Artful News March 2025

In This Issue

Cabin Fever Reliever: Get Out and About!
Studio Tour 25th Anniversary This July
AOTL Hosts Regional High School Art Tournament
Don't Miss These Classes and Events
Artful Tidbits: Kiln, Artist Judges, Folk Dancing, Phelps Mill
Our Members In The News

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Cabin Fever Reliever:
​Get Out and About!
Saturday March 8 at the CAC

Funding for Cabin Fever Reliever events was provided in part by West Central Initiative’s Rural Social Isolation Grant

​Time to escape those four walls and have some fun! Puzzles, games and comedy are on the schedule.

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JigSaw Puzzle Tournament - CASH PRIZES
Noon - 3:00 pm
Teams of two players each will compete to finish a 500 piece puzzle in 60 minutes, and a 1000 piece puzzle in 105 minutes. The team with the most pieces connected wins cash!
Puzzles provided with support from Seip Drug

Register a team

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Board Game / Puzzle Swap
Noon - 3:30 pm
Bring a game or puzzle to swap,  or make a donation to Art of the Lakes and take your pick. All games welcome. Grab something different for a night of fun with friends and family.

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Quad Squad Comedy / Improv
7:00 pm
Break your cabin fever by treating the whole family to an evening of laughter and improv. Based out of Andria Theatre in Alexandria, Minnesota, Quad Squad Improv is the leading improvisational comedy team in West Central Minnesota. 

Tickets

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Studio Tour
​25th Anniversary This July

Art of the Lakes is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its annual Studio Tour, and we invite you to be part of the fun! 

The Studio Tour is a scenic, drive-yourself art crawl through beautiful countryside with hills, lakes, prairie and small towns.

Many of the studios are tucked away on rural roads scattered throughout Otter Tail and Douglas counties in West-Central Minnesota. Bright yellow signs and a map help guide you to each studio.

Artists: Register by March 15 to participate

Info/Artist Signup

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AOTL Hosts Regional High School Art Tournament
March 5 - March 28, 2025

Creative Arts Center
Wednesdays, 5-8 pm
Thursdays, 1-5 pm
​Fridays, 1-5 pm
Saturday, 12-4 pm
Or by appointment 218-864-8606

Art of the Lakes will host the Minnesota State High School League Region 6A Visual Arts Tournament this March at the CAC.
 
​This annual exhibition includes selected works of art created by high school students from fourteen schools from around the west central Minnesota region. Local schools include Battle Lake, Underwood, Breckenridge, Hillcrest and Parkers Prairie, among others. Artworks will be judged in twelve different categories, with winning pieces advancing to the State Tournament at the Perpich Center for the Arts in Golden Valley on May 10.

Art of the Lakes will host a reception at the CAC for the students on March 28, with classes and demonstrations given by local AOTL artists. Congratulations go to AOTL Member Jonathan Hartman who has been heading up this effort.

The public is invited to view the students' artwork at the CAC!

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Don't Miss These Upcoming Classes and Events

Classes / Workshops / Education
Saturday Clay Date Night, March 1 and April 5
Learn to Weave on a Loom, March 15 and March 22
Sensory Bottles for Kids, March 15
Line Dancing Class, March 16
Intro to Needle Felting, April 10

Events / Performances
Cabin Fever Reliever Day, March 8
Seussical JR Theatrical Performance, March 29 and March 30

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Artful Tidbits
Changes to kiln in Ceramics Studio
​Fine arts judges wanted
Folk dance classes coming soon
Phelps Mill kids' activity opportunity​​

The kiln and other equipment in the Ceramics Studio are going to be moved back to their owner in May. Many thanks to Dar Eckert for loaning us her equipment this past year! The AOTL Board is exploring options for the Ceramics Studio going forward. Watch for a survey asking for your ideas, coming soon.

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The Fergus Falls Journal is looking for artists to be judges for their Golden Loon Fine Arts Awards. Judging will be be done via email. Entries will get to you on March 17 or 18, to be judged and returned by March 26. The event itself is scheduled for April 2. Please email Heather Kantrud if interested.

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A Community Folk Dance Class - Ceilidh Tradition is planned for Saturday April 12. We're also planning a Community Folk Dance Class - Nordic Tradition for May. Email Brian Wyneken for more info.

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Phelps Mill Festival organizers have asked if we'd be willing to host the kids activity tent next to the AOTL tent. It will be a fun opportunity to connect with kids and families, and to bring more visitors into our booth. If you have ideas on kids' activities and are willing to help (paid) with the event, contact Deb Ness at [email protected] or (218) 864-8606.

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Our Members in the News

Several AOTL Members held a meet-up and lunch while in Arizona in mid-February. Just look at those smiling faces - it must have been warm there!

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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Kristi Everts ​was fortunate to find a pottery studio offering classes near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica while traveling. The artist and teacher, Ana, uses local clay, and her sculptures and tableware reflect the historic culture of the country. She uses beeswax rather than glaze on the pieces after firing to enhance the beautiful natural color of the clay.

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Stephen Henning taught several seniors oil pastel techniques at Good Sam's in Battle Lake this past month. Thanks, Steve!

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Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy is included in the invitational exhibit, March Mug Month at The Grand Hand Gallery, St. Paul MN from March 6-28. Opening reception March 6, 5:30-7:30pm.

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Sue Tysdal​ has joined the Board of Directors at Art of the Lakes.
​Welcome, Sue!

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Board Minutes

Board Minutes February 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!