Art at the Center
The next Art at the Center Open House is Thursday, January 26th from 5-7 pm! Please join us for wine, hors d'oeuvres and a new batch of art from our fabulous local artists!
Artists can submit pieces for consideration at the Community Center (lower level conference room) on Friday, January 20th from 3-5 and Saturday, January 21st from 10-noon. Please see below for information on the type and number of pieces that will be considered.
Selected art and artists will be featured in the Open House on January 26th, and the art will be on display at the Community Center until May 12, 2012.
History of Art at the Center
Art at the Center is the realization of a long term vision for the Nederland Community Center. This vision saw the Community Center as a vibrant and beautiful hub for our town and a perfect place to highlight and support Nederland’s image as an emerging artisan center. Beginning in 2009, through the efforts of the Community Center Foundation Board, Art at the Center was born. From the beginning, Art at the Center has been a great success. Our opening wine and cheese event took place in an October snowstorm, yet almost 200 people showed up to support the celebration of both the talented artists being featured that night and the fact that the Community Center had been beautifully enlivened by art on the many long, previously empty walls.
How the Show Works
Three times per year the Community Center Foundation Board and the volunteer Art Committee host a new Art at the Center show focusing on local artists. Nederland area artists are invited to participate via newspaper ads, word of mouth and requests to local galleries. A panel then selects the pieces that will be displayed for the next show. Generally, within ten days, after the show has been hung on the Community Center walls, the Community Center Foundation Board organizes a free Wine and Cheese Open House event for the community honoring the featured artists. Artists are encouraged to attend to answer questions and speak about their work. Local musicians provide ambiance. Nederland restaurants, liquor stores and grocers donate some portion of the delicious food and wine. Our local bank, the Mutual of Omaha, has sponsored two of the Open House events. At each open house, "Best in Show" awards are given in the categories of painting, photography and a third category that includes fiber art, jewelry and sculpture. The art then remains on display for 3-4 months for all Community Center visitors to enjoy. Local artists have been very involved and enthusiastic about submitting their work, without which we could not have such exciting art shows.
For Artists Interested in Submitting Their Work
Artists may bring up to 6 ready-to-hang 2-dimensional pieces no smaller than 12” x 12" framed. We are also now accepting ready-to-hang fiber art (any size larger than 12”x12”) and a limited amount of jewelry and small pottery pieces for a glass case display. Artists may submit up to 6 pieces of these types of art. All pieces must be original works of art (e.g. no prints of an oil painting). Art work needs to be dropped off at the Community Center during the specified times or alternate arrangements can be made by calling us. Two-dimensional pieces must be signed by the artist and, to work with our system, need to be hung by a wire mounted on the frame.
Artists will be asked to sign a liability waiver and registration form at the time of dropping off their work. We ask that a paragraph be provided about the artist and his/her artwork. A photo of the artist with this bio is appreciated. Artists need to bring the bio with the artwork to the drop off. Artists must supply title cards for each piece that include contact information, price (if for sale), medium and size of piece. Artists must also submit a list of the titles of work being submitted. Artists are asked to contribute $20 toward the Open House at the time of registration. This fee will be waived if it provides a financial hardship to the artist.
No sales can occur through the Community Center, but we ask for contact information should someone wish to contact an artist for purchase.
Artists whose works have been displayed at earlier shows may submit pieces for the current display. We will do our best to display something from every artist who submits. If we are not able to display all of an artist's works, we ask that artists pick up un-displayed items on the Saturday of drop off after 2pm. Undisplayed items will be available to pick up in the Community Center Conference room. All displayed works will remain up for 3-4 months.
Please feel free to share this information with any interested artists you know. We want to get the word out to the entire community!
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Community Center Foundation Board Members Tracy or Diane, Co-Chairs of the Art Committee - by email at yourartatthecenter@gmail.com or by phone at (303) 258-7980 (Tracy) or (303) 258-3486 (Diane).
