<![CDATA[Art of the Lakes - News]]>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:46:12 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Artful News September 2026]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/artful-news-september-2026
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In this Issue
Outdoor Painters Reveal New Creations September 25
Oh, The Stories They'll Tell at "The Hook!"
Fall Classes Bring Enjoyment and Awareness
Our Artists Keep Our Gallery Glowing
Members In The News / Artful Tidbits
Outdoor Painters Reveal New Creations on September 25
Preview Reception & Award Ceremony
Friday Sept 25 6-8 pm
Quick Paint
Saturday Sept 26

Competition Exhibition & Sale
Sept 26 - Oct 24
All summer long, some three dozen outdoor (plein air) painters have been exploring, discovering and interpreting scenes in Otter Tail County as part of the 2026 Prairie Lakes Plein Air (PLPA) festival sponsored by Art of the Lakes. In late September, their new work will be revealed. 

Reception September 25. A Collectors' Preview Reception and Award Ceremony will be held Friday, September 25 at the Art of the Lakes Gallery from 6-8 pm. This will be an art-lovers' social event and a rare opportunity to view artworks from prominent plein air painters from around the Midwest who are this year's PLPA competition participants. 

At the reception, prize winners will be announced by oil painter and this year's competition judge, Michele Combs. Prizes range from $75 for Honorable Mention, to $1,000 for Best in Show.

Following the Award Ceremony, the Art of the Lakes Gallery will host a Quick Paint on Saturday Sept 26, and a Competition Exhibition and Sale of the painters’ works from September 26 - October 24, 2026. During that time, the Gallery will be open to the public Wed-Sun 11-4. The exhibition then travels to Kaddatz Galleries in Fergus Falls in November, and to the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center in December.

​Please join us in celebrating these talented artists' work!
Oh, The Stories They'll Tell at "The Hook!"
Everyone has a story to tell, and we invite you to tell yours - or just listen as others share the art of storytelling.

Art of the Lakes is excited to introduce The Hook, an unscripted storytelling series inspired by The Moth (heard on NPR) and The Tell in Fargo. Come and watch live storytelling, or be brave and put your name in the hat to tell your own story.

Our first topic in September is "Falling," and eight storytellers will do their best to catch you in their short personal narratives.

Two other events are planned for October ("Spooky") and November ("That's Awkward").

All events will be held at the 1910 Sip House, with musical guests Joe and Katie Ahlfs. Guest storytellers from The Fargo Tell will be on hand at the September event.

Doors open at 6:00. Stories begin at 6:30. Tickets are $15 and seating is limited. Attendees must be 18 or older.

You don't need to be a professional to get in on the fun as a storyteller. For September, the topic of "Falling" can be interpreted in many ways. How would you relate something short and meaningful (with a "hook") that has been on your mind for awhile?

Teller or listener, we hope to see you there!
Fall Classes Bring Enjoyment
​and Awareness
Our Fall lineup of classes has been updated to bring you some new options as the weather turns from lazy summer days to cool autumn nights. Here are some highlights:

Plein Air at Maplewood with Stephen Henning. Join Stephen at Maplewood State Park for a day of plein air painting. 

​Finger Knitting a Throw Blanket. (Full - waitlist available)

3D Pumpkin Needle Felting. (Repeat class added by popular demand)

Winter Scene Ornament Alcohol Ink

Let's Make Lefse

Assemblage Art: Trash to Treasures. This fun class embodies the mantra of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and is partially funded by a grant from West Central Initiative. ​“One man’s trash is another’s treasure!”
Our Artists Keep
​Our Gallery Glowing
Gallery hours thru Labor Day
Mon-Thu 10-5, ​Fri & Sat 10-8, Sun 10-3

Gallery hours after Labor Day
Wed-Sun 11-4
It has been a wonderful summer at the Gallery, with some amazing new work by our displaying artists gracing the walls, shelves and displays. Summer hours continue through Labor Day, and we will be open Wednesday through Sunday throughout the Fall months.

Notes for Displaying Artists
  • Fall and winter shifts are now available on the Schedulista calendar. If you haven't fulfilled your shifts, or if you're able to add another shift, please sign up, or call Debbie at the gallery at (218) 864-8606.
  • Holiday Market is coming up - now is the time to be getting new art ready!
  • You can help publicize our gallery by taking photos of customers when they buy art! Send photos to Sandy Thimgan at (218) 371-5964 or sthimgan@gmail.com
Members In The News /
​Artful Tidbits
Evansville Arts Center 
  • Women of Hope Leadership on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
  • First Time Exhibitors: Alayna Eldred - Photographer and Jim Burger - Sculptor on display for the month of Sept. Artist reception Wednesday, 9/23 6-8
  • 3rd Annual Fall Festival Concert Fundraiser Oct 18 at Somedays Bar and Grill. 12-5pm. Five bands will be taking the stage. Tickets $20. Get tickets by emailing Evansvilleartcenter@gmail.com
Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy of Clayhouse Pottery is exhibiting at Edina Fall Into The Arts Festival, September 12-13, Centennial Lakes Park, Edina.
AOTL artists are invited to submit a piece of artwork for "Art & Blossom," a Spring Art Showcase sponsored by Ottertail Community & Wellness Center (OCWC) scheduled for March 2027. Each artwork will be paired with a florist who will design a complementary floral arrangement inspired by the piece.  Pairings will be displayed to the public at OCWC for one week. If interested, drop off art at the AOTL Gallery.
Got AOTL News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lakes' newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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]]><![CDATA["The Hook" Storytelling Series Launches September 17]]>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:03:21 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/the-hook-storytelling-series-launches-september-17
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Art of the Lakes is excited to introduce our newest art form, The Hook, on September 17. The Hook is an unscripted storytelling series inspired by The Moth (heard on NPR) and The Tell in Fargo. Come and watch live storytelling, or be brave and put your name in the hat to tell your own story.

