September is going to open with a change in the air.
The long blaze of summer is softening, and last night’s thunder and lightning felt like a signal that the season is turning. The days are growing shorter, the edges of heat are rounding off, and autumn is beginning to stir. School has started in Lander, with students finding their rhythm of learning and growth once more. At the Art Center, we feel that same rhythm moving through our walls, a reminder that each new season carries its own momentum and possibility.
Red Desert Audubon Art Show
This is the final week to experience the Red Desert Audubon Art Show at the Art Center. Our gallery is alive with the work of friends and neighbors, each piece carrying its own voice through canvas, paper, ceramics, fiber, and more. If you have not stopped in yet, now is the time.
On Thursday, September 4 from 6–8pm, we will gather for a casual evening of final voting for the People’s Choice awards. Cast your ballot, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the remarkable talent that has filled our walls this summer.
It has been grounding to be surrounded by this collection of work that speaks so closely to our own lives. The flora and fauna of the Red Desert are more than subjects for art, they are companions in the landscape we share, inspiring us as fellow inhabitants of this remarkable place.
Guns Boots & Brands – Kiwanis Youth Fundraiser
Our next exhibition brings with it both art and purpose. The Kiwanis Youth Fundraiser, known throughout Lander as Guns, Boots & Brands, is about to fill our gallery with a progressive show running through September and October. Artists from across the community will share their work, leading up to a night of voting on October 17 and the full fundraising event on October 24.
We are proud not only to host the art, but to play a role in supporting the work of the Kiwanis of Lander. Year after year they maximize the quality of youth programs and activities in our town, ensuring that every child has the chance to grow, learn, and find their place in the world. Few ideals are as important as championing opportunities for young people, and we are honored to stand beside this effort.
To learn more or find out how you can participate, visit landerartcenter.com/gbb2025
Fall Classes
As the air cools, our studios are heating up with creative energy. This fall brings a wide range of opportunities to dive into something new, sharpen your skills, or simply enjoy the company of fellow makers.
We are especially excited to welcome artist Lander Burton for a set of open-media plein air workshops that invite you to explore the landscape in your own style.
Our October Mosaics Workshop has already filled, and while we are thrilled for those participants, it is also a reminder: classes fill quickly, and reading each newsletter ensures you never miss the next chance.
There is still space in our Watercolor and Oil Exploration courses beginning in early and mid-September. These foundational courses build your confidence with brush and color under the guidance of artist Lander Burton, whose experience and insight bring both technique and inspiration to every session with the support of a community of fellow learners.
Art After School launches in October with more offerings than ever before, giving young artists a chance to create, experiment, and grow. We cannot overstate how much we love seeing the spark of discovery in these afternoons, when students try new materials, stretch their imaginations, and begin to see themselves as artists.
For those drawn to clay, our Introduction to the Pottery Wheel continues and begins a new session in October and already has only two spots left! Later this fall we will add an advanced option for more seasoned potters.
This fall we are thrilled to introduce The Art of Performance, a six-week acting workshop led by Susan Streater, one of our own board members and a Broadway veteran. Open to ages 16 and up, the class will guide participants through audition techniques, cold readings, scene work, and performance skills in a supportive and focused environment.
We are also celebrating the success of our recent Stone Pendant Jewelry class with Toni Chiaramonte, which was nothing short of inspiring. More jewelry classes are already being planned, and we cannot wait to share them.
Art takes many forms, and this season words are finding their place alongside canvas and clay. The Bookmarked! Literary Festival is just around the corner, and the Lander Art Center is proud to sponsor the Youth Writing Contest, inviting young voices to bring their stories to life through flash fiction.
This partnership celebrates the power of words to connect us, challenge us, and spark imagination. We are excited to stand with Bookmarked! as they host their annual festival, and to champion the next generation of writers right here in our community.
Learn more about the contest and festival at Bookmarked!
The first turns of autumn remind us that nothing stays still for long. The light shifts, the days shorten, and with every change comes new reasons to gather, to create, and to celebrate the work of our community. We are grateful for each person who walks through our doors, whether to make, to look, to listen, or simply to be present.
As the season deepens, we invite you to keep finding your place here. Come see the final days of the Red Desert Audubon Art Show, join us for People’s Choice voting on September 4, explore a fall class, or mark your calendar for Guns Boots & Brands.
However you take part, know that your presence helps keep the Art Center alive with possibility.
Sponsored post paid for by Lander Art Center.