Artful News May & June 2025

In This Issue

Nature's Gem: Art Inspired by Glendalough
2025 Studio Tour: 45 Artists Want to Meet You!
​The Arts Bring New Life to Small Downtowns
Annual Members Meeting May 27
​Fundraising Updates - Kiln, Bingo
Ready Go! Create and Connect with Local Artists
Creative Classes for Kids and Adults
​Artful Tidbits

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Nature's Gem:
​Art Inspired by Glendalough
June 6-July 9, 2025
Public Reception June 13
​Creative Arts Center

Artists whose work has been inspired by the natural spaces and elements found throughout Glendalough State Park are invited to submit work for exhibiting in the Creative Arts Center, June 6-July 9. A public reception will be held Friday, June 13.

Nestled amidst prairie and hardwood forest, Glendalough is a welcoming sanctuary. Once a private retreat and game farm, Glendalough is now home to abundant populations of deer, raccoon, otter, fox, and a variety of prairie, wetland, and hardwood forest species of birds and plants. Trails for walking and biking meander along lakes, through rich woods and blooming prairies. We’re excited for people to experience this gem through the eyes of our local artists.
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​Hurry! Artist Registration Deadline is May 26!
The public is invited to view this exhibition starting June 6.

Details & Registration

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2025 Studio Tour:
45 Artists Want to Meet You!
​20 Studio Locations!

Our line-up of 45 Studio Tour artists in 20 locations is complete. Brochures and maps are printed, and available in the Gallery. Now all we need is you!

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

Artists in this region abound, and are among the most creative anywhere. Art of the Lakes is delighted to feature their talents in this up-close, immersive travel and collecting experience!

New this year: Detailed profiles of many Studio Tour artists are now available on our website, where artists invite you to "Meet Me On The Tour!". We'll also be featuring Tour artists on social media beginning in June. What an incredible line-up this year!

Artist Profiles

Brochure / Map

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The Arts Bring New Life
To Small Downtowns

By Kristi Kuder, Art of the Lakes Chair
In many rural towns, the central business areas and public spaces can feel quiet or even empty. But the arts have the power to bring these places back to life, and Battle Lake is a perfect example.

Over the last decade or two, Battle Lake has added extensive public art, and reclaimed unused buildings for creative purposes. Our town of about 1,000 residents now enjoys a rich tapestry of murals, mosaics, sculptures and performances.

​Read Kristi's full article as published in the Battle Lake Review

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Annual Members Meeting May 27
5-7:30 pm
Creative Arts Center​

Free RSVP

Art of the Lakes will hold its annual Members Meeting on Tuesday, May 27. All members (and prospective members) are invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to meet new ones. Find out about what has gone on over the winter and what's in store for the summer at the gallery and the Creative Arts Center.

​Free to attend, but please RSVP to help us plan - see you there!

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Fundraising Updates

Kiln Fund Donations Needed
Sandy and Dan Thimgan have made a generous donation toward the purchase of a pottery/ceramics kiln for the CAC. You're invited to contribute as well. We've been able to bring the joy of ceramic-making to many people this past year, but have had to rely on the use of other artists' kilns. Please consider donating funds in any amount to this worthy cause. Stop by the Gallery or call (218) 864-8606. Thank you!

Successful Bingo Fundraiser!
Art of the Lakes' second Designer Purse Bingo fundraiser was held May 9 at Thumper Pond. Besides the fabulous purses, we had awesome raffle prizes including an original water color donated by Grace Haverty. Fun was had by all!

The money we raised will support our summer art programs. Thank you to all the volunteers that made the event such a success. A special thanks to Jammie Neimeyer who called the bingo numbers, and to Sue Kalseim for organizing the event.

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Ready Go! Create and Connect With Local Artists (FREE)
Saturday May 31
10am-2pm
​Creative Arts Center

Experience three interactive artist-led projects from
Ready Go, a program of Springboard for the Arts! Join us on
Saturday, May 31 at the Creative Arts Center in Battle Lake for
creative activities for all ages.

• Coozie-Up-Cycle Cart (Erika Frikken & Jess Torgerson)
• Printmaking, Inc. (Michael Weatherly)
• Crayon Recycling Center (Kathrine McDowell)

Kathrine McDowell needs your help! She's gearing up her Crayon Recycling Cart, and your old, broken crayons could become part of something amazing. Donate your used crayons to be melted, molded, and transformed into vibrant new art tools for kids and adults!  Drop off crayons now at the Gallery.

Springboard for the Arts, West Central Initiative, Art of the Lakes. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural fund.

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Creative Classes for Kids & Adults
Creative Arts Center

Our summer art workshops offer some of the best ways ever to feed your creative side and enjoy the season. They're for you, your kids, your guests, everybody!
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Kids' Summer Art Camps
Openings are still available. Choose from a variety of classes in June and July, including clay, cooking, weaving, writing, alcohol ink, painting, drawing, embroidery and more! Enroll your kids for one class or a whole series. Ages 6-9 and 10+.

classes for kids

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Adult Classes and Workshops
Learn watercolor, barn quilts, finance, charcuterie, pen & ink, weaving, mixology and sculpting.

Adult workshops

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Clay Classes
Our clay studio offerings include an Open Ceramic Studio, Clay Date Nights, and Handbuilding for a Dinner Party. Get messy and have some fun!

clay classes

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Artful Tidbits
Tasty morsels of news you can use

We're looking for paid teaching artists to help at the AOTL kids booth for Phelps Mill Festival, July 12-13. We have two projects planned: Painting Techniques and Spin Art. If you'd like more information about this fun opportunity, please contact Debbie at the gallery.

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It's not too late to apply for a booth at the Art & Craft Affair. Exhibit in your own booth, and receive a discounted fee as an Art of the Lakes Member. More information and booth applications here.

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Featured Gallery Artists for 2025

• May: Good Samaritan artists from AOTL-led group
• June 1-15: Diane Ayers
• June 16-30: Duane and Peggy Dahlvang
• July 1-15: Vicky Radel
• July 16-31: Donna Westerling
• Aug 1-15: Faythe Mills
• Aug 16-31: OPEN
• Sept: 2025 Prairie Lakes Plein Air Artists

If you have questions, or want to claim the August opening, please contact Donna Westerling 612-386-2868, [email protected]

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Last call for gallery training. If you're a displaying artist and still need training on gallery operations, contact Sandy and Dan Thimgan now (218-371-5964, ​[email protected]).

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Attention Photographers! The Friends of the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center are excited to again sponsor a prairie-themed photography contest! There are four categories: Prairie Wildlife, Prairie Plant Life, Prairie Scenic Views and Recreation, and Prairie Pollinators and Other Invertebrates. Information/entry

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Evansville Art Center has a full lineup of art activities in May and June. Download their event announcements PDF here.

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Board Minutes

Board Minutes April 16, 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. The next issue will be published around July 1. Thanks!