February 2026
Notices
Art in the Garden - Carved and Cultivated Registration Reminder - Deadline Coming Soon!!
Dates to remember: Register by February 13th, Art drop off: Sunday, February 15th by 3pm
Best of New Hampshire 2026
Voting is now open for New Hampshire Magazine’s annual Best of New Hampshire survey, and the Lakes Region Art Gallery is honored to be nominated in the Art, Culture & People category. As a small nonprofit gallery in Tilton, we’re proud to represent the Lakes Region alongside much larger organizations across the state. If you’ve enjoyed our exhibits, events, or the artists we showcase, we would be truly grateful for your vote. Please note that the site does require a quick login or registration (with an option to opt out of marketing emails). While you’re there, be sure to support your favorite local restaurants, shops, and coffee spots too.
Monthly Art Drawings
Every visit to the gallery comes with a little extra fun! All gallery visitors are invited to enter our Monthly Free Art Drawing for a chance to win an original piece of artwork generously donated by one of our artists.
President’s Notes
It’s an exciting time at the gallery. Philip Gauthier’s solo exhibition is in full swing and runs through Sunday, February 15th. This show is a wonderful departure from our usual displays, and we are thrilled to welcome his unique vision. The Board has been working hard to expand our artistic horizons to draw in new visitors, and Philip’s opening weekend was a great start! We saw a wonderful turnout of his friends and family, and we hope their word-of-mouth will encourage even more of the community to discover our space.
If you haven’t seen Philip’s 3D art or the wood carvings by Robin and Jim yet, please stop by. Their 3D work requires an incredible blend of design and technical skill; much like the finest painting or photography in the Gallery. All three artists have it in abundance. We’re also happy to share that once Philip’s solo show concludes, he will have a permanent place on our gallery walls.
While I’m talking of new Gallery artists, I would like everyone to give Don Giguere a warm welcome. He is an outstanding artist of landscapes rendered in oils. He will be putting up his wall very soon.
Once Philip’s show wraps up on the 15th, Lynn and her team will begin transforming the gallery into a springtime sanctuary. Our first major display of the year, "Art in the Garden: Carved & Cultivated," promises to be the perfect warm escape from this snowy, cold winter. If you know of any sculptors who might like to participate, have them contact us. And as always, any member of LRAA is welcome to hang some artwork. Registration is linked on the website, deadline is Friday the 13th.
We need your help!
As many of you noted your willingness to volunteer on your membership forms, now is the perfect time to step up:
Setup & Decorating: Lynn’s crew is looking for hands to help decorate the Gallery and arrange the show displays.
Reception Hosting: We need volunteers for our opening reception on Friday, February 20th (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) and for cleanup afterward.
Get Involved: Visit lakesregionartgallery.org to see more ways you can support your Association.
I am delighted to announce a generous donation for our Kids' Show in May from Ron Harrison. Ron is a renowned watercolorist and a signature member of the International Society of Marine Painters, with award-winning works featured in the Marblehead Festival of Arts, among other venues.
His $100 donation will go directly toward cash prizes for the competition. I’m hoping to reach a goal of $500 to provide meaningful prizes across all age groups and categories—if you’d like to contribute to this fund, please let us know.
Call for Art: Outside Venues:
Our display committee; Chris, Jodi, and Susie is looking for fresh pieces for the "North Wall" Gallery tables and our community satellite locations, including the Holiday Inn, Flipside, and MVSB in Wolfeboro. Please contact them if you have work ready to share! This is valuable exposure, not only for you, but it puts LRAA’s Gallery out there with the hope of attracting new visitors. And don’t forget our monthly Artist of the Month competition on the third Monday of the month!
One last thing; Paint & Sip Friday, February 20, 5 to 7, beginning in the middle of the reception. Come and enjoy a favorite beverage and some artistic camaraderie.
L’art pour l’art,
Sherwood Frazier
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!
Lakes Region Art Gallery
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.
Nancy Dirubbo
Monday, February 16th
at our New Time - 6:00 PM
Guest Speaker
The Business of Art
February is a time when many artists begin thinking about taxes, expenses, and how their creative work fits into the bigger picture — and it’s often when business questions feel the most overwhelming.
The Lakes Region Art Gallery is pleased to welcome a guest speaker Nancy Dirubbo for an informative and approachable talk focused on the business side of being an artist.
This presentation will explore the difference between operating as a hobbyist versus an artist-business as defined by the IRS, and how that classification can impact taxes and potential deductions. She will also discuss commonly overlooked expenses, simple methods for organizing finances, and practical steps artists can take now to be better prepared for tax season.
This timely February program is ideal for artists at any stage, whether you sell occasionally or are actively building a sustainable creative practice.
Learn more about Nancy at www.nancydirubbo.com
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.
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!
February 2026
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Tanger asks us to open for 4 Monday Holidays each year. Monday, February 16th 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
Our Art Talk and member meeting begin at 5pm that day as well.
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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.”
As part of our endeavors to increase foot traffic, we have begun a monthly Free Art Drawing. Visitors to the Gallery will be able to enter our drawing and sign up for our customer newsletter at the same time. (One entry/month/visitor.) We are currently asking for donations of artwork from any Association member. The drawing will be held on the last open Gallery day of the month. Winners and/or artists posted on social media in newspapers are good publicity for the Gallery and for the artists.
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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.
Hint: 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
Drawing Instructors:
Tom Hitchcock
Pastel Instructor:
Stephanie McQuade
Watercolor Instructors:
Pat Edsall
Stephanie McQuade
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.
Stop Putting it off!
