For the City Times

STEVENS POINT — A rundown of upcoming artists displays coming to the Lincoln Center Gallery.

Earthenware Ceramics by Lauri Gass

Lauri Gass will display pieces of earthenware ceramics with low-fire under and overglazes in the Lincoln Center Gallery throughout this month. Ms. Gass has worked with ceramics since receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from UWSP in 1994. The artist was an instructor for  UWSP’s Continuing Education and Outreach Program ceramics class. Lauri has taught art for grades one through eight at Sacred Heart Elementary and at Saints Peter and Paul. Her art has been displayed at Lincoln Center, Riverfront Art Gallery, Edna Carlsten Gallery, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and at an annual juried show in Tampa, Florida. She resides in the Wisconsin Rapids area.

Lauri says her favorite statement, by an unknown author, is “I am an artist…maybe a weekend artist, or a beginning artist, or even a poor artist…but I am an artist.”

Acrylic Paintings by Ina Pogainis

Ina Pogainis started taking photography courses at UWSP in the early 1970’s and continued studying through courses at Mid-State Technical College.  She eventually she set up her own darkroom which led to hand coloring photos with transparent oils.  She discontinued that art because darkroom chemical fumes “were too toxic for me,” but she is able to tolerate working with acrylic paint.  Ms. Pagainis started painting with acrylics in 2012 and continues to work with that medium, and says that she has always liked making pictures. Though she has not had any formal training, she has watched dozens of painting tutorials on YouTube.  Five of her paintings have been accepted by the River Front Gallery for various shows.