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The motto on the front side "Annual Exhibition of Michigan Artists" is the name of the show for which the medal was designed. One can speculate that the partially nude, draped figure forming the mitten shape of the State represents the artist's model (posed for painting, drawing, sculpting). In her right hand is the metaphorical laurel wreath that founding members placed on Robert Hopkin's head symbolizing the Club's beginning. (This "granddaddy of Detroit painters" was the inspiration for the formation of what is now the Scarab Club.) The Michigan pine tree shapes the "thumb" and indicates the region encompassed by the exhibition. In addition, it could represent landscape painting. Waves depicting the Great Lakes are also featured and could represent seascapes. Earlier versions of the Gold Medal have Nygard's signature engraved on the lower portion of Lake Erie between Wyandotte and Monroe, keeping him "buoyant" in the world of art.
On the medal's reverse is the scarab, the Egyptian symbol of resurrection, placed inside a triangle that rests upon rays of the sun-a tribute to Ra, the sun god and symbol of Egyptian history, indicating a rendering of the Club's past. The beetle in its pyramid home gives hope to the Scarab future-members within their clubhouse, resurrected and awakened to carry forward the vibrancy and spirit of art. On the perimeter, the words "Scarab Club" are formed with each letter placed inside a triangle, separated and supported by individual beetles-Scarab members who fortify and maintain a clubhouse in order to sustain the everlasting camaraderie, artistic sense, shared knowledge and education of the arts bequeathed to us by our founding members.
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