Albert Lea Art Center showcases its annual all-member show

The Albert Lea Art Center is opening 2020 with its annual all-member show.

This year the show will feature work from at least 25 different artists, all members of the Art Center. Mediums range from drawing and painting to sculpting, ceramics and jewelry, among others.

“It showcases our members because we’re a nonprofit and it’s a way to thank them for being members as well,” said Charlene Marley, the arts administrator for the Art Center.

Art Center Artistic Director Beth Tostenson said the show gives new members or newer artists a chance to get into their mediums and experience a gallery showing. Tostenson said she exhibited one of her paintings first in a previous all-member show, with some people not even knowing she was a painter at the time.

“That inspired me to go on,” she said. “The first time you display, if someone says something positive … it’s a good way to get novices going.”

About six new members will be part of the all-member show, and Marley said there have been 15 new members in total since the Art Center moved to its Broadway location. The Art Center is always looking for new members, and those interested can stop in to talk with an Art Center member about joining. Art Center members get the benefit of being kept up to date on goings on at the Art Center and being able to sell their creations through the Art Center gift shop. The Art Center also partners with The Bean coffee shop in Wells as part of its outreach.

A variety of mediums will be on display at The Albert Lea Art Center’s all-member show, including drawing, painting and sculpting, – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

“We try to help promote them,” Tostenson said of the Art Center’s members. “There’s lots of advantages to being a member.

“We’re always looking for new members and for people interested in volunteering.”

The all-member show will have a gallery open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Art Center, 101 S. Broadway in downtown Albert Lea. The show will be up through Feb. 15 at the Art Center, which is regularly open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

If you go

What: The Albert Lea Art Center’s all-member show

When: gallery open house is 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday; show is open through Feb. 15

Where: The Albert Lea Art Center, 101 S. Broadway in downtown Albert Lea

How much: it is free to visit the Art Center