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Encouraging the inner artist

Local art club to have annual open house

By TERRI CASTELAZ, Staff Writer 6 min read

IRON MOUNTAIN -- A blank canvas can be an invitation, a challenge -- or simply a place to start. For members of Les Artistes, it is all three.

The local art club invites the public to view the talent and creativity of its members at its second-annual open house, set for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Crystal Lake Community Center, 700 Crystal Lake Blvd. in Iron Mountain.

Several dozen pieces will be featured in the group's annual gallery, representing a variety of mediums, subjects and artistic styles. Along with the gallery, members will bring additional works to display.

"Many will also have pieces of their art for sale at that time," Les Artistes President Kathy Marinich said.

Visitors will have an opportunity to watch members demonstrate their skills in mediums that include acrylics, oils, watercolor and colored pencil.

For younger visitors, a children's table will offer hands-on art projects, with club members available to help. They will also be offering face painting for the kids.

"It's great to see children get interested in art," member Chris Burns said.

Refreshments will be served during the open house.

While the event gives the public a chance to see what Les Artistes has been creating, members say the club is about much more than displaying finished paintings.

The non-profit group currently has about 25 members from throughout the area, including Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Norway, as well as surrounding Wisconsin communities.

The group welcomes artists of all experience levels -- from beginners who have never picked up a paintbrush to those with years of practice.

Marinich noted that some members have formal art education, while others are self-taught or are just discovering their abilities.

"They should not be afraid to give it a try because their talent is just as important as those who have training," Marinich said.

Some draw or sketch with pencil, while others work with oils, acrylics, pastels or watercolor.

"Some switch mediums depending on the project," Marinich said.

The club meets from noon to 3 p.m. Mondays at the Crystal Lake Activity Center. Meetings are generally held weekly except when a Monday falls on a holiday or is canceled because of inclement weather.

But a weekly commitment is not required, Marinich said. Some of the "snowbirds" only participate during the summer, while others attend throughout the year. "We recently added another new member," Marinich noted.

Annual dues are just $15, and prospective members are welcome to attend a few Monday meetings before deciding whether to join.

Marinich and Burns both emphasized that people shouldn't be afraid to try simply because they don't consider themselves artists.

"Some of these people come out and they say, 'I can't really draw or paint,' and then they start something and it's like, what did you say?" Marinich said.

Burns encourages anyone who is curious about art to stop by. "We welcome the public to come in and see what we do," she said. "If there are any aspiring artists or anybody who thinks they can't, but they really can -- come on in. You don't know until you try."

"We all have God-given gifts," she added.

Artistic supplies don't have to be complicated or expensive, either. "All you need is pencil and paper to get a good start," Burns said.

Both say one of the group's greatest strengths is the encouragement they receive from one another.

While the club is centered around art, members say one of its biggest benefits is the camaraderie. Artists can ask questions, share ideas and get suggestions when they run into trouble with a project.

"The atmosphere isn't about judging or criticizing someone's work -- it's sharing words of encouragement and being supportive," Marinich said.

The group also occasionally offers demonstrations when members discover new techniques. In the past, artists have demonstrated acrylic pours, a process in which paint is poured onto a canvas to create colorful, flowing patterns.

"This allows artists to see the whole process and results," Marinich said. "They're beautiful."

The club has featured accomplished members giving demonstrations, although outside speakers have become more difficult to arrange because of cost and availability.

Members discuss ideas for future projects during their weekly meetings, and each year they vote on a theme for the club's gallery.

The next themed exhibit, featuring "abstract paintings," will go on display in October.

Les Artistes has a long history in the area. The group was formed in the early 1960s by local women who initially met in members' homes.

Burns remembers seeing the artists display their work in the hospital's main lobby when she worked there as a nurse.

"I purchased a darling painting at that time -- that was about 30 years ago," she said.

Over the years, the club met at several locations, including the Rialto, now Mike's on Main in Norway, as well as members' homes and other local gathering places.

Les Artistes once hosted several traveling galleries in local businesses throughout the year. Eventually, the number of participating members and volunteers made those events more difficult to maintain, leading to the open house format last year.

As membership grew, the group moved its meetings to the Crystal Lake Activity Center, which also provides space for the club's rotating gallery. Artwork is changed several times throughout the year.

"We're very fortunate it's a beautiful facility and area," Marinich said.

In addition to its artistic activities, Les Artistes typically makes an annual donation to a local charity.

Donations to Les Artistes are appreciated to help with art supplies, while members also make contributions toward coffee and refreshments for meetings.

Marinich also encourages donations to the Crystal Lake Community Center in appreciation for the meeting space.

The club's officers are Marinich, president; Donna Roehri, secretary; and Malou Nelson, treasurer.

For Burns, there's something special about creating art alongside people who share the same interest.

"There's just something about being with a group of artists who share that love of art," she said.

That welcoming attitude is the most important thing Les Artistes hopes visitors discover at the open house or at any Monday meeting.

"Sometimes, the first step is simply picking up a pencil -- and giving it a try," Burns said.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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