Meet Our Visual Artists, Upcoming Fundraisers, and Visual Art news and events!!
Oh boy! Is this GREAT!
Meet The Visual Artists
I’d love for you to meet the visual artists who will be showing off their work (and some for sale) at this year's GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Art Experience 2025, happening on November 8th at Art 634 in Jackson!
Jacob Rosenburg - Jacob is a Detroit-based graphic artist who has created our featured GIG poster artist for 2025 (see the lead image in this newsletter). Jacob’s work is whimsical, surreal, and dynamic. Unafraid of bold colors, lines, and imagery, Jacob’s designs are out of this world. You can talk with Jacob at this year’s graphic artist panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Jena Hovey - Jena is a Lansing-based photographer whose images provoke wonder and reflection. Any and all things photography can be obtained through her company, McShane Photography. Catch her concert coverage on Loud Hailer Magazine. You can talk with Jena at this year’s photography panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Craig Horky - Craig is a Lansing-based graphic artist whose artwork is like dropping down the rabbit hole with Alice. His work is fantastical, colorful, and mischievous. You may remember the beautiful poster image he created for last year’s event. You can talk with Craig at this year’s graphic artist panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Derek Ketchum - Derek is a Kalamazoo-based photographer whose imagery can be found all over the westside’s best music magazine - Local Spins. Derek’s photographs capture the essence of the band's performance, allowing fans to relive each moment. You can talk with Derek at this year’s photography panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Doug Coombe - Doug is an Ann Arbor-based photographer who should be in some sort of photography hall of fame or something. His work spans 30 years of Michigan music. From the early years of the White Stripes and Eminem to current happenings at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Doug’s images pull you into the front row of every show. On top of his concert coverage, Doug is busy documenting all the happenings in Ann Arbor for Concentrate magazine. You can talk with Doug at this year’s photography panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Dennis Preston - Dennis is a Lansing-based graphic artist whose legendary art is wildly imaginative. It’s sort of like speeding down the highway in a supped up hotrod with Hunter S. Thompson at the wheel. Dennis’s art is a trip not to be missed. You can talk with Dennis at this year’s graphic artist panel at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Experience 2025.
Jon Rosenberger - Jon is a Detroit-based photographer who turns his camera into a time machine. Each shutter click puts you on the stage at the exact moment that band and fans become one.
Jackson College Graphic Design Students - led by Associate Professor Chrissy Hughes, the talented graphic design students from Jackson College will be sharing their talents by creating gig posters. I can’t wait to see the vibrant work from these aspiring artists.
Learn more about Jackson College here.
Brian Sheehan / LGRDMN - Brian is a Detroit-based graphic artist and photographer. Brian’s work reveals the worlds beneath, behind, and between the shadows. Besides his mesmerizing art, Brian is vocalist for the band Fell Ruin.
Peter Larson - is an Ann Arbor-based photographer skilled in the art of capturing the stories within a scene. Each of Peter’s photos reveals a sentence in the narrative of life..
Brandon Nagy - is a Detroit-based photographer and graphic artist who crafts images that are as intense and expressive as the bands on the stage. A true painter of light, Brandon creates images that resonate long after the ringing from the amplifiers has faded.
Trippin Terry - is a Battle Creek-based photographer tapping into the primal energy of the show. Through his photos, you feel the sweat, hear the roar, and smell the savage energy.
See Trippin Terry’s work here.
Nathan Purchase - Nathan is a Muskegon-based photographer who develops images that are cinematic and engaging. Poignant and exhilarating, Nathan’s art absorbs you completely.
Jonathan Doyle - Jonathan is a Manchester-based graphic artist who is a master of the gig poster. Vibrant, animated, and charismatic, the posters Jonathan crafts are iconic and enduring.
Cidney Bundon - Cidney is a Detroit-based photographer and graphic artist whose work harkens back to the glory days of garage rock and punk music. Through Cidney’s art, you are in the studio or on the stage. Pulsating with electric life, Cidney’s images transport the viewer through time and space.
Akuro Productions - Led by founder Aaron Lumsden and co-founder Kyle Ariss, Akuro Productions is making a name as the go-to source for musical video productions. They have worked with a number of Michigan bands to create immersive videos that showcase the power of performance. In addition to working with Michigan musical artists, Akuro offers a full line-up of video and photography services.
Michelle Thibodeau - Michelle is a Detroit-based graphic artist creating provocative and intriguing artwork used on gig posters and album covers. Michelle’s work also graces the labels used by Broad Leaf Brewery. In addition to fabulous visual art, Michelle can be seen in the theatrical punk extravaganza known as Cult of Spaceskull.
Ashley Schroth - Ashley is an Adrian-based graphic designer who is stretching her wings into gig posters. Her designs are elegant and imaginative, using a minimal approach to make a clear statement.
Isabel Dowell - Isabel is a Grand Rapids-based photographer with an eye that sees beyond the stage and into the heart of the performer. Holding each beat in focus, Isabel’s dazzling images are lightning in a bottle.
