Double Dose of Art, two shows opening, 3rd quarter of 2021

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PHOTOS: Charlie and Susan Corson (left photo) enjoy the Town Hall art show with more than a dozen artists’ unique and well-done pieces. They said it was impossible to chose a favorite. Lauren Click, LAHC Chair (right photo) admires the art display at Town Hall. The “flying baby” was done by the same artist who did the Bellow of Renewal sculpture by the botanica gardens — Anita Miller.

Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission (LAHC) celebrated the hearty reawakening of arts happenings in town with a ”duo art show” on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. In the Lyons Regional Library, Lyons artist Sally White King presented her newest art work. In Lyons Town Hall, the traditional place for the LAHC’s quarterly art shows, more than a dozen local artists displayed their art work.

The evening started with welcoming, encouraging and inspiring speeches by officers of LAHC. Chair Lauren Click, and member Chrystal DeCoster spoke. Jacob Leeuwenburgh orchestrated the hanging of the art work. Member Melinda Wunder, who works with sculptors who have outdoor pieces in Lyons, was also present. And, it was just announced that Mayor Nick Angelo & Mayor Pro-Tem Browning are the newly appointed LAHC liaisons from the Board of Trustees (and both were present).

Despite the heavy rainfall just before the show, more than thirty people gathered to hear the opening remarks, and enjoy free empanadas, made by Macarena Schrodt. Special decorated “King Bear” cookies from Button Rock Bakery and alcoholic beverages were also available for a $5 donation to LAHC. The Library Community room filled with conversations and laughter from the art-loving attendees. Sometimes the conversation leaned to “Oh, is that what you look like without a mask? Nice to meet you finally.” or “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you, it’s been, like, a couple of years!” Shauna Lee, local musician, provided the enchanting music… singing and playing her guitar.

When Chrystal said, “If tonight is any indication, it’s a fact: Lyons Creates!” the crowd gave a big cheer to acknowledge how Lyons has shown its creativity through its gardens, menus, art and music. She also shared some news: “The LAHC and Betsy Burton (Lyons Farmette & River Bend) are putting our collective toes in the water… exploring what attaining a Creative District status might take to accomplish and mean for the town & local artists of all kinds. The commission is also dreaming big dreams about what lifting off a new life for the municipally-zoned Lyons Depot might look like as a potential center where Lyons creates.” And, she continued her mission to draw in the support of the audience by calling out, “Raise your hands if you feel the arts sustain us, inspire us, help us see things in new light, and say things that might otherwise be unutterable.”

“Bearable Light” is the name of Sally King’s current solo LAHC art show. Sally is known for her bear paintings. She made the large 1-dimensional three bear sculptures that are in the ”bear triangle garden” across from The Stone Cup, which resemble the Stonehenge. This time she decided to delve into her mostly unexplored abstract side. She did the larger paintings during the past four weeks. She wanted to wait and see what the situation was like in the world, so that she could respond to it. Sally invited everyone to be more proactive in sharing their stories and feelings, not only verbally with others, but in their art. She gave an example of a woman telling her a wonderful story about how the rainbow painting brought back a rainbow memory.

“The four new large paintings are in response to my trip on the Yampa River (Time Traveler),” said King. “and Sky Shaman is a healer… the dark sky and rainbow has obvious connections to our culture as it does the work of being inclusive.  And Rainbow Calendar has a lightness, which feels good but maybe especially now.”

The art displayed in Town Hall for the Third Quarter of 2021, had a theme of “Bringing The Outdoors In” and/or “COVID-wrought Creations.” Artists are allowed to sell their work, with a small commission going to LAHC. The donated funds are put toward the commission’s many arts-related efforts afoot in town. Art purchase inquiries for the tandem art shows can be directed to Brianna Hoyt at Town Hall.

Both shows will be available to see until October 1st. An easy way to see the show in the coming months is to stop by before the Board of Trustee meetings, at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. One can also ask the Town Front Desk receptionist, during business hours, if the meeting room is currently open to visitors. The library art work can be seen during normal library open hours.

The next show will be in October. To learn more about what the Commission does, go to LAHC COMMISSION. The mission of LAHC is to beautify the streets of downtown Lyons, promote local artists, and educate the viewing public on artistic inspirations and procedures.

Poetry Winners – congratulations!

The winners of the LAHC Poetry contest were announced. The poems will not be published at this time, as the Commission wants to create excitement around a future ”poetry reading.” They also hope to showcase the winning poems on posters around town, and offer prints to the public.

Adult Category
First Place – “Trespass” by Bonnie Auslander
Second Place – “Paying Tribute to Mila” by Yiquiao Change
Third Place – “Carrefour” by Wendy Raymond

Juvenile 9-17 Category
First Place – “Lyons Sanctuary” by Layla Siever
Second Place – “Lyons” by Alexander Smith
Third Place – “My Home” by Avery Hunter

Also mentioned were the two poems that were chosen for the dedication of the Second Avenue Bridge this past week:
“Listen to the Rivers” by Vance French
And
“Tributaries of Strength” by Sara Olson