BlueFrogArts

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.

LAMONI SHINES! CELEBRATE LIGHT!

 

 LAMONI SHINES!

 
Photo and reporting by Vikki Morain

BLUE FROG ARTS GALLERY ARTISTS INVITE ALL TO JOIN IN THE FUN OF CELEBRATING LIGHT!

This year's 3rd annual art festival/auction will be held on

Sunday, July 25th 2010

The subject for this year's art objects will be light.

Artists of all ages are invited to submit art objects for the auction---anything which celebrates light such as:

* A two-dimensional painting or drawing or collage which incorporates the attributes of light

*A piece of pottery or jewelry or sculpture which uses or makes a place for light to shine

*A light or candle or lamp----how about a decorated flashlight???

* A fabric or fiber piece which uses or plays upon light sources

* Glass---stained, fused, slumpled, blown, warm or cold worked (Take a class at The Blue Frog to learn glass techniques--- classes offered June 12 AND 13)

*Now it's your turn.   What can you think of to create that celebrates light and makes LAMONI SHINE!

Ask any Blue Frog artist for more details or contact this year's project leader: Deb Etcheson

Deb Etcheson 515 343 4334 or detcheson@me.com or deborahetcheson@yahoo.com

or Vikki Morain 641 784 4747 or vmorain@marykay.com

or Priscilla Eppinger 641 784 4948 or eppeinger@graceland.edu.

Blue Frog Arts is open Wed-Sat 10-5   641 784 6827

This invitation is open to all ages and all media.  So put on your thinking caps, get the creative juices flowing  and let's let the world know that LAMONI SHINES!

Registration and entry forms are now available at The Blue Frog.

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!)

  

Blue Frog Receives Media Recognition

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to take a look at the January/February issue of The Iowan magazine.  There you will find an article written by Lamoni's Devy Combs which tells a bit of the history and the evolution of The Blue Frog into the Artists' Co-op that it is today.   So many people have contributed their time, their talents and their dollars to create a wonderful art spot in Southern Iowa.  We all benefit and are proud to make the arts accessible to our region.

Fiber Day at the Frog a Success!

 

What fun!

Vikki Morain, weaver, and spinner-wannabe, invited area spinners, weavers, knitters and curious observers to participate in the first Spin-In at The Blue Frog.  Apparently, people were more than ready to break away from cabin fever in Lamoni.  More than twenty visitors stopped into the Blue Frog to spin, learn to spin, have experienced spinners urge antique wheels into working order, knit, share patterns, chat with other fiber enthusiasts and generally just have a good day together.  Lamoni residents came to be supportive and feed their wondfully curious minds.  Great to have you all there!

Spinners Anna Knapp (Lamoni), Linda Graves (Osceola), Mary Parks (Pleasantville) and Sue Olson Jamison, MO) shared their expertise and were enthusiastic and patient teachers.  Thank you so much!

If you missed out, don't worry.  The consensus was that there should be a repeat performance so watch this space for another invitation in 6 weeks or so. 

Lynda Rolfe Adds to the Blue Frog Gallery

Lynda Rolfe, a well-known and accomplished potter, lives in Lamoni with her attorney husband, Rob.  She has a degree in Art Education and twenty years of experience teaching in the public schools and in a Shelter School where she shared her talents and encouraged others to create.

And create she does!   Lynda does not limit her creativity to one medium but ventures courageously into other art forms with wonderful results.  We are fortunate to display her work in pottery, jewelry and painting.  Recently Lynda added two new paintings to the collection at The Blue Frog.

The Mediterranean was inspired by a recent walk on the beach in Italy.  It was pre-dusk and the atmosphere was lavender so she painted the complete canvas in lavender then manipulated it with watercolor adhesive and a rubbing technique to get a unique effect.

There is so much depth and movement in The Eye of the Storm. The land is built up with a paper clay. and a three dimensional result comes from the lighthouse which is cut from a light board.   A sense of foreboding grasps the viewer of this painting.

 

Visit Blue Frog Arts in Lamoni to see more of Lynda's art work and marvel at the scope and variety of her creations.  Lynda is a member of The Blue Frog Artists Co-op.

Oops! Name Spelling Correction

Let me correct my mistake.  In an article below I spelled Rebecca's last name right once and wrong once.  So here it is right:

Our talented artist is Rebecca Abarr. My apologies.

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.

Blue Frog Artist Rebecca Abbar Shows Artwork in Mason City

Rebecca Abarr, a member of the Blue Frog Arts Co-op is an award winning basketry artist.  If you have been in the Blue Frog in Lamoni you have been able to admire a variety of her basketry art from kaliedescopes to free form pieces.  Last summer Rebecca was awarded a best in show at the Iowa State Fair.   We are so proud of her!

Here are photos of some of Rebecca's work that is currently on display in  a juired show in Mason City.  Details of the time and place to see the entire exhibit are below.

 

Museum Hours:

Date:  November 19, 2009 - February 21, 2010

Museum Hours:

Tuesday,Thursday : 9am - 9pm
Wednesday,Friday,Saturday : 9am - 5pm
Sunday : 1-5pm

Location:

MacNider Art Museum,
303 Second Street South East,
Mason City, Iowa 50401.
Tuesday,Thursday : 9am - 9pm
Wednesday,Friday,Saturday : 9am - 5pm
Sunday : 1-5pm

These are such wonderful whimsically abstract pieces that Becky quips that they are challenging to name, so she just calls them WIRS---- could refer to whirls...or When I'm Ready...or Woven in Random.    Hey... can you come up with a good name?  For more of Rebeccas are be sure to visit Blue Frog Arts...open Wednesday Through Saturday in Lamoni.