The project, born from Playhouse manager Katie Trzaska’s idea to develop her summer season theme, “The Art of . . .,” is a collaboration between the Arts Council of White Lake and the Howmet Playhouse. “We started brainstorming and came up with the idea of a hands-on art experience for the community,” said Nuveen Center director Erin Charles. “Ultimately, we wanted to see what could happen when different people of all ages and abilities let their imaginations go and created something together.”

The result, a whimsical, brightly colored array of paintings, is on display at the Nuveen Center now through February 18. On viewing the collection as a whole for the first time, Trzaska and Charles were inspired to create an “I Spy” activity drawn from details found throughout the works. Visitors completing the activity can enter a drawing for a pair of tickets to one of the Howmet Playhouse’s March events—a concert by indie-rock band the Dave Zagar Trio, or a production of the drama The Yellow Boat presented by White Lake Youth Theatre.

The Community ART Grand Showcase can be viewed at the Nuveen Community Center for the Arts (8697 Ferry St., Montague), Tuesdays through Fridays from Noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about this free exhibit, call 231-894-2787 or visit www.artscouncilofwhitelake.org/nuveen.

The Nuveen Center is a branch of the Arts Council of White Lake working side-by-side with White River Gallery and the Music & Performing Arts branch to encourage, initiate, and facilitate an enriched artistic, cultural and creative environment throughout the White Lake community.