Artist Gatherings

Lyric Art Colony

Space and Time for Artists of all painting abilities to gather ~ sit, paint & share; who could ask for anything more! The Lyric Art Colony is a group of Artists with a love and appreciation for the Arts, and in particular, painting! The is open to all painters and meets every week.

Thursdays ~ 12:00pm-2:30pm at The Lyric First Stage Art Gallery,
510 Chestnut Street, downtown Virginia
A free-will donation is sincerely appreciated!

Visual Arts Classes 2019

Watercolor Magic with Masa paper Workshop with Sarah Guy-Levar

Sarah will make these 2 days fly by while you learn to have fun and be fearless with watercolors! Masa paper can create incredibly unique textures learn how with Sarah in March. Reserve your spot today.

Saturday, March 30th, 9:00am-4:00pm & Sunday, March 31st, 9:00am-4:00pm
at The Lyric First Stage Art Gallery,
510 Chestnut Street, downtown Virginia
Cost: $225 ~ On-line registration for Watercolor Magic

Moonlight Magic Watercolor Workshop with Sarah Guy-Levar

Sarah Guy-Levar will show you how to create dramatic night scenes in watercolor. Early registration available now.

Saturday, October 12th, 9:00am-4:00pm & Sunday, October 13th, 9:00am-4:00pm
at The Lyric First Stage Art Gallery,
510 Chestnut Street, downtown Virginia
Cost: $225 ~ Early registration available for Moonlight Magic

The Lyric’s First Stage Art Gallery

The Lyric is committed to providing the space and environment for established Artists and emerging Artists alike to exhibit their work. Facilitating artistic expression while creating opportunities for economic growth for both the artist and our community is what we do. The First Stage Art Gallery has been exhibiting works by Artists from across the region and the northern US since 2006. Each month the gallery showcases a new exhibit and includes an Artist’s Reception.

Lyric’s First Stage Art Gallery hours
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday
The First Stage Art Gallery – 510 Chestnut Street
218-749-5577
firststagegallery@gmail.com

2019 Gallery Exhibits

View the Calendar for exact Dates of Exhibits.

January

The Gallery will be closed January 1st – 16th

A Mixed Exhibit, with no featured Artist, will run January 17 trough 26th

February

The scheduled Feature Artist for February hopes to reschedule at a later date.

If you haven’t been in the Lyric First Stage Gallery for awhile stop in as there is still much to see.

March

Kathy McTavish

Kathy McTavish is a media composer, cellist and installation artist whose work blends data, text, code, sound and abstract, layered moving images. McTavish has created installations for both traditional gallery spaces and for non-traditional spaces as well. She believes art has the potential to open subliminal, submerged aspects of ourselves ::: to foster reflection and transformation. Her successful year long solo exhibition, “chance” recently concluded at the Tween Museum of Arts.

April

Bonnie DuFresne

Transforming everyday objects into unique interesting creations then, often adding a touch of humor is what Bonnie’s beautiful watercolors are all about. Her work is bound to make you smile with delight as you explore the beautiful details and experience her exceptional use of color.

May

Open Water . A group exhibit Celebrating Ice-Out

Spring is here!

All the snow & ice is finally melting and the forests, rivers or lakes are transforming with the season’s change! Join us as we see Spring through the eyes of many Artists in this Annual Group Exhibit!

June

Range Fiber Arts Guild & Friends

July

Jim DeVries

DeVries, a self taught artist from Britt, is inspired by his many trips to the forests, fields and lakes of northern Minnesota. As a working naturalist and outdoor enthusiast, DeVries, works hard to create the detail necessary to make the subjects of his artwork anatomically correct. Join us so that you too can experience feature artist, Jim DeVries’s, “slice of the Northwoods placed on canvas.”

August

Iron Range Juried Exhibit . A juried exhibit of Life on the Iron Range

September

Ashley Kolka-Lee

A Duluth-based, “cut and paste” enthusiast whose creative work explores landscapes and human-built environments across Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Michigan. Her unique small-scale cut paper collages depicting the north woods are usually 3×5 to 8×10 inches before framing.

October

Thomas Anderson

Balancing between fine art and illustration, Tom is interested in making art that tells a story. “I pretty much create images that are familiar to me.” A combination of observing life, utilizing resources and tapping into personal experiences all blend together to generate high levels of enthusiasm and new ideas. He has chosen colored pencil as his medium of expression. “Colored pencil gives my work a high level of detail and realism.”

