August 2025
President’s Notes
Celebrating Our Volunteers - The Heart Behind the 85th Annual Gallery Show
As we open the doors to the 85th Annual Gallery Show, we want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible members who brought this milestone event to life. Your time, creativity, and dedication have transformed an ambitious vision into a stunning reality. From setting up the gallery walls to hanging artwork with precision, arranging lighting, and creating a welcoming atmosphere, every detail has been handled with care and passion.
This show is not just a celebration of artistic talent—it’s a testament to the strength and spirit of our LRAA community. Whether you helped with logistics, marketing, refreshments, or shared a few hours of your time wherever it was needed most, your contribution made a difference. Thank you for helping us honor 85 years of art, community, and connection. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Call for Art: Upcoming Community Exhibit Opportunities
LRAA artists – as you are all aware we display in a number of Art in the Community locations - not just Gallery Members, but all members – are invited to start planning ahead for four exciting “Art in the Community” opportunities coming up. First and most immediate is an opportunity to exhibit 5–6 pieces at The Flipside restaurant in downtown Laconia. This popular location provides high visibility and a lively atmosphere for showcasing your work. We’re looking for artwork that can be hung as soon as possible, so please consider submitting pieces now if you’re ready.
Three additional venues will be looking for new artwork at the beginning of September. GVNA in Laconia is requesting 12–14 fall-themed pieces. Meredith Village Savings Bank in Wolfeboro would like 10–12 pieces featuring Lakes Region or New Hampshire scenes. And finally, the Inn on Route 140 is also seeking new art to display. While these shows may not lead to immediate sales, they are excellent exposure – putting your name, LRAA, and the Gallery in front of locals and tourists alike. Every opportunity to show your talent is a chance to make an impression, so we encourage all members to participate and help us fill these spaces with beautiful, original work.
Please feel free to contact me by text, email, or voice for further info. 603-998-7208, robinsviewphotography@gmail.com
Thank you for being our customers and friends.
All this and more can be found at our website www.LakesRegionArtGallery.org
L’art pour L’art,
Sherwood Frazier
President LRAA
Next Meet Up
August 20 at 9:30am
Wayfarer Coffee Roasters
626 Main Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Join Us for "Balderdash & Coffee"
This is an open invitation for all members of the Lakes Region Art Association (LRAA) to engage in fun conversation and sharing over coffee.
Come share ideas, ask questions, talk art (or anything else that interests you), and meet other creatives. Feel free to bring your spouse, friends, or anyone curious about the LRAA or the local art scene.
This is now a regular monthly event which will be held at different locations around the Lakes Region, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. at 9:30 am. The location will be announced monthly, so be sure to check this newsletter or the website for the latest information.
Interested?
Just show up on Wednesday, August 20, 9:30 am, at Wayfarer Coffee Roasters on Main Street, downtown Laconia.
If anyone has a place in mind where we can do Balderdash & Coffee, speak up. Let's hear from the rest of you; we can check them out and see if they have the room for 12 to 15 people, and want to accommodate us.
Hope to see you there!
Sherwood
Meet a New Member of the LRAA Gallery
Melanie Kray
Melanie Ann Kray is a self-taught photographer whose work centers on the delicate beauty of butterflies and the natural world. From a young age, Melanie’s deep appreciation for nature and art blossomed, with a camera always in hand during family gatherings. Her lifelong love for the outdoors and the creatures that inhabit it has become the driving force behind her artistic practice.
Specializing in capturing the grace and vibrancy of butterflies in their natural habitats, Melanie seeks to share the often-overlooked details of the natural world through her lens. Her photography invites viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty that exists all around them, highlighting moments of serenity and transformation.
In May 2025, Melanie achieved a significant milestone in her career by becoming a gallery artist with the Lakes Region Art Association. Her work is currently featured at The Lakes Region Art Association Gallery, as well as online at greenthumbcrafts.com, where her photography continues to resonate with audiences who share her passion for nature and wildlife.
With a mission to inspire others through her photography, Melanie’s artistic vision is simple yet profound: to share the beauty she sees in nature with the world.
Reception: October 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Planning Ahead
The final exhibit of calendar year 2025. All artwork must include either birch trees, boats of both. Each member is limited to three art submissions across all the categories.
Exhibit Dates: October 2nd through the 26th, 2025.
