By Darla McCammon

Pictured, from left, Melodie Koher, president of LAA, and Ann Peperak.

We are taking a short break from our wonderful exploration of the Golden Age of Painting to give you an opportunity to participate and compete in one of the most anticipated art shows of the year.

If you are not an artist, you will want to visit the Lakeland Art Gallery after the judging is over to look at the overwhelming number of talented artists we have in our community.

Here are the details. I am printing information from the prospectus to give you readers who are not artists an idea of what an artist has to go through in order to get their work exhibited for a show. Following that, what it takes to have your work “juried” as good enough to be judged among the best with an opportunity to win some nice prizes. Melodie Koher, president of LAA, awarded Ann Peperak a coveted prize for her work in a prior competition.

Kelly Shoemaker of Lakeland Art Association is now running this competition single-handedly, although she has some help on the day of intake. She is doing the work of what used to take a full committee.

Once all artwork has been accepted on April 29 (limit of 3 entries per artist), the judge will decide which pieces will remain to go through the final judging. Those artists with omitted pieces will be notified to pick up the work that was excluded. The judge will painstakingly go through and evaluate the remaining accepted pieces.

An artist reception and presentation of awards ceremony will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6. This is open to the public and is a good time to visit the entire exhibit and view the winning entries. Refreshments are served as well.

All artwork must be original. No copy work will be accepted. All work must have been created in the last five years and never previously displayed in the gallery. All media are welcome. Entries have no size limit, as long as we are capable of displaying it in the space available in the gallery. Two-dimensional work should be framed, with a wired back for hanging, or gallery wrapped with painted edges. Work with sawtooth hangers will be rejected.

Art on display may be offered for sale with a 30% commission taken by the gallery on all work sold by the gallery for the artist. Galleries can be held responsible for damage to artwork, but all items are handled with utmost care. Entry fees are $12 per piece or 3 for $30 to Lakeland Art Association members and non-members will be charged $15 each or 3 for $40. Limit 3 entries per artist.

This year, there will be an interesting “exchange” between Heartland Gallery in Plymouth and Lakeland Art Gallery. Artists choosing to have their work displayed in both galleries will have that opportunity. The schedule for these display and reception dates is as follows:

• April 29 – art work entered into Lakeland Art Spring Show competition
• May 6 – reception and winners announced for Spring Show competition at LAA gallery. Located at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw. Refreshments served. Open 2 to 4 p.m.
• through May 13 – Honeywell Center Clark Gallery, Wabash. Featuring student art.
• through the end of May – Don Swartzendruber exhibit at Warsaw City Hall gallery
• through June 3 – LAA show exhibited at LAA, 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
• from June 3 to 30 – LAA show exhibited at Heartland Gallery, 101 N. Michigan, Plymouth.

For more information on topics in this column, please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044. Older columns can be found at www.darlamc.com.