Betten Imports

FEATURED ARTIST -
Danae Mowry
Artist Featured at ArtPrize 2009
Open House Wednesday December 9, 2009 6-8 pm


Gallery Display
December 9, 2009 to January 28, 2010

A recent graduate from the Interior Design Program at MSU, class 2008, Danae Mowry's main passion in life is art/design/sketching and painting. Currently Danae is a graphic designer at a sign fabrication firm in Grand Rapids. Working in a design related field such as interior design or graphic design keeps Danae's mind sharp and innovative. Hundreds of books grace Danae's residence about the application of her favorite medium, watercolor, along with other books to research every dimension to art.

 

Danae teaches art/design/sketching and painting as well. Her students range in age from 8-65, as well as many MSU Interior Design students applying to get into the major. The best way to know everything about one subject, is to teach that subject. Danae will be applying to get her masters in the spring of 2010 at a local university in a design related major to pursue her passion of teaching art at a graduate level. Danae is thankful for a passion that consumes her mind, soul and heart.

 

Danae says "The roots of a good artist stem from intangible qualities such as deep thought, a vast imagination, and an immense amount of creativity. I believe a great artist, however, possesses not only these traits, but also courage."

 

The Betten Imports Gallery Story

The Gallery at Betten Imports has been entertaining clients and employees since shortly after we first came to our new facility.

Mr. Betten commented to me that the walls in the back of the Mercedes Showroom need something to liven them up.  I suggested we should invest in artwork.  He wasn't excited about spending huge dollars on original pieces, but thought that I might be on to something.  It became my job to figure out how to achieve this goal without breaking the bank.  A few days and a brainstorm later VIOLA!  The Gallery at Betten Imports was born.

The first two artists were people that I new from my personal life.

They just happened to be artists of some consequence.  I really had no idea how I would follow up with other artists.  No problem!  They started hunting me down.  Service customers had artist friends. Coworkers new somebody who new somebody.  Within a couple of months, we were booked for the next year.

 It has been my policy to use West Michigan artists.  We do offer their work for sale, but do not charge them a commission.  After all we are in the Car Business and not really the Art Business.  This is more of a public service than anything else.  Our reward is that we have continually evolving artwork for our and our client's enjoyment.

With each new artist, we have an Open House, serving coffee, cookies and whatnot.  This gives the artist a chance for a head start on possible sales as friends and potential customers gather and are prompted by the excitement of the event.  Who knows, maybe one day one of them might buy a car. (Actually a number of the artists have.)

It has been a lot of fun for me over the years.  I sincerely hope it has been for our employees, customers and area art patrons as well. - Chuck Piccard