Jennifer Livingston, Nederland. Sophistication, even elegance, are perhaps words not generally associated with Nederland. Likewise, card tricks, familiar faces and a smattering of children may not generally be associated with art shows. Remarkably, both can exist in a single space with wine overflowing, white table cloths replete with delicate delecible hors devours and wafting live jazz tunes, to create a unque warmth, charm and savoir faire worldliness. All were sweetly on display at the 2019 Art at the Center last Thursday, October 3rd, at the Nederland Community Center.

The show is a long standing labor of love for local artist Annie Thayer and the Community Center staff and volunteers. It takes about a week to put together with the help of twelve volunteers. It was open to all comers, and all submissions provided they could be hung and twenty one local artists were represented. The variety of art was thrilling. Thayer herself is an accomplished watercolor artist and teacher who is inspired to see her friends and students “blossom and expand their creativity to realize the artist in themselves.”

Indeed, Annemarie Fruth was inspired by Thayer to reach past a fear of ruining a beautiful beginning and finish a deeply colored painting of an iris for the show. Her results were satisfying and masterful. 

Nearby hung intimate sketches done years ago my Max Krimmel, an accomplished crafter with work in several museums including the Denver Art Museum and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Krimmel revealed craft as the “mathematics of art” and freely shared ideas and tips with interested ears. 

Many photographs were on display as well from somehow delicate and yet intense photos of rusty painted metals by Serene Karplus to Loren Merrill’s beautiful wildlife photography. Merrill enjoyed first place for the people’s choice award especially for a photo of a grizzly bear entitled “Looking for Lunch” capturing beautiful colors and movement such that a viewer could easily feel themselves on that bank in British Columbia. He’s a Bostonian, trained in ecophysiology,  and recently relocated to Nederland with his wife who is a dancer and biologist. 

Just downstairs, swift hummingbirds were captured close up and so alive their whirring wings could be heard as Kathy Bonich explained how she carefully plants and tends her garden to attract the lovely creatures to her lense. 

Meanwhile, Brent Warren’s socks somehow matched his magical cards as he cleverly entertained children and adults alike beneath an array of prints from whimsical art created in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Leslie Rothman hung her creative and original collages and was appreciated as the second place recipient. Brent Warren won third place for his unique drawings and paintings with comments such as “the movement in his work is eye-catching, and it brings a smile to my face. Dori Stickles won a Special Award for her beautiful watercolor paintings that combined amazing detail with beautiful emotion. One commenter was “mesmerized by the crisp sharp lines and stark yet glowing beauty.”

Even the moon and Jupier partook in the show as they hung bright against a purple backdrop warmed to the west by the slow departure of peach and copper. 

The three People’s Choice

awards went to:

First place: Loren Merrill for his beautiful photography. One person loved the colors of the water and the movement in “Looking for Lunch”—his photo of the grizzly bear.

Second place: Leslie Rothman for her creative and original collages.

Third place: Brent Warren for his unique drawings/paintings—“the movement in his work is eye-catching, and it bring a smile to my face.”

Special Award: Dori Stickles for her beautiful watercolor paintings that combined amazing detail with beautiful emotion. One commenter was “mesmerized by the crisp sharp lines and stark yet glowing beauty.”

Other artists received good feedback as well. Kathy Banich’s photos of the hummingbirds were a highlight, as were Gail Pederson’s brightly colored paintings. The quiet, simple beauty of Jim Disinger’s water lilies drew people in. Theresa Jordan’s photo of the hawk in flight is amazing. And many loved Annemarie Fruth’s beautiful irises, and Serene Karplus’ rusty bullet hole photos.

(Originally published in the October 10, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)