ArtPrize season is here, and Bridge Street Market is proud to showcase two incredible submissions that are sure to spark conversation during your next shopping trip. Hanging proudly in our space are works by Peggy Slattery and Broderick Bebout – two artists whose creativity and passion have made them familiar faces in the Art Prize community.
Broderick returns for his fifth year, bringing seasoned perspective and a fresh vision, while Peggy marks her second appearance after her 2023 piece An Iris Collection of 5 captured hearts and earned 3rd place in the Public Vote. When asked about the venue selection process, Peggy likens it to online dating, so we’re absolutely delighted that both artists “swiped right” on Bridge Street Market!
Written by Jordan Kossuth
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
Meet Peggy Slattery
People are often surprised to learn that Peggy Slattery has spent over 30 years teaching science at Grandville High School. A lifelong educator with roots in Hudsonville and a degree from Hope College, Peggy’s journey into the art world began not in a classroom, but in the quiet pause of the 2020 lockdown. Though she had always been artistically inclined, she never had the space to pursue painting seriously. With her 2 children out on their own, and a stay-at-home order in effect, Peggy found herself with something rare: time!
She began her journey with some online courses, exploring techniques and styles on her own for about a year. While attending a women’s retreat, she connected with Robert VanderZee, an established local artist and owner of the Lynx Run Wilderness Retreat that was hosting her group. This property offers a unique blend of nature and art, becoming a creative haven where Peggy would spend 6–8-hour sessions immersed in learning over the next four years from her newfound mentor.
Though she had been painting privately for 5 years, Peggy had never displayed her work publicly. Apart from family and those who visited her home, this piece of her had remained tucked away – until loved ones encouraged her to take a leap! That leap landed her smack dab in the middle of ArtPrize at Amway Grand Plaza, where her art was met with unexpected enthusiasm, and a 3rd Place Public Vote award in 2023. It was a whirlwind experience that pushed her far beyond her comfort zone.
As a teacher, Peggy was used to speaking in front of teenagers. But presenting her art to strangers presented a whole new challenge. It required vulnerability, courage, and a willingness to grow socially and creatively. Each step, from showing her first painting to standing in front of an audience, was a brave move forward. And through it all, Peggy discovered not just a new passion, but a new version of herself – one that thrives in both the classroom and the studio.
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
CommUNITY
Peggy has returned to ArtPrize after honing her skills, with her 2025 submission, CommUNITY. The painting itself began taking shape last December. After months of planning, she had custom wood canvases made and began sketching with acrylics, mapping out where each figure would go. The acrylic paint served as the foundation, allowing flexibility and experimentation. But the final layers (between 10-15 in total) are rich oil paint, adding depth and texture that bring the scene to life.
In a time when division often dominates headlines, CommUNITY offers viewers something different: joy, rhythm, and connection. This vibrant street scene bursts with life – musicians playing, people dancing, and a palpable sense of movement that pulls the viewer into the painting. Peggy designed it to be unmistakably diverse, with no single group taking center stage. Men and women of all backgrounds share the canvas equally, echoing the kind of harmony you feel at a concert or comedy show when the whole room is in sync.
“I wanted to capture that feeling,” Peggy highlights. “That moment when you’re in a crowd and everyone’s moving together, smiling, feeling free. It’s nostalgic, like something from another time – but also something we desperately need right now.”
That sense of unity is something she promotes beyond the canvas as well. At her school, she helps lead a community club that fosters connection across all kinds of social lines. In fact, some of the figures in this painting are even based on her own current and past students!
Peggy felt compelled to create something that could remind people of what’s possible when we come together. The result is a visual experience calling you to remember that rare, electric feeling of being deeply connected to strangers united by joy. In every brushstroke, there’s an invitation: step into the rhythm, and join the dance.
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
Meet Broderick Bebout
Broderick Bebout never saw himself as an artist. In fact, before the pandemic, the closest he got to creativity was doodling in the margins of meeting notes while working as a call center director for major insurance companies. Art hadn’t been part of his life since high school, and even then, it was more of a passing interest than a passion. But sometimes, life throws you into transformation when you least expect it.
