This month's art exhibit is courtesy the Lakes Region Art Association and Richard Hartman. 

Participating artists in this month's display: Robert P. Emory, Jackie H. Ray, Phyllis Meinke, Christa J. Faller, Joanne Reynolds, Marie Kelly, Rob Caron, and Bev Shanley.

From the LRAA:

"Come join us & share your love for art!

The LRAA is 501(c)3 educational & cultural corporation whose mission is to enhance the ability of its members to create art and to further the appreciation of art in the Lakes Region. All local artists are eligible to join the association, whether you are a professional or emerging artist, a photographer, sculptor, or just appreciate art. 

LRAA Membership benefits include: 

• Monthly meetings (Mar-Nov) with speakers and/or demonstrations (i.e. framing, matting, marketing art, photography, art demos, and more.
• Participation in Artists of the Month selection including the display of your art at a local venue.
• Networking with fellow Lakes Region Artists.
• Electronic newsletter & web information page.
• A webpage Showcase listing, including bios.
• Eligibility to participate in approx. 5 shows a year.
• Eligibility to participate in the LRAA Annual Show with prizes and ribbons awarded. 
• Opportunity to display and sell artwork at the LRAA Gallery at Tanger Outlets. 
• Opportunity to attended classes/workshops at the Gallery."

The Inter-Lakes Christmas Fund is "a non-profit organization that accommodates families who need assistance during the holiday season". You can help these children in need by buying gifts from them! Just take an Angel card from the tree and return with your donation (and the card) by December 2, 2017.

The Angel Tree will be on display in our main lobby, right in front of the circulation desk. 

For more information about the Inter-Lakes Christmas Fund, please visit their website: http://www.interlakeschristmasfund.com

Our newest exhibit features a group of female artists who have formed the “Lakes Region Pod” group of artists. All members of the pod are also members of the Women’s Caucus for Art, New Hampshire and live in relative proximity to one another. The pod meets regularly to share ideas and techniques, critique works, and keep a dialogue going about art. They work using a variety of mediums: oils, monoprints, quilts, and mixed media.  The “Lakes Region Narrative” exhibit will be on display at the Meredith Public Library for the months of November and December.
 
Participating Artists:

Lynn Elkinton, Contemporary quilts and Textiles
Anne McMillan, Acrylic monoprints, Rust and Indigo dyed paper
Betty Flournay Brown, Oil painting on location
Carole Groenke, Oil stick over acrylic
Kimberly J. B. Smith, Altered books and mixed-media with natural elements
Lauren Hammond, Oil
Robin Cornwell, Tempera paint block prints on bark paper

For the month of August, the art wall will be exhibiting the work of abuse survivors through the New Hampshire Clothesline Project.

The t-shirts bear witness to domestic and sexual violence in our communities and help raise awareness on the extent of domestic and sexual violence.

This exhibit is presented by New Beginnings which is "dedicated to ending sexual, domestic, and stalking violence through the provision of safe and effective services."

"Nancy has taken art courses at Cornell University and studied painting in several workshops. Since 1989, she has devoted her efforts to painting full-time. During her career, she has won awards for her work in oil and watercolor and has been juried into local, regional, and national and international shows. 

She has found the medium of watercolor provides her with a most satisfying and versatile way to express her love of the natural world. Much of the inspiration for her paintings comes from summer sailing trips along the coast of Maine, exploring this beautiful part of New England from an ocean-side perspective. 

She often works from photos, since sailing is usually not compatible with on-site painting. They are used as reference material to re-create the emotional impact of a scene. The process of looking through the lens at the landscape allows her to search out a center of interest more easily and record details that might otherwise be overlooked. Sometimes elements from three or four photos are used in the composition for maximum effect. She may change the light, weather or anything else that helps to tell her story. 

"The greatest challenge to me as an artist is to communicate my reasons for creating a painting, to convey to the observer the essence of a scene and the emotion it inspired in me. When I can accomplish that, I know the painting is a success"

For more information, please visit her website: http://www.nancydavisjohnson.com/index.html

"Hello, my name is Christine Blain, and I live in Goffstown, NH. Since I love to capture the beauty of the seacoast, many of the paintings are the quiet harbors and old boats that I find along the coasts of NH and Maine. I have been selling my nautical paintings in galleries along the coast for several years, as well as online and through commissions. I am currently represented by Small Wonder Gallery in Camden, Maine.

