BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The Lander County Art Association has been bringing artists together since 1985, said organization President Jonie Davenport. It is a non-profit group with 12 current members.
The art association consists of people who love to paint and work in many different mediums, said Davenport. Members oil paint, water color, draw folk art paintings on gourds, draw in charcoal and work with colored pencils, and also practice photography and wheel-thrown ceramics.
"The purpose of the Lander County Art Association is to support the arts and the arts in education," said Davenport. "Each year, the organization awards a scholarship to a graduating senior in Lander County. The recipient is chosen based on their intended field of study as it relates to the arts. The art association also considers the information supplied in the application submitted by the student."
The $500 scholarship is paid in two installments, with $250 paid per semester. After the second semester, the art association considers renewing the scholarship each year the recipient remains enrolled in a higher learning institution, with the requirements that the student's area of study remains focused on the arts. The recipient must re-apply each year.
The organization is mainly funded through two community carnivals - one held in the spring and the other held in the fall in conjunction with the Lander County Fair.
Currently, the group is displaying artwork at Battle Mountain General Hospital as requested by hospital CEO Phil Hanna, said Davenport. There are around 11 paintings on display and the group will be adding more as space permits, she said. The artwork was put up in the hallway outside of the main reception area in the spring of 2011. The paintings will stay up indefinitely and be rotated periodically, said Davenport.
The organization hosts around three to four workshops per year, featuring artists that are paid to teach different mediums. The cost is usually $10 for association members of six months or more and $25 for non-members.
Monthly meetings are held to discuss club business and share ideas as well as for the members to paint together. The group meets on the third Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. in the art room at Battle Mountain High School. After the discussions are held, members paint together until around 2 p.m. Davenport would like to thank art teacher Jill Paul for allowing the group use of her room.
Currently, all of the organization's members are from Battle Mountain but anyone is welcome to join, said Davenport. In addition to Davenport serving as president, the other officers are Joyce Gronning, who serves as treasurer, Dorothy Bailey, who serves as secretary, and Sherrill Keenan, who serves as vice president.
Davenport has been a member of the organization for 24 years. She joined the group two weeks after moving to Battle Mountain and said she loves painting as well as all other forms of art.
Keenan and Gronning are both charter members of the association. The organization is looking for new members. Anyone who would like to join can contact Davenport at (775) 635-2865.
"A love and interest in art is all that is required to join the organization," said Davenport. "Anyone with an interest in any type of art is always welcome, but watch out, we will put a paint brush in your hand."
Annual dues are $10 per individual and $15 per family.
Davenport not only serves as president of the art association, she is also the vice president of the Battle Mountain Arts Presenters. She said the focus of the art association is to support people interested in their own artistic talents while encouraging new artists along with a public awareness of the visual arts. The arts presenters differ in that their focus is on bringing various performing artists into the community.
There have been times when both organizations have collaborated such as when art association members volunteered to teach a summer art class for Battle Mountain youth and the arts presenters provided the art supplies.
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