BlueFrogArts

New Classes Offered Now-- Fused Glass and Weaving

 

Watch for more class to be posted as information be comes available. Also watch the Lamoni Chronicle for an ad about upcoming classes.

 

Fun with Fusing Glass

 

Sunday afternoon, December 4^th

2:00 – 4:30

 

Design fused glass pieces of your choice.  Potential projects include key rings, jewelry, glass coasters, a small plate or candy dish, an abstract art piece, a sun catcher, etc. 

Cost: Registration Fee:  $20  plus material cost  (will vary with projects you choose to make, typically from $10- $30)

Note:  Please pay registration fee of $20 at time of registration at The Blue Frog to reserve your place.

Come prepared to pay materials cost at class time.  You can make one or several projects and pay accordingly at the class.

No previous experience necessary. Ages 12 to adult

Location:  LOOM-a-tic Asylum Weaving Studio 30234 US Hwy 69 Lamoni IA  Instructor: Vikki Morain  Any questions?---call instructor at 641 784 4747

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Weave a Warm, Cozy Scarf

Sunday afternoon, December 11

1:30-5:00

Choose a weaving pattern and weave a beautiful scarf for yourself or for a gift.  Looms will be pre-warped ( with white) so you can get right to weaving and complete your scarf in one class. 

Cost: $40 plus bring 150-200 yards of medium weight yarn in a color of your choice. Register at The Blue Frog

No experience necessary. 

Ages 12 to adult  Class size: minimum of 3, maximum of 5 students

Location:   Art Studio 30234 US Hwy 69 Lamoni IA  Instructor: Vikki Morain

Reserve a loom as soon as possible (some are already spoken for).  Pay your registration fee at The Blue Frog, open Wednesdays through Saturdays.   Feel free to call the instructor, Vikki, if you have any questions. 641 784 4747

 

 

posted by Vikki Morain 11 21 11

Reception for School Art Teachers

A reception for area school art teachers will be held at Blue Frog Arts this Saturday.  Let's get to know each other and share artwork and ideas.

WHAT:   ART TEACHER RECEPTION

WHERE:  BLUE FROG ARTS  ---  119 E. MAIN STREET  ---  LAMONI

WHEN:  SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2011  ---4:30-6:00 p.m.

Come get to know Blue Frot Arts:  if you have some artwork ready, bring it for a a show-and-tell!

Posted by Vikki Morain 10/7/11

Art In The Park----Huge Success!

Fall is here and summer is gone, but the warm memories of a very successful hot day in Lamoni's Central Park are still fresh.  Blue Frog artists wanted to give a gift to the community and a creative, interactive day in the park was just the ticket!  There was a great turn out with all ages represented from pre-school to "kids" of well, let's just say " a more experienced age!"  All were deeply involved in weaving, basketry, printmaking, knitting, glazing pots, designing fused glass, making earrings,  and exploring finger print art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Violins and guitars provided a festive background beat to the day. 

 

The mission of Blue Frog Arts is to bring art to the community and the community to the arts.  Mission Accomplished!-----at Art in the Park 2011.

     
 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Posted by Vikki Morain 9/2011

Featured Artist: Beth Knotts

 
Blue Frog Artist, Beth Knotts, is currently exhibiting a group of acrylic paintings exploring a theme of "Gatherings."

 

Subjects come from sketches of unique places and still life objects of interest to the artist, examples of human exchange.

Compositions are arrangements of objects and places selected and combined to completment one another in theme or design.

Some titles, for example, are:  Attic Treasures, Chicken Swap at Afton, Evening Revival, Souvenirs, These Were Grandma's, Trader Jack's Flea Market and Carnival Relics.

There is a set up of still life objects and a sketchbook from which some of the paintings are derived so that the viewer can follow a process an artist might employ to compose a painting.

The pictures above are just a sampling of what you will see when you visit Blue Frog Arts soon.

Written by Beth Knotts and posted by Vikki Morain

Lamoni Shines Update: A Quest for Even More Light!

