Portrait of Lakeland Art founder unveiled at downtown ribbon cutting
This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — There may be no bigger proponent (in spirit) of seeing the Lakeland Art Association return to the downtown than Fred Olds.
Olds founded the art association decades ago and his own creations formerly hung in the old Humpty Dumpty restaurant on Buffalo Street and later a block away at the old Cox Studio, where ironically — another artist, Nathan Underneath — now creates modern art at Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema.
On Friday, a self-portrait of Olds joined the collection at Lakeland’s new home at 119 S. Buffalo St.
Michael Klodaris, who previously owned Cox Studio, donated the painting to Lakeland. It now hangs near the front entrance.
“This painting has been in the Klondaris family since 1983 – over 40 years – and they asked if we would like to donate it to Lakeland Art Association and we said ‘yes,’ ” Klondaris said at Friday’s ribbon cutting.
“It’s really coming back home, I would say,” he said.
Friday’s ribbon cutting and open house was a monumental moment in Lakeland’s long history.
Over the years, Lakeland’s home bounced from one location to another including one stint in Pierceton, and has been on East Winona Avenue in a two-story house for the past year eight years.
The association recently signed a five-year lease but some view this move with a sense of permanence.
This is very nice,” said Melodie Koher, who is the director and president of Lakeland. “It really is probably the best place we’ve had so far.”
Friday’s ceremony attracted a large crowd as the downtown community celebrated adding a second home for art in the downtown in the past two years.
The most striking contrast to the new home, compared to the old facility on East Winona Avenue, is how big and bright it is.
The room is deep with long stretches of space on both sides to showcase art. Beyond that is a hallway that leads to another display room on the left before visitors enter a sizeable classroom where individual easels sit ready to support artists’ work.
Laura Wildwood, who lives outside of Warsaw, started a painting class business about two years ago and has agreed to begin offering classes twice a month that will include day and evening start times.
She recently joined Lakeland.
“What a beautiful space this is. It’s wonderful. Melodie has done a great job. I’m excited to be part of the Lakeland Art Association,” she said.
You can learn more about her Bob Ross-certified classes at secretstudiointhewildwoods.com.
Lakeland is the second art gallery to move into the downtown in two years. The other, Attelier, is around the corner on Center Street.
Suzie Light, a proponent of public art and a longtime member of Lakeland, said it’s a great addition for the downtown.
“It is wonderful because where we were previously, nobody even knew we were there,” Light said. “This way, we’re going to have foot traffic. When people are walking by and going to things, we’re going to be much more visible than we were before. It’s very important.”
This is the best gallery we’ve ever had,” said Light.
The post Portrait of Lakeland Art founder unveiled at downtown ribbon cutting appeared first on News Now Warsaw.