Our first topic in September is "Falling," and eight storytellers will do their best to catch you in their short personal narratives.

All events will be held at the 1910 Sip House, with musical guests Joe and Katie Ahlfs. Guest storytellers from The Fargo Tell, Cara Cody Braun and Lana Suomala, will be on hand at the September event.

Doors open at 6:00. Stories begin at 6:30. Tickets are $15 and seating is limited. Attendees must be 18 or older.

​Future dates and topics:
October 22 ("Spooky") and November 12 ("That's Awkward")

Join in the fun!
Simple rules for storytellers
  • Stories are no more than 5 minutes. 
  • No notes/notecards. 
  • No props/costumes. 
  • Story should be true/mostly true. 
  • No comedy routine. 
  • No religious or political rants or sermons. 
  • Be respectful and not crass.
]]><![CDATA[Artful News August 2026]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/artful-news-august-2026
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In this Issue
See You At Art & Craft on August 8
Introducing "The Hook" Storytelling Series
Member Appreciation Event Set for August 25
Still Time to Sign Up for Prairie Lakes Plein Air 2026
Art of the Lakes Pictured In The Community
Tidbits and Opportunities
​Our Members In The News
See You at Art & Craft on Saturday August 8
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The 2026 Art & Craft Affair takes place Saturday, August 8 from 9 am to 4 pm.  This is the BIG ONE!

This great one-day show draws about 80 vendors and 5,000 visitors annually. The Art & Craft Affair is always held the second Saturday of August at Railroad Park, located at State Hwy 78 and County Rd 83 in Battle Lake, Minnesota.

The Art & Craft Affair offers display vendors an opportunity to market  handmade original goods. Vendor applications are still open, but space is going fast. Contact Debbie Ness at (218) 864-8606.

Fairgoers will find hand-made art and craft items, food and beverages, a farmers market featuring local growers, and creative hands-on activities for kids. The event is free to attend.

Mark your calendar, and make plans to attend this fun Battle Lake happening!
Introducing "The Hook" Storytelling Series
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Everyone has a story to tell!  We're excited to introduce our community's newest way to listen to - and proclaim - those stories.

The Hook is a series of three fun storytelling events coming to 1910 Sip House this Fall, sponsored by Art of the Lakes. Grab a ticket with friends for a great evening of stories, music, beverages and snacks. And if you're willing, you can put your name in the hat to be one of eight storytellers each night, with a chance to win the audience's appreciation and a nifty prize!

Events are scheduled for September 17, October 22 and November 12. Doors open at 6:00 pm, with stories starting at 6:30 pm. Tickets and more information will be available on the Art of the Lakes website soon. Limited seating available.
Member Appreciation Event Set for August 25
Our Member Appreciation Event will be held Tuesday August 25 at Beach Bums on Otter Tail Lake. Social hour starts at 5:30 pm with dinner served at 6:00, followed by a short program highlighting the 2026 activities made possible by our wonderful volunteers! All members are invited to attend along with a guest. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. 
Still Time to Sign Up for Prairie Lakes Plein Air 2026
By Stephen Henning
It's not too late to sign up for Prairie Lakes Plein Air! There are two months of good painting time before entries are due on September 24.

We had a great workshop with Greg Preslicka July 25, followed by painting outdoors in Henning, Minnesota.

Come here to paint, and show your work in the Prairie Lakes Plein Air Competition. Although some artists have already been painting, it's not too late to sign up and get out there.

Learn more and register.
Art of the Lakes
​Pictured In The Community
​Studio Tour at our newest location, Lake Country Gardens (photos by Jann Kline)
Art of the Lakes was well represented in the Wenonga Days parade. Mary Williams drove her cool car, while Peggy Olson’s grandsons handed out candy and erasers. July 25 was a warm night but the event was well attended. Our side of the street is the shady side which made for the best place to set up a chair! 
Tidbits and Opportunities
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Call for Artists: Outdoor Mural Opportunity
​Request For Proposal for a new mural on the back wall of the gallery. Make your mark on the outdoor space in Battle Lake!  Deadline for consideration is August 10, 2026. Email your proposal (either a digital design or photos of a hand drawn sketch) to aotl@artofthelakes.org. Contact Debbie Ness (218) 864-8606 for further details.
Clitherall Summer Festival Art Sales
Artists have an opportunity to sell their art at downtown Clitherall Park on Saturday, August 29 from 10am-3pm during Clitherall Summer Festival. There are no fees. Contact Mary Murphy (218) 770-0012 with any  questions.

