Making Connections with Lakes Center for the Arts
Local artist Larry Frates at a program by Lakes Center for the Arts. (Courtesy photo)
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
At Lakes Center for the Arts, it’s all about the artists and the community and connections. When the organization was formed in 2019 by a group of local artists committed to the world of art in all its beauty, they knew it would be a work-intensive task. They also knew that bringing more art into the Lakes Region and its communities would be worth the effort. “We knew we needed a central place to connect local artists to the community,” says Lakes Center for the Arts board member, Karen Jonash. She is a member and an artist, as well as a volunteer of the Lakes Center for the Art organization. Jonash speaks passionately of the mission of the Lakes Center and all it does for the area. “I was a high school art teacher for 17 years, so I know how important the arts are to connections and education,” Jonash explains. (Jonash is well known in the Meredith area as a sculptural ceramicist and a docent for the town’s Meredith Sculpture Walk. She is on the committee that selects the locations of various sculptures each year, which can be a challenge when there are up to 24 pieces to be placed.)
When it comes to art, Jonash says that in order for artists to stay in a community, they need a helpful place for support, networking and to show their artwork. The community can benefit from making, exploring and connecting when it comes to the arts. Art, Jonash says, even has health benefits. In 2020, when COVID hit not long after Lakes Center for the Arts was formed, the need for the arts was validated. While many people felt isolated during the lock-down, artists in the community could come together thanks to the work of the Lakes Center for the Arts. The organization offered – and still does offer - such things as rotating display cases around the Lakes Region where member artists show their work. Added to this, the organization’s website (www.lakescenterforarts.org) features an online gallery with examples of the work of member artists. Viewers are able to browse the pages of members and choose which artwork to purchase, or to simply bask in the wonderful work of the area’s artists.
Lakes Center for the Arts started from an idea of Katheryn Rolfe, who ran Oglethorpe Gallery, an arts gallery in Meredith. Rolfe was immersed in the world of art and was the person who originally pushed to create the Lakes Center for the Arts. She is still the driving force behind the group to this day.
The board of directors of Lakes Center for the Arts work tirelessly to bring the arts to those in the community. One way to showcase the work of artist members is with popular rotating display cases. “We have display cases in five locations around the area – Meredith Library, Wolfeboro Public Library, Castle in the Clouds, Laconia City Hall and Moultonborough Library,” explains Jonash. “We are looking to add to that list with more places to display.”
The cases allow Lakes Center artist members to exhibit their work for several months at a time, bringing them exposure and a chance to promote and sell their art. “We are trying to give local artists a chance to show their work.”
The Meredith Public Library has been very supportive of the Lakes Center for the Arts and hosts various activities such as workshops and presentations in their Maker Space.
Perhaps the best way to bring artists to the public is through the Meet the Artist program using space at the Meredith Library. Events are planned to inspire, educate and nurture the arts and connect the community through presentations, workshops and exhibits. All events are free and open to the public. Attendees can talk to the artist and ask questions about their work and art process.
Along with Meet the Artist events and the display cases, Lakes Center for the Arts also offers five varied programs and workshops each year. Each presentation is designed to offer a compelling experience for those who attend. The presentations have been popular, with a “Dress a Girl” group in April; Kathryn Field, a Meredith Sculpture Walk artist who presented a program to inspire others to pursue art, and Pai Louise Capaldi, an intuitive medium and artist who spoke about synesthesia. Upcoming programs include artist Bridget Powers on September 6 and on October 4, Robin Cornwell, noted fiber artist, will engage students in a tactile experience using quilting and printing on fabrics.
Artist members of the Lakes Center for the Arts all display a high level of craftsmanship, according to Jonash. While there is not a jury process to become an artist member, those who participate are skilled artists.
“We offer so much for artists in the Lakes Region,” Jonash goes on to say. “There is the opportunity to be on the website with a gallery of your work, to take a workshop, teach or simply to network.”
When it comes to artist networking, Jonash uses the example of Lakes Center for the Arts members helping one another determine pricing for artwork. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to charge for a piece of art and the input of fellow artists can be helpful. “We also try to strengthen the collaboration in the community,” Jonash says. To do so, it would be a dream come true for Lakes Center for the Arts to have a permanent home with a gallery and a meeting space. Presently the Center relies upon the generosity of such places as the Meredith Public Library to host art talks and programs. “They have been generous and so supportive,” Jonash adds. “We could not offer the things we do without them and others.”
For artists looking to connect with other creative people and the community at large, and to also find a place to display their work, joining Lakes Center for the Arts is a great idea.
The mission statement of Lakes Center for the Arts says it all: “Engaging artists and the community to inspire, educate, and nurture the arts.”
If art inspires and enriches everyone, the Lakes Center for the Arts is a good place to be. To learn more/become a member or get event information, visit www.lakescenterforarts.org.