THE ICE FEST COMETH

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – CLICK HERE!!***

4th Annual Ice Festival Lewiston Auburn

Location: Bates Mill Complex – Fountain Park Courtyard and Bates Mill Atrium

A Fundraiser for L/A Arts

WANT A FREE TICKET TO GENERAL ADMISSION ICE FESTIVAL? VOLUNTEER!

Fill Out Volunteer Form HERE – We’ll contact you!

Ice Festival L/A is back, and with some new highlights, our fourth annual event is shaping up to be an outstanding celebration of what our Twin Cities have to offer, in the heart of our Maine winter!  Ice Festival 2016 would not be possible without all our local corporate sponsors and amazing partners: Platz Associates, the Bates Mill Development Co., L.L.C., Mac’s Grill, The Green Ladle, and Fishbones American Grill. Thank you for supporting the arts and culture in L/A!!!

Ice Festival L/A: Fundraiser for L/A Arts – VIP

Friday, February 19th – 5-9 p.m. VIP tickets are $25, advance or $30 at the door (if available).

Due to the success of VIP in previous years, L/A Arts is delighted to announce that VIP will take place over the entire first night of Ice Festival! It will include free tickets for all sponsors, and a limited supply of general VIP tickets will be made available to the public for purchase.  In addition to all the features of the general event, the VIP will feature 6-7 high quality restaurants offering freshly prepared food samples from their staff, a visual arts gallery, live music, and ice carving demonstration. After VIP, general admission will commence extending similar offerings than Friday evening, and a short changeover of food will take place inside the Atrium, which will reopen at 6:00 p.m.

Ice Festival L/A: Fundraiser for L/A Arts – General Admission

Saturday, Feb 20th – 5 – 9 p.m. General Admission tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door (if available).

The Ice Festival 2016 general admission events feature over 15 ice sculptures, ice bars as well as a giant igloo in the Bates Mill Fountain Park Courtyard. Live ice carving demonstrations will take place, a DJ will spin contemporary and classic music, and specialty food trucks will serve those interested in purchasing food. Inside the Bates Mill Atrium, local non-profit culinary arts school The Green Ladle and some of the best local restaurants in L/A will serve patrons small samples of their local bites of food (3 food tickets are included with your purchase), and live music from a wide range of fantastic local and regional bands will play.

Ice Festival Family Day

Sunday, February 21st 11-2 p.m. Under 18 – FREE – Ticket Required 18+ – $2.50 in advance, $5 at door

Family Day will cap off Ice Festival 2015 with outdoor winter games and prizes, live ice carving demonstrations and family entertainment, and winter treats including hot chocolate and sweets.

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Day 1 Date: Friday, February 19th 2016 Time: VIP ALL NIGHT – NEW!* 5 – 9 p.m. Location: Fountain Plaza at Bates Mill Complex Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at door (if available) admission includes three hors d’oeuvres tickets**

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Day 2 Date: Saturday, February 20th 2016 Time: 5 – 9 p.m. Tickets***General Admission Cost: General $15 advance/$20 at door (if available) admission includes three hors d’oeuvres tickets** Location: Fountain Plaza at Bates Mill Complex

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Day 3 – Family Day Date: Sunday, February 21st, 2016 Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm Location: Fountain Plaza at Bates Mill Complex Cost: Free Children under 18, $2.50 Adults (Advance) $5 Door

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Want more specific updates, including music, food and bars? Follow/like us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/IceFestivalOfLewistonAuburn ICE FESTIVAL PARTNERS:  

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Arts and culture prizes available as L/A Arts and ACLA launch region-wide public survey campaign

Lewiston-Auburn, ME – November 18, 2015 – L/A Arts and Arts & Culture Lewiston Auburn (ACLA) need your help. Because they believe arts and culture are essential to our quality of life, they’re developing a plan—Cultural Plan LA—to better connect arts and culture to our community. These partner organizations know that a plan like this means little if it doesn’t have as many local voices weighing in as possible; thus, they’re seeking insights from any and all LA-region residents, students, and employees.   If you’re an artist or craftsperson, or you work for an arts or culture business or organization, you might qualify to complete multiple surveys. That’s good news for you, because each completed survey enters you into a drawing for prizes from local arts and culture organizations!