AOTL Receives Two Grants
AOTL received a $2,000 grant from Lake Region Electric Coop (LREC) Operation RoundUp to assist with the back patio improvement project. We were also awarded a $25,000 Promise Grant from the West Central Initiative. 357 applications were made to WCI, and grants were awarded via a random selection process. Only about 20% of the applicants received a grant. AOTL will use the funds to assist in Gallery operations.
Our Members in the News
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Art of the Lakes members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of news about just some of them.
Edie Thiel won first place in the MN Parks & Trails Photo Contest 2026 for the northwest region, for her photo of a trumpeter swan at Glendalough State Park.
John Shaw was the Featured Artist at Off The Wall Gallery in Clitherall Minnesota the third weekend of July. His work will be on display at the gallery through the end of the season.
Four Points of Light (Calvin deRuyter, Lyssa Lovejoy, Jackie Henning, Stephen Henning) will concurrently open their nearby studios in Evansville on August 16 and 17 from 10am to 5pm. Contact stephen@stephenhenningfineart.com for more information.
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Jackie Henning, Mary Smith, and Stephen Henning have their work on display at Ida Graves Distillery near Alexandria through August 16, and will give artist talks Sunday, August 2, at 5 pm. 
Grace Haverty had her painting Jumping For Joy accepted into the National Watercolor Society International Art Exhibition. 
Ruth Hanson's watercolor batik, Teamwork, has been accepted into the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition. The Minnesota State Fair runs from Thursday, August 27 through Labor Day, September 7, with Preview Night for the Exhibition being Tuesday, August 25 from 7pm - 8:30 pm.
Got AOTL News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lakes' newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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]]><![CDATA[Artful News July 2026]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:21:11 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/artful-news-july-2026
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In This Issue
2026 Studio Tour: Rural Art Crawl To Feature 43 Artists
Paint Outdoors in Otter Tail County: Prairie Lakes Plein Air
Photographers Capture Battle Lake on the Longest Day of Art
Creative Arts Community Builds Connections and Skills
Meet Chase Wahlund, Our New Intern
Unique Art Selling and Volunteer Opportunities
Our Members In The News
2026 Studio Tour: Rural Art Crawl To Feature 43 Artists
July 17-18-19 
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The Art of the Lakes Studio Tour has grown to become one of the Midwest's largest and most popular rural art crawls. This year's edition, our 26th, features 43 talented artists in 18 studios. You'll find them scattered among the picturesque hills, lakes and rolling prairies of Otter Tail and Douglas Counties.

This three-day travel and collecting experience puts you up close and personal with local artists in their workshops and showrooms. You'll learn about their creative processes, and see first-hand some of the raw materials and tools they use. When you buy a piece (or two, or three, or four) this rich background will add immensely to your enjoyment of the artist's work.

Be sure to grab a Passport for the Miles of Art promotion, then visit ten or more studios for a chance to win one of several fabulous art prizes. Along the way, search for the Scavenger Hunt items to see how many unique artist tools you can discover.

You'll find all the details, including a list of artists, artist profiles and a Google map of the studio sites on our Studio Tour page.

See you on the 2026 Studio Tour!
Paint Outdoors in Otter Tail County: Prairie Lakes Plein Air 
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Mary Boylan workshop held June 20
Is outdoor painting in your future? There’s still time to register for Art of the Lakes' 2026 Prairie Lakes Plein Air festival.

​PLPA 2026 is a combination of art education, exhibition, and competition open to professional and non-professional artists of all skill levels. Enjoy your summer painting in the idyllic setting of our pristine landscape - gently rolling hills, fertile farmland, clear blue lakes and streams - for an inspirational outdoor painting experience. 

Two summer workshops will help you hone your painting skills. A casein painting workshop July 25 at Henning Landmark Center, and a pastel workshop August 13 at Prairie Wetlands Center, will be taught by ribbon-winning artists Greg Preslicka and Lisa Stauffer, respectively. These workshops are also an opportunity to work on a qualifying painting for the competition.
 
If you've already signed up for PLPA26, please pick up your participant packets at the Gallery. And please use the identification lanyard and personalized sign when out on location, and promote the festival by giving one of the PLPA cards to anyone you encounter.

We hope to see you outdoors, paintbrush in hand, this summer!
Photographers Capture Battle Lake on the Longest Day of Art
June 20, 2026 was a busy, beautiful, art-filled day around the Battle Lake area. We kicked off the 2026 Prairie Lakes Plein Air festival at Glendalough State Park with a workshop by Mary Boylan (see above). Art alley in downtown Battle Lake got some fresh chalk. A new park was dedicated. People enjoyed the city's sculptures and other public artworks. There was ice cream.

And throughout the day, volunteer photographers captured images of the town, parks, streets and ordinary life as it happened. It was all part of something we called, "The Longest Day of Art," in celebration of Battle Lake's 135th anniversary. 

Here's just some of what their lenses captured. (A full slide show production is planned for later in the year.) Many thanks to photographers Sandra Volkmann, Daniel Reed, Tom Kuder, Chris Walker, Jann Kline, Christa Berg, Lisa Malmstrom, Ronita Reece, Beth Johnson, and PJ Eiden.

