The Mary Nichols Art Center
301 Burleson (Loop 230 and Burleson)
GALLERY OPEN SATURDAYS
11-4 PM
Since May of 2008 the members and board of directors of the Lost Pines Artisans Alliance have been working to re-open the Mary Nichols Art Center and introduce Smithville again to this wonderful community asset.
On Thursday, September 18 the Lost Pines Artisans Alliance and the Smithville Chamber of Commerce hosted a Chamber Mixer and Grand Opening at the Mary Nichols Art Center, located at the corner of Loop 230 and Burleson in Smithville.
The event featured an art exhibition of art created by local member artists and children from the community of Smithville. There was a silent auction, door prizes and a group art project. A wonderful Fajita Dinner was catered by Robert and Sheila Tamble and a wonderful time was had by all.
The Lost Pines Artisans Alliance will be introducing a host of ongoing activities to be sponsored at the center. The center is now open on Saturdays from 11-4 pm for visitors to view art on display, get a tour of the facility and meet some of our artist members.
There will be more ongoing classes and workshops added to our schedule for late November and December. Watch this website for schedules and information.
::: Gallery News :::
"My Back Pages" Photography of Les Warren is the show the hangs this month of June. Come by on Saturdays from 11:00 - 4:00 to view his unusual take on a photography show. This display is partially done pushpin style showing photographs in various stages of development. Les is the Alliances President and is an amazing force in the art and business community of Smithville.
We had a wonderful time durring Les Warren's reception on Satuday night June 20th. Les intrigued us with facinating stories behind the collections of photographs he shared in this display.
The Lost Pines Artisans' Alliance May show at the Mary Nichols Art Gallery for the month included florals of all kinds. The house was absolutely BLOSSOMING with flowers… sunflowers, roses, sweet peas, fantasy blooms, and even vegetables - plants that grow in May!
.jpeg)
Everyone had a wonderful time at the artists’ reception and Bastrop Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Friday, May 8, at 5:00.
.jpeg)
We partied until 8:00 (or maybe later!), with some refreshments,and our guests met the artists and enjoyed the show. Remember the gallery is open onSaturdays from 11:00 until 4:00.
The April gallery show featured many of our talented artists and members works as we celebrated "The Body Unveiled, Art Au Naturale". Many guests came by and enjoyed the varied media in this exciting show on Saturdays and at our our Artists Reception that was held on Friday April 17th from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm.
Meeting News
Our regular membership meeting is now held on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm in the Mary Nichols Art Center at 301 Burleson in Smithville. We will have a brief business meeting followed by an art program.
Election Time!
Please come to our next meeting on June 16th . This is an important meeting, we will be electing new board members and your input is very important. If you know of anyone you feel is up to the task, contact Stephanie McNabb and let her know who you would like to nominate.
May's meeting guest speaker was Tom Tierney, the paper doll designer we are so lucky to have in our midst. His stories we facinating of all the many people he has had the pleasure of meeting and drawing, in their underwear! You should stop in his shop on Main Street and see his amazing collection of books.
The April meeting was well attended and members and guests enjoyed Woody Heibert doing a wood carving and burning demonstration for our program.
Our March General Membership meeting was held on the 3rd Tuesday and we welcomed Jeff Snyder who did a reading and a projection show of his digital graphics and photography .
February General Membership Meeting 6:30 pm Feb 17th, our guest speaker was Vernon Richards, past mayor of Smithville. He shared with us the history of the building we are in known as the Mary Nichols Art Center.
Workshops
Many of our membership and newcomers enjoyed a fantastic papermaking workshop in May. Oscar Silva is very talented artist we are lucky to call one of our own here at LPAA. His works can be found in numerous galleries and shows throughout the nation. We enjoyed a slide show of his works, learned many knotting techniques he uses and made paper. We hope to have him back for a two day workshop soon.
Other workshops are on the calendar, check out the workshop link to see what is available at the AMry Nichols Art Center and in our members studios, too.
Deck The Walls Installation Day
This event was a big success when kids and grownups alike gathered to install skateboard decks created by kids in the community. They were installed on the walls of the Power Plaza Skate Park in Smithville. They also began a direct installation on the walls which will grow as the weeks go by, keep an eye out for us and stop in and "give me five tiles"
On January 9th a local Brownie troop came to visit the art center and create collage valentines cards to send to the Troops in Iraq. They created over 25 cards some of which were for the soldiers and some were for the soldiers to give to their loved ones.
This fall LPAA artist volunteers are holding a pinhole camera class with some of the after school kids at the Recreation Center. In the fall of 2008, the kids explored photography through the construction and use of pinhole cameras that use regular 35mm film. The children who participated were very excited to be doing photography with cameras they made themselves. The class wrapped up just before Thanksgiving with a show for family and friends at the Recreation Center and the Mary Nichols Art Center.
Last school year artists Stephanie Shroyer-McNabb and Les Warren from the LPAA taught a mosaic class to children at the Smithville Recreation Center as part of their after school program. The children each did several small pieces and then worked together on a larger piece entitled "The Mad Hatter" which is an artistic xploration of how to handle anger. The classes ran from April 30 to May 21 and the children had an art reception showing their completed work at the Smithville Recreation Center on May 28. The classes and the reception were great successes and the children had a great time making and exhibiting real art.
The LPAA volunteers completed six sessions of summer art classes at the Smithville Recreation Center. The classes for children 12 and under were held every other Wednesday 10am - 12 noon. There was great participation in this project and the kids and the volunteer artists all had a blast.