LAAL hosts Super Saturday Series - Monthly Art Workshops for Children

Super Saturday Series, a new monthly art workshop program for children, is now being offered at the Lakes Area Arts League (LAAL) with instructor, Carrie Weeks. The first workshop opens with St. Patrick’s Day Fun on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the LAAL Art Center located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, one block from the historic downtown square in Center.

Enrollment is open to children 4-6 years of age and space is limited to 15 participants. Registration fees are $20 per student for the March workshop, which includes all art supplies. Advance reservations are required and the registration deadline is Friday, February 27, 2009.

According to Carrie Weeks, creator of the Super Saturday Series, the students can expect to complete a variety of themed crafts at each workshop and the children will not only gain confidence and build social skills, but the workshops can also encourage self esteem with a piece of artwork that they can be proud of.

“It’s about the enjoyment and the process of creating,” Weeks said. “Working with the 4 to 6 age group, you have to keep things moving to keep their attention. As a mom of four small children, I started using art as a way to keep them occupied and found that I was having just as much fun as they were!”

Future Super Saturday Series workshops include an Easter ‘Eggs’travaganza April 11; Making Mosaics May 9; Red, White & Blue June 27; Sunshine & Seashells July 11; Having a Blast with Buttons August 8; Autumn is Awesome September 5; Happy Haunting October 10; Being Thankful for Arts & Crafts November 14; and Celebrating Christmas on December 19. Each workshop requires advance registration and an enrollment fee.

For additional information or to request registration forms for any of the Super Saturday Series monthly art workshops, please contact Carrie Weeks at 936.572.0413 or 936.591.8943 or via email at carrie@inventiveeventplanning.com.

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Lakes Area Arts League hosts Youth Art Month Shelby County

Center, TX – The Lakes Area Arts League announces an open call for entries for the upcoming Youth Art Month Shelby County Student Exhibition. The exhibition will be held Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 20, 2009 at the LAAL Art Center, 305 Nacogdoches Street, Center, TX, one block from the historic downtown Center square.

The art exhibition is open to all area students in grades 6th through 12th currently enrolled in any Shelby County school, including home school students. Students may submit one (1) piece of artwork by the entry deadline Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Everyone in the community and surrounding area is encouraged to support Youth Art Month (YAM), an annual observance held each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Planned celebrations recognizing March as Youth Art Month will begin on Monday, March 2 with two events at the LAAL Art Center including an opening reception for the student art exhibition from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and a proclamation ceremony with Mayor John Dean Windham scheduled at 4:00 p.m.

Gallery dates and times during the student art exhibition include Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The exhibit will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Youth Art Month was created in 1961 by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), a non-profit association of art and craft materials manufacturers, in cooperation with the National Art Education Association (NAEA). In 1984, ACMI created the Council for Art Education (CFAE) to administer the national Youth Art Month program and encourage funding for the program. Current members of the Council include: ACMI, which provides all administrative support and the majority of funding for National Youth Art Month; NAEA, whose members carry out local Youth Art Month activities and whose state affiliates help fund state Youth Art Month programs; The SHIP, a group of art materials exhibit the annual NAEA Convention; and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a volunteer organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Other involved organizations include the Association of Crafts & Creative Industries, Hobby Industries Association and National Art Materials Trade Association.

For details regarding the student art exhibition, including entry specifications and the location to receive the artwork, please contact coordinators for Youth Art Month Shelby County, Donna Neuville, 936.598.3278, Nancy Dickerson, 936.598.7335 or Carlene Higgins, 936.554.5095.

Donna Neuville currently teaches Art I and Art II at Center Middle School where she has been an art instructor for the past four years. Previously, she taught art at the primary level with CISD for three years and at Mineola Elementary School for ten years. Her educational background includes obtaining her degrees in M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Art Concentration and B.S. in Education from the University of Texas in Tyler. Neuville currently serves on the LAAL board of directors and Education Committee.

Nancy Dickerson presently teaches Art I, Art II, PreAP, AP Studio Art and creative writing at Center High School. She has taught private art lessons and is involved in an internet Artist Trading Card forum. Dickerson is also a teaching consultant for the National Writing Project and presents writing-based workshops for school districts. She holds a BA in art and English from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) and has taught at Center High School for 27 years.

Carlene Higgins began teaching art at Center Intermediate School in August 2008. Higgins graduated SFA in 2004 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree with double majors in Fine Arts and Drafting. Her special interest includes Raku ceramics and creates original artwork at her home studio.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

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CALL FOR ENTRIES – DEADLINE TO ENTER APRIL 6: Lakes Area Arts League Announces 2009 Open Photography Show

Center, TX - The Lakes Area Arts League announces an open call for entries for the upcoming 2009 Open Photography Show. Photographs will be displayed at an exhibition beginning Saturday, April 11 through Saturday, April 18 at the LAAL Art Center, 305 Nacogdoches Street, Center, TX.

The photography show is open to amateur and professional photographers, age 18 and above, and students currently enrolled in grades 7-12.

Images created in any form of photography will be accepted (film, digital, unaltered, digital manipulations, etc.) in either monochrome or color in the following categories, People, Animals, Still Life, Landscape, Flora, Architecture, Abstract, Special Effects, and a Special Themed category for Historical Sites and Buildings.

Participants may enter up to three (3) images with a nonrefundable entry fee of $5.00 for one image, $10.00 for two images or $12.00 total for three (3) images. The registration form, entry fees with photographs must be either be postmarked by or delivered to the LAAL Art Center between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009. No email submissions or CDs will be accepted.

Specifications:
· All work must be the original work of the photographer and executed in a professional manner.
· Original work only that has not been previously exhibited in any local competition within the last three years will be eligible.
· Exhibited work will be available for sale unless the artist designates certain entries NFS.
· All photos must be properly framed and wired for hanging, no saw tooth hangers will be accepted.
· Photograph size - minimum 8”x10” - maximum 11”x14.”
· Overall Framed work of each photograph must not exceed 320 total square inches (16”x20”).
· Plexiglas™ on shipped work, hand delivered work may use glass.

Ribbon awards will be given for People’s Choice based on public votes and Director’s Choice Overall Best of Show in each Student, Amateur and Professional Divisions.

To obtain an entry prospectus and registration form, please either email your request to laal@ndemand.com or contact LAAL Exhibits Committee Karen Thompson, 936.590.0070, Carolyn Lamb, 936.598.2421, or Andi Foster 936.590.0298.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

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