New Lakeside art gallery a place to gather
<p>"Ready for Take-off," a copper and forged steel heron created by Darrell Gray, stands on the center display in the main room at ARTrageous while co-owner Dee Kirk-Boon makes phone calls from the front desk.</p>
Community.
That’s the word Dee Kirk-Boon and Debbie Spaulding used over and over again to describe their vision of ARTrageous, Lakeside’s newest art gallery.
To the left of the front door is an open sitting area with couches. An artist’s workshop where they host classes every month is visible behind the counter in the back of the store. In between is an array of locally created paintings, cards, sculptures, pottery, purses, soap and everything in between.
“It’s a little bit of a connected hub, if you want to call it,” Kirk-Boon said. “Because we really don’t have a community center or place to gather.”
Their goal is to create a space where the community feels comfortable coming to look at art, learn about art, work on art or just hang out. They offer store guests complimentary coffee and tea and host classes from furniture making to watercolors taught by local artists.
Kirk-Boon, Spaulding, Julie Wulf and Barb Miller took off on the idea, after it was initiated over a year ago during a gathering of 19 local artists. Lakeside, Somers and some Bigfork artists wanted to create a spot where they could collectively show and sell their art. While there are two other galleries in Lakeside, they are single artist galleries.
“We thought it would be a great addition to the community,” Spaulding said. “You see, the talent is already here, but they don’t have a place to show.”
The original thought was to have a cooperative, with each artist who sold goods in the store as a partner.
After some discussion, the four decided to open a shop themselves and try to maintain a co-op style atmosphere.
Kirk-Boon said all 19 artists who sparked the idea are displaying pieces in ARTrageous. Lael Gray, Susan Birky, Tina Jo Lerum and Sarah Dramstad are just a few of the nearly 30 artists they have on display in the store. Wulf’s silk paintings and watercolors, Spaulding’s leatherwork, Miller’s embroidery and Kirk-Boon’s re-purposed items and antiques are also on display.
Prices range from $5 to $5,000.
“People can have original pieces of art and items that are affordable,” Kirk-Boon said. “Even for the year-round people.”
ARTrageous moves to their seven-day-a-week summer hours on May 23. Hours will be Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their grand opening celebration is May 25 and 26.
Wulf hosts the next art workshop on May 19. It’s a silk painting workshop and will cost $50 for a four-hour class with all materials included.