Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . 2➤ Good Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Vol. 54, No. 41
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
FOLLOW THE STAR — Don Wilka, board member of the Lakeland Art Association, shows Zentangle-inspired work, “Follow the Star.” The style uses abstract patterns and shapes, where practitioners can “put some patterns together,” said Wilka, until “something just emerges.” Wilka is hosting an egg painting class Thursday, April 10, utilizing the principles of Zentangle.
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
FOSSIL ART — Lakeland Art Gallery Director Melodie Koher shows off a Petoskey stone necklace by artist Diane England. The stones, collected on the shore of Lake Michigan, are fossilized coral formed during a time when Michigan was covered by glaciers.
Lakeland Art Gallery finds new home in downtown Warsaw
Text and Photos By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer The Lakeland Art Gallery has entered a new chapter in its history, moving to a larger location offering more space, accessibility, and opportunities for local artists and the community. “We have much more traffic. We have much more wall space to hang art ... We have a huge classroom in the back we did not have before,” said the gallery’s Director Melodie Koher. The gallery, which operates under the Lakeland Art Association, has been a cornerstone of the local arts scene since its founding in 1993 by then-president Lila O’Connell. The Lakeland Art Association itself was established in 1957 by a group of local artists led by Fred Olds, with the mission of promoting art education, exhibits and events. Over the years, the association has grown into a local cultural institution, working with various local organizations and participating in community events, like the Village at Winona’s children’s tent and Warsaw’s Sip and Shop. The recent relocation of the gallery from 302 E. Winona Ave. to 119 S. Buffalo St. was prompted by the sale of its previous building, but the transition has been an improvement. The new space offers more wall space for exhibitions, more traffic from visitors and a classroom for art classes. Improved parking at its downtown location makes the gallery
WORK ON DISPLAY — Sherri Johnson, former Edgewood art teacher and Warsaw Arts Commission member, currently has art in multiple mediums displayed on the Lakeland Art Gallery. Johnson took more convenient for patrons. “It’s just a building full of possibilities and potentials,” said Koher. Primarily featuring contemporary artists from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, the Lakeland Art Gallery welcomes artists from across the country. Currently, the gallery is showcasing works by Sherri Johnson, a former Edgewood Middle School art teacher, and nationallyrecognized artist, Brenda Stichter. Johnson, who also serves on the Warsaw Arts Commission, is hosting a sold-out watercolor class, while Stichter’s distinctive scratch board artwork is a key feature of
the gallery’s collection. Other local artists, including LAA board member and Zentangle-inspired artist, Don Wilka, also show their work at the gallery. “Everything (displayed in the gallery) is for sale,” said Wilka, who is also teaching a class Thursday, April 10. The gallery’s works, which include a shop and an area reserved for members’ art, show prices ranging from $10 to $3,000. Looking ahead, the gallery will host its annual Spring Juried Show, opening Thursday, April 17. The competition will be judged by an art professor from Manchester College,
advantage of the gallery’s new classroom to teach a sold-old watercolor class. Grateful for the opportunity, she said of gallery director Melodie Koher, “Thanks to her, there’s a downtown gallery.” with over $1,000 in prize money awarded across multiple categories. An award ceremony will take place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Besides its exhibitions, the gallery is expanding its educational offerings. A jewelry artist will soon open a studio in the mezzanine area, teaching classes on stone setting and working with precious metals. The gallery also plans to develop its basement space for “dirty art” forms, such as ceramics and stained glass. Community involvement remains at the heart of the Lakeland
Art Association’s mission. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with gallery operations and events. A new website is in development to make membership and event information more accessible. “We always accept volunteers,” Koher emphasized. “Everybody here is a volunteer, including me.” For those interested in visiting, volunteering, or becoming a member, Koher invites the public to come into the gallery, talk to volunteers and pick up a membership form. “There’s something for everyone,” Koher summarized.