Newsletter June 2024

In This Issue

June is Bustin' Out All Over with Classes and Performances
Prairie Lakes Plein Air Festival Kicks Off This Month
Annual Member Meeting Recap
Where Creativity Begins: 2024 Studio Tour
​Performing Arts Input Wanted
Volunteer Groups Forming Now
Summer Gallery Update
New Members in May
Members in the News

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June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

With the arrival of June, our summer schedule of activities is in full swing. Just look at all these fun offerings this month!

Classes for Adults (click here for details)
June 7 Learn to Make Sushi
June 10 Life Drawing / Painting
June 17 Plein Air Paint Out
June 18 & 25 Swedish Dala Horse Woodcarving
​June 19 Brown Bag Speaker Series: The First 85
​June 27 Watercolors Bold and Loose

Classes for Kids (click here for details)
June 3, 5, 17 Early Summer Clay Series
June 10 Cooking 101 for Kids
June 17-18 Take It Outside: Plein Air For Kids

Performances (click here for details)
June 11 Movie Night at the Roxy/CAC: Night of the Living Dead

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Prairie Lakes Plein Air Festival
​Kicks Off June 22

The 2024 Prairie Lakes Plein Air Festival starts June 22. 

Artists should register now for the summer-long painting competition. Sign up online, then paint anytime between June 22 and August 22.

​Meet great people, win great prizes! 

Learn More & Register

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Annual Member Meeting Recap

Kristi Kuder marking a banner with a mop!
Jammie Niemeyer ​appears poised to jump in!

Art of the Lakes held its Annual Member Meeting on May 22. About 50 members took walking tours of the CAC building, marked a banner using objects found during remodeling, dined on tasty tacos, and got caught up on AOTL business.

Highlights of the business portion of the meeting:

• Our revised, simpler Mission statement was introduced: To develop, promote and encourage an interest in the arts. 
• Two additional board members were elected: Sheryl Olson and Vanessa Sellner. Welcome, and thank you!
• Treasurer Ann Smith explained our financial performance so far in 2024, pointing out significant grant and fund-raising achievements.
• Changes to the AOTL Bylaws were reviewed and approved by the members.
• Some fun volunteer opportunities were outlined by Donna Westerling. Email Donna to help out!
  

Copies of the 2023 Annual Report are available in the gallery. It was wonderful to reconnect with those in attendance!

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Where Creativity Begins:
The 2024 Studio Tour

July 19, 10-5
​July 20, 10-5
​July 21, 10-1​

​The Art of the Lakes Studio Tour is a summer highlight that draws art enthusiasts into artists’ studios and area galleries located throughout Lakes Country. The dates for this year’s tour are July 19 & 20 from 10 am - 5 pm, and July 21 from 10 am - 3 pm. Studio Tour brochures with a map of the multiple stops are available at the Art of the Lakes gallery in Battle Lake.
 
This year’s three-day event features forty-five local artists presenting original works in a variety of mediums. 
 
"We’re proud that for 16 years Art of the Lakes has served to connect art enthusiasts with our local artists and to support this thriving art community,” says Kristi Kuder, Art of the Lakes Board of Directors Chair. “We believe the arts are an important contributor to the vitality of this region and look forward to continuing this event and promoting local artists for many years to come.”  

Included among the stops in Battle Lake will be the Art of the Lakes Gallery as well as the new Creative Arts Center. Visitors are encouraged to stop and explore the new Creative Arts Center, which is establishing studios and classrooms for ceramics, digital media, painting, fiber arts, culinary classes, as well as for the performing arts. Subscriptions to use this facility will soon be available on the Art of the Lakes website, artofthelakes.org.
 
The 2024 Studio Tour committee invites visitors to start their Studio Tour experience at any of the stops on the map and select their route as they see fit. Many of the artists will be demonstrating their art and are excited to share their passion.

studio tour details

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Performing Arts Input Wanted
Meeting June 8, 9am, CAC​

We're exploring the use of the auditorium at the CAC and are seeking forms of entertainment that will pull people in.

To be included in the development of our performing arts program, please attend the first meeting Saturday, June 8 at 9am at the Creative Arts Center, Battle Lake.

If you can't attend but want to be included in future discussions, please email Kristi Kuder.

​Let's put on a show!

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Volunteer Groups Forming Now.
​Get Involved!​

​Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet more artists and art lovers, while supporting the health of your Association. We're currently forming volunteer groups for the following areas:
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• Set up and/or take down the AOTL booth at outside events such as Phelps Mill Festival or Art and Craft Affair
• Work the AOTL booth at outside events such as Phelps Mill Festival or Art and Craft Affair
• Gardening at the CAC and the gallery
• Greeter / ticket taker at performances
• Presenter of an artist talk or art demonstration 
• Help manage studios at CAC- fiber arts, photography, ceramics
• Creative painter for CAC sidewalks or furniture
• Assist at classes and get a reduced fee for the class
• Youth art event assistance
• Help clean the gallery 

What's your talent or interest? Please email Donna Westerling to sign up for your preferred volunteer group, or call/text Donna at 612-386-2868.

