A group of artists has been meeting at the Austin ArtWorks Center weekly for about three years.

All members of the Austin Area Commission for the Arts, these creative souls gather on Friday mornings to paint, draw and otherwise create as a community. Recently, they brought a specific request to our education coordinator, Lana Kenyon.

They wanted an adult painting class at the next level. And we have answered their request.

We are proud to announce our first in-depth watercolor class with Master Teacher Bonnie Broitzman on March 6, 7 and 8 at the ArtWorks Center. The series, “Winter Watercolor: Buildings and Barns, Trees and Snow” runs for three days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing 18 hours of instruction with Albert Lea artist Broitzman.

Broitzman grew up on a farm north of Albert Lea and was encouraged by her middle school art teacher to pursue a career in the arts. With support from her parents, Leaon and Helen Broitzman, she became the first in her family to attend college.

Broitzman earned an undergraduate degree in art from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and then her masters degree in education from Hamline University in St. Paul.

Broitzman taught K-12 art for many years, eventually retiring and returning to Albert Lea where she lives and works in a home on the south shore of Albert Lea Lake.

She specializes in “en plein air” painting—French for “open air”—which involves leaving the four walls of the studio and painting outdoors, on site. Broitzman has taken over 30 groups of travelers on art adventures including en plein air painting in Europe and Central America.

Although we are hardy Minnesota souls, we elected not to offer the March class en plein air. Instead the location is the natural light gallery on the second floor of the Austin ArtWorks Center.

If you are ready to take your watercolor painting to the next level, plan to join us for the Winter Watercolor Series.

Register now at austinareaarts.org or stop in to the ArtWorks Center.

You can also register by phone by calling 507-434-0934 during business hours.

Taste of Nations

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is proud to issue a call for entries to the Welcoming Community Exhibit at Taste of Nations 2018.

We are seeking artists and