​We love our town, and you showed us why.
Creative Arts Community Builds Connections and Skills
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Art of the Lakes offers the Creative Arts Community an unparalleled breadth and number of classes this year, bringing people together to make friends and experience new artistic methods. Here are highlights from three recent workshops.
Michael Holter impressionist watercolor (Glendalough)

Attendee Judi Celaschi said, "This was an amazing experience for 18 aspiring artists! Michael's artwork is well known worldwide, and his approachable teaching style and helpful demonstrations left us inspired and confident. We were fortunate to have him for this 3-day workshop."
​Grace Haverty watercolor flowers

Grace Haverty taught a full class in watercolor with flowers on June 23 at the Battle Lake Senior Center. Participants enjoyed painting in a bold and loose style that only Grace can teach. Her commitment to sharing art with the community has been outstanding. She'll teach two more classes this summer:  Personalized Notecards on August 4 and Watercolor Plus Ink on September 1. 
Anne Kaese calligraphy and lettering

Art of the Lakes welcomed Anne Kaese to the gallery to teach five classes, June 5 & 6.  We even had participants take a couple of these classes online along with those in person.  Students painted on glass, practiced two types of calligraphy, and made “illuminated” letters and Celtic knots. Anne will be coming back next year with new classes and calligraphy.
Meet Chase Wahlund,
​Our New Intern
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Hello! My name is Chase Wahlund, and I'm a painter and fiber artist from Columbus, Ohio. I'm currently a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I'm pursuing a B.F.A in Painting with a minor in Fibers. Although I’m originally from Ohio, I have family ties to the Detroit Lakes area and have spent all of my summers in Minnesota since I was little. I’m excited to return this season and become more involved in the local arts community while continuing to develop my own personal practice.  

My artwork explores themes of femininity, Americana, nostalgia, and identity through saturated figurative paintings and textile based processes. I'm passionate about building community through the arts and am excited to spend the summer at Art of the Lakes as both an intern and exhibiting artist. 

I look forward to meeting all the volunteers, artists, and visitors who make Art of the Lakes such a special place. Thank you for welcoming me into the community!
Unique Art Selling
​and Volunteer Opportunities ​
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Here are three unique ways to sell your special art creations this year. Plus, we're looking for a few helpful volunteers to make it all happen.

The 2026 Phelps Mill Festival will take place on July 11 and 12 at the historic Phelps Mill County Park near Underwood. Art of the Lakes has a booth where members can place their artwork for sale. Artwork must be individually marked and packaged by the artist (no framed glass, please). Drop off work at the gallery July 5-9. We need help hauling the booth and artwork, and help setting up and tearing down.  Please contact Debbie Ness at aotl@arvig.net if you can assist.

The 2026 Art & Craft Affair is August 8 in downtown Battle Lake. Artists can sell their work in the Art of the Lakes booth, or can have their own booth (available at a member discount). Volunteers are needed to help with the AOTL booth - contact Debbie Ness at ​aotl@arvig.net if you can assist.

And it's not too soon to start thinking about this year's Holiday Marketplace in the gallery! We'll need holiday art items beginning in the Fall, so start your creative process now, please!
Our Members In The News​
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Art of the Lakes members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of news about just some of them.
Ruth Hanson has two paintings (Wooded Peace and Ripple Effect) accepted in to the 1st Biennial Beck Invitational Exhibition with Guest Juror Amy Sharpe at the Kaddatz Gallery in Fergus Falls July 7- August 15.
Kristi Kuder and John Shaw are pleased to announce they have installed a joint exhibition of recent work inside the Ida Graves Distillery, 5422 Lake Ida Way NW, Alexandria MN 56308.

John works with clay. You’ll find ceramic wall pieces, functional vessels, and small, playful ceramic and glass sculptures created in collaboration with glass blower John Olesen.

Kristi creates prints from local botanicals by using cyanotype and the eco printing processes to capture the natural beauty of Lakes Country. She also has included several interesting works using wire mesh.

The exhibition is the second in a series of monthly art exhibitions scheduled this season as a joint initiative between Ida Graves Distillery and the Alexandria Art Guild.

The artists will discuss their work at 5 pm on the last day of the show, July 19. The exhibition and artists’ talks are free and open to the public. Tasting room / gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays 3 - 9, Saturdays, 12 - 9, and Sundays, 12 - 6.
Got AOTL News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lakes' newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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]]><![CDATA[Artful News June 2026]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:47:59 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/artful-news-june-2026
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In This Issue
​Gallery Opens For Summer With Improved Access
Annual Member Meeting Draws Enthusiastic Supporters
Celebrate the Longest Day of Art June 20
June is Bursting with Classes for Adults
Last Call for Art Camp for Kids
Studio Tour Presents 43 Artists in 18 Venues this July
Our Members In The News
​Artful Tidbits
Gallery Opens For Summer With Improved Access
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The Art of the Lakes Gallery is now open every day of the week for the summer. An incredible array of talented local artists offer fresh paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, wearable art, cards, jewelry, fiber creations, glass, wood and more. 

Our featured artists for June are Wade Lehmkuhl (June 1-15) and Jodi Peterson (June 16-30). 

