Newsletter May 2024

In This Issue

Designer Purse Bingo: Support Youth Art Education
Get Ready for Spring and Summer Gallery Sales
Creative Arts Center Transformation is Underway
Annual Member Meeting is May 22
New Members in April 2024
May Events and Classes
Volunteers Needed
Meet Makenna, Our Newest Team Member
Members in the News
Artist Wanted

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Support Youth Art Education: Play Designer Purse Bingo

May 10, 2024
Thumper Pond Resort
Doors open 6:00pm
Bingo starts 7:00pm

Buy tickets

Our major fundraiser this Spring is a fun one: Designer Purse Bingo! We'd love to see all AOTL members and supporters there, plus friends, family, neighbors and more!

Bingo players will help raise funds for a great cause: Art of the
Lakes' youth art education program this summer.  The event is an excellent opportunity for networking, a chance to win a stunning handbag, and time for food, drinks and relaxation. There'll be a raffle, too!

Please help get the word out on this unique experience!

​And men, if a purse isn't your thing, how about winning one for your mom or spouse?
​

• Tickets are $45 for 20 games, and include a taco & salad bar and cash bar. Consider gifting a ticket or two.
• Volunteers are needed from 5:30 to 9 pm to help with check-in and other tasks to make the event go smoothly. Contact Donna Westerling, 612-386-2868.

Our thanks to the Ottertail Lions Club for their generous financial support and gaming license, and to Thumper Pond for the venue.

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Get Ready for Spring and Summer Gallery Sales

Gallery hanging volunteer team
​Deb, Kerry, Phyllis, Della, Sue

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Sign up for gallery shifts and training

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Spring and summer gallery sales are right around the corner, and Art of the Lakes members are busy with vital preparation.

A volunteer gallery hanging team of Deb Connolly, Kerry Kolke-Bonk, Phyllis Joos, Della Conroy and Sue Kalseim arranged and mounted some amazing pieces by our member artists. Come take a look!

If you have art displayed in the gallery, you need to be on the gallery shift schedule. Call Donna or Debbie at the gallery, or Donna Westerling 612-386-2868, so we can help arrange your shifts. 

Make sure you're trained on gallery operations! Contact Sandy & Dan Thimgan to arrange training if you're new or a bit rusty.

The May Featured Artist Display will showcase the work of our newest members. If you're new to AOTL and want to include a piece in the display, please have it at the gallery by May 2, 2024. (Any art for the wall must have a wire for hanging. The May Feature is open to new displaying artists only.)

Jewelry artists: Jewelry coordinator Sandy Thimgan has some important and helpful tips to improve your sales this season. Download jewelry tip sheet here.

​Spring  hours until Memorial Day weekend

• Friday & Saturday 11-5

Summer hours start May 24

• Monday thru Wednesday 10-5
• Thursday thru Saturday 10-8
• Sunday 10-4

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Creative Arts Center Transformation Is Underway

New color on the kitchen wall!

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New door sign!

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New kiln from the Eckerts!

April saw some noticeable changes at the CAC as we work to transform it from a church building into a wonderful place for creative endeavors.

Volunteers accomplished a lot!

• Repaired and organized chairs,
• organized art supplies,
• installed our door sign,
• patched cracks and painted walls,
• moved and mounted shelving and cabinets,
• moved, assembled and installed a kiln,
• and coordinated paid contractors.

Many thanks to all who helped, including David Beddow, Dean Curtis, Dar Eckert, Pat Eckert, Debbi Erickson, Amy Freund, Greg Gerhart, Bob Kalseim, Kristi Kuder, Tom Kuder, Kate Mudge, Sheryl Olson, Mary Williams, Anne Wyneken and Brian Wyneken. What a great group! (Thanks also to anyone who was missed on this list.)

Donors provided equipment and furnishings

• Thanks to Dar and Pat Eckert for donating, moving, assembling and installing a professional kiln, along with strong shelves for storing and drying ceramic work, and a pottery wheel. A great start for our ceramics studio!
• Thanks to Brian and Anne Wyneken for donating a commercial polisher for our wooden floors.
• Thanks to First National Bank for donating periodical shelving.
• Thanks to many others who donated funky furniture!

