Newsletter July 2024

In This Issue

Creative Arts Center Comes Alive This Month
​AOTL Adds Two New Locations for Art Display
It's Here: The 2024 Studio Tour
Upcoming Classes and Performances
Old Time Barn Dance Swings Out in August
Newest Members in June
Our Members In The News
​Exhibit Opportunity: Lake Region Thresher's Show

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Creative Arts Center
​Comes Alive This Month

112 Main Street West, Battle Lake

Art of the Lakes' Creative Arts Center (CAC) is now officially open for business! The CAC is an exciting renovated space in the heart of Battle Lake. It's a place where community meets creativity, and where almost any sort of artistic expression is possible! All are welcome.

There's so much happening at the CAC this month, you might need to visit several times!

Open House July 26-27
​Art of the Lakes will hold a CAC Open House on Wenonga Days weekend, July 26 - 27. Come see what it's all about!

• Friday July 26, 3:30 pm - 7 pm. Food, games, art activities, music and building tours are on the menu. Stop over after the Hatchery Row ribbon cutting - we're right up the street. Then join the Walking Tour of Historic Battle Lake, which starts at the CAC at 7 pm.
• Saturday July 27, 10 am - 4 pm. Building tours throughout the day. Come see our new maker studios, free lounge, auditorium, community rooms and more. Learn about upcoming classes and performances available to the community.
• Both days you'll be able to experience a thought-provoking collective art installation called Earth in Common, located outdoors on the CAC lawn. (See the article below for more information.)
• Meet AOTL artists both days. We're inviting all Art of the Lakes members to join us at the CAC Open House, to show your community support, and to meet and network with your lakes area community.

Maker Studios Now Available
The CAC Maker Studios are now open! Maker Studios are a break-through offering at the CAC, providing professional-level creative spaces for artists on a shared rental basis. The CAC Maker Studios allow you to practice your artistic pursuits in an economical and fun way, alongside other creative people.

CAC Maker Studios can be accessed by purchasing a punch card, with 4-use and 12-use options available. AOTL members qualify for discounted pricing. Gain studio access for as little as $5 per work session!

A ceramics studio and a fiber studio are already in place, with plans to add digital media and glass studios later this year.

To get more information, including how to purchase a punch card for studio use, visit our website's CAC page.

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AOTL Adds Two New Locations for Art Display

We've experienced significant growth of our membership this year, with many wonderful new local artists displaying their best and most beautiful art work for sale. But alas, our Gallery's display capacity is getting maxed out, especially its wall space.

Fortunately, we've expanded our display and sales capacity with the addition of two new venues: the Creative Arts Center, and the Good Samaritan Senior Housing Facility.

• The Creative Arts Center is a bright and lively new location for viewing and purchasing art in downtown Battle Lake. The CAC is open and staffed four days a week. All works displayed will be for sale. With numerous events and workshops planned at the CAC this summer, displaying members will surely receive increased exposure for their work.
• We're also excited to announce a new partnership with the Good Samaritan Senior Housing Facility to display and sell member artwork. Good Sam's first floor hallways are being completely refinished, and our members' artwork will enliven the refreshed space for residents and visitors alike. All art will be for sale. 

Updated 2-D Display Policy
​As we expand our exhibiting locations, we've updated AOTL's 2-D artwork display policy, beginning this month. 

• Gallery. Each displaying artist may have two to three pieces of art hanging in the Gallery, depending on size.
• CAC. Each displaying artist may hang one to two additional pieces in the Creative Arts Center.
• Good Sam. Each displaying artist may hang one to two more pieces at the Good Sam Senior Housing Facility.

This means that artists can now display and sell four to seven art pieces across all AOTL venues.

Gallery Refresh and New Venue Set-up
​With these changes, we're planning a total refresh of the Gallery, and new set-up of the additional display venues. We plan to complete this process July 29 - 31. This will be a big undertaking! If you can help, please contact the Gallery or email Sue Kalseim.

Artists, please deliver new work to the CAC on July 22, for potential display at the new venues.

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It's Here: The 2024 Studio Tour!
July 19-21, 2024
46 Artists, 18 Studio Stops

Directory & Map

Don't miss the 16th annual Art of the Lakes Studio Tour, July 19-21. Join our local artists face-to-face as they showcase their work and visit directly with the public. 46 artists will be featured at 18 studio stops, including the Creative Arts Center. 

The CAC's new Ceramic Studio will be open during the event, with member artist Dar Eckert demonstrating her skills and discussing upcoming clay workshops.  

Mobile Sign Shop on Sunday July 21
Stop by the CAC on Sunday to create your own unique sign! We've partnered with the Viking Library System to host the Mobile Sign Shop (MSS) in front of the Creative Arts Center. MSS signs are inspired by the vernacular of wooden / engraved / painted / handmade signs found in National and State parks, and at homes in Greater Minnesota and beyond. 