Be sure to visit the alley behind the gallery! As part of the Battle Lake Arts Advisory Committee and the City of Battle Lake Beautification Project, the alley was blacktopped, and a concrete patio and steps were installed. Temporary handrails have been added, with plans for artistic iron railings and a louvered pergola to support outdoor classes and events during the summer. No more potholes or mud, with easier parking!

​The city of Battle Lake provided a grant to fund $5,000, and My Kind of Bank donated $1,000, with the balance of the project estimated to cost about $17,000; the pergola and its installation are expected to cost another $7,500. Grant funding is being pursued but has not yet been confirmed. If you know of any sources of funding to help defray the costs please contact an AOTL board member.

Stop in to say hello, browse, see the new improvements, purchase a gift or add to your collection. 
Annual Member Meeting Draws Enthusiastic Supporters
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The AOTL Annual Member Meeting was held on May 21 and attended by 75 members and guests. Because of the large turnout, the social hour was held in the gallery, while the meal and meeting took place at the Battle Lake Senior Center.

After serving on the board for the term-limit maximum of nine years, Kristi Kuder presided over her final meeting before retiring as chair and board member. Other board members and staff were introduced, and committees presented their reports. Kathy Olesen was elected to the board for a 2026–2029 term.

As of May 31, AOTL has 153 active paid members, including approximately 75 displaying members.

Thank you to all members and guests who attended. It was a fun and productive evening, and a wonderful way to reconnect as we kick off another summer season supporting the arts in our community!
Celebrate The Longest Day of Art
And Battle Lake's 135th Anniversary
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June 20 is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of sunlight of the year. Art of the Lakes invites you to celebrate that light during the Longest Day of Art as a way to commemorate Battle Lake's 135th Anniversary.

Prairie Lake Plein Air painters will be capturing Glendalough and Battle Lake throughout the day. This is a great time to experience painting outdoors. The public is invited to engage with the painters and can purchase paintings in the gallery.

Amateur photographers! We’re inviting you to use your cell phone or digital camera to capture Battle Lake via people, animals, plants, places, buildings, whatever draws your interest. Whether it's a half hour or half a day, the amount of time you spend on this is up to you.

​Register your best guess on when and where you hope to be photographing that day. ​Once you register, you'll receive more information on how to submit your images. Your best images (maximum 3) will be included on Facebook, and in a slide show in our gallery throughout the summer. 
June is Bursting With
​Classes for Adults
It's never been more exciting to be part of the creative community than this month, with hands-on workshops in calligraphy, drawing, watercolor, ceramics, oil painting, sushi-making and more. Just look at this line-up of classes!
  • Illuminated Letters - Medieval Merriment with a Paintbrush
  • How to Draw Celtic Knots
  • Sip & Paint Glass Drinkware
  • Calligraphy: Art Nouveau Letters and Designs
  • Genteel Cursive Calligraphy
  • Handbuilding Clay Vases & Bowls (sold out)
  • Watercolor Impressionism: Landscape/Cityscape with Michael Holter (almost full)
  • Beginning and Intermediate Ceramics (sold out)
  • Pencil Portraits (almost full)
  • Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop with Mary Boylan
  • Painting Flowers Bold & Loose in Watercolor
  • Let's Make Sushi!
  • Birch Trees on Tile Using Alcohol Ink
  • Figure Clay Class
Last Call for Art Camp for Kids
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There are still openings available for Youth Art Camp at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake this July.

Kids in grades 2-3 can take creative classes in mosaic coasters, acrylic painting, Zentangle and hiking sticks.

Classes for grades 4-5 include all these plus slow stitching, photography and even skateboard painting.

All materials are provided, and classes are just $15 each. Classes start July 7. Hurry!
Studio Tour Features 43 Artists in 18 Venues this July
​July 17-18-19
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Many thanks to Sarah Browne for creating this year's Studio Tour brochure!
The 2026 edition of the popular Art of the Lakes Studio Tour will feature 43 accomplished artists in 18 studios this July. Efforts have been underway for several months to prepare for the Tour, with artists creating new work and the project team developing the logistics and promotion needed to make the Tour a success.

The Studio Tour web page provides an overview of the event, a list of participating artists, and a Google map of studio locations. Many of the artists also submitted detailed information for the Artist Profile page, where you can learn more about their work and see additional images of their creations. Printed brochures are available in the gallery and at each studio location.

​"Art Tourists" will have three days to explore unique studios and meet fun, creative people among the lakes, hills and byways of Otter Tail and Douglas Counties. To encourage you on your travels, our Miles of Art promotion gives travelers who visit ten or more studios a chance to win fabulous art prizes.

And for a bit more fun this year, you'll be able to go on an Art Scavenger Hunt while you travel about!

