The Pontiac Creative Arts Center is a nonprofit art gallery based just outside of downtown Pontiac, Michigan. Since 1964, the PCAC has worked to cultivate arts and culture in the community through exhibition, education, and outreach.
One of the first projects I undertook when joining the PCAC's Board of Directors was updating the organization's visual branding. As an art center with years of reputation and potential, it made sense to create a strong logo mark that supported the organization's overall mission. It embodies the question, "What's going on in the PCAC?" both figuratively and literally. With no specific color scheme in the logo, the logo establishes reputation in any exhibition/program branding and can feature various art styles (such as each board member's favorite piece of public domain art on their business cards).
Two of the most participated-in exhibitions in recent years at the PCAC include "Kaleidoscope: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Artists and Designers" and "6x6: Nothing But Squares". Like all the PCAC's exhibitions, these shows are free for anyone to submit artwork to, making them accessible to all kinds of artists. The "Kaleidoscope" show has consistently grown since its first edition in 2019, while the "6x6" show featured a record 300+ pieces of art in the gallery. Artists are able to sell their artwork with a small commission taken to support the PCAC's programming.
Shows like "Kaleidoscope" and "6x6" also try to leverage submitted artworks in their marketing to build excitement for the shows themselves. Another great show I'm proud to have designed for was the PCAC's Dia de los Muertos artistic ofrenda exhibition. This was a collaborative project with the Super Run Club to fundraise for the center and honor passed loved ones on the Day of the Dead.
