Art is all around this summer in West Michigan. If you attended the Van Gogh exhibit in downtown Grand Rapids and it whet your appetite for more, you’re in luck!

The frescos from Michelangelo’s  Sistine Chapel are at The Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum. While technically prints (because frescos are part of the wall/ceiling, so can’t travel), the format makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience; and more economical too! You can see the exhibit for with regular museum admission, no plane ticket or passport needed. As someone who has been to the actual Sistine Chapel in Rome, I can tell you I enjoyed seeing the images at the Ford more. The prints of the ceiling frescos are displayed vertically like a typical painting and at eye level, so you get a great view of the detail and no sore neck from looking up. It’s also much more comfortable to linger and gaze leisurely, because you’re not crammed in with other tourists and the Ford is air conditioned, which makes it a great option on a hot August afternoon.

Next stop takes us to the Lakeshore and the Muskegon Museum of Art. The Dressing the Abbey Exhibit is there until September 12. This includes several costumes from Downton Abbey, the popular tv show and movies. It’s an absolute must if you watched either. If you never caught an episode of Mary fighting with her sister Edith, or Mr. Carson bossing people about, there’s still much to see. With a selection of costumes from both “upstairs” and “downstairs”, you can learn about the history between 1912 – 1927, how clothes reflected the changing times, and how they reinforced the social order of the day. They are works of art themselves and here you can see them up close.

American Impressionism 1870 – 1940 are at the Grand Rapids Art Museum until August 27. I haven’t been yet, but it’s on my list for a Thursday night when the GRAM is open until 9:00 p.m. and admission is free on Thursdays.

If you missed the Beyond Van Gogh exhibition at DeVos Place, you’re still in luck! Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, is at 555 Center Dr NW, Walker MI 49544 near I-96 and Alpine in Walker until  October 15.

Lastly, mark your calendars for ArtPrize, which returns to Grand Rapids September 15 – October 2. There will be more art than you can handle.