It doesn't get much better than this. The Art of the Lakes Studio Tour - one of the largest rural art crawls in the Midwest. And, dare we say, one of the best!
Our Members in the News
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Art of the Lakes members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of news about just some of them.
Beth Jacobson will be having an exhibit for the month of June at the Evansville Art Center along with Olivia Hoppe. An artist reception will be held June 12 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
John Shaw reports that "while in Phoenix this past winter, I was fortunate enough to take a twenty-one week course from an accomplished artist, Jon Yukio Higuchi. I actually made some dishes, which for me, is an unusual product."
Artful Tidbits
Art in the Minnesota Capitol:  Call for Proposals
The Capitol Art Exhibit Advisory Committee (CAEAC) is issuing a call for proposals for art exhibitions that will be on display in the 3rd floor exhibit gallery of the Minnesota State Capitol in the 2028 calendar year.  Artists, culture bearers, and organizations are welcome to submit a proposal. Application deadline is June 15, 2026. For more information
Board Minutes
Board Minutes May 20, 2026
Got AOTL News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lake's newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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]]><![CDATA[Board Minutes May 20, 2026]]>Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/board-minutes-may-20-2026
]]><![CDATA[Artful News May 2026]]>Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/artful-news-may-2026
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In This Issue
Annual Member Meeting May 21
Gallery Re-Opens With Help From Volunteers
Summer Art Camp for Kids- Openings Available
Expanding Horizons: Creative Classes for Adults
Longest Day of Art - Summer Solstice 2026
Last Call for Bingo!
​Members in The News
Artful Tidbits
Annual Member Meeting May 21
Membership Report
The Annual Member Meeting will be held at the Art of the Lakes Gallery on Thursday, May 21. Social hour starts at 5 pm, with a buffet and meeting to follow. The meeting itself begins at 6:30. Please RSVP by May 20 for a head count for food. 

We encourage all members new and long-term to attend! It's the best way to connect with your fellow members, catch up on the local art scene (including and especially Art of the Lakes), and conduct some Association business.

Art of the Lakes Membership Report
We're pleased to report that we currently have 146 active (paid) members out of a total of 253 registered members. At this time four years ago, we had 117 registered members, so our core community has grown by 136 members in four years.

While some registered members have moved or decided to take a temporary break, our active membership typically rises (re-activates) as summer approaches and our "snowbirds" and seasonal lake members return to the area.

Currently, approximately 75 artists display their work in the gallery. We also have many members who participate in the Art of the Lakes Studio Tour even if they don't exhibit in the gallery.

We attribute this steady growth to our expanded class and event offerings, which provide wonderful opportunities for people to connect. Art of the Lakes continues to be a vibrant and essential part of our local community, and we're very grateful for all the contributions of our members.
Gallery Re-Opens With Help From Volunteers
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Thank you volunteers!
Our showcase gallery re-opened for the season on Friday, May 1, following an art update by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. Sue Kalseim, Della Conroy, Phyllis ​Joos, Kerry Kolke Bonk, and Deb Connolly put their all into setting up and hanging our display artists' work. We're now ready for buyers, collectors, browsers, curiosity seekers, tourists, local residents, members and more! Stop in and see what's on display - Kristi Kuder is the Featured Artist this month.

Hours May 1 to May 23
  • Friday and Saturday 10-5
Hours starting May 24
  • Monday-Thursday 10-5
  • Friday and Saturday 10-8
  • Sunday 10-3
Displaying artists should sign up now for gallery shifts.
Summer Art Camp for Kids: Openings Available
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This July, kids can get away to art camp without leaving town! The Art Camp will be held at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake, with four fun sessions planned for grades 2-3, and seven for grades 4-5. How cool are these choices - mosaic coasters, acrylic painting, Zentangle, hiking sticks, slow stitching, photography, and even skateboard painting! 

Classes are just $10 each until May 15, or $15 each after that. Openings available - register your kids today.
Expanding Horizons:
Creative Classes for Adults
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Anne Kaese
You might have noticed that Art of the Lakes offers way more than painting classes these days. Sure, you can still learn to paint, with eight top-notch workshops available in watercolor, acrylics, oils and more this year - our most ever.

But there's an even wider world of creativity out there, and we can help you explore it.

How about some crisp calligraphy from one of our newest teaching artists, Anne Kaese (pictured)? Anne started doing calligraphy when she was twelve. As a young adult, she took formal classes and has since had the privilege of studying with some wonderful teachers from England, the US, Europe and Africa. Her art work now focuses on lettering, color, illumination, fine detail painting and related aspects of calligraphy. She's offering a series of five different classes through Art of the Lakes this June - you can take them individually, or bundle them for a reduced price.

Or, explore the culinary arts with Chef Mike of the Shoreline to get ready for summer. On May 20, he'll teach you (and let you taste) a variety of Wine Spritzer & Mocktail recipes. In June it''s sushi, and in July it's breakfast charcuterie. Yum!

And if you're looking to upgrade some of your more "commercial" skills as an artist, check out Kim Konikow's The Art of Taking Care of Business on May 16.

Of course, if you still do want to paint, a wonderful choice would be a class in Acrylic Painting with Stephen Henning at Glendalough State Park May 29.

However you choose to expand your horizons, get out there with Art of the Lakes as your guide. You'll be glad you did.
Longest Day of Art:
​Summer Solstice 2026
Saturday, June 20 has been identified as a day for photographers to capture aspects of the community that draw their interest. We're looking for images that depict Battle Lake and this local region through time of day, place, nature, and people. How that's interpreted will be up to the prowess of each photographer.

In order to gather a thorough picture of Battle Lake, we hope to receive images from different times of the day and from a variety of locations. By early June we'll send more information about the event and on how to submit images. 

