Newsletter June 2022

In This Issue

2022 Board of Directors
John Olesen Thanked as Outgoing President
Prairie Lakes en Plein Air - Get Painting!
Gallery Refresher Training Available
Members in the News
New Facebook Group for Members
LRAC Portraits Exhibit

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2022 Board of Directors

Kristi Swee Kuder

Kathrine McDowell

Mary Jo Wentz

Ann Smith

Shanna Cramer

Judy Celaschi

Five new directors were elected at May's annual member meeting, joining Kristi Swee Kuder as a continuing board member, to form your new AOTL board. Kristi has volunteered to serve as board president, subject to approval at the next board meeting.

Ann Smith is an associate professor of business at ND State College of Science. She has extensive experience managing a non-profit figure-skating organization, including costume creation. Ann ​has volunteered to serve as treasurer, subject to board approval.

​Kathrine McDowell is an independent ceramic artist with a strong background in fine art, theater, and management. She enjoys teaching and educating children about the Arts. She's been a manager and event planner for over 10 years.

Shanna Cramer founded Creatively Uncorked in 2014, bringing the "paint and sip" concept to Fargo-Moorhead and the surrounding area. Creatively Uncorked now has several artists, hundreds of paintings, and continually offers fun events in our region.

​Mary Jo Wentz pursued her interest in art after raising a family and retiring from teaching elementary school. She works in alcohol inks as well as fibers and cloth.

Judy Celaschi has over 35 years in global corporate travel management. She's now retired and has returned to her first love which is painting. Her preferred medium is oils, though she also loves the freshness and spontaneity of watercolor.

Please thank and congratulate all of our AOTL Directors!

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John Olesen Thanked as Outgoing AOTL President

At the annual member meeting last month, John Olesen, retiring AOTL Board President, was thanked by all attendees for his service.

John served enthusiastically during some challenging years, including a global pandemic. He also helped form and launch our first successful Prairie Lakes en Plein Air festival, and will continue to help guide that event after retiring from the Board.

Pictured here, Kristi Swee Kuder recognized John's service at the member meeting and led a rousing round of applause. 

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Prairie Lakes en Plein Air:
Get Painting!

en Plein Air competition
The competition goes from June 18 to September 23. Paint en Plein Air independently anywhere in Ottertail County during that time to qualify. There are no formal meet-up times to paint. Register here to compete.

$1000 awarded to Best in Show, with additional awards posted on our website. Competition Judge: Dan Mondloch.

Opening day (June 18)

• Participating artists can pick up their welcome packet from Grace Haverty at the gallery between 10 am and 3 pm.
• If you would like to join the morning paint out with Shanna Cramer, meet at the gallery at 10 am.
• Kristi Kuder will teach cyanotype (sun printing) classes for drop-ins at the gallery from 11 am to 3 pm. No charge!

Quick Paint (September 24)

• Registered competitors are invited to the quick paint event on September 24 from 9:30 am to 12 pm.
• Paintings will be displayed in the gallery or outside on the sidewalk (weather permitting) until 2 pm for voting.
• The Quick Paint awards ceremony is at 3 pm at the gallery. Awards: people's choice - $100, artists choice - $100.

Workshops related to en Plein Air
If you'd like to learn more about painting en Plein Air in a workshop
environment, here are some summer opportunities:

• Landscapes in Oil Pastel with Stephen Henning, Friday, August 19, 10 am to 4 pm, Glendalough State Park (State Park Pass required)
• Expressive Watercolor with Dan Mondloch, Tuesday/Wednesday, August 23 & 24, 10 am to 4 pm, Glendalough State Park Trail Center (Park Pass required)
• More workshops to be announced soon!!

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Gallery Refresher Training

Gallery Refresher Training sessions will be offered Monday and Tuesday, June 6-7, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• If you're interested in a refresher training for gallery work, contact the Thimgans to sign up for a time, as training slots will be limited. (Please don't just show up for the sessions.)

Sandy and Dan Thimgan
[email protected]
218-371-5964

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Members in the News

Becky Albright, Calvin deRuyter, Ruth Hanson, Barbara Johnson, Faythe Mills, Robyn Olson, Mimi Seykora, Bill Seykora, Kate Smith, Phillip Smith, Jon Thompson and Mary Jo Wentz will participate in Art deTour 2022 later this month.

​Lynn Hansen will be exhibiting at Evansville Art Center for the month of June. He also has two paintings at the North Suburban Center for the Arts in Fridley, MN, and at two locations with Gallery 96 in Shoreview, MN. 

Faythe Mills is exhibiting at Central Square's art gallery in Glenwood, MN through June.

Barbara La Velleur's Author Talk at the Red Door Gallery in Wahpeton has been rescheduled (again!) to June 9.

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New AOTL Facebook Group

Would you like to have a place where you can participate in secure, online conversations with just AOTL members? If so, the new Art of the Lakes members group on Facebook is for you.

The AOTL members group is a private, members-only discussion board. Unlike our public AOTL Facebook page, only members can view and post information in this private group.

To join this group:

• From your Feed, click Groups in the left menu
• In the search bar, enter Art of the Lakes members group
• Select the group then click +Join Group
• Click Join Group

For more information, please contact Kathrine McDowell [email protected]

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LRAC Portraits Exhibit

The LRAC Main Gallery is hosting an exhibit dedicated to the art of portraiture. Representing portraits in all mediums, regional artist are sharing their best work in this exhibit.
 
The Portraits Exhibit will be open from now until June 30 in the LRAC Gallery at the historic River Inn, 133 S. Mill St., Fergus Falls, MN.
 
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.

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Links

AOTL Contacts list
​Facebook page

​Got News? Send hot tips to Tom Kuder [email protected]