​Contractors add upgrades
Watt 1 Electric has been busy adding a 220v circuit and wiring for the new kiln, plus more power outlets in several locations. Brogard Plumbing installed ventilation for the new kiln. 

CAC Opening to Public Soon
The main lobby/lounge will soon be open several mornings each week, serving as a community gathering and meeting place. Art studios will also open soon, with access available through 1-, 4- and 12-month subscriptions. 

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Annual Member Meeting is May 22
5:30pm - 7:30pm
At the CAC

Our 2024 Annual Member Meeting will be held on Wednesday May 22 at the CAC.

Please plan to attend this important gathering. You'll hear updates on AOTL's gallery, the CAC, our programs and events. Board member elections will also take place. Plus, it's a wonderful way to catch up with friends, meet our newest members, and enjoy some yummy food!

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New Members in April 2024

We gained four new members in April: 

• Beth Betts, Betsy Clarke, Cindy Klimek and Mark Rodning

Welcome one and all! 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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May Events and Classes

view all classes

View All Events

We're really getting into the "spring" of things this month, with an exciting lineup of creative events and classes. Here are some featured highlights:

• Designer Purse Bingo, May 10, 6PM at Thumper Pond. See lead article above. Get tickets.
• Movie Night at the ROXY.CAC kicks off with Hitchcock's Rear Window on May 14 at 7:30pm. The ROXY was Battle Lake's movie theater a few decades ago. This new series will be held the second Tuesday of May, June, July & August, on the big screen upstairs at the Creative Arts Center. Tickets $5 at the door. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on!
• Work of Art business skills for artists, in collaboration with Springboard for the Arts, at the CAC. Series runs May 17, 18, 31 and June 1. Learn about marketing, pricing, selling, engaging with customers, promotions and more. Info and FREE registration​​

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Volunteers Needed. Can You Help?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of AOTL. Check out this list of needs for this spring and find a spot where YOU can pitch in!

• Designer Purse Bingo at Thumper Pond on Friday May 10, 2024, 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Help with check in and other tasks to make the event go smoothly. 
• Movie Night, second Tuesday of May, June, July, and August at 7pm. Sell tickets and help present films.
• Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 25, 2024, 9:45 am to 2:15 pm. Help kids make headbands for the Ninja Anywhere event.
• Swedish Dala Horse Carving class assistant. As an assistant, you can take the class for half price. It's a 2- part class, June 19 and 25 from 10 am to 3 pm.

If you're available to help at any of these events, contact Donna Westerling [email protected] or 612-386-2868.

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Meet Makenna Tysdal

Our team of employees got an energetic boost when Makenna Tysdal joined us this Spring!

​Makenna's a recent graduate of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. She'll be helping out with bookkeeping, marketing and youth education.

She's also an accomplished CAC wall painter!

​Welcome, Makenna!

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Members In The News

A selection of activities, honors and news about our members.

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David Beddow is participating in Art-A-Whirl, the big spring art crawl in NE Minneapolis, May 17-19.  David's studio is #372 in the Northrup King Building. Art-A-Whirl is a virtual and in-person tour that has become the largest open studio tour in the country, with hundreds of artists. 

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Grace Haverty had her painting Peonies accepted into the Red River Watercolor Association Annual Exhibition.

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Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy and Shirlee Aho Daulton will be exhibiting at the New York Mills Cultural Center exhibit, “Unfettered”.
 
Exhibit dates May 29-June 29, 2024.
Reception June 7, 6-8pm

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Artist Wanted

The Battle Lake Boathouse restaurant is looking for an artist to paint a mural or other design on a wall at their business. This is a paid opportunity.

​Contact Jarren at the Boathouse, 218-405-0332

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Board Minutes

April Board Minutes

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Got AOTL news? Please send stories and images to Tom Kuder, [email protected]