January 2026
Newsletter Submission Guidelines
If you have content you’d like included in an upcoming newsletter, please email it to Jodi at jodirajaniemi@gmail.com and copy Mike at webmaster@lraanh.org.
Customer Newsletter: submissions are due no later than the 28th of each month.
Member Newsletter: submissions are due by the 6th of each month.
2026 Membership Renewal Reminder
It’s that time of year again! LRAA’s membership year runs from January 1st until the end of December. Art participation and display opportunities abound for 2026. Don’t miss the numerous opportunities to display your art that will be coming up. In addition to our four, month-long gallery shows (including the Annual Show) we are scheduled to display art for the month of January at the Belknap Mill which is always a great opportunity to have your art seen and appreciated. (However, you do need to be a 2026 member to do so. January is coming up soon so, it you want to participate in the show at the Mill, please renew your membership as soon as possible.)
In addition, we have several other locations in the Lakes Region, including in Laconia and Wolfeboro for displaying art that members can sign up for, many of which don’t require registration fees. There are also opportunities for member Solo Shows at the gallery as well as the 0pportunity to hold art or photography classes. There are also Sip and Paint nights and free Kids art classes (great for grandkids as well). The opportunity to display your art on an ongoing basis in the Gallery panel is one of the benefits for “Participating” members and we have panels available. Please also keep in mind that a “Participating” membership is necessary in order to register/display at the LRAA Annual Show.
To renew your membership click https://www.lakesregionartgallery.org/membership to learn about the various membership levels and then complete the form using the Renew Membership button. Current contact and volunteer information is necessary, as information is incomplete for a number of our members. Once you have completed and submitted the form on line, you will need to go to the gallery to complete your renewal by paying the appropriate fee, or you can mail it to:
Lakes Region Art Gallery, Tanger Outlets, Suite 300, 120 Laconia Rd, Tilton, NH, 03276.
IMPORTANT: BEFORE GOING TO THE GALLERY TO PAY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE MEMBERSHIP FORM ON-LINE, INCLUDING THE VOLUNTEER SECTION.
It’s Membership Renewal Time
President’s Notes
Welcome to 2026! Happy New Year to all!
A new year offers fresh opportunities to explore our art—both personally and publicly. It’s a time to grow our talents, expand our vision, and share our creativity with the world. At LRAA, we are fortunate to have an outstanding gallery and an incredible community of artists to make that happen. We encourage you to become involved, take creative risks, and discover new joy in your artistic journey.
As we step into the new year, we are excited to welcome new members to the gallery and to introduce a dynamic lineup of exhibitions. Alongside returning favorites, you’ll see fresh perspectives from artists who have contributed to LRAA in the past. We are actively encouraging solo artists—not only from within our membership, but also from the wider community—to consider hosting solo exhibitions in the gallery during the coming year. In addition, we are seeking 3-D and sculpture artists to help expand the gallery beyond the primarily two-dimensional work many of us create. As always, member input is welcome and valued as we continue to explore and promote new ideas.
Several new initiatives are underway in 2026. The newsletter will now include a link to the minutes from our board meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Remember, board meetings are always open to all members. We also have several “Paint & Sip” events coming up, and we are exploring the possibility of hosting some of these at venues outside the gallery. Gerard is still scheduling children’s paint days, let you friends and family know.
February is shaping up to be an exciting start to the exhibition year. Our first solo show by a new artist will open in the gallery the first week of February, and Lynn—along with her team of specialists—is designing something special for our first group exhibit of the year, Carved & Cultivated. If you’d like to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out to Lynn; she welcomes both creative input and helping hands.
Looking ahead, we are planning a children’s exhibition for grades K through 12 in May, followed by the 86th Annual Gallery Members Show, opening July 30. To round out the year, Wind & Wave will be on view from mid-September through mid-October.
Finally, for those who enjoy casual conversation and connection around art, don’t forget Balderdash & Coffee, every month, for January it is Wednesday the 21st at 9:30 a.m. in The Flip Side in downtown Laconia. If you’re looking for a little extra exposure, feel free to bring one or two pieces of artwork to hang. The current work has been up since early November—it’s time to freshen up the wall!
Here’s to a creative, collaborative, and inspiring year ahead at LRAA.
L’art pour L’art,
Sherwood Frazier, President
Lakes Region Art Association
Monthly Members Meeting & Art Talk
Stay connected and be part of the conversation at our Monthly Members Meeting!
Held on the 3rd Monday of each month, this evening is a great way to stay informed, share your voice, and connect with fellow artists.
🕔 5:00 PM – Arrive early for our Artist of the Month, a fun and friendly competition
🕠 5:30 PM – Meeting: Gallery updates & news so you’re always in the know
🕕 6:00 PM – Settle in for an engaging Art Talk with open discussion and shared ideas
Come for one part—or stay for the whole evening. All members are encouraged to join!
ArtTalks is a regular feature of the Lakes Region Art Association. They occur the third Monday of the month starting in January with the last ArtTalk occurring in October each year.
ArtTalk Returns!
Lakes Region Art Gallery
Monday, January 19th our New Time - 6:00 PM
Guest Speaker
Andy Buchanan
The Art of Framing Art
Andy Buchanan grew up on a farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina, surrounded by thousands of acres of forest land and very few neighbors. Andy learned a variety of skills and life principals here, and developed his interest in woodworking, carpentry, mechanics, metal fabrication, and blacksmithing.
