Lakewood Arts Gallery Presents Art from West Colfax Elementary

 

On the Spotlight Wall at Lakewood Arts is art from the West Colfax Elementary students through May 19th.  This bright and colorful exhibit features colorful mobiles hanging from the ceiling, catching viewers' eyes as they walk by.

On the wall are many yarn-wrapped Eyes-of-God and Dreamcatchers. What fun to read the kids' dreams: dreams of being a gamer, dreams of catching a unicorn, or being in the NFL one day. 

Stop in the gallery Wednesday - Sunday 12-5 to see this and other exhibits: Photography by Jim Rabiolo and the Dance with Me exhibit in the main gallery.

Happy 100th Birthday to LAC Founder Barb Tobiska!

 

Lakewood Arts Council founding member, Barb Tobiska turned 100 years old on March 7, 2023. Gallery members, friends and associates celebrated with her on Saturday, March 11 at the Lakewood Arts Gallery following our monthly meeting.
She arrived at the back door, underneath a new sign dedicating the Barbara Tobiska Education Center. Barb was instrumental in making Lakewood Arts what it is today, and always had demand for her oil painting classes.

She had a big smile as we all sang Happy Birthday to her, then we managed to get a group photo.

In honor of her love of bright colors, both to wear and feature in her paintings, many of us wore vivid pinks and purples, and all hues of the rainbow.  We then tucked into the cakes and toasted with tea. 

 

 Hopefully no one mistook the "Is it Cake" exhibit from Montclair School of Academics for the real thing!

Barb sat with friends, posed for photos and had lots of cards and gifts to open.  Happy Birthday Barb!

Welcome New Members to Lakewood Arts

 The Lakewood Arts Co-op Gallery offers opportunities for artists of varied media to display their work in a professional gallery, while offering affordable art in a community setting.  Visitors to the gallery often comment how wonderful it is to see such a wide selection of different media, themes and styles.  This all comes about by establishing a curated group of artists that represent many different mediums. And with all galleries, those artists come and go.  We have welcomed a number of new artists to our gallery in the months since moving to the exciting 40West Arts Hub.  Read on for a sampling of their work, methods and philosophies.

Sandy Guinn joined Lakewood Arts in September and has exhibited her pastels in our recent shows.  Come see her whimsical pieces now hanging in the gallery.

                                                            "Gotcha"

                                                             "Devine Intervention"

 

Ron Isaacson will be bringing his Amazar Avian and Forever Gardens sculptures to Lakewood Arts in October.  You may have seen his intriguing leather 3d works in the 40 West galleries or written up in Create Whimsy publications. He is known for his EcoArt Sculptural creations, for his storytelling and creative re-use of materials.

 

Kim Wright's art is selling off the walls already!  And you can see why when you take in her colorful acrylic florals and other subjects. She joined the gallery in July.  Here's what she says about her art and education:

Kim Wright studied Fine Art at ASU, and received a degree in Graphic Design. After a successful 30-year career in graphic design and photography, she has returned to her love of painting — currently focused on acrylic painting and mixed media. 

“My intention as an artist is to create images that evoke an emotion of joy and have a calming affect on all who view them; art that inspires; art that is uplifting and brings hope, light, and joy back into the world. Images that help us to exhale the past, and breathe in all the beauty we are surrounded by is what inspires me.”

— Kim Wright

                                                      "Joyful Energy"

                                                      "Mom's Apple"

                                                     "Catching the Duke"

 

Mary Ziegler will be joining the gallery in October with her stunning photography. Mary has lived quite a few places including Alaska.  Many of her current photos are of Alaskan scenery.

 

Gary Browning is joining Lakewood Arts, September 1, 2022.   Gary is a 3d artist creating display pottery.   He does Raku firings as well as other unusual finishes.

 

Becky Shorey is the daughter of one of our existing co-op artists, Reno Unger.  She, like her father is an amazing photographer and has already sold many pieces at the gallery after joining in September.

 

Two other artists who have recently joined are Judy McCann who makes functional pottery, and Geneva Hopkins, acrylic painter. 

 

Gallery hours are 12-6 Wed-Thurs, 12-9 Friday, 12-5 Sat-Sun.  Don't miss the First Fridays of the month -- always a fun time with entertainment, live music, art demos and refreshments!

 

Participate in our Citizens of the World Exhibit

Food for thought

 

We are excited to open our Citizens of the World Exhibit. Today’s artists are working to examine our preconceived ideas of citizenship and our responsibility to one another.  Through images of culture, portraits, customs and ideas that celebrate our diversity.

  

A citizen of the world respects and values the diverse interdependent communities who have a right to exist in a just, equal, and healthy world. Everyone can be a World Citizen. These individuals are defined by a sense of empathy and compassion for their fellow human beings, a respect for diversity and a willingness to share in the cultures of others, an awareness of the realities of others, and a desire to create positive change in the world by contributing within their capacity.  Being a Global Citizen means one world, where everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

At no time in the history of the world has our world been smaller, more accessible.  We are more connected through phones and the internet.  We can hop on a plane and be halfway around the world in a matter of hours.  People today work to navigate increasingly global networks to understand and embrace changing ideas of citizenship, national identity and self. We all live in more than one community. Our immediate communities, like our family, friendship circles, schools, universities, and places of work or worship. Broader communities, like our neighborhood or town. Global communities like our countries, and our planet.  Each one is getting broader and more diverse.

Rolina Carter

Gallery Manager

Fun First Friday with Charlie and the Girls (Gallery Goddesses)

 First Friday in the 40West Arts District was busy with Art (of course), music, entertainment, lots of good food (and trick or treat chocolate!), art demos and even the parading Bad Asstronauts.  On display at the Lakewood Arts Gallery was artwork from Charlie and the Girls: Charlie Casper, Gail Firmin, Jane Dorsey, Linda Harris and LAC founder, Barb Tobiska, Artists' Roundtable on the Community Wall, and photos from John Flater on the President's Wall. With Gallery Goddesses manning (womanning?) the front desk, business was brisk, music was toe tapping, Rolina's jewelry demo was educational and inspiring, refreshments were tasty, and people-watching was very entertaining with costumes de rigueur. All in all a fun night!  Stay tuned for November's First Friday when Dia de los Meurtos is the theme! Should be good for some soul-searching.

Juror Collin Parson Hands Out Awards

 Last night's opening reception for the Lakewood Arts Artist's Choice Exhibit offered a chance for LAC members, represented artists and the general public to view this juried show.  Juror Collin Parson handed out awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places along with 3 merit awards. Well-deserved recipients were: 

1st Place: Tippy McIntosh, Sunset Storms (not in attendance)

 
2nd Place:  Dianna Cooper-Ribner, Her Ladyship (not in attendance)

3rd Place: Bruce Beck, Snapdragons

 
Merit:  Stacey Roberts, Hidden Places 

Merit: Annette Sapp, Transformation

 
Merit: Carolyn Tegeder, Eye Stopper