Legacy of an Artist: Jean Beach (1929-2019)

Legacy of an Artist: Jean Beach features a collection of 50 digital art, acrylic paintings and art boxes of found objects.  This exhibition is on display now through October 13, 2022 at the Andersen Enrichment Center, 120 Ezra Rust, across from Ojibway Island in Saginaw. Hours are from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Born and raised in Saginaw, Jean Beach received her BFA from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1951. She was a recognized artist with exhibits throughout Michigan at numerous art museums. Her work was in various shows held at the Saginaw Art Museum where she was awarded Best of Show in 1998. Jean’s work has also been included in the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in Lansing, and the Scarab Club in Detroit. In 2010 Beach received the All-Area Arts Award from the Saginaw Arts and Enrichment Commission.

In addition to her visual artwork, Beach was an accomplished writer known for her interesting stories of people and places in Saginaw. She has written several books, including “A Century on Canvas” about the art careers of Julia and Henry Roecker, three Saginaw Hall of Fame volumes, and “Undefeated” with Don Steel. Additionally, Beach authored histories of First Congregational Church Saginaw, Pit and Balcony Community Theater, and the Saginaw historical cookbook “Savoring Saginaw” with Patricia Shek, which won the top award in the Saginaw News Critic’s Choice in 2007.

Art @ the Andersen is made possible with the support of the Maxwell K Pribil Memorial Trust, Jury Foundation, Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation, and the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.  This project has been established by the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission to give artists in the Great Lakes Bay Region an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.

For more information call the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission at 989.759.1362.