November

Small Works ~ Big Auction . Original Artwork to support the Lyric

A November 17th Gala Reception, previewing the, “Small Works,” (original artworks no larger than 12”),culminating in a, “Big Auction,” to raise funds for the Lyric’s capital campaign to create New Gallery and Performance Spaces!

December

Holiday Artist Market . Holiday Shopping Extravaganza

2019 Call to Artists

2019 – Call to Artists for Annual, “Life on the Iron Range Exhibit”

Join us as we celebrate through art, what we value most about the Iron Range during the month of August. Work, play, everyday…this is a chance to show what we’ve got to offer! Work can be 2D or 3D. Deadline for this exhibit is July 16, 2019. Artists interested in applying for this group exhibit should submit:

- A written narrative about your artwork – please include whether the work has been exhibited at another venue, (where and when), and whether the work will be for sale with approximate price points.
- Artist Statements
- Artist Bio
- Digital images of artwork(s) you would like to have in the exhibit. If it’s a work in progress send 6-8 images that are representative of the exhibition proposal. Please label images in this format: ArtistName-Title-Size-YearCompleted.jpg
- Entry fee of $5 for each proposed image. Entry Fee Link

Proposals Submitted Electronically are preferred to: firststagegallery@gmail.com. Annual Range Exhibit: DEADLINE July 16, 2019

Call for Featured Artist in 2020!

The First Stage Art Gallery is seeking proposals for Solo and Group Exhibitions for 2020

Artists interested in applying for a solo or group exhibition should submit:

Written proposal outlining the exhibition – please include whether the work has been exhibited at another venue (where and when) and whether the work will be for sale (with approximate price points)
Artist Statement(s) for all participating artists if a group proposal
Bio(s) for all participating artists
Proposal statement for exhibition
6 – 12 digital images of artist’s work that are representative of the exhibition proposal. Please label images in this format: Artist name-Title-Yearcompleted.jpg

Proposals due date: December 1, 2019.
Proposals will be reviewed and notifications will be sent to artists on or about December 26, 2019. Proposals made electroniclly are preferred to: firststagegallery@gmail.com

To print this information: Call to Artist! 2020 First Stage Gallery Exhibits

If proposals must be mailed, please make sure they will be received by December 15th. Mail to Lyric Center for the Arts, Atten: Mary, PO Box 416, Virginia, MN 55792
Questions: Contact us by e-mail to firststagegallery@gmail.com.
Note: Submissions will be requested by e-mail at later dates for two juried group exhibits in May (Open Water theme) and August (Iron Range theme.) To be included in notification, please send your e-mail address to us at firststagegallery@gmail.com

The First Stage Gallery has been exhibiting fine art from local and regional artists since 2006. To find out more about the gallery and the Lyric Center for the Arts check out https://www.lyriccenteronline.org/visual-arts/

We hope you’ll consider exhibiting your work with us next year!

Mary McReynolds, Executive Director
firststagegallery@gmail.com

To receive future E-mail notices,
please send a note to firststagegallery@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to add you to our list!

Buy Tickets & Sign up For Classes

Upcoming – Call to Artists for “Open Water” Exhibit

The First Stage Gallery will be seeking traditional and non-traditional creative expressions for an exhibit in . Submitted art must be reflective of the springtime melt of snow and ice from forests, rivers or lakes!

Proposed work for exhibition be submitted as follows:

Submit electronically to firststagegallery@gmail.com
Include contact information and a statement about why and how you create your work
Attach your bio
Attach quality digital image(s) of the piece(s) proposed for this exhibit, or representative work if piece is not currently completed. Please label images in this format: name-Title-Year completed.jpg
Do not submit links to on-line galleries or send by text.
Note if the work has been exhibited at another venue (where and when), and whether the work will be for sale with the size, price and media.
Proposals are due to be announced.
Proposals will be reviewed and notifications will be sent to artists by . . . . to be announced.

Questions: Contact Mary McReynolds 218-780-3690.

This is not a juried exhibit.
Work will be selected based on space and adherence to the Open Water theme.
All are welcome!

The First Stage Gallery ~ Lyric Center for the Arts
510 Chestnut Street
PO Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
firststagegallery@gmail.com