Children's Art and "Art & Soul" Exhibits

Two groups thrilled to exhibit their artwork at the Lakewood Arts Council Community Center and Gallery are the Art & Soul program of the DDRC (Development Disability Resource Center)

                      Art of some of the mentors and students of Art & Soul.

 and the Lakewood Youth Summer Arts Program students.  A reception was held Thursday evening for these two groups to show their work and enjoy some refreshments and socializing. 

The Art & Soul program currently has eleven students, with age ranges from 30 to 90, and six mentors: Marje Walsh, Gail Firmin, Myron Eckberg, Paul Gesso, Jim Rothrock, and Andy Dubois. 

                      Myron, Andy, Jim and Marje enjoy the show.

 The class meets once a week in a classroom provided by the Clements Community Center in Lakewood.  Mentors take turns giving lessons on various watercolor techniques and, a favorite part for many students, providing a healthy snack!  (Ok, sometimes it’s not-so-healthy cupcakes and donuts.) As Marje Walsh states, “This class is a closely knit group of students and mentors.  It is comprised of compassionate, caring, and cooperative individuals who make watercolor painting an important part of their lives.”

Some amazing artwork has been produced by these students over the years (and most have been in the class for at least as many years as I’ve been there – 7 years now!).  Stop by the gallery to view their exhibit if you haven’t already done so.

 A paper dragon from the Youth Summer Arts Program was a cooperative effort.

Upstairs in the loft gallery, a dragon sits on its nest, a beast snakes down the wall and a black, scaly face stares at you with beady eyes. 

 Fun sculptures in bright colors show vivid imaginations at work, comic book strips are drawn creatively and the portraits on the walls make it hard to believe they’re drawn by teenagers. 

 These artworks by students of the Lakewood Youth Summer Art Program show a lot of creativity and joy of their craft.  These artists range in age from 7 to 17.

Talented and experienced teachers help the students with clay figures and paintings.

 Classes are held at the Washington Heights and Lakewood Cultural Center and include Weaving, Pottery Painting, Drawing, Comic Strip Cartooning, Mudslinging with Clay, Designing Dragons, Portrait Drawing and more.  Along with these visual art camps, Lakewood also offers classes in theater, magic, singing and others.

Jim Olson from the City of Lakewood indicates, “These art classes encourage experimentation, creativity and work, and familiarize the young artists with the principles and elements of design and to have fun.” And viewing this exhibit, it is certainly evident that these kids had fun!  I just want to know if I’m too old to sign up for the Dragon Designing Class!

Blossoming Beauties on this year's Garden Tour

Beautiful blooms, cooperative weather, a delicious luncheon, a flower-themed art exhibit and a fairy gardening demonstration made the LAC's 2013 Garden Tour a perfect day for an inspirational, satiating, peaceful and educational outing. 

If you missed this year's tour, there's always next year, but enjoy a photo tour here of some of the highlights of the homes I visited.  Thanks to all the volunteers that made this possible!

 

In the News: New Art, New Members

Stopping in the Lakewood Arts Council Gallery to look around, you may notice a change – walls in the co-op gallery are now hung with art grouped by artist rather than mixed as before. This not only creates more of an impact when viewing the artists’ work, but makes it easy to point out the artists’ pieces when a customer inquires. 

  Katy Haas, Gallery Co-Manager and Exhibits Chair, has been doing such a great job with organizing co-op, loft and LAC Members’ Gallery exhibits.  And she has brought in a few new co-op members to fill vacated spots.

The creativity of Gail Kleiner, Paul Gesso, Terry Schulz, Mike and Shirley Coen, and Carla Stoltzfus will now be gracing the co-op gallery’s walls and display areas.  I asked each new member to answer a few questions so we could all get to know them a little better.

                   Some of Paul Gesso's artwork

Paul Gesso enjoys painting horses – this fascination developed during school field trips to the Cleveland Museum of Art.  He would take an art pad and pencils to draw the displays of standing horses and mounted knights.  His “Pony Express” is a good example of his preferred subject and his favorite medium, watercolor and ink.

                          "Pony Express" by Paul Gesso

As a team, Mike and Shirley Coen’s preferred medium is stone and metal, which they incorporate into their jewelry.  They both studied art in college and are now ready to follow their dreams, and would like to explore working with metal – from metal casting to metal clay.

Gail Kleiner moved to Colorado in 2007 after a long and successful Federal Government career in Washington DC.  She returned to her earlier interest in art and began studying watercolor with various teachers in the community, improving her skills and learning new techniques.

                        Some of Gail Kleiner's artwork

Growing up on the shores of Lake Superior inspired Carla Stoltzfus to capture the surrounding beauty on paper – and watercolor is now her passion.  Over the years her work has become more refined and she has found the critiques at the LAC Gallery have helped her grow as an artist.

                        Above artwork by Carla Stoltzfus

All the new members that answered my survey agree that the spirit of community and support of different expressions of art at the LAC Gallery, the nurturing spirit for new ideas, the wonderful people and opportunity to contribute and learn from others were all reasons to join the LAC Co-op.  More exposure for their art, especially with the 3 separate show areas that change out periodically were also big draws for these exhibiting artists.

                       Photography by Terry Schulz

he LAC Members’ Gallery downstairs will be displaying a “Flower” themed show from June 29 through August 9 to complement the LAC sponsored Garden Tour, while upstairs continues with the LAC Invitational show through July 12, with incoming Aurora Artist Guild works from July 15 through August 9.  Stop in and see what’s new!