More info and surveys: http://reinholtconsulting.com/lewiston-auburn/

Individual surveys:

• Public Opinion: http://reinholtconsulting.com/la-public/<
• Artists: http://reinholtconsulting.com/la-artist/
• Arts and Culture Businesses / Organizations: http://reinholtconsulting.com/la-business/

Prefer to share your thoughts by hand? You can find hardcopies and drop-off boxes in the following locations:

• Auburn City Hall
• Auburn Public Library
• Gritty’s Pub
• Lewiston City Hall
• Lewiston Public Library
• Forage Market
• Wicked Illustrations

This work is supported by the Maine Arts Commission’s “Creative Communities = Economic Development” (CCED) Phase I grant, the City of Auburn, and the City of Lewiston. L/A Arts is the Twin Cities’ designated local arts agency. Since 1973, the mission of L/A Arts has been to contribute to the vibrancy and progress of Lewiston-Auburn by developing sustainable and impactful arts programs and supporting local arts and cultural institutions. Learn more at laarts.org.   Arts & Culture L/A (ACLA) is a group of 15 local organizations whose mission is to develop, advocate and promote public arts and cultural experiences. Learn more at artsandculturela.org. Reinholt Consulting helps to fortify cultural organizations by acting as a guide through the comprehensive cultural planning process that leads to the discovery of top priorities and action plans. Learn more at reinholtconsulting.com.   Maine Arts Commission is an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Their mission is to encourage and stimulate public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and cultural programs of our state; expand the state’s cultural resources; and encourage and assist freedom of artistic expression for the well being of the arts, to meet the needs and aspirations of persons in all parts of the state. Learn more at mainearts.maine.gov.   City of Auburn and City of Lewiston have both shared matching financial support as a sign of their belief in the Cultural Plan LA project. www.auburnmaine.gov/ | http://www.ci.lewiston.me.us/.

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  L/A RATTLE – Public Sculpture Project: L/A Arts would like to thank the partners, individual contributors, corporate sponsors and foundations for making the L/A Rattle sculpture a reality.  In addition, it is grateful to local artist Charlie Hewitt for his passion for L/A, wonderful artistry, hardwork, and generosity to realize this public art piece. L/A Rattle sculpture ribbon cutting ceremony (From Left to Right) Matt Leonard, President & CEO – Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, Jonathan Labonte – Mayor of Auburn, Joshua Vink – Executive Director of L/A Arts, Charlie Hewitt – Artist L/A Rattle, and Robert MacDonald – Mayor of Lewiston UPDATE ON OFFICE RENOVATIONS: We’re making our way down Lisbon Street back to our home office! Our permanent space at 221 Lisbon Street is currently being renovated. In the meantime, we’re in a temporary space right beside Paul’s Clothing & Shoe Store at 277 Lisbon Street in Room #9. Come visit us! Our office phone number is still the same as always. 782-7228. We will have an open house celebration in our new office when it is completed! More details to follow. Thank you for your understanding!

The 4th Annual 

 

www.icefestla.com

A Fundraiser for L/A Arts 

Largest Ice Festival in the state of Maine

Location – Bates Mill Complex: Fountain Park Courtyard and Atrium (150 Mill Street, Lewiston)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – CLICK HERE!

Or at the L/A Arts box office: 782-7228

Keep up to date on our facebook page:

www.facebook.com/IceFestivalOfLewistonAuburn

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Friday, Feb. 19 – VIP Event (21+) 5-9 p.m.

$25 advance/$30 door (if available; includes three hors d’oeuvres tickets)

Saturday, Feb. 20 – General Admission (21+) 5:00-9:00 p.m.

$15 admission/$20 at door (includes three hors d’oeuvres tickets)

 

 

Sunday, Feb. 22 – Family Day

 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Children under 18 – FREE  

Adults 18+ $2.50 in advance/$5.00 at door

Live Music

Winter Treats

Games & Activities

 

Features include:

• 15+ Ice sculptures & 2 Ice Bars

• Ice carving demonstrations

• Life-size igloo

• Live music (Inside Mill Atrium)

• Food samples from the Green Ladle & local restaurants for general event and specialized food prepared fresh by staff for VIP

• Food trucks on site

Last year, our Saturday night event sold out, so get your tickets now, and don’t be left out OF the cold!!!

PARTNERS

 

SEASON SPONSORS:

L/A Arts has started off the fall season by working fulfill an organization goal, to round out it’s board with cross sector members of the community who are passionate about L/A Arts and willing to add their distinctive expertise.