In high school Andy studied electronics and was also instrumental in starting two clubs, the Amateur Radio club and the VICA Electronics Club. Andy participated in developing the required charter, constitution and bi-laws documents for each club. And in the first year of the Electronics club, serving as president, Andy took his school to district, state, and national competitions, accepting two first place medals.
Andy trained as an arborist (tree surgeon) under one of the best tree men in the business for the Eastern U.S. Working with this company for several years Andy became a highly skilled and experienced tree surgeon; and immensely enjoyed the hard work and the outdoors. When Andy left that employment he was vice president of the company. Andy also did side work with building contractors; remodeling and re-roofing homes; building additions, storage buildings, workshops, garages, and decks.
After moving to Sanbornton, New Hampshire where he resides with his wife Christy, Andy continued to do tree work. Andy also did commercial building inspections as well as working as a state licensed security guard. In July of 2017 he accepted a position with Hobby Lobby as the Frame Shop Manager for their Tilton, NH store. Andy has a passion for helping people, and the creativity involved in assisting them with their framing designs. As with his other endeavors Andy continues to seek excellent outcomes in framing photos and art, which has resulted in a long list of satisfied repeat customers.
Minutes from Board of Director Meetings
You know the minutes from each Board of Directors meeting are posted in the gallery, but you forget to review them. Now they are also on the LRAA website. Click on the link below to check out the latest. And while there, bookmark the page so you can return whenever to need arises.
Artist of the Month Competition returns on
January 19th at a new time: 5:00PM
Artist of the Month - Nov/Dec 2025
LRAA members have the opportunity to enter a piece of artwork into the Artist of the Month Program at each monthly Member Meeting. Winners are able to display and sell a single work for a month in various public venues throughout the Lakes Region in participating Banks and Libraries or Local Businesses.
End of Year Artists of the Month
Left to Right
Left to Right: Sally Hibberd, Jim Cryan, Gail Brunt, Jodi Rajaniemi and Sherwood Frazier
These Winning Artists' artwork will be on display in locations in the Lakes Region through the third week of January.
Jodi Rajaniemi, this month’s First Place winner has the distinct honor of displaying several pieces of his artwork at Annie’s Cafe & Catering in Laconia NH. Warm up with some scrumptious homemade soup and sandwiches and enjoy the art while you eat!
The art pieces for the Honorable Mention artist will be on display through the third week in November in the following locations:
Sherwood Frazier - Laconia Public Library
Sally Hibberd - Camden Bank, Meredith
Gail Brunt - Franklin Savings Bank, Gilford
Jim Cryan - Camden Bank, Tilton
Our 2026 Association Exhibits
February 19
Art in the Garden: Carved & Cultivated
May 7th
2026 Kid’s Show
July 30
86th Annual Members Exhibit
September 17
Wind & Waves
We also have artists requesting Solo-Shows in 2026. As we firm those dates up we will announce them in our newsletter and post them on the Coming Events page of the Lakes Region Art Gallery website.
Are You Ready for a SOLO SHOW?
Members have the exciting opportunity to showcase their work through a solo exhibition at the Gallery. Solo shows run for two full weeks, from Thursday through Sunday across two consecutive weekends—maximizing your artwork’s exposure and giving visitors plenty of time to engage with your creations. To explore fees, guidelines, and available scheduling, please reach out to the Board of Directors.
Please note, a participation fee applies, and the Lakes Region Art Association reserves the right to decline proposals that do not meet our artist guidelines. We strongly encourage you to review these guidelines carefully to ensure your work is a perfect fit for our vibrant gallery community. Take advantage of this unique platform to share your artistic vision with an engaged and appreciative audience!
January 2026
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Tanger asks us to open for 4 Monday Holidays each year. Monday, January 19th is one of them. I’m looking for volunteers- past or present Gallery Members to man the store! As long as we have at least one current member per shift, it might be a fun time for past members to connect and see what’s happening in the Gallery. Shift hours are not static- let me know what time you have and I’ll see how I can fit people in. Gail- call or text- 603-520-9986
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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."
Do 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 would like to see you and hear first hand from you. Please feel free to contact any Board Member with your concerns.
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To maximize attendance and energy at our ArtTalks, shows, and other events, we’re working on planning further in advance. Plans have been made for 2026. The earlier we can 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 Association 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- and the Association- 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!
Urgently Needed Right Away:
Someone to manage off-site venues. Contact Sherwood or Gail for more details if you think you can help.
📬 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.
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We are now requiring that all art submissions and payments be made by the "Art Drop Off" date, which are listed at the top of the registration forms. It is also important to register by the date listed on the forms.
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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 calendar each morning.
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We try to be accommodating with pick up times, and have created a safe space in the back for your artwork. Please remember to pick up as soon as possible!
Important Links and Registration Forms
Remote Display Sign Up Forms
Why Every LRAA Member Should Claim Their Personal Gallery Page
Promote your artwork year-round on a platform averaging 454 visits per month and over 11,000 page views this year.
Build long-term name recognition—your page becomes a stable, searchable presence for collectors, students, and community partners.
Strengthen your professional image with a curated selection of your work and a personal artist statement.
Enjoy free professional headshots courtesy of Linda Murphy, exclusively for member gallery pages.
Simple submission process with clear instructions and an easy-to-use online form—no technical skills required.
Maximize your membership by showcasing your talent to the wider Lakes Region arts community and beyond.
