Land of Lakes Art Alliance (LOLAA)
Planning Meeting at B&J Cafe
Saturday, January 31, 2009

Starting Time: 9:00 am

Members Present:  Rita Marlow, Paula Knowlton, Robert Zimmerman, Alice Fitzwater, Mary Ketchmark, Ted Taylor, Laura Krentz, Kris Cook,   Mary Campbell, Ken Baker 

Opening:  Rita extended a welcome to new members

  • Our regular meeting is held at the Civic Auditorium on the 2nd Thursday of each month.
  • We try to meet here at BJ Cafe to plan and chat.
  • We try to enhance regular meetings by having an activity or presentation planned.
  • Today we will try to assign each member a month in which to plan a demonstration.  Past demonstrations have included:  Dave Russell doing a character portrait.  Ann Binder from South Bend and Kris Cook’s watercolor techniques.

 Upcoming demonstration planned by Robert Williams, Pastel Portrait Artist who works at the Box Factory

  • Saturday, February 21 at the LaPorte Library, Indiana Avenue
  • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Cost:  Free for members, $10 for non-members (The $10 will go toward a new membership)
  • Bring a bag lunch.
  • You can bring supplies to work along with Robert if you wish.
  • Kris Cook’s daughter, Samantha will be the model.
  • Note that street parking can be tricky once library parking lot is full.
  • Bob asked about advertising.  Rose Peters will announce at the M.C. Art League meeting. 
  • Kris suggested asking Robert to bring more of his work for us to see.

 Discussed ideas for future meetings

  • Kris - Suggested finding someone to demonstrate pastels – basic ways to prepare paper, work dark to light, mixed medium, use of mineral spirits, watercolor.
  • Rita  - Can bring DVD’s if we can find a means of showing them.  Look into who handles the equipment at the Civic/talk to the director.  Library has projectors for loan.
  • Bob – Suggests we buy a projector/DVD Player.  Rita and Kris will research options.

 Future Meetings Schedule

            February – Rita will bring DVD.  Otherwise, we will bring something to work on.
            March – Mary Ketchmark
            April – Mary Campbell – Watercolor demo.
            May – Laura Krentz
            June – Open
            July – Open
            August – Open
            September – Mary Ketchmark’s daughter – stained glass
            October – Kris Cook- Possibly Jim Panos, member of LOLAA and Southern Shore Art League to do demo using acrylics. 

LaPorte Hospital Exhibit in May

            Rita reviewed information for new members. 
                    ·     Will be held inside hospital chapel for entire month of May.
                    ·     There is room for up to 20 pieces of art.
                    ·     Each person can have 1-2 pieces.
                    ·     We can have work for sale
                    ·     Hospital does not take any part of sale money. 

Motion made that Mary Campbell will look into hospital exhibit in May

1st – Kris Cook
2nd – Bob Zimmerman
All in favor 

January Library Tour – Kingsford Heights

·     Bob reported that were 32 visitors, Children (age 6-9) and their parents. 

·     Laura demonstrated how to start a still life, drawing light with pencil, still life with fruit.  Also demonstrated the color wheel, mixing colors, how to do a wash.  The librarian was great keeping kids focused. 

·     Bob showed now to draw a realistic tree (not a stick drawing). 

·     They met a potential member who is interested

The February Library Tour will be at the Hanna Library where someone will be doing oil painting (possibly Don Grott).

Rita will add the upcoming library show schedule to our website.  Mary Campbell noted that the library show has been mentioned in the Herald Argus “Things to Do” listing.   

A motion was made by Bob that we should have a banquet to celebrate LOLAA 5th anniversary, possibly in April.  Spouses are included.
1st – Laura Krentz
2nd – Mary Ketchmark

It was decided that a committee will get together to discuss.  This includes Laura Krentz, Ken Baker, Alice Fitzwater and Bob Zimmerman. 

Bethany Lutheran Church Show:
Review for new members - First show was held last year Mothers Day weekend (Saturday and Sunday).  Very large room available with walls that are ideal for hanging art (heavy cloth).  Artists are assigned designated times to be there. Sunday we get the church crowd.  Table set up with snacks.  There is a kitchenette available.  Good idea to have demonstrations going on while people are there.

          The motion was made to plan another show at Bethany
 1st – Kris Cook
 2nd – Bob Zimmerman

  • Alice suggested advertising our 5th anniversary at the same time as Bethany. 
  • Ted and Laura will e-blast publicity through the Chamber of Commerce and advertise with the Herald Argus “What’s new LP”.
  • Need to move quickly on the date – ask Dave Russell as he is a member of the church. 
  • This show is at the same time as the hospital show, though we should have plenty of art to show at both.
  • Possibly on Fathers Day?
  • Possibly show just on Sunday (with Saturday set up depending on availability).

Ken Baker – Suggested we take a tour of art galleries some Saturday. 

  • Other possibilities are the Box Factory in St. Joseph, MI., Krasl Art Center, Benton Harbor glass blowing factory (not open in summer due to heat).
  • Rita suggests voting on a date at another meeting and find additional information online in the meantime.

 Ken Baker – Fox Park – Art in the Park.

  • Starts 1st week of June (Wednesday/Thursday exhibit through Labor Day Week?)
  • Kitty Wolf is in charge.
  • We have participated for the last 3 years
  • Tent is set up next to the concert.  Set-up is an hour before concert.
  • There is a featured artist each week, or a couple of artists can team up.

Kris Cook – This year they are building a permanent shelter with a cement floor, sides and storage room to be done before start of season.  Kris has additional information from Kitty, who brought a sketch to the service league meeting.  Storage is not included in the cost.  Kitty wants to know if we know anyone that can bid/build the storage.  They might already have a blueprint available.  It can’t be done until shelter is finished. 

Ken Baker – suggested checking with the carpenters union.  They occasionally pledge time to the community.  Ken and Bob will look into further. 

Rita motioned that Bob will talk to Kitty and look into carpenter
2nd – Alice
All in favor – All 

Kris asked if we have an age limit for LOLAA 

  • Bob explained that we currently charge $25 for regular members and $10 for student members.  Laura suggested that someone could sponsor a student also.  Bob originally thought any age/skill level would be welcome.  We would love to attract students to join the group.

Bob is working on a new brochure.  Need to save to a CD. 

Ted Taylor is chairman of the Lubeznik Art Fair on August 14 & 15 .  Setup will be August 14.  Asked if our group would like to go through together and picnic? 

Ken Baker wanted to let everyone know that Linda is publishing her book, Little Lamb and will be at Barnes and Noble.
Rita announced that Kris Cook also illustrated a self published book for a friend.   Congratulations to both Linda and Kris!

Other ideas to see art during summer: 

  • Art Attack in New Buffalo
  • Ship and Shore
  • Local Color Gallery on Red Arrow Highway
  • Three Oaks, MI – Flag Day Celebration and parade

Other shows that we participate in include:

  • The Sunflower Festival show/contest at Rumely Hotel in LaPorte
  • The Jaycees art show at Wells Fargo the weekend before 4th of July.  We have our own tent.  $15 entry for our whole group.
  • Door Village Festival

 Our next regular meeting will be held on February 12 at the LaPorte Civic 

Minutes submitted by:  Paula Knowlton 

Minutes approved by:   Rita Marlow