more about Michelle’s work visit her website at: https://www.michelleword.com

 Bobbi notes, "For me, painting is a joyful, fulfilling process in which a strong connection with nature is evident. I find it stimulating to work with new materials and techniques, experimenting and exploring possibilities, carefully selecting which visual elements to include and which to leave out.”

Bobbi is developing large works in two series using unconventional materials, including house paint, spackle, diazo paper, cheesecloth, comic book imagery, and pigmented inks.  The Red Fox Series celebrates the cyclic return of life to the ecosystem. She is layering digital transfers of original photographs combined with a variety of natural materials, such as lichen, in an encaustic collage format.  The Succulent and Sea Creature Series is being developed in soft sculpture to coordinate with two-dimensional paintings. Examples from both sculpture series are included in this exhibit. Learn more about Bobbi’s work at https://bobbikilty.com

“Your Art’s Desire” - (May 19 - August 18, 2022)

This multi-media exhibit features the work of Susan Smith, a Michigan artist with an enthusiasm for color, watercolor and experimental media. It includes 46 pieces from her collection including watercolors, acrylics, reverse acrylic painting on glass, mixed-media collage, alcohol inks on Yupo paper and ceramic tiles, mosaic glass and a phun phone.

Susan’s work is sparked by a creative process that embraces a sense of fun, robust color and beauty found in nature. She discovered her artistic talents later in life when challenged by her husband Doug to decoratively paint one of his hand-built tables. She responded, “I can’t do that, I can’t even do stick figures!” His response: “So don’t do stick figures.” Susan found that applying vibrant colors to Doug's table was exciting, even exhilarating.  Along the way, Doug has become her artistic partner, hand-crafting many of the frames for her art pieces.

Inspired to learn more, she set out to build her artistic skills and subsequently spent 20 years taking art lessons and attending workshops, including a stint of study in Italy. Susan became hooked on the creative process and particularly enjoys trying new, innovative media. “I like working with a variety of media, exploring them together and experimenting," she says. "I work in oils, acrylics, alcohol inks, art resins, watercolor and collage. Currently, my favorites are alcohol inks. They are an exciting new medium in the art world. The colors are bright, happy, explosive.” Several of the alcohol ink pieces in the exhibit are coated with art resin, which not only protects the work, but adds a stunning 3-D-like dimension

“An Artist’s Prayer for Ukraine”

For the 2022 Lenten season, Peoples Church member Susan Reedy created a special art display that offered prayers of hope and peace for the beleaguered people of Ukraine.  “Prayers for Ukraine” featured a collection of “pysanky,” a type of highly-decorated-egg that is unique to the Ukrainian people. For many Ukrainians, the making of pysanky is a spiritual experience, particularly during Lent.  The colorful eggs on display were created by Susan over many Lenten seasons.

The eggs are made using the written-wax batik method and feature traditional folk motifs and designs that include prayerful symbols of hope, faith, and peace. The designs are “written” on the eggs with melted beeswax, which resists dye. Detail is added, layer by layer, through successive dye baths until the desired design is achieved. The wax is then melted off. Ancient legend says that as long as pysanky are made, goodness will prevail over evil. 

The exhibit was offered in cooperation with the Fine Arts Committee. 

A local Lansing TV station featured the exhibit in a special segment of their news broadcast. To watch the video about the exhibit, go to https://www.wilx.com/2022/04/11/local-artist-creates-traditional-ukrainian-easter-eggs/

 “Brass Rubbings by Jane Linnell and Patricia Thorpe” – (April 2019 through August 2021)

This exhibit, which featured work from the permanent collection of The Peoples Church, included 13 hand-rubbings of medieval monumental brasses that are memorials for deceased persons. The rubbings were made by church members Jane Linnel and Patricia Thorpe with gold and black crayon on paper and cloth during their visits to historic churches and cathedrals  throughout England.  The original brasses, which date back to the 1200's through 1400's, provide a rich source for studying the history of armor, costumes, hair styles and use of lettering and language   

An accompanying exhibit in the Kiosk featured a collection of facsimile Medieval Books of Hours and related publications from the library of TPC members Susan and Wes Reedy. These items depict The Little Hours of the Virgin, an abbreviated and highly illustrated version of the Daily Office, the eight daily prayers that were chanted/and or recited by medieval monastics and the clergy. Note:  the extended exhibit time frame for this exhibit resulted from the closing of the Church building during the Covid quarantine.

“Water, Wildlife, Sky and Earth,”  –  (August through October 2019)

This exhibit featured the work of Western Michigan photographer, Jim Carney. It included 33 pieces from his collection of waterfowl, flowers, lakescapes and skyscapes of Michigan and Florida. Featured were a wide variety of images rendered on metal, canvas, and paper. They included striking shots of owls, hummingbird, Red-Shouldered Hawk, an eagle attack and a Snowy Egret tending its nest. Colorful images of tropical flowers, butterflies and Michigan water scenes also highlighted the display.

 “Painting Outside the Lines” – (May through July 2019)

This exhibit featured the work of renowned water color artist, Maxine MacLeod, and included 22 pieces from her collection of landscapes, lakescapes and flowers of the Midwest.  Of her work,  she says, "The challenge of watercolor is that it is so difficult to control. The beauty of watercolor is that it is so difficult to control!  For me, when I pick up a brush loaded with watercolor and touch it to paper, the conversation begins between the painting and me. And, as the painting progresses new challenges, new twists and turns reveal what the painting will become.  My hope is that the finished painting will, in turn, engage the viewer in a conversation."  Her work can be found in the permanent collections of WMU, the University of Michigan and West Shore Community College. She was commissioned by the Holland Tulip Time Festival to design their 1989, 1990 and 2009 posters.