​This project is funded in part or in whole with monies from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.

Participating Artist Debrief Monday July 22
Participating artists should attend an important Studio Tour debriefing meeting on Monday July 22 at 9:30 am. The debrief will take place in the CAC Community Room (downstairs).

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Upcoming Classes and Performances

Adult Class Info

Kids Class Info

Performance Info

We have a pyrotechnic line-up of classes and performances for you this Independence month, and beyond! Click the buttons for more details and registration.​

Date	Class or Performance	Age Level
July 2	Women's Circle	Adults
July 8	​Join the Shrub Club	Adults
July 8	​Gelli Prints and Collage begins	Grades 3-6
July 8	​Life Drawing (also 7/22 and 7/29)	Adults
July 9	Intro to Moody Indigo Blues	Adults
July 9	Movie Night: To Catch a Thief (1955)	Ages 13 up
July 11	​Intro to Sashiko Stitching	Adult
July 11	​Unleash the Artist Within begins	Adults
July 15	​Intro to Clay Handbuilding begins	Adults
July 15	Cooking 101 for Kids sold out	Grades 4-7
July 17	​Early OTC Screenwriters to Know	Ages 13 up
July 22	Teen Word Burning	Grades 7-12
July 24	Life of a Peony in Watercolor	Adults
July 29	Late Summer Clay Series: Creative Ceramic Blooms	Grades 3-6
July 30	​Intro to Glazing begins	Adults

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Old Time Barn Dance
​Swings Out in August
​August 8, 7-9pm
Creative Arts Center

Try out traditional square dancing, or just clap along with live music presented by the fiddle and string band "Trad & True" at an Old Time Barn Dance. Hosted by Art of the Lakes, this introductory event will be held at the Creative Arts Center.

Instructional guidance from a live dance caller. Beginners are especially welcome. It's simple, and it's fun! Registration and more info will be on the website soon. Save the date!

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Our Newest Members

Five new members joined us in June this year:

• Laura Braun
• Rebecca Ellenson
• Julie Gish
• Lon LaGrave
• Vikki Lorenz

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

Calvin DeRuyter, Lyssa Lovejoy, Stephen Henning, Jackie Henning

Vortex, Calvin deRuyter

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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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​Earth in Common is a collective art installation and collaboration between AOTL member artist Katy Olson, and artists Lindsey Peck Sherloum and Cedar Walters.

Earth In Common encourages us to contemplate our connection and obligation to the one planet we share with all living things. The project uses rescued chandelier glass that was destined for the disposal. 

Experience Earth In Common here:

• Fish House Festival in New York Mills July 12
• Phelps Mill Festival July 13 & 14
• Art of the Lakes Creative Arts Center July 26 & 27

This project is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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Evansville artists Calvin deRuyter, Lyssa Lovejoy, Jackie Henning, and Stephen Henning combine their efforts to present Four Points of Light,  a monthly open studio tour.  

​Working from three studios within minutes of each other, the four artists will concurrently open their studios one weekend each month this summer. 

• June 28 - 29
• July 19 - 22 on the Art of the Lakes Studio Tour
• August 16 - 17
• September 20 - 21

Studio hours are 10am - 5 pm.
For more information and a map, email Stephen Henning.

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Shanna Cramer has a solo show of 2023 oil paintings hanging at the Roger Maris Center in Fargo, ND. Hours are 8 - 5, M - F. 
820 Fourth St. N., Fargo, North Dakota.

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Calvin deRuyter will have a one-person exhibit of his abstract work at the Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance, July 18-September 7. The exhibit will be at the PRCA gallery at 630 Atlantic Ave, Morris MN. 

deRuyter has titled the exhibit Tract: An Area of Indefinite Extent.

An opening reception is planned for Tuesday, July 23, from 6-8pm, with an artist's talk at 7pm. For further information email Calvin.

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Ruth Hanson's watercolor batik piece, Misty Musers was accepted into LRAC's Juried Exhibition with Guest Juror Deborahmae Broad. The exhibition is from Monday, July 8 to Thursday, September 26 in LRAC's main gallery.

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The art of Marcella Rose is featured at The Capital Gallery in Bismarck July and August in a show titled, Wide Open Spaces. Rose is also now currently featured as a guest artist at Dakota FIne Art in Fargo. "This year has been a huge blessing filled with commissions, and the joy of working in my new studio on the lake."

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In June 2024, the LRAC Board selected Michael Weatherly as the 2024 LRAC Fellow. Congratulations, Michael!
​
View Michael's LRAC Artist Registry profile.

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​Exhibit Opportunity:
​Lake Region Thresher's Show

The Lake Region Thresher's Show is seeking vendors and crafters to exhibit September 6-8 in Dalton, MN. Email Elyse Olsen for more information, or visit their website.

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​Board Minutes

Board Minutes June 19, 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.