Lamoni Shines: A Quest for Even More Light

 

The Blue Frog Arts Lamoni Shines Event continues through July culminating with a celebration on Friday, July 30, 5 to 6:30 PM. A community voting for Community Choice Best in Show Award along with a silent auction is planned. Final bidding and prizes will occur on Friday, July 30.

 

The Lamoni public is invited to stop by the Blue Frog anytime during business hours of Wednesday through Saturday; 10 AM to 5 PM from July 7 through July 30 and view the Lamoni Shines entries for the Annual Blue Frog Arts Fundraiser Art Auction. All are invited to then vote for ‘Best in Show’ and if desired, also make a silent bid on a piece they wish to buy. All proceeds from this auction will go toward keeping Blue Frog Arts alive and well in Lamoni. Blue Frog Arts Gallery is a non-profit organization dedicated to extending arts experiences to the community.

The Blue Frog Artists are eager to include even more pieces in this fun and illuminating art contest and auction. The public is invited to donate any art piece that gives or plays on light. This could be a lamp, a painting, a fiber piece, a sculpture, a glass piece.... the possibilities are endless. Pieces can be submitted at any time now through July 24.  There will be ribbons for all entrants, as well as an award for Community Choice Best in Show  and additional prizes for: Most Functional, Most Creative, Silliest, and Most Elegant.

The final Lamoni Shines event will occur on Friday, July 30 from 5 to 6:30 PM. Refreshments and live music will be part of the fun.

For any additional information please check in at the Blue Frog Gallery and follow updates on our newly established Facebook page.  (Look for Blue Frog Arts non-profit organization on Facebook....not to be confused with a sites with a similar name)

 

Watch for more pictures to come soon.   YOU still have time to create a Lamoni Shines! piece -----  We'll be watching for YOU to bring your creation through the front door of The Blue Frog.  So hop to it!!

Photos above are of Mryna Morris,  Becky Abarr and Deb Etcheson, respectively.

You're Invited to Shine in Lamoni!

The Lamoni Shines! project is well under way.  We've decorated chairs and birdhouses in the last few years----now we're inviting YOU and anyone you know to create something for the Lamoni Shines! event.  There will be a festival/auction on July 25-----read about more details in an article below and/or come on in to the Blue Frog to talk an co-op member.   Registration forms are available and there is no charge to participate in Lamoni Shines!

Donna Trudell and Vikki Morain will be teaching classes that explore the properties of light.  Take a class and have some fun with friends as you experiment and create.  No previous experience is necessary for either of the classes listed below.  Watch for more classes to become available.

 

Lamoni Shines!  Fused Glass Class

 

2 sessions limited to 5 students each session

June 12  Saturday  9:30-12

OR

June 13  Sunday 2-4:30

Registration Fee:  $20  plus material cost  (will vary with projects you choose to make)

Project Choices:

       1—Large candle holder/vase ---------- $15

       2---2 small votive candle holders-------$8

       3---Suncatcher---------------------$10

       4---Nightlight----------------------#12

Note:  Please pay registration fee of $20 at time of registration to reserve your place.

Come prepared to pay materials cost at class time.  You can make one, two or all three projects and pay accordingly at the class.

No previous experience necessary

 

If you choose to, FREE materials will be available for you to make one project to donate to The Blue Frog Lamoni Shines! event----to be auctioned July 25.(Mark your calendar!)  Lamoni Shines! encourages community members of all ages to participate in creative production and appreciation of the arts. 

 

 

Lamoni Shines! Trees-Aglow!  Painting Class

 

Saturday   June 19  10:00 -4:00

Instructor  Donna Trudell

$38         includes all materials

Ages        Teen Through Adult

 

Learn a creative technique of using paper towels and acrylic paints to make trees come alive with light.  More details are available at The Blue Frog on Main Streetin Lamoni. 

Donna Trudell Featured Artist

Submitted by Vikki Morain

Wow!   Blue Frog artists are amazing!  We already have another fantastic display of amazing artwork created by Lamoni's own Donna Trudell. 

