Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. The art community in Nederland is fast creating a hands-on local event for people interested in trying various mediums and techniques, guided by artists. Rather than just displaying their work, artists are showing people how they use their tools to create the work that hangs on the walls or nestles in display cases. This program drew a large crowd at the summer Art at the Center.

Local painter Nancy Kirkendall showed Art at the Center visitors how to work with acrylic paint. It didn’t take long for adults and children to put the colors to the canvas.

Sculptor Laura Fisher demonstrated imprinting plant leaves onto rolled-out clay, an art that fascinated dozens of people as the designs of nature came to life, ready to be fired.

Glass artist Bruce Miller painted a sheet of glass that had been melted onto a rusted metal filigree hanger in his usual bold, brilliant style.

Pastel artist Virginia Unseld ventured into a different look as visitors watched her fill a canvas with two dancers and inside light and shadows, a change from her award-winning landscapes.

These demonstrations took place in the community meeting room of the Nederland Community Center last Thursday night, May 28. Artwork by 23 artists filled the hallways and upstairs reception room. The Art at the Center summer show reception was a crowd pleaser, allowing those who came to enjoy the art to also participate in the creation of their own art.

At the Center, Art Committee Co-chairmen Tracy Brewer and Annie Thayer were pleased with the turnout. One of the features of the event was a silent auction with artists’ works available for irresistibly discounted prices.

Lora Smith of Gunbarrel came to Nederland to visit her daughter and granddaughter. She fell in love with a painting of aspens by Nancy Kirkendall and carried it out at the end of the reception, looking like someone who just got a great deal. “I have a new sun room and this will really brighten it up.”

While art lovers talked to the artists, they also filled out cards voting for the People’s Choice favorites.

Marie Channer’s powerful paintings of horses and dancers stopped in graceful motion was the hands-down first place winner. Her detailed portrait of a cowboy coming out of his saddle on a bucking bronco made the viewer grimace at the impending landing.

Jan Reed came in second place; her Utah watercolors and her magnificent Big Tree was mentioned often for her use of vivid earth colors.

Third place People’s Choice was Nancy Kirkendall’s bee series: acrylic paintings detailing the life of bees in many environments. The series is a celebration of nature as well as a plea to everyone to save the birds and the bees. Kirkendall says 20 percent of the sale of the paintings will go to Bee Safe Boulder, an organization that is working to save Boulder Bees.

The show will be on display through the summer.