Selections from the Permanent Collection exhibition at the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery includes “Wood Choppers” a watercolor by Alden Steck painted in 1937.

HANCOCK — Jewels of early Copper Country art are now on display at the Community Arts Center in Hancock.

The Copper Country Community Arts Council, which owns and operates the Community Arts Center, started building a permanent collection of art by local artists in 1998. The idea came from a legacy exhibition curated by CCCAC Executive Director Cynthia Cote, with assistance from Don Cheney.

“We recognized in putting the exhibition together that there was a story to tell about the beginnings of the local art community. And we were already behind.” Cote said.

The Arts Council began to seek out work by early Copper Country artists such as Peder Kitti, Alden Steck and Alice Reynolds.

Over the years, the collection has grown to include more contemporary artists such as Fredi Taddeucci, Clyde Mikkola, John Haro, Ed Gray, Jan Manniko and Nancy Kromer.

Early on, before there were art centers in the area, artists used to gather at various locations, including Alden Steck’s flower shop to paint together, have critiques and learn from each other.

This group was the early beginnings of what eventually became the Copper Country Associated Artists, still going after more than 50 years. Initially, the CCCAC’s pursuit of building a permanent collection was about finding art that depicted life here in this remote region and its mining history. Many of the works have been donated by collectors or the artists themselves, and some have been purchased by donors. The collection continues to grow and has developed to represent the rich and diverse art of the region. In addition to the artists previously mentioned, the exhibition includes art by Carol Gorgas, Vera Curnow, Ron Gratz, Ed Andrzejewski, Kevin Breyfogle and Georgi Tsenov.

The exhibition, “Selections from the Permanent Collection” will be on display through August at the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery at 126 Quincy St. in Hancock.

This exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

More information about the Copper Country Community Arts Center and the permanent collection can be found on the website at www.coppercountryarts.com.