Registration Ends: September 27, 2025 at midnight
Art Drop Off: No later than September 29, 2025.
Art Pick up: October 28, 2025
October Exhibit at Wolfeboro Public Library
Our May 2025 exhibit at the Wolfeboro Public Library was met with enthusiastic praise from both visitors and library staff. This vibrant, high-traffic venue—home to frequent meetings in the Bradley Room—proved to be an exceptional showcase for our members’ work.
We are excited to announce our return to this outstanding exhibit space for the month of October. Now is the perfect time to prepare your submissions. We encourage seasonally inspired artwork, with no piece smaller than 11" x 14". Please use the link below to register your artwork.
Registration for this event is open now. Registration Window closes on September 29th.
Art drop off at the Lakes Region Art Gallery no later than noon on October 1st.
In addition, we are seeking up to six members to assist with set-up and take-down. Set-up is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st. If you can lend a hand for either or both tasks, please sign up at the link provided.
Calling All Gallery Members – Let's Get You Published!
Spring is just around the corner! Soon, the hum of alarm clocks won’t just be waking up sleepyheads—it’ll be waking up mosquitos and ticks, too! Lawns will need mowing, gardens will demand attention, and sun-soaked beach days will be calling your name.
But before you dive headfirst into the joys of the season, take a moment to shine! Now is the perfect time to gather your artwork and get it featured on the Lakes Region Art Gallery website. Once summer rolls in, you won’t want to tear yourself away from the warm breezes and sunshine to deal with submissions—so why not take action now?
And let’s be honest—once the snow melts, my RV will be itching to hit the road, and I’d love to get this done before I’m off chasing sunsets. Let’s make it happen together! Get your art in, get published, and step into spring with one more creative accomplishment under your belt!
Creative Connections:
Free Group Art Nights at the Gallery
Looking to create, connect, and be inspired? Join fellow artists for a relaxed, twice-monthly evening of shared creativity. Bring your own project and materials—whether you paint, draw, sketch, or stitch—and enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside others.
When: 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 6 PM (Next: July 10 & 24)
Where: Lakes Region Art Gallery
No pressure, no instruction—just a chance to make art, swap ideas, and build community. Let’s fill the gallery with creativity and maybe even spark some fresh inspiration for all!
Important Links and Registration Forms
Remote Display Sign Up Forms
Belknap Mill PumpkinFest Themed Art Exhibit
Seeking art submissions by September 1, 2025
Exhibit to be held: Saturday, October 25
The Belknap Mill is excited to announce and open call for artists to participate in a special PumpkinFest themed art exhibit. This exhibit invites artists to reflect on and celebrate the spirit of Pumpkin Festivals past as well as the timeless charm of all things pumpkin.
Artists of all background and mediums are invited to submit work. There is no fee to participate.
Images and details of artists work should be sent to jill@belknapmill.org for consideration by Sept 1, 2025.
Contact Jill Desruisseaux for more information call 603-524-8813 or email jill@belknapmill.org
Mt. Washington Valley Art Association
53rd Annual Art in the Park
Schouler Park, North Conway
October 11 -12, 2025
This long-standing event draws fine artists and collectors from around the region during peak foliage season and the 3 day holiday weekend. It is one of the largest celebrations of visual arts in the Valley, featuring a wide array of media including painting, photography, textiles, mixed media and more. The festival also includes a juried competition component where artists have the opportunity to win cash prizes for their original artworks.
New Business
July 2025
Adult Painting Group
Jodi Rajaneimi will be hosting a painting group twice a month in the Gallery for all Association Members. Feel free to bring a friend! 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 6-8. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists, and work together in a fun and supportive atmosphere!
Increasing Foot Traffic
On the subject of promoting the Gallery and increasing foot traffic and sales, it’s good to review our Mission Statement:
To enhance the ability of its members to create art and to further the appreciation of the arts in the greater Lakes Region area of New Hampshire by education, promotion, display, and sale of the visual fine arts.
Now in our 85th year, fulfilling that mission takes all of us- This is your chance to bring your skills, ideas, and energy to a committee that will truly make a difference in connecting the arts to our community.
If you’re passionate about outreach, public art, partnerships, or simply growing our visibility, we want to hear from you! We also want to hear from you if you feel the Association is not meeting your needs. What would you like to see happen? Our Board Meetings are always open to Members, and we want you to feel free to contact anyone on the Board with your observations.