If you're interested in this project, please pre-register as a photographer to receive additional information. Thanks!
Last Call for Bingo!
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Our Designer Purse and Cooler Bingo Fundraiser will be held Friday, May 8 at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake. This year we've added some cool coolers to the hot designer purses you can win! Think Yeti and Stanley, Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors! There'll be some great art and other raffle prizes as well. 

Pre-purchase pasta bar tickets for $25. (Pasta bar purchase not required for bingo play.) Bingo packets must be purchased at the door in cash - 15 bingo cards for $15.
 
Full cash bar available on site as well.

This is our annual fundraiser for Art of the Lakes Association, and your support is greatly appreciated! 
Our Members In The News
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​Art of the Lakes members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of news about just some of them.
Sandra Thimgan will have two of her paper art works on display at the 52nd Invitational Art Show at MState. Della Conroy and Phyllis Joos also have art in the show. As reported last month, Becky Albright, Ruth Hanson, Faythe Mills and Shanna Cramer are also among those in the exhibit. Charles Beck Gallery in the Waage building, MState Fergus Falls. March 26-May 16. Free and open to the public. Reception May 16.
Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy has been invited to participate in the American Pottery Festival at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, MN. The May preview show is April 28- May 31.
Join Sandra, Thursday, May 28 for the Gallery Gala at Everett & Charlie Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.
Artful Tidbits
The Alexandria Art DeTour takes place June 19-20. Details at alexart.org/art-detour
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Jarren Hill, owner of Espresso in Battle Lake, is considering a mural for an inside wall in his new venue. Anyone interested can contact him at (218) 864-2900 or espressobattlelake@gmail.com
Board Minutes
​Board Minutes April 15, 2026
Got AOTL News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lake's newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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In This Issue
Who's Driving This Bus?
Designer Purse & Cooler Bingo Fundraiser May 8
Battle Lake Student Art Exhibit April 11-20
Sign Up Now for Adult Classes in May & June
Summer Art Camp for Kids Open for Enrollment
Outdoor Painters: 3 Galleries. 3 Months. Triple Exposure.
Artful Morsels, Galore!
​Our Members In The News
Who's Driving This Bus?
Sunday April 12, 2 pm, First Lutheran Church
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On April 12, the Andria Theater Seniors on Stage invite you take the road trip of a lifetime!

​Join four ladies – Jill, Beverly, Elsie, and Fawn as they take the “road less traveled” in Jill’s Winnebago RV camper while towing a 1970 American Motors Gremlin car. Take the trip with three best friends and a new “friend” who is an out-of-towner. What could possibly go wrong?

​Tickets (Bring some friends!)
Designer Purse & Cooler Bingo Fundraiser, May 8
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It's back by popular demand, and this year we've added some hot coolers to the designer purses you can win! There'll be some great art and other raffle prizes as well.

The event will be held May 8 at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake. Doors open at 6, bingo starts at 7. Reserve your spot at the fundraiser by pre-purchasing pasta bar dinner tickets ($25). Limited seating is available, so reservations are encouraged.

Bingo packets must be purchased at the door (cash only); $15 for 15 games. 

This is a fundraiser for Art of the Lakes Association, and your support is greatly appreciated!
Battle Lake Student Art Exhibit April 11-20
An exhibit of art by Battle Lake students will be featured at the Art of the Lakes Gallery from April 11 through April 20, 2026. Battle Lake art teacher Amanda Callahan has curated artwork from her students across all grades from K through 12.

The exhibit will be open Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm, and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. A closing reception will be held in the Gallery on Monday, April 20 from 3:00 pm until 5:30 pm. The reception is free to attend, and all are invited.

This is the first school year in which art has been offered as a regular class in the Battle Lake curriculum. Art of the Lakes is proud to support this wonderful and important addition to the community!
Sign Up Now for Adult Classes in May and June
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Michael Holter
We have a fabulous lineup of creative classes this summer, starting right around the corner in May. Many of these offerings have "early bird" pricing that ends two weeks before the class date, so the time to act and save is now!

May classes
  • Plantable cards (homemade seed paper)
  • Flower card with alcohol ink
  • Becoming a writer
  • Hardanger for beginners & refreshers
  • The art of taking care of business
  • Barn quilt painting (new designs)
  • Colorful roosters & beautiful birds
  • Wine spritzers & summer mocktails
  • Acrylic painting with Stephen Henning

Coming up in June
Fourteen more classes are on offer in the month of June! Use the Details/Register button to learn more.

​Of particular note, renowned watercolor artist Michael Holter will teach a 3-day class on Watercolor Impressionism June 9, 10 and 11 at Glendalough State Park. The early bird pricing deadline for that class is May 1. Full details on Michael's class can be found our Classes page.

Summer Art Camp for Kids
​Open For Enrollment
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This July, kids in grades 2-3 and 4-5 can get away to art camp without leaving town! The Art Camp will be held at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake.

Four fun sessions are available for grades 2-3, each from 1-3 pm.
  • Mosaic coasters
  • Acrylic painting
  • Zentangle
  • Hiking sticks

For grades 4-5, seven different classes are available, each from 10 am to noon:
  • Mosaic coasters
  • Slow stitching
  • Photography
  • Acrylic painting
  • Zentangle
  • Hiking sticks
  • Skateboard painting

Classes are just $10 each until May 15, or $15 each after that. Class dates are listed on the enrollment page.
Outdoor Painters: 3 Galleries.
​3 Months. Triple Exposure!
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By Stephen Henning
​Artists participating in this year’s Prairie Lakes Plein Air (PLPA) event will benefit from a unique opportunity: their work will be seen across three prominent Otter Tail County galleries over the course of three consecutive months.

