2026 Great Northern Art Explosion

The 2026 Great Northern Art Explosion August 21 – September 6 Downtown Grayling, Michigan Get ready for one of Northern Michigan’s premier international art exhibitions — the Great Northern Art Explosion returns to Grayling this summer! Featuring incredible artwork from around the globe, this free and public event transforms downtown into a vibrant hub of creativity and inspiration. 📍 Exhibition Venue AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center 122 Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI -Open Daily 10:00am-5:00pm- Special Events Opening Reception Friday, August 21 at 6:00 PM-8:00PM Kick off the exhibition with a festive reception and enjoy a chance to meet the artists behind the work! Closing Awards Ceremony Sunday, September 6 at 2:00 PM Celebrate the close of the Art Explosion and see which artists take home the top honors. 🗳️ People’s Choice Voting Throughout the exhibition, you can vote for your favorite piece of art. Your voice matters — help decide who wins the coveted People’s Choice Award! 🎨 Proudly Sponsored By Jim & Connie Sutika Paddle Hard Brewing Grayling Promotional Association Come experience the power of art in the heart of Michigan. We can’t wait to see you there! This Year’s Professional Juror: Jennifer Rose Hasso is a Chicago-based artist, arts educator, and anthropologist. She has a B.A. in Art and Art History and a minor in Anthropology from DePaul University, an M.A. in Art History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is about to complete an Ed.D. in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University. She currently serves as the Director of a STEM program at Northeastern Illinois University and has taught arts and humanities courses at Kendall College of Art and Design, Triton College, and Harold Washington College. She has also worked in museum education, as an ethnographer and archaeologist, and is a Fulbright-Hays scholar. She teaches coursework through the lens of human rights, restorative justice, and community building.