Donna's exhibit  is entitled  "Fruits of My Labor"---- and you really need to stop in to Blue Frog Arts to fully appreciate it.  Since I don't have photos to show you yet you will have to put your imaginations into high gear to "picture" these pictures in your mind.  OK---focus on fruit and imagine your own creations to match these titles, then come in to see the real goods!

Donna's displayed paintings are called:

Fruits of My Labor

    Just Bananas

    What a Pair

    Peachy Keen

    Thanks a Bunch

    The Three A'Mangoes.

What can I say?  You can see from the names that Donna is creative, whimsical, humorous, clever and talented.  Her personality shines through her vibrantly colored paintings in this collection.  OK---on this one---"you gotta be there."  Visit the Green Gallery of the Blue Frog!

Also included in the show are:

 Friends of the Fields (a collection of cattle portraits with personality).  Having been engaged in the cattle business for years, Donna knows whereof she speaks----and paints. The display also includes:

Upset the Fruit Basket

An Apple a Day

What a Pear

Fruit Study

Odd Man Out I and II

A Splash of Red

Dizzy Daisies

View Donna Trudell's exhibit during May at Blue Frog Arts, 119 E Main, Lamoni IA.  Open Wed-Sat from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Abarr and Rolfe Display Talents at the Blue Frog

 
Reported by Vikki Morain

We are so fortunate to have the space in The Green Gallery in The Blue Frog to display the artwork of our very talented artist members.  Currently you can stop in to see the basketry of Rebecca Abarr and the variety of works produced by Lynda Rolfe includingceramic pieces and acrylic paintings inspired by her recent trip to Italy.

Rebecca Abarr and Lynda Rolfe have put up an art show in the green room of the Blue Frog for the month of April and May.  The show covers paintings from Lynda's trip to Italy plus pottery. The unique baskets are by Rebecca.  Come in and see it anytime.  We are open on Wed through Saturday 10 to 5.  These art pieces as well as all the art in the Blue Frog Gallery were part of a Lamoni Art Crawl on April 23.  A  bus was available to shuttle art lovers around Lamoni to the various show locations.  Shows included:  Graceland University Student Show at the  Helene Center and North Science Building, Blue Frog, The Gallery and Linden Street Coffee House.

As always, you are invited to see the Blue Frog show in person if you are in the area.  For those at too great a distance, here is a sampling for your enjoyment: 

 

Color Boost for Winter Spirits

Vikki Morain, weaver and fused glass designer, is currently the featured artist at The Blue Frog. 

Winter blahs turning you blue?  There is a color cure for winter’s white and your dose is waiting for you at The Blue Frog.  

Vikki Morain,  Lamoni’s own weaver and fused glass designer, is the featured artist for February and March.  You are invited to view the display of unique fiber and glass art pieces in the Green Gallery of the Blue Frog which is open Wednesdays through Saturdays on Main Streetin Lamoni.

There are creations as small as fused glass magnets to as large as a full sized blanket.  Other colorful items include wall hangings, scarves, fused plates, photo holders, purses, capes, felted soaps and mug rug coasters. In addition there are colorful key rings, glass jewelry and light/fan pulls.

Stop in to change your cabin fever blues to rainbow brights. 

(Warning: the colors are so bright you may want to wear shades!)

  

Come Spin a Yarn at the Blue Frog

Really, no tall tale here.

 

 

There will be spinners and spinning wheels at The Blue Frog on Thursday, January 14 from 11:00 am-3:00pm.  Come watch a demonstration of spinning by area spinners.  You can even give it a try if you'd like to.  This is not a formal class but just an opportunity to watch and talk with people who have mastered an ancient/modern skill.

  Don't let work hours keep you away.  Even if you can come only during your lunch break, feel free to pack a lunch or bring take-out from one of our local restaurants and come to The Blue Frog.  Consider it a brown-bag lunch opportunity to learn about another art form.  

There will also be knitters and weavers, so if you have a project you are working on and would like some company while you knit, you are welcome to join the fun for a few minutes or a few hours.