Lathrup Village resident is MI Great Artist winner

 Henry Heading of Lathrup Village is the 2013 winner of the regional MI Great Artist contest. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced him as the winner last Thursday at a 6 p.m. news conference and reception at Park West Gallery in Southfield. 

 
“Henry’s work is outstanding,” Patterson said. “The judges said the competition was close this year. But Henry’s bold colors and designs gave him an edge.”
 
Heading will receive a $1,500 cash prize; five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery; a scholarship to attend three Business Basics workshops at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center; a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; his artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County’s signature quality of life events, printed by Park West Gallery; a solo exhibition at Park West Gallery in Southfield; and a two-month solo exhibition at the Oakland County Galleria in the Executive Office Building in Waterford.
 
“Being able to create is an essential part of my life, reflecting my passion and imagination,” Heading said. 
 
“My primary focus is realism, using oil and acrylics. I switch to mediums such as woods, and metals, to break up the monotony, by designing and building conversational 3-D pieces. No matter the medium, each piece must achieve the highest degree of craftsmanship possible. I’m drawn to Art Deco and ethnic designs.”
 
Heading majored in fine arts at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit from 1975 - 1979. His wife, Sheryl, is a jewelry designer. Together, they have a webpage called HeadingDesigns.com. 
 
The four other finalists were:
 
• Kim Fujiwara of Rochester Hills.
 
• Patrick McManus of Warren.
 
• Victor Pytko of Birmingham.
 
• Weatherly Stroh of Birmingham.
 
They each will receive a $375 cash prize, up from $250 last year; framing by Park West Gallery of five artworks included in their submissions; a scholarship to attend one Business Basics workshop at the Oakland County One Stop Shop; a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; and a two-month solo exhibition in the Oakland County Galleria.
 
All five artists work is on display at Park West Gallery until Jan. 3.
 
“This competition is a reminder that Metro Detroit is rich with creativity and possibility, and we’re happy to showcase that,” Park West Gallery founder & CEO Albert Scaglione said. “And what better way to support our local talent than by exhibiting their work in a gallery that sells and displays works created by some of the most well-known living artists and old masters?”
 
The judges were Elliott W. Broom, vice president of museum operations at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Dominic Pangborn, founder of Pangborn Design Collection and former professor at the College of Creative Studies; Don Tocco, an artist whose work includes award winning photography, paintings sold to high end art collectors, portrait sculptures of famous global leaders; Kristie Everett Zamora, arts, culture & film coordinator for Oakland County’s Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs; and Park West Gallery founder/CEO Albert Scaglione.
 
MI Great Artist is a quality of life initiative by Patterson and Scaglione to identify and support Michigan’s next up-and-coming 2D artists. Artists who are 18 years and older who also live, work, or go to school in the Economic Growth Alliance (EGA) region were eligible. The EGA region includes Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Shiawassee, and St. Clair counties. MI Great Artist partners include Oakland County, Park West Gallery, Economic Growth Alliance, AdvantageOakland.com, and Prosper® magazine.

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