The organization proudly welcomes these following new members:

John Blanchette: September, 2014

L/A Arts is delighted to announce the addition of new board member John Blanchette to the organization.  John has deep roots in the L/A community, and brings an outstanding combination of business and arts related experience. “He knows and cares greatly about the arts and culture in the Twin Cities, is well respected, and will be a big asset for us,” says Board Chair Judy Vardamis.  Born and raised in Lewiston, John is a graduate of Lewiston High School.  He obtained his BA from Bates College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in French, and he then obtained a second degree in Mathematics as well as his Masters Degree in Education from USM.   In 1997, he became a commercial insurance producer for Champoux Insurance, where he has worked for 17 years.  He is now a Certified Insurance Counselor and he especially enjoys educating all clients, but especially arts-related groups, on their very particular commercial insurance needs.  Well-known in the LA Arts community, John has over 30+ years of experience in theater, having worked with several local community and high school theater programs.  He is probably seen most often either acting or directing at LA’s Community Little Theatre. Other artistic endeavors include coaching the Bates College Competitive Ballroom Dance Team and being the owner/instructor for Two To Tango Ballroom Studio, here in Lewiston-Auburn.

John Blanchette – Born and raised in Lewiston, John is a graduate of Lewiston High School.  He obtained his BA from Bates College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in French, and he then obtained a second degree in Mathematics as well as his Masters Degree in Education from USM.   In 1997, he became a commercial insurance producer for Champoux Insurance, where he has worked for 17 years.  He is now a Certified Insurance Counselor and he especially enjoys educating all clients, but especially arts-related groups, on their very particular commercial insurance needs.  Well-known in the LA Arts community, John has over 30+ years of experience in theater, having worked with several local community and high school theater programs.  He is probably seen most often either acting or directing at LA’s Community Little Theatre. Other artistic endeavors include coaching the Bates College Competitive Ballroom Dance Team and being the owner/instructor for Two To Tango Ballroom Studio, here in Lewiston-Auburn. 

Denise Scammon – October 2014

L/A Arts is delighted to announce the addition of new board member Denise Scammon to the organization.  “Denise’s strong background in marketing, design and journalism will be great assets for our organization,” says Board Chair Judy Vardamis. “Her spirit of volunteerism with the many events and non-profits she is part of in the area are a tribute to her passion for L/A.  We are elated to have her.”

Denise serves as the special sections editor for the Sun Journal’s advertising department and entertainment editor for its newsroom.  She has worked in marketing communications, design and journalism for 15 years, including four years in the marketing department at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.  She has volunteered as historian, grant writer, fund raiser and publicist for the Woman’s Literary Union of Androscoggin County and also acts as tour guide at the historic Foss Mansion and hostess of Bunco and prom gown-giveaway events. She has a bachelor’s degree in the Arts & Humanities from USM LAC. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, cooking, writing, fishing, playing corn hole, genealogy and history.  Scammon lives in Auburn with her husband.  They have two adult children and two Himalayan cats.

Scammon will work with the board to increase audience engagement between L/A Arts and the community, and also fund raise for its various programs which include: Arts in Education, Artwalk Lewiston/Auburn, Ice Festival L/A, Arts and Culture L/A, and its Public Art Sculpture Project.

Rene Minnis: November, 2014

L/A Arts is excited to announce that it had added its third new board member this fall with the addition of Rene Minnis to the organization.  “We have made it a priority to grow our board with members of the community from across sectors who are passionate about the direction we are going in, and Rene is a perfect fit for us,” says Board Chair Judy Vardamis.  “Her background as a successful small business owner in the arts coupled with her interest in the value of Arts in Education will assist us in many ways, and we are elated to have her.”  Rene Minnis is a full time professional photographer.  She has been in business since 1998 and provides commercial photography services for many businesses and organizations in Maine.  She also specializes in high-end portraiture and wedding photography.  Rene has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Southern Maine and is looking forward to using this knowledge to promote the Arts in the Lewiston and Auburn communities.  In her free time Rene enjoys meeting new people, being out and about, knitting, and spending time with friends and family.  She currently resides in Sabattus with her dog Cubby.

L/A Arts is looking for additional board and committee members to support its core programs: Artwalk L/A, Ice Festival L/A, Arts in Education, Arts and Culture L/A, and its Public Art Sculpture Project.  Looking for more information or interested in becoming a part of this growing organization?  Go to: www.laarts.org, call 207-782-7228, or email: [email protected].

 

THANK YOU FOR A MEMORABLE 2014 ARTWALK L/A SEASON!

L/A Arts would like to send a special thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors, artists and participating businesses for an outstanding summer season!

