There was a convergence in the art force, a summit in fact. The whole art department of the Lorain city schools met with the Lorain Arts Council to workout some cooperations and events and activities to start in the near future. The point is to show this community how revelant the arts are to Lorain. And how valuable are our art resources including teachers, art programs, parent-teacher involvements, community art activities and kids. Kids in art is key because kid artist grow up to be working creatively in every field. It’s the diff between doing a base job and doing a job with inspired innovation, creative achievement and profitable results ie PROGRESS!

We now have a library at the art gallery. Small but growing collection of books on various art subjects. We also have a couple of older computers we are finding uses for. So, if you have older but not too old PCs and like to donate them, we will consider their usefulness or recycle. Please don’t dump junk, we are thinking about computer art classes. Donation of art materials and frames are also welcome.

The arts are hands on for the doers of art but the arts are also a spector sport in the sense (the five senses that is) you can see, hear, taste, smell and feel the arts. Stop in during gallery hours, see what Lorain can do.

I do want to invite artist of all kinds to come join us, participate in the gallery, perhaps start a special interest group, project group or do an community art project. We are open to all the artist in Lorain County to practice and promote the arts. And don’t forget one of our goals is to help Lorain transform itself via our talents and skills into a vibrant city. Check it, if Cleveland wants to be a 24/7 hot-spot, Lorain can be the place to rest and recoop from all that. What ever the future of Lorain is, we as artist should be visualizing it, slinging about ideas and getting the reactions from residents and visitors and school kids. Why fuss?, because one thing leads to another, it might as well be something positive for Lorain.

If you have a restaurant or coffee-shop or other business, consider some original Lorain artist artwork for your walls. Buy America, buy Lorain. It might even be possible to lease artwork, rotate artwork, be an extension of the gallery. There are possibilities, we need to invest in ourselves. This becomes attractive to bigger business because  the community is vibrant, alive.

Life at the gallery is always a surprise. We were putting about in the office (during gallery hours) when a couple driving by saw the lights on and pictures and stopped by. They were Bluegrass musicians and artists. We talked for an hour, it was so cool. You should have been here to hear their story. Then a poet from Oberlin College dropped by to talk about doing some workshops. There is a lot of gotta do it energy here. You can do a lot of simple things with big effects.

Of course the big thing we aim at is helping Lorain get over being an industrial only town. We have lots of hidden talents and potentials. The arts have the potential to liberate and the Lorain Arts Council Gallery and Arts Center can be a hub of creative energy. That’s people working together to bring dollars into Lorain.  Every artist is a potential business, service, entertainment, etc. Ponder the possibilities, then drop by, talk, see the art on the walls, become a member, participate in serious fun.

We are here and on Facebook and http://www.lorainartscouncil.com. We hope to see you soon and don’t forget March 24, 2012 the Fashion Show fund raiser.

Dreams

OR donate to: Friends of Chris Ritchey
First Federal Savings & Loan Bank
3781 Oberlin Ave, Lorain 44053

New visions: Reformed Lorain Arts Council to enhance local cultural scene Morning Journal: Serving Lorain, Erie, Huron and western Cuyahoga counties.