Newsletter July 2022

In This Issue

Phelps Mill Festival - Call for Art
​Art & Craft Affair - Call for Art
Fall Members' Juried Exhibition 2022
Support The Studio Tour!
Featured Artist Openings 2023
Art Demonstrations: Basket Weaving, Jewelry
New Gallery Assistants, Gallery Training
Members in the News
​Art Sales Opportunity

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Phelps Mill Festival
​Call for Art

By Brad Wegscheid
The annual Phelps Mill Festival is coming up July 9th and 10th! All AOTL members are welcome to have work on display in the AOTL booth. Our booth is staffed by members, and sales are subject to the regular AOTL commission of 30%.

We need more art for display and sale! Last year the booth was a bit lacking for artwork. It would be great to get more work to display this year so the booth has more to offer. If you'd like to have your work in this year's booth, just use this guide:
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• All work must be dropped off at the gallery by the end of gallery hours Wednesday July 6th, no exceptions.
• All 2D work must be ready to hang. 3D work must be able to sit on a stand or table. If your hangers don't work for the hooks on the booth, your work can't be displayed.
• All work must be marked with a price, easily visible, not on the back. Work does not need to be barcoded as there is no scanner in the booth.
• Consider the booth as an extra room in the gallery when bringing work in. Work needs to be clean and presentable. Work that would not be displayed in the gallery should also not be in the booth (crafts, for example).
• The gallery is not responsible for any damage. Work is safe and the park is guarded at night. Wind, rain, and dirty fingers are taken into consideration but can not be controlled.

We hope you'll add your artistic offerings to our Phelps Mill presence this year!

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Art & Craft Affair
​Call for Art

By Debbie Ness
​The annual Art & Craft Affair is happening again on August 13th. This one day event is very well attended with approximately 5,000 visitors! 

• Member artists interested in having their own booth can get a $15 booth discount. Contact Debbie Ness for more information. aotl@arvig.net, (218) 864-8606
• Or, you can display your work in the AOTL booth.  Just bring items to the gallery by Wednesday, August 10th so that they can be tagged.

More information about Art & Craft Affair

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Fall Members' Juried Exhibition
2022

September 8 – October 27, 2022
Charles Beck Gallery, M-State
​Fergus Falls, MN​

By Kristi Swee Kuder
In seeking to recognize and highlight the talents of our artist members, Art of the Lakes is inviting you to apply to our inaugural Fall Members’ Juried Exhibition. This event will bring together a selection of works into an exhibition at the Charles Beck Gallery at the Minnesota State Community College in Fergus Falls. We expect it to be a varied and eclectic collection showcasing many different mediums, styles, and techniques. 

The exhibition will be juried by Lori Charest, accomplished potter, owner of The Potter Daughter on Otter Tail Lake, and ceramics instructor at M-State Fergus Falls; and Tania Blanich, Director of Operations at the Arts Partnership in Fargo/Moorhead. Tania has spent her career in arts, non-profit, philanthropic, and government administration. Blanich has advised non-profit organizations in the U.S. and abroad, served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and been a reader for the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Residency Program in Italy, among other jury and panel service. Blanich earned her BA from the University of Michigan and her master’s degree from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is a native of Fargo, ND, where she grew up immersed in the arts.

All current members are eligible to submit up to two pieces, which must be the artist’s own original work completed within the last 2 years and not previously exhibited in the gallery. A nonrefundable entry fee of $20 covers administrative costs and awards. Only work selected by the jurors from the entries will be displayed. Artwork accepted for the show will then be judged for cash awards. Original work in all media is accepted including drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, photography, fiber, jewelry, ceramic, and sculpture. Giclees and other reproductions are not eligible. 

Important Dates:
Registration Opens Online: July 11
Submission Deadline: August 5
Jurors Notification: August 17
Accepted Work Dropoff: September 6
Awards Reception: Sunday, October 16, 1-3 pm

Look for an email containing a prospectus about this event in the coming week with the official Call for Art on the AOTL website.

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Support The Studio Tour!

Our annual Studio Tour is ready to go July 15-16-17! With 20 studios and 49 artists, there will be something for everyone.

Please show your support for our Studio Tour members!

• Get out there and do the Tour!
  
• Look for the yellow signs
  
• Stop by to chat with fellow artists
  
• Take home some treasures!

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Featured Artist Openings, 2023

There are 4 dates remaining for Featured Artists in the  gallery  in 2023. If interested, please contact Donna Westerling for more information. (donna@trumanrc.com, 612-386-2868)

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Free Art Demonstrations: Basket Weaving, Jewelry

By Mary Jo Wentz
Mary Smith will be presenting and demonstrating her basket weaving on July 20th at 6:30pm in the gallery. Mary weaves with reed as well as pine needles, and often incorporates pottery into her designs. Mary is a master basket weaver who is a delight to listen to and watch, and is always willing to answer questions. Join us for a wonderful early evening!

On September 14 in the gallery, artist Sandy Thimigan will give a PowerPoint presentation on Precious Metal Clay Jewelry Creations. Sandy will share with us how she creates her amazing jewelry and will be ready to answer your questions and curiosities.

​All members invited. We look forward to seeing you at Art of the Lakes!​

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New Gallery Assistants / Gallery Training Available

We're pleased to announce that we've hired two of our members as part-time Gallery Assistants! Shanna Cramer and Kristi Floersch will be assisting with gallery operations, staffing, hospitality and promotion. Please welcome them!

Gallery Training Available
​As you know, our displaying members are a vital part of operating the gallery.

• If you're a new member, you'll need to receive training for your days of gallery sitting.
• If you're a returning member, you might benefit from some review/retraining for gallery sitting.

In either case, please contact Sandy and Dan Thimgan, and we’ll find time for that to happen. (thimgan@digitaljam.com, 218-371-5964)

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Member Artists in the News

Lake Region Arts Council Exhibition, Main Gallery
July 5th-September 30, 2022
LRAC Guest Juror Tasha Kubesh has chosen 23 pieces for this Exhibition, and five AOTL members' work was accepted:

• Kristi Swee Kuder
• Faythe Mills
• Jodi Peterson
• Mary Jo Wentz

• Mary Williams

Congratulations to all! A Public Reception will be held September 20th, 2022 from 5:30-7:00. More information.

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Faythe Mills is one of five featured artists at Fine Line Arts' Summer Exhibit in Alexandria, MN. The Exhibit is on now until August 5, 2022. More info on Facebook.

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Donna Westerling’s painting titled “A Galaxy of Stories” will be part of ArtPrize 2022, in Grand Rapids, MI. The painting will be displayed at Brush Gallery. ArtPrize runs from September 25-October 2, 2022.

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Ruth Hanson's shop,  Old Sweet Song, is now open . Normal hours are Thursday-Friday noon-6, Saturday 10-4. It's on the frontage road in Vining, MN... 5030 Front St.

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Art Sales Opportunity at Williams Co.

The Williams Company in Otter Tail, MN is looking for artwork by local artists, to sell in their store.  If interested, contact Marnie Whitehead, 218-367-3340.

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Links

AOTL Contacts list
​Facebook page

​Got News? Send hot tips to Tom Kuder tom@entente1.com