Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WANTED: 4,000 square feet of donated indoor space, first floor. Must have parking space for 10 to 15 vehicles. Downtown Warsaw preferred. Would be willing to locate in Winona Lake. Will be used as home to the Lakeland Art Center.
Lakeland Art Center being evicted from current residence by Kosciusko County for jail expansion. Space needed before June 1, 1999.
"If we don't have another place, I may just sit here waiting for the demolition ball," said LAC Director Lila O'Connell.
She said she has been looking into possible new facilities in Winona Lake and downtown Warsaw ever since she discovered in January the LAC is being evicted from 109 N. Lake St. LAC does not pay rent at their current facility and O'Connell said they were not able to pay too much rent at a new place, if they find one.
"I would like for someone to donate the place. If someone donated the place, I think we have good patrons who'll kick in to help fund the place," she said.
LAC is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
Usually by now, O'Connell said, the campaign to raise money for LAC would have already begun. However, she said, because she doesn't know what to ask for this year, they have put the campaign off.
"What comes first?" she asked. "The money or the building?"
If LAC doesn't find a new building by June 1, there's little option left for them, O'Connell said.
"We can spend money to have (art) stored. I was going to ask one of our patrons if we can store it at their place. I just don't know," she said.
There would be places for them to have their weekly meetings. She said they would have to scramble for a place to have their shows and wouldn't be able to have their exhibits. The lack of an art center should be a concern to all area residents, she said.
"I don't know where one is to equal this place in a town this size in the state of Indiana," O'Connell said.
"These large corporations ought to be aware of this need because the new personnel they bring in from outside the area will look down their nose at the lack of culture in this town if we go defunct," she said.
"We have a lot of art students from the high school and Grace College who come in and look over our displays. It's required for them to come for their art classes."
LAC has been at their current facilities for six years. O'Connell said they have an important function in this county.
"(LAC) promotes the artwork of artists within a 60-mile radius, of adults and students. We give some small scholarships to high school students who are going to continue their art education," O'Connell said.
Until the bulldozers arrive, or until a new facility is found, O'Connell said, LAC is going ahead with some of the projects they have planned.
Their best-of-show contest will still take place. There are eight categories for adult or student divisions.
"Every year, Zimmer gives the best of show award. It's a memorial award honoring J.O. Zimmer. This year the award is $500," O'Connell said.
Classes for children and adults will continue also. Louise E. Johannesen is teaching the adult classes and Andrew Beverly is teaching the classes for children.
A bus trip will also be taken April 6 to the Hoosier Salon and Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis. The trip, open to the public, costs $20 per person. Deadline for sign-up is March 28. For details, call 269-5491.
The Tri Kappa art show for students will be the last weekend of May.
If anyone wants to donate space or money, or knows of available space, O'Connell said, contact her at home at 269-5491 or at the art center at 267-4040.
