08/10/2026
Meet the 2026 Rockford Art in the Park(ing Lot) Judges: Fred Bivins, Sandra Hansen and Mary Sundstrum!
The 2026 jury brings together three accomplished West Michigan artists and arts advocates: Sandra Hansen, Mary Sundstrum, and Fred Bivins. With diverse backgrounds spanning painting, sculpture, metalsmithing, environmental art, printmaking, and woodturning, they bring a broad range of artistic perspectives and experience to this year’s event. On September 12, 2026, they will evaluate the work of the fair’s juried artists and select awardees for Best of Show, Best of 2D, Best of 3D, and Best Jewelry.
Fred Bivins is a longtime advocate for the arts in West Michigan, having spent more than five decades volunteering with Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids and serving in numerous leadership roles, including more than 25 years as head of its Regional Arts Committee. He has also juried art and photography exhibitions throughout the region and spent ten years working with ArtPrize, including serving as Director of ArtPrize for the Women’s City Club. Bivins is an artist working in woodturning, wood engraving, and printmaking, practicing from his studio at Vinecroft Studios, where he also operates a collection of antique printing presses. His interests in historic technologies extend to vintage typewriters, with a collection of more than 250 machines. He currently serves on the board of the Mitten Foundation and remains active in several West Michigan arts and woodworking organizations.
Sandra Hansen is an international environmental artist working in acrylic, oil, oil pastel, encaustic, trash, and handmade paper. Her installation Our Exquisite Pollution explores the convergence of water and artificial materials, while confronting the beauty and fragility of ecological systems. Hansen has exhibited, taught, and held residencies worldwide, while also traveling extensively to study art from diverse perspectives. She holds degrees from Kendall College of Art and Design, where she received the Excellence in Painting Award and the Portfolio Award.
Mary Sundstrum is a West Michigan artist whose work grows from a deep curiosity about materials and the ways they can be combined. A lifelong painter and sculptor, she has also developed a passion for metalsmithing over the past decade. Her process centers on learning new mediums, practicing their techniques, and finding ways to incorporate them into her existing artistic vocabulary. Inspired by the outdoors, Sundstrum draws particular attention to quiet, organic details such as marshes, mushrooms, moss, and insects. Her work reflects an ongoing exploration of materials, craftsmanship, and the natural world.
Rockford's Art in the Park(ing) Lot hosted by RRAA is Saturday, September 12, 10am-4pm at Rockford Footwear Depot in Rockford, Michigan. The 2026 show features over 50 juried artists and 25 RRAA member artists.
Rockford's Art in the Park