The exhibition begins at Art of the Lakes Gallery September 25 through October 25, where freshly created plein air works will be showcased at the height of the fall season. For the month of November, the exhibition travels to Kaddatz Galleries in Fergus Falls, expanding its reach to a broader regional audience. Finally, in December, any unsold work will be featured at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center—placing your paintings in front of new collectors during the holiday season.

This extended exhibition format effectively triples your exposure—and your opportunity to sell.

If you haven’t signed up for PLPA 2026 yet, now is an excellent time to do so. Register now to be part of one of Minnesota’s most dynamic plein air events.
Artful Morsels, Galore!
MSHSL Day of Art Volunteers! Thank you!
Many thanks to the volunteers and organizations who helped make the Minnesota State High School League Regional "Day of Art" in Battle Lake a resounding success! Friday, March 27 was spent showing over 90 regional high school students and their teachers the city's public art and teaching them some new creative skills.

Kudos to Jon Hartman, Marjorie Quammen, Lisa Hystad, Paul Johnson, Reba Gilliand, Lyssa Lovejoy, Jill Beithon, Sandy Thimgan, Sean Scott, and Bonnie Pfeiffer. Also, thanks to Art of the Lakes Gallery, NeverBetter, Battle Lake Senior Center, and First Baptist Church for providing space for the many activities. This was a true community event, and you rocked!
Gallery Training for Displaying Artists
By Peggy Olson
I'm looking forward to a great 2026 season at the Gallery. For those of you who are new to the group and plan to exhibit art, you need to be trained for your volunteer shifts. We'll cover the basic tasks of opening the building, readying the point of sale counter, ringing up a sale, closing duties, and locking up. Training will take about 45 minutes. Current members who'd like a refresher are welcome to attend.

Right now I have two dates set aside for training, Saturday April 11 at 10:00am or 2:00pm and Friday April 17 at 10:00am or 2:00pm. Please let me know which day and time you prefer. If these dates don't work for you, we can find a time that will.

Please contact peggyolson@artofthelakes.org or 612-360-0697 by April 9. Thank you - Peggy Olson, Volunteer Coordinator
2026 Featured Artists
  • May still available
  • June 1-15, Wade Lehmkuhl
  • June 16-30, Jodi Peterson 
  • July 1-15, Dean Curtis
  • July 16-31, Judi Celaschi 
  • Aug 1-15, Greg Gerhart
  • Aug 16-31, Shanna Cramer
  • Sept.  2026, Calvin deRuyter 

Thank you to all who have volunteered to be a Featured Artist this year. An email will be coming soon, detailing some particulars about this. We still need an artist for the month of May. If you can help with this, please contact Donna Westerling 612-386-2868 or donna@trumanrc.com
Our annual Member Meeting will be held May 21 at the Gallery. Doors will open at 5pm.
​Gallery Spring Cleaning will be held April 23 at 1pm. Volunteers encouraged and welcome!
Our Members In The News
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On the Rocks, Susan Seaborn
Art of the Lakes members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of news about just some of them.
Becky Albright will have two of her Gyotaku Fish Art works on display at the 52nd Invitational Art Show. Located at Charles Beck Gallery in Waage building, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN.  March 26-May 16. Free and open to the public. Reception May 16.
Ruth Hanson, Faythe Mills and Shanna Cramer are also among those in the MN State Invitational Art Show in Fergus Falls. 
Ruth Hanson is the Featured Artist at the Red Door Art Gallery in Wahpeton, ND now through May 2 with her show of Wandering Expressions. She also has 3 paintings in the Red Door's show The Glory of the Season. Artist Reception is April 16 from 5-7 pm.
Shanna Cramer has launched a new business, I Do Wedding Painting, offering live wedding painting for couples who want something more lasting than a photograph. Shanna creates a large-format oil painting on-site during the ceremony or reception. Learn more and see her gallery at idoweddingpainting.com.
Faythe Mills has five pieces of artwork in the Red Door Art Gallery and Museum in Wahpeton, ND March 23-May 2 with a reception April 19, 5-7pm.
Susan Seaborn was the judge of awards for the Fine Art Show and  Sale of the Gilbert Visual Artist League in Gilbert, Arizona this March. What an honor and a challenge to judge 138 pieces of art in eight mediums!

Susan Seaborn’s watercolor On the Rocks was chosen to be included in the 51st annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies exhibition. This exhibition is hosted by the Colorado Watercolor Society this year. The juror was Xi Guo. The show is open from May 9 to June 27, 2026 at the Curtis Center for the Arts in Denver, Colorado. Western Federation of Watercolor Societies is a coalition of 10 regional watercolor societies in the Western United States.
Board Minutes
Board Minutes March 18, 2026
Got Artful News?
Please email stories and images to Art of the Lake's newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!
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]]><![CDATA[Board Minutes March 18, 2026]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.artofthelakes.org/news/board-minutes-march-18-2026
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