If you attended one of our Artwalk events, if you could take a couple of minutes and fill out our year end survey we would greatly appreciate it!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/laartsartwalksurvey

This will help us continue to raise awareness around the value of this event for our Twin Cities.

See you next May!

ARTS IN EDUCATION

To kick off our year of Arts in Education in L/A, L/A Arts is holding a series of FREE professional development workshop for local teachers.

If you know a teacher who would be interested in an arts in education experience, pass along this information!

Fall 2014 Professional Development Workshops

L/A Arts & Lewiston/Auburn Public Schools:

In the fall of 2014, L/A Arts is proud to offer five FREE Arts in Education professional development workshops to Lewiston/Auburn public school teachers. These classes will focus on art making experiences for teachers combined with basic strategies around arts integration in their classrooms.

The workshops will be led by professional teaching artists and administrators from L/A Arts. They will be capped at 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis, so sign up quickly! Registration begins September 22nd through L/A Arts at the link below, or by calling 207-782-7228. Please note: These workshops are not for the general public, only for teachers/ed techs currently working in L/A public schools. Also, participants are allowed to sign up for only 1 workshop.

For more information on these workshops go to: https://laarts.org/?page_id=460

To sign up for one of the following workshop dates, click on this doodle registration link, or call L/A Arts at: 207-782-7228.

https://doodle.com/nk6n8r2zbcznzskz

• Tuesday, October 14th 3:45 – 5:15 – “Creative literacy – get up and read.” Facilitator – John Holdridge. Lewiston Regional Technical Center Room V120
• Tuesday, October 21st: 3:45-5:15pm – “Poetry – engaging students in creative writing & speaking.” Facilitator Joshua Vink. Lewiston Regional Technical Center Room V120
• Tuesday, October 28th: 3:45-5:15pm – “Puppet film adaptations” Facilitator – Ian Bannon. Lewiston Regional Technical Center Room V120
• Tuesday, November 4th: 3:45-5:15pm – “Weaving – One line leads to another: weaving your words”- Facilitator Sarah Haskell. Auburn Public Library Androscoggin Community Room (Downstairs)
• Tuesday, November 18th: 3:45-5:15pm – “West African drumming – rhythm & songs” – Facilitator Annegret Baier. Auburn Public Library Androscoggin Community Room (Downstairs)

 

 

Teaching Artist Sarah Haskell at Longley Elementary School 2014

 

The final last Friday Artwalk of the summer season! 
Friday, September 26th, 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. 

Lisbon Street, Lewiston

www.artwalklewistonauburn.com  

Featuring:

• 20 + Art galleries

• Special exhibits & live performances

• Food & drink tasting 

L/A Arts is proud to announce that Maine Marimba Ensemble will play Artwalk September!

7 p.m. Dufresne Plaza (Callahan Hall, Lewiston Public Library – Rain Location)
http://www.mainemarimbaensemble.com/

Maine Marimba Ensemble¹s repertoire draws from the incredibly joyful and deeply moving traditional and contemporary music of Zimbabwe. Be prepared to dance. Be prepared to smile. The largest of their set of seven handcrafted marimbas is so big that the person playing it needs to stand on a bench to reach it.

LEWISTON – L/A Arts’ Artwalk September 26th will cap a wonderful summer season in downtown Lewiston.  L/A Arts would like to extend a special thank you to the local participating downtown businesses, volunteers, and sponsors without whom these events would not be possible.  L/A Arts and partners are excited to bring the L/A community a great lineup for the final month.  A diverse selection of local visual arts at over 20 galleries will be the backbone of the event.  Two such highlights include the Boys & Girls Club (L/A Arts – 221 Lisbon St.) with their annual photo exhibit, and the New England School of Metalwork (Argo Marketing – 64 Lisbon Street) with their first showing on Lisbon Street.  For live music, Artwalk is excited to bring home the season with the powerful and upbeat sounds of Maine Marimba Ensemble (7 p.m., Dufresne Plaza), and the classical music of the Midcoast Quartet (5:30-6:30 p.m., Lamey-Wellehan Gallery 110 Lisbon St.).  Last month, L/A Arts was proud to sell 7 pieces of art, and hopes to reach its goal of selling 10 pieces in September, all of the proceeds of which go directly to our great local artists.  Make sure to check out our online artist catalog of artwork on the Artwalk website (www.artwalklewistonauburn.com) and keep up with all the details on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtWalkLewistonAuburn

Come celebrate a great season, walk with us one more time!

