Next exhibit features mother’s, daughter’s work

I grew up with a mom who was creative and artistic in her own way. I remember listening to her playing the piano and encouraging my siblings and me to play as well, though most of us can’t play more than “Chopsticks.”

We were never without music in the background with her collection of classical records playing on the stereo. Even today my musical tastes include Mozart, Puccini and Mahler. Step into our house any different month and you might not recognize it as she was constantly changing the wall d�©cor, which may have been my earliest contact with the visual arts.

As a teenager I was into writing poetry and dreamed of someday becoming a writer, which Mom encouraged by signing me up for any and all writing clubs and classes. Little did my mom know how much she influenced me by creating experiences and most of all: memories.

Our next exhibit in the Columbus Art Gallery is the mother/daughter duo of Sara Sumnick Wamsat and Kalle Wamsat.

I’m sure Kalle will tell you how much her mother, Sara, inspires and influences her art work. It promises to be “not your ordinary exhibit,” according to Kalle. The title of this exhibit is “Objects of My Affection: Nature and Food!” gives a small idea of the treat we’re in for. This exhibit will be running from July 1-Aug. 1.

The opening reception is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. July 9, and we encourage everyone to come down and meet these two talented women. As the reception will be running prior to and during “Lawn Chairs on the Square,” we encourage you to come and visit with Sara and Kalle here and then go down to Frankfort Square to enjoy a performance by the bluegrass band “Lester’s Choice.”

A lifelong artist, Sara Sumnick Wamsat says “Art is VITAL and as necessary as breathing. I hope all phases of my art causes curiosity, and appreciation for the time, technique and imagination that went into them.” She describes her work as “expressionistic folk art in wood and acrylics, sculptural useable art objects as well as vintage mixed-media assemblages and jewelry.”

Kalle Wamsat, Sara’s equally talented daughter, is a former art instructor at Columbus High School and will teach this fall in the Elkhorn School District. Her work is “abstract and self-expressive paintings” and “not your ordinary pottery.”

She is inspired through other artists, her students, design, home accents and interiors. If you have been into the gift shops of the art gallery in recent months you may have noticed a small sampling of Kalle’s fun and colorful pottery.

Once you have had a chance to become creatively inspired by Sara and Kalle, sign up for our next adult workshops. Amy Tomasevicz will teach a two-night collage workshop from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 16 and July 26. The cost is $35 per student.

Lynette Fast will be teaching a jewelry-making workshop from noon- 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3. The cost is $40 per person, and space is limited for both classes. Why not invite your own mom or daughter to spend an evening or afternoon together making your own works of art or even just a memory or two?

One more memory-maker with your mom or daughter is attending our last “Free Movie in the Square” Aug. 6 after Lawnchairs. This last movie will be “Mamma Mia.”

Bring blankets and chairs for some light-hearted fun. We will be drawing the winner of our raffle for the Adirondack chairs. Stop down at the Columbus Art Gallery to see them and purchase your tickets.

Lisa Rosendahl is the manager of the Columbus Art Gallery.