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Summer Gallery Update​

As summer residents and visitors flock back to our area, the Art of the Lakes gallery in downtown Battle Lake is sure to be a popular, busy destination.

Here are some important updates:

• Featured Artists in June are Sue Kalseim (June 1-15) and John Shaw (June 16-30). Come see their work!
• Displaying artists, please schedule your gallery shifts now so we can ensure coverage through the summer. If you need help scheduling, email Donna Westerling or call/text her at 612-386-2868.
• Displaying artists who need gallery training should email Dan and Sandy Thimgan to schedule training. Preparation is essential before you work in the gallery!
• The Display Art Policies have been updated for 2024. Download the policy document.

​See you at the gallery!

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New Members in May​

Two new members joined us last month:

• Anna Lassonde
• Jolene Miller

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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Members In The News​

​Red Vase

SOLITUDE

​FORWARD

Our members are among the most active and accomplished artists and art supporters around! Here's a selection of activities, honors and news about just some of them.

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Art deTour is the Alexandria Art Guild's studio tour. Several Art of the Lakes members will be participating this year:

• Becky Albright - Gyotaku fish prints and Fiber Art
• Calvin deRuyter – Kron Cove Studio
  
• Sandy Freeman​ - Sandy Freeman Art 
• Ruth Hanson – Old Sweet Song 
• Barbara A. Johnson
• Fred Kollmann – Fred Kollmann Custom Furniture and Stained Glass 
• Merodie Seykora – Turning Lake Designs 
• Bill Seykora – Turning Lake Designs 
• Jon Thompson – JT Maui

Art deTour takes place June 13-15. More information here.

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Ten portraits by Kerry Kolke Bonk were part of an installation dedicated on Memorial Day 2024 in Appleton, MN.  Streets of Honor - The Portraits is a walkable mural by Kerry and artist Katia Andreeva. The portraits will remain at the site as a tribute to men from the Appleton community who lost their lives serving their country.

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Della Conroy has an art exhibit called Rural Scenes at Farwell School House in Farwell, MN for the month of June. More information about the artist is available at Della's website.

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Calvin deRuyter will be teaching a 6-week class “The Elemental Concepts of Art” each Wednesday July 10 - Aug 14, from 10am-1pm. The classes will be held at Handcrafted by Noni studio in Alexandria, MN. The classes apply to all two-dimensional visual arts no matter if you paint realistic or abstract, and in any medium. Information and registration or email [email protected]. You can also email Calvin.

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Grace Haverty had her painting Red Vase accepted into the San Diego 44th International Exhibition to be held at 2825 Dewey Road, San Diego, from September 29 through October 31.

​There were over 800 entries, with 105 accepted from the United States and around the world. 

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John Shaw is honored to have been invited to exhibit work at the 50th Invitational Art Show in the Charles Beck Gallery, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Fergus Falls, MN.  John chose to exhibit his ceramic relief sculpture SOLITUDE.  More than 150 artists were represented. The exhibition, which ran from March 22 to May 4, was expertly and beautifully curated by Lori Charest.

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​John Shaw’s ceramic wall relief FORWARD has been selected for inclusion in Northern Clay Center’s 2024 Members Exhibition. The installation is located in the Center’s Main Gallery at 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN.

The exhibition is open to the public May 4 - June 16.  Take a Virtual 3D Tour

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Mary Jo Wentz’s fiber art entitled Mushrooms and Moss has been juried into the Lake Region Arts Council "Guest Juror Exhibit - Deborahmae Broad", running from July 8th-September 26. Public reception Tuesday, September 17th from 5:30-7 p.m.

Mary Jo Wentz’s alcohol Ink painting entitled Summer’s Burst has been selected to become one of the Arts Collaborative "Community Motor Art Sculptures" in Alexandria, MN. The official unveiling of 18 motor art sculptures will take place in Alexandria across from Big Ole Park on Saturday, June 22. The public is invited to this special event.

Mary Jo Wentz’s fiber artwork Botanical is included in New York Mill’s Regional Cultural Center’s “Unfettered” Gallery Show. An open house reception with refreshments, cash bar and music will take place Friday, June 7 from 6-8 p.m. The reception will honor all exhibiting artists, as well as finalists for the Great American Think-off, and will kick off the Great American Think-Off weekend. Finalist introductions and Artist talks begin at 7:15 p.m. All are invited! 

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Board Minutes​

Special Board Meeting May 6
Board Meeting May 15

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Got AOTL news? 
​Please send stories and images to Tom Kuder, [email protected].
​Deadline is two days before the end of each month.