When COVID hit, Broderick’s company went fully remote. While this was a blessing for some, Broderick found this suffocating. The isolation took a toll on his mental and physical health, adding up to a personal crisis. It all culminated one day with a moment of frustration, when he walked into his garage to get a roll of drop-cloth paper, taped it to the wall of his home office, and started drawing with whatever he could find. This spontaneous act became a ritual, with Broderick creating one piece of art each day. As time passed, he upgraded his tools and refined his process. What had begun as a coping mechanism transformed into a creative engine.
Broderick’s younger son saw something special in his dad’s work and encouraged him to post videos of his progress – thus beginning his crash course in social media. With help from his sons, he launched TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook accounts featuring stop-motion videos of his art being created. With his GoPro snapping photos every 10 seconds, viewers could watch a full piece come to life in under 10 minutes.
Interest started trickling in, and people asked if they could buy his work, leading him to set up an Etsy shop. When his company decided to stay virtual permanently, Broderick realized his passions were leading him in a different direction. He left his full-time job and became the guy with the white tent and a truck, showing up at art fairs and craft shows to sell his creations and network with fellow artists.
The man who once dreaded the idea of attending a craft fair with his wife was now embedded in the community – making friends, sharing stories, and finding purpose. While attending a Merchants & Makers show in Grand Haven, Broderick was approached by a woman who admired his greeting cards and asked if he was partnered with any retail stores. At the time, he was not, so she suggested they connect over coffee – where he soon discovered that she worked for Meijer!
This conversation soon grew into a mentorship and partnership, and some of Broderick’s works have found a home on our “Made in Michigan” tables at Bridge Street Market. What started with one location grew to 7 Meijer locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. To Broderick, Meijer has always been more than just a retailer – they’ve provided him with a real mentorship, helping him navigate the world of commercial art.
His journey from pandemic burnout to artistic rebirth is a testament to the power of creativity, community, and unexpected second acts. Broderick didn’t just rediscover art – he rebuilt his life with it.
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
Harbor of Blue
West Michigan’s natural beauty takes center stage in Broderick’s latest ArtPrize submission, Harbor of Blue. This striking 4x7 foot acrylic painting marks a bold leap outside his comfort zone – it is his largest piece to date and a heartfelt tribute to the symbolism of lighthouses.
Broderick has grown fond of painting lighthouses, drawn to their quiet strength and purpose. This painting captures the deep blues of the water, the soft horizon line, and a glow of light glistening across the surface, with the lighthouse itself standing as a beacon on a small peninsula. Though not based on a specific location, the impressionistic lighthouse depicted in Harbor of Blue represents a guiding light home. Broderick describes this work as an homage to the many lights that line our lakeshore and to the sense of direction they’ve provided for generations. This piece allowed him to explore this theme on a grander scale, and he’s thrilled with the result!
His story is one of transformation, not just in medium or message, but in mindset. He went from doubting his artistic identity to embracing it fully, proving that creativity isn’t reserved for the elite – it’s accessible to anyone willing to take the leap! In Broderick’s own words, “If I can participate in ArtPrize, truly anyone can participate.”
Broderick believes everyone has a gift – something they can tap into and express. His work stands as a symbol that you can learn, grow, and create, no matter where or when you start. Whether it’s a massive canvas or a scrap of paper from the junk drawer, the key is to begin. Let your passions guide you and stay the course. Harbor of Blue isn’t just a painting. It is a reflection of Broderick’s journey, his love for Michigan, and the creative light that continues to guide him forward.
photo courtesy of Ashley Wierenga
The Evolution of an Artist
Beyond their artistic talent, both of our featured ArtPrize artists have several things in common. They both seized an opportunity to return to art during the pandemic, learning new skills and letting their passions guide them. Both took significant leaps out of their comfort zones to put their art and themselves on display in the public eye, changing their lives forever, and gaining a sense of community that they never expected.
Broderick urges people to follow him online, as he loves connecting with people who want to talk about art, and learn more about his works. He highlights that not everyone will love what you make – and that’s okay! But when someone tells him a piece moved them or buys a painting to gift to someone they love, that’s the highest compliment.
Various pieces by both artists can be purchased directly from their sites – Shakerbrud and Peggy Slattery. And – hot tip – CommUNITY is for sale following ArtPrize, and Peggy would love to see it continue to be displayed somewhere within Grand Rapids.
Come see Harbor of Blue and CommUNITY at Bridge Street Market and let these works be a guiding light that bring together our community with joy and color this ArtPrize season!