Vision and Mission
Open Concept Gallery is a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting contemporary art in West Michigan. The gallery is an open platform for innovation, showcasing both local and international art and artists.
The unique structure of the gallery space encourages dialogue among artists, the audience and community institutions. Open Concept Gallery promotes education through educational lecture, panel discussions, presentations, and other projects. Exhibits vary and include individual installations, happenings, public festivals and events devoted to the integration of art into every aspect of daily contemporary life.
Staff
Zora Carrier, PhD
Executive Director
Zora is Founder and Curator of Perugia Gallery, an art gallery in the Slovak Republic, focusing on Central European visual art, and projects of renowned artists in painting, prints, and photography. She is also Co-founder and Curator of Gallery Art Factory, Prague, Czech Republic, a gallery presenting contemporary art from around the world, especially new media works in video art and digital print. Most recently, she is Co-founder and Curator of Open Concept Gallery, a non-profit institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, dedicated to the promotion of art education and the infusion of contemporary art and culture into the community.
Bridgette Broughman
Curator
Bridgette Broughman holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Michigan State University, and will receive her Master of Fine Arts in Photography from Kendall College of Art and Design this spring. In addition, Bridgette is currently an adjunct faculty member in the photography program at Kendall.
Maureen Riley
Curator
Mo is an intern studying art history and communications at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. She hopes to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through her internship with Open Concept Gallery to her pursuit of a career in the art world.
Jennie Mac Anaspie
Marketing
She is an award-winning artist, an accomplished musician and served two years as a docent for the Dayton Art Museum. Before joining Open Concept Gallery, she spent over fifteen years as a successful sales and marketing executive for Fortune 500 companies, directing promotional programs and building national multi-media campaigns for companies such as NBC, Ford, Sears and the NBA. She attended Kendall School of Design, holds a Bachelors degree in Art History from Aquinas and a MSc from Northwestern University.
Katie Moore
Curator
Katie is currently working on obtaining her MFA in painting from Kendall College of Art & Design. Her thesis focuses on contemporary views of Catholic saints, and their place in history as well as contemporary society. She is also an active member of Riot House Records and is currently working on producing a series of paintings for Black Jet Radio.
Nicole Turner
Graphic Designer
Nikki is graduate student at Kendall College of Art and Design. Along with working in Open Concept Gallery she is also an active art community volunteer and project planner.
Amanda Carmer
Curator
Amanda is currently pursuing an MFA in photography at Kendall College of Art & Design, her work centers around the idea of mediated experience and the ability of new technology to function as both a transmitter and tool for expression. She also works with the American Youth Foundation as a youth development professional and is involved in the greater Grand Rapids arts community as a volunteer and exhibiting artist.
Partners
The gallery is a compliment to the rich cultural institutions in West Michigan and keeps a focus on building relevant community activities tied to its mission. Part of that building process involves partnering with other local organizations to bridge activities and help communicate to a wider audience. Open Concept Gallery maintains strong relationships with both private and public organizations, many of whom are listed below. Without the support of these institutions, our growth in the community would not be where it is today.