Special Galleries:

• The New England School of Metalwork exhibit (Argo Marketing – 64 Lisbon Street)
• Boys & Girls Club of Lewiston/Auburn (L/A Arts 221 Lisbon Street)
• Art Teachers Gallery from the Lewiston Public Schools (Androscoggin Bank – 30 Lisbon Street)
• Featured artistry from Stanley Hollenbeck (Cardboard sculptures). Work by Adam Robertson.  Also – Julie Gammon – Doing henna tattoos for $1/minute. (Downtown Handmade & Vintage – 182 Lisbon St.)

Live Music:

• Midcoast Quartet (from Midcoast Symphony Orchestra) – 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Lamey-Wellehan Gallery – 110 Lisbon Street)
• Maine Marimba Ensemble  – 7:00 p.m. (Dufresne Plaza, Lisbon Street -Callahan Hall, Lewiston Public Library – Rain Location)
• The Juke Joint Devils – 8:00 p.m. – (She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s, 115 Middle Street)

September, 2014 Businesses/Venues:

She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s (115 Middle St.), J. Dostie Jewelers (4 Lisbon St.), Gateway Window Exhibit (11 Lisbon St.), Androscoggin Bank (30 Lisbon St.), Argo Marketing (64 Lisbon Street), Lyceum Gallery (49 Lisbon St.), Poliquin Hearing & Optical Window Exhibit (50 Lisbon Street), The Vault (84 Lisbon Street), The Cupcakery/Rainbow Bikes (97 Lisbon Street), Lamey Wellehan Gallery (110 Lisbon St.), Lamey Window Exhibit (113 Lisbon St.), Maine Democratic Office (124 Lisbon Street), Forage Market (180 Lisbon St.), Chill Yoga (2^nd Floor-178 Lisbon St), Downtown Handmade & Vintage (182 Lisbon St.), Life Ideals (3^rd Floor- 178 Lisbon), Hardy Wolf & Downing (186 Lisbon St.), Kimball Street Studio (191 Lisbon St.) Dube’s Flowers Window Exhibit (195 Lisbon St.), Lewiston Public Library (200 Lisbon St.), L/A Arts (221 Lisbon St.), New Beginnings Outreach Program Window Exhibit (245 Lisbon St.)

The New England School of Metalwork exhibit (Argo Marketing – 64 Lisbon Street)

The New England School of Metalwork was started in 2000 by Blacksmith and Industrial Technology Teacher Dereck Glaser. A nonprofit craft school, NESM specializes in metalsmithing classes for every skill level. Courses in blacksmithing, knifemaking and welding draw students from all over the globe. Workshops include forged furniture, architectural ironwork,  forged botanical forms, historical reproductions, handmade kitchen knives and much more. NESM prides itself in offering some of the finest metalsmithing instruction in the world, with a constantly rotating roster of national and local artists as well as classes taught by staff.

Additional Live Music:

Midcoast Quartet (from Midcoast Symphony Orchestra) – 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Lamey Wellehan Gallery – 110 Lisbon Street)

The Midcoast quartet is a group of principal string players from the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being dedicated players, Karen Jung, cello, is Music Librarian at Bowdoin College, Heather Cook, viola, is a busy mom living in Durham with her doctor husband, two sons and a menagerie of animals, Kate Gray, violin, is a violin teacher in Bowdoinham, and Mary Hunter, violin, teaches music at Bowdoin College.

She Doesn’t Like Guthries: 8 p.m.

Friday, September 26th, The Juke Joint Devils will perform at She Doesn’t Like Guthries. These guys take you back to a time when small house bands played from the soul, on real instruments, could swing like crazy, and anything could happen on stage. The Juke Joint Devils play a mix of West Coast and Chicago Blues, with a bit of spice from New Orleans and elsewhere. The band features International Blues Challenge finalists Tommy O’Connell on harp and vocals and Sean Bowman standup bass, Johnny Moran on drums, and with Stefan Iris on guitar.

L/A Arts would like to thank the 2014 Artwalk Sponsors: Underwriting Sponsor:

Additional Sponsors:

Be part of the Artwalk movement to celebrate the arts in Lewiston & Auburn. Interested in submitting art?  Volunteering?  Need more information? Contact L/A Arts: 207-782-7228 or email Artwalk: [email protected] Find us on Facebook or visit our websites:

www.laarts.org

www.artwalklewistonauburn.com

www.icefestla.com

www.artsandculturela.org