Artful News December 2025

In This Issue

Holiday Market in Full Swing
Join - Give - Sponsor in December
Member and Sponsor Holiday Party!
Creative Classes Planned for 2026
Sunday Socials Start January 4
Gallery Open Sundays Starting January 4
Our Newest Board Members
Crafter Opportunity - Thumper Pond Holiday Craft Fair
Our Members In the News

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Holiday Market In Full Swing
​At The Gallery

​Fri & Sat 10-5
Sun 12-4

Videos by Tom Kuder

You'll find fantastic new art of all kinds, plus ornaments, cards and more at this year's Holiday Market, going on now at the Art of the Lakes Gallery in downtown Battle Lake.

The Gallery Holiday Market is open Friday and Saturday from 10-5, and Sunday from 12-4 through December 21. Come in to discover the most creative gifts around - for your loved ones or yourself!

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Join - Give - Sponsor in December

Thank you to all who gave generously during Minnesota's Give To The Max Day last month. 
Art of the Lakes raised $1,325 from 19 donors.

December marks the conclusion of our Join-Give-Sponsor fall campaign. It's your last chance before year-end to support the arts in your community by joining us as a member, giving a donation or becoming a business sponsor.

• Join as a new member. When you join as a new member in December, you'll enjoy the benefits of membership for the balance of 2025 and all of 2026.
• Renew your membership. Current members will get renewal emails in mid-December. Your prompt renewal will help our cash flow and give us a strong start to 2026.
• Make a tax-deductible donation before year-end. 
• Become a 2026 business sponsor. If you manage a local business, you can increase your brand visibility and tap into over 15,000 artful connections by becoming a 2026 business sponsor of Art of the Lakes.

Your generosity will be greatly appreciated!

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Member/Sponsor Holiday Party
December 17, 5:30 pm, AOTL Gallery

Our 2025 Holiday Party for members and sponsors will be held in the Gallery on Wednesday, December 17 at 5:30pm.

Bring a dish to share and a homemade gift (by you or someone else) if you wish to participate in the gift exchange. We'll sing holiday songs, eat good food, exchange gifts and enjoy each other's company.

Members' guests are welcome as well.

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Creative Classes Planned for 2026

Classes

Our programming committee has been very busy planning and developing a robust series of creative classes and workshops for the coming year. A wide variety of learning opportunities will be offered in the culinary arts, fiber, painting, clay/ceramics, jewelry, woodworking and more.

On tap for January and February - Register here:

• Snow dyeing with Kristi Kuder
• Homemade pasta with Sandy Thimgan 
• Woodcarving with Joe Harger 
• Finger knitting with Heidi Hull 
• Weaving with Tori Hanna 

A bit farther out, we're working on classes in Danish baking, alcohol ink, paper-making, watercolor, acrylics, clay wheel-throwing and hand-building, pencil drawing, plein air oils, clay figures, needle felting, eco-dyeing, wire jewelry and much, much more. Let's get creative!

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Sunday Socials Start January 4
Sundays 2-4pm, AOTL Gallery

Sunday Socials are your chance to get out of the house, beat the winter blahs, and connect with others who love the arts. They're a casual drop-in time for anyone and everyone - members and non-members alike. Bring a project, or just join in the conversation. Sundays, 2-4pm in the Gallery.

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Gallery Open Sundays
Starting January 4
Sundays 12-4pm

Our Art Gallery will be open to the public on Sundays during the winter months, beginning January 4. Business hours will be from noon to 4pm. The Gallery will be closed the rest of the week, until spring hours begin.

Displaying Members: Gallery shifts for winter Sundays are now available. Sign up here to schedule your 2026 volunteer shifts.

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Our Newest Board Members

Three people have joined the AOTL Board of Directors recently:

• Karalee Brandner
• Linda Nine
• John Olesen

As an organization driven by volunteers, our Board is a vital part of the health and success of Art of the Lakes. Please join us in welcoming and thanking these new directors!

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Crafter Opportunity:
​Thumper Pond Holiday Craft Fair

Thumper Pond will hold a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday December 13 from 11-5. Crafters and artists are encouraged to apply as vendors. But hurry - deadline to apply is December 3.

To sign up or for more information, please contact
[email protected], or call 218-367-6515.

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Our Members In The News

Who's Driving? by John Shaw

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.

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Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy is selling her work at The Crossing Arts annual Kringle Market in downtown Brainerd, MN. She is also showing her work as part of Artists In The Loft at Boreal Art Loft in St. Paul, MN from December 2 to January 11, with an opening reception December 4, 4:30-6:30 pm.

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Who's Driving? - a ceramic platter by John Shaw, has been selected for exhibition in It's Only Clay, the Watermark Art Center's 20th annual national juried ceramics competition.  The exhibition will be on display at the Watermark in Bemidji, MN through December 23, 2025. 

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Pomme de Terre Pottery, operated in rural Battle Lake by Sean Scott and Kate Scherfenberg, will be featured in the “Studio Visit” section of the December 2025 issue of Ceramics Monthly.

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Alexandria Art Guild has opened its new Center for the Visual Arts in downtown Alexandria, MN. Multiple Art of the Lakes members are selling their work there, with a Holiday Market running until December 27.

Congratulations on bringing another wonderful creative arts venue to our region!

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Board Minutes

Board of Directors minutes from November 19, 2025

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Got AOTL News?

Please email stories and images to AOTL's newsletter editor, Tom Kuder. Deadline is two days before the end of each month. Thanks!

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