Raffle!
We’re going to be having a raffle soon. All members are invited to donate a small piece of artwork to the raffle by June 29th- just leave it in the Gallery with your name on it. Could be a pack of cards, a print, small original- whatever you like. We’ll put a box in front of your item to collect tickets specifically for your item. The plan is to offer a free ticket just for coming into the Gallery and looking around. Additional tickets will be $5 each or 3 for $10. Also thinking of giving a free ticket for every $10 in purchases. Contact us with your thoughts and suggestions.
Unfinished Business / Worth Repeating
Scheduling:
Gallery Members should review their settings to be sure they are receiving all notifications from Homebase. In order to make the best use of the program, it is essential that all members get the notifications. We now have a new email address for Scheduling issues only: schedule@lraanh.org
Planning Ahead for Stronger Events
To maximize attendance and energy at our ArtTalks, shows, and other events, we’re working on planning further in advance. Planning will commence in the fall for 2026. The earlier we can lock in details and promote them—through our newsletter, website, and social media—the better chance we have of drawing a great crowd and building excitement.
Being part of the Gallery means more than just showing your work—it means being an active part of the team that keeps things running smoothly and creatively. From event planning and setup to promotion and maintenance, it takes all of us working together to keep the Gallery vibrant and thriving.
We welcome your ideas and participation! Whether it’s suggesting a topic, hosting a talk, or lending a hand behind the scenes, your involvement truly matters.
Let’s keep growing together and making each event better than the last!
Back-Ups! Help Us Build a Stronger, More Resilient Team
This year, we’ve been working hard to create back-up support for every role within the Gallery. In many cases, that means breaking big jobs into smaller, manageable parts—so no one person carries the entire load.
Urgently Needed Right Away: 2 people to help with Gallery Management
One to keep up with office supplies, cleaning supplies, and the like.
A second person to manage off-site venues.
Contact Sherwood or Gail for more details if you think you can help.
Do you have experience or interest in helping behind the scenes? You might be the perfect person to step in as a back-up when needed.
📬 Interested? Click here to let us know you’re willing to help!
Your willingness to share a bit of your time and knowledge helps keep the Gallery strong, supported, and running smoothly for everyone.
Showcasing Our Artists
We are making a sincere effort to showcase our Gallery Artists, their artwork, and special events. What would be really helpful is if you could periodically check our Facebook Page and share to your own pages to help build awareness of our wonderful gallery. Also, when you have new artwork, please send pictures and information about your work to both of the following so Wendy can promote it. We can work together to build awareness and as a result, get more customers to come in and see what we are all about. Send info to:
Wendy Oellers-Fulmer weoellers@gmail.com
For website listing: webmaster@lraanh.org
Show Registrations:
Due to the added complexity and work associated with late registrations, we are now requiring that all art submissions and payments be made by the "Art Drop Off" date. We will no longer be able to accept late entries into exhibits. Art Drop Off dates are listed at the top of the registration forms. It is also important to register by the date listed on the forms.
Show Deadlines Are Important! Help Us Become Polished and Professional. To ensure our exhibits look their best, we print all wall tags in advance—so completing your registration on time is key. You’ll find registration forms and exhibit details linked in our newsletters and on the website.
Mark important dates on your calendar—with an alert a few days before the actual deadlines. Then, get in the habit of checking your calender each morning.
We’ve done our best to provide flexible windows for artwork drop-off and pick-up, but please help us by ensuring your work isn’t left at the Gallery for extended periods. Thanks for your cooperation —it’s what keeps our exhibitions running smoothly and looking great!
Attending the Artist Receptions is Important!
We’ve missed seeing many of our participating artists at recent receptions—and we’d truly love to change that! These gatherings are more than just events; they’re a chance to celebrate your work, meet art lovers who are excited to connect with the artists behind the pieces, and build friendships with fellow creatives.
Your presence helps create the welcoming energy that makes our Gallery so special. Whether you're sharing stories, answering questions, or simply enjoying the company of kindred spirits, every moment adds value—not just to your own visibility, but to the whole community.
We know life gets busy, and we’re so grateful for the time and heart our volunteers give. Even small moments of involvement can make a big difference. Let’s grow this community together—one warm reception at a time.