Newsletter August 2024

In this Issue

Call for Art! Art & Craft Affair
Prairie Lakes Plein Air Culminates This Month
Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists
Studio Tour Delights Artists and Art Lovers
CAC Shines During Wenonga Open House
​Member Recognition Party!
AOTL Members' Show Coming to the CAC
August Classes for Adults and Kids
Old Time Barn Dance Postponed
Newest Members in July
Our Members in the News
Wanted: Game and Party Lovers 
Wanted: CAC Donations

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Call for Art! Art & Craft Affair

The annual Art & Craft Affair will once again grace Railroad Park in Battle Lake this month, August 10 from 9 am - 4 pm.

AOTL artists - drop off your work at the gallery ​for this premiere selling event after Wednesday, August 7. Smaller items sell better than larger items. Prices should be clearly marked on the front.

More information

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Prairie Lakes Plein Air Festival Culminates This Month

More Information

Plein air painters have been busy capturing the scenes of Otter Tail County this summer, and would love to share their work! 

A high point of each year's festival is the Collector's Preview and Awards Reception: Friday, August 23, 2024. Doors open at 6 pm, awards at 7 pm. Get tickets

Other notable Plein Air activities:

• August 16 9 am - 4 pm: Jim Turner Workshop
• August 17 9 am - 4 pm: Jim Turner Workshop
• August 22 by 4 pm: Artwork due at the gallery
• August 23 9 am - 4 pm: Nelia Harper workshop
• August 23 6 pm: Collector's Preview
• August 23 7 pm: Awards Announcement
• August 24 9 - 11 am: Quick Paint Competition
• August 24 11 am - 2:30 pm VOTE for your favorite painting from the quick paint at the CAC
• August 24 1 pm: Judges Demo with Richard Abraham
• August 24 3 pm: Quick Paint Winners announced for Artist's favorite and People's favorite

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Work of Art:
​Business Skills for Artists

Register

Springboard for the Arts is offering a series of free business-skill classes for artists. Take advantage of any or all of this valuable training designed to help new artists learn the ropes, as well as more experienced artists grow and expand. 

• Career Planning - Friday, August 2, 5:30-8:30 pm
• Artist Statement - Saturday, August 3, 10-1 pm
• Pitching Your Work - Saturday, August 3, 1-4 pm

All classes will be held at the Creative Arts Center.

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Studio Tour 2024
​Delights Artists and Art Lovers 

Thank you artists, art lovers and sponsors for another successful Studio Tour! The face-to-face connections and unique art finds were exactly what people were looking for. Special thanks to Judy Celaschi for coordinating this year's Tour.

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CAC Shines During Wenonga Open House 

Art of the Lakes' Creative Arts Center (CAC) held an open house during the Battle Lake Wenonga celebration on July 26. Many visitors, local families, AOTL members and others got their first look at this exciting community space, and tried their hand at unleashing their own creativity. Our space shined!

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Member Recognition Party!

All Art of the Lakes members are invited to attend the Member Recognition Party at Stubs Dining & Gunpowder Bar on Wednesday, August 21, 5:30-8 pm.

Let's celebrate the end of another great summer full of artsy experiences! Food provided, cash bar. Door prizes and award for most creative hat. Own it!! Spouses and significant special guest welcome. To help us plan, please RSVP by Monday, August 19, 5 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP

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AOTL Members' Show
​Coming to the CAC

Save the date! Expressions 24 - AOTL Members' Show will have a call for art on August 9. The show will run at the CAC following the Prairie Lakes Plein Air exhibit. 

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Upcoming Classes and Performances

There's something for almost everybody if you want to explore your creative side this month!

​In addition to the events below, Life Drawing classes are scheduled most Mondays through October at the CAC. August dates will have a live model. (Use your CAC punch card to attend Life Drawing classes.)

Adult Class Info
Kids' Class Info
Performance Info

Date	Class or Performance	Age Level
Aug 2	Work of Art: Business Skills	Adult
Aug 3	Work of Art: Business Skills	Adult
Aug 4	Paint Your Pet	Adult
Aug 5	Marble Abstracts with Watercolor	Grade 3-6
Aug 6	Marble Abstracts with Watercolor	Grade 3-6
Aug 7	Painting People Easily	Adult
Aug 8	Intro to Clay Handbuilding	Adult
Aug 12	Creative Ceramic Blooms	Adult
Aug 13	Movie: Singin' In The Rain	Age 13 up
Aug 15	Garden Focaccia Breadmaking	Adult
Aug 16	Printing & Dyeing with Botanicals	Adult
Aug 17	Travel Journaling	Adult
Aug 18	Plein Air in Watercolor	Adult
Aug 23	Finding Truth in Nature	Adult
Aug 24	Fish Wood Carving	Adult
Aug 26	Adult Pottery: Wheel Throwing	Adult

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Old Time Barn Dance Postponed

Last month's newsletter had a "save the date" for the Old Time Barn Dance. That event is now postponed until the winter ("Cabin Fever" series of events) with a specific date TBD.

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Newest Members in July

Seven new members joined us in July this year:

• Jill Beithon
• Kathryn (Kat) Bennett
• Kristi Everts
• Christina Lill
• Gabe Lill
• Jonah Lill
• ​Deanna Thronson

Welcome to Art of the Lakes! We're so glad you've chosen to be a part of this amazing organization! (Be sure to attend gallery training and sign up for shifts if you're a Displaying Member.)

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Our Members in the News

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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4 Points of Light – artists Calvin DeRuyter, Lyssa Lovejoy, Jackie and Stephen Henning are holding another Open Studio Event on Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17.  Stop by their Evansville studios between 10am and 5pm, and see what they’ve been up to!

Studio Map

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Sandy Freeman's paintings will be featured at the Evansville Art Center for the month of August. Sandy has gained international recognition for her painting, Duke, an oil and acrylic work.

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Ruth Hanson's watercolor batik Have Ya Herd?, has been accepted into the 2024 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit.

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Donna Westerling's painting After the Rain Has Fallen was accepted into ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI. ArtPrize 2024 is September 13-28, 2024.  Her painting will be at Brush Studio again this year.

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Wanted: Game and Party Lovers

Seeking a few fun folks who love games & parties to help us organize The Great Battle Lake Turnover (the BLT), Sept. 14-22.

AOTL, along with other local businesses & organizations, is participating in West Central Initiative's Welcome Week, part of a national effort to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong communities and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places.

​This will be a week of fun creative events including a Scavenger Hunt, Tomato Recipe Contest, Zentangle Community Project, Harvest Community Potluck, and much more. We could especially use folks to help with the scavenger hunt. Contact Kristi at [email protected] if you can help.

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Wanted: CAC Item Donations

CAC donation Items needed: 

• portable fire pit or fire pit materials
• professional landline business phone

Email [email protected]

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Board Minutes

Board Minutes July 17, 2024

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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.