Bryan Durco - Bryan is a Detroit-based graphic artist of vast talent. His posters transfix the viewer with imagery that is hyper-imaginative and hallucinatory
Jaylen Westbrook - Jaylen is a Jackson-based graphic artist who weaves narratives through visuals. His work imparts the excitement of a coming event with a deft use of colors, textures, and leading lines.
Jen Prouty - Jen is an Ann Arbor-based photographer who speaks to you through her fabulous images. Weaving tales of shadow and light, Jen explores every angle in her quest to share each moment with you.
Carl Lundgren - Carl is a Detroit-based graphic artist and gig poster legend. His seminal artwork for bands like Pink Floyd and The Who created quintessential and lasting imagery.
Matthew Jacobson - Matthew is a graphic artist who hails from Detroit. His brilliantly expressive art is dramatic, rich, and radiant. We hear that Matthew is also a magician!
Logan Belz - Logan is a Detroit-based graphic artist making art that bores into your third eye with glorious, lysergic fever dreams. Using a lush and intriguing palette, Logan creates eye candy that transforms into mind candy.
Sami Lipp-Mosier - Sami is a Detroit-based photographer who channels the energy of the music into every image. The sights and sounds of the stage are recast as immortal images, allowing you to relive a show again and again.
Upcoming Fundraisers
HEAR.SAY BREWING Bingo Night - On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from 7-9p come enjoy some fantastic beers and a ton of fun. This isn’t your typical bingo. Check it out and see for yourself! A portion of the bar proceeds will be donated to our 2025 Visual Art Experience! Many thanks to Tony at the team at Hear.Say, for this opportunity!
SCHULER BOOKS - From Sunday, July 20 to Saturday, July 26, purchase a book at a Schuler Books store (locations: Grand Rapids, Okemos, Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield) and mention GIG - Art of Michigan Music Foundation when you shop in-store during that week. For online shoppers, please use the coupon code GIGARTMI during checkout. Schuler Books will donate 20% of sales to GIG - Art of Michigan Music Foundation. Need a book suggestion? We’ve got you covered!
ECLIPSE YOGA at WOLVERINE PICKLEBALL On Sunday, September 14, our friend Roo from Eclipse Yoga is offering a yoga class at Wolverine Pickleball. A suggested donation for the class is $20, and proceeds will go toward the GIG annual event! Afterward, we can relax at Wolverine Pickleball and enjoy a beverage from their wall of beer, wine, and ready-to-drink cocktails. Thank you, Roo from Eclipse Yoga and the awesome folks at Wolverine Pickleball.
Sponsor Update!
A round of applause, please, for Ironbark Brewing Company in Jackson for their support as a Roadie for this year’s event!!! Located at 2610 Kibby Rd, Ironbark serves up great beers and food. They also do a hell of a job supporting local music and the arts by regularly featuring local musicians as well as our friends at Monster Box Theater. I’m so very thankful to the folks at Ironbark for their help!
While we are at it, please join me in thanking our sponsors for this year’s event:
These fantastic businesses are about supporting their communities and the arts. Their support helps us with the much needed funding to put on GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Visual Art Experience 2025. Please give them your support!
SPONSORS STILL NEEDED!
I know I’m a broken record with this, but we could still use more help to put on the Visual Arts Experience 2025. If you have a lead on a sponsor, get in touch with me at (info@gigartmich.org)
Small donations are EXTREMELY helpful - consider helping at whatever level you can afford.
PRESS RELEASE - VISUAL ART EXPERIENCE 2025
Our press release is out on the website. Please share with everyone you know!
Don’t Miss This!
At GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Foundation, we want to amplify the visual art of Michigan music. Here is some news, events, and happenings that you might find interesting. If you are a Michigan visual artist involved in the music community, shoot us your events and news to share - email us at info@gigartmich.org
THRIVE IN 25 - Get Your GIG Merch
We still have posters and shirts to unload - get yours today!!
Support GIG - The Art of Michigan Music Foundation
Our Mission
GIG—The Art of Michigan Music Foundation celebrates and amplifies Michigan's rich music culture by highlighting the visual artists who shape its creative identity. Through exhibitions, workshops, and live events, we provide a platform for photographers, graphic designers, and videographers who craft concert posters, album art, band t-shirts, logos, and music videos—essential visual elements that elevate and support Michigan’s vibrant music community.
GIG—The Art of Michigan Music Foundation is committed to preserving and enriching Michigan's rich musical heritage while nurturing current and future generations of visual artists.
Our Vision
We envision a future where Michigan-based visual artists who contribute to the music community are celebrated and supported. Our long-term goal is to raise funds to provide stipends for artists participating in our annual showcase, GIG - The Art of Michigan Music. By alleviating the financial barriers of art show participation, we aim to create a platform that not only highlights their work but also offers meaningful opportunities for them to connect with the public and sell their creations.