I am a mother of three college-aged kids who are my greatest blessings in life. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Art Education and am currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Theory and Practice. I am also a juried member of the NH Art Association. I also love to create whimsical, colorful watercolors that evoke a childlike sense of discovery and playfulness. I enjoy painting these lively, colorful paintings so much that I recently made many of these original paintings available to buy on Etsy.

For me, the process of making art is like a journey. I become lost in the world of exploration and discovery, finally landing back on my doorstep with a visual account of my travels in hand. My artwork is the result of an inherent drive to convey the simple beauty that so many people miss in the ordinary scenes of life -- the glory of sunlight, the wonder of a reflection, and the significance of what touches memory or the heart. I thank God for this adventure of being able to share my work with others."

For more information, check out her personal website: https://christineblainart.blogspot.com/

Justin Wheeler is a self taught photographer from Hill, NH specializing in unique and expressive landscape photography. Justin's limited edition nature photography prints combine scenic photography, vivid colors and artistic compositions to create new, captivating visions of the natural beauty of NH!

To learn more visit www.NaturallyNH.com.

Kimberly J.B. Smith is a long time art educator, teaching students from Kindergarten age to high school and adults online. Smith holds a M. Ed. degree and has continued study through all venues -- academic, independent, research and from her students who provide incredible inspiration. 

Smith is known for her 2D & 3D compositions that include recycled & repurposed materials and paper pulp combined with paint and collage. Smith also creates altered books. Using discarded books, Smith creates sculptural pieces and non-sculptural relief works. Sculptures are often old books repurposed. Board books are often used as substrates.

Altered book themes range from highly personal to literary, to historical or ancestral. Smith takes commissions for altered books. Additionally, Smith is a sculptor whose pieces range from clay mixed media to recycled material constructions.

Some of Smith's works are simply explorations. Others are inspired by cultural of literary sources or the work of noted Surrealist artists & writers. A word, a passing event, or the juxtaposition of objects are all launching points. In Smith's words, "Life is inspiration and inspiration is everywhere."

Visit Smith's website at kimberlyjbsmith.com

Jean V. Kennedy
Biography.

I was born and raised in England and came to the U.S. as a young woman in the mid 1960s. I worked for Colombia University in New York as a research administrator for many years before moving to southeast Louisiana with my husband. I now live in Gilford, NH.

As a beginning artist I was told to "paint what you love" as your work reflects your passion. I love flowers and birds and many of my paintings are of nature.

Watercolor was the first medium I learned. Some of my work reflects the use of a negative painting technique called "painting outside the lines." Painting using this technique means one has no preconceived notion of the end result; no photograph or scene to copy, only what is visualized and constructed after applying paint to the paper. I find watercolor a fascinating medium to work with because of its fluidity and transparency. I also enjoy using oils and acrylic.

I have taken many workshops from professional artists. I was greatly influenced by a Louisiana art teacher, Myrna Waters, who taught me to push values and how to better use color and shape in a painting.

As an artist I have earned many ribbons and awards for my watercolors by entering competitions both in NH and Louisiana including Best in Show.

I am currently President of the Lakes Region Art Association and a member of the Artists Loft, both local organizations. More of my work can be viewed at www.jeankennedyart.com and at the website hosted by the Lakes Region Art Association under my name for Showcase pages. More pieces of my original artwork are currently on display at VynnArt Gallery in Meredith Falls, Meredith.

I can be reached at jvk2347 [at] gmail.com

​Our artist of the month is Phyllis Minor Meinke. Phyllis has won a number of competitions and ribbons for her work, including First Place in Mike Moats Macro Flower Competition, Second Place and People's Choice in the 2016 Boston Flower Show Photo Competition, several ribbons in the N.E. Camera Club Council competitions and First Place in the Lakes Region Art Association Summer Show, Photography. 

Her work is on display at the LRAA Gallery in the Tanger Mall in Tilton, and at the Pennsylvania Center for Photography Transformations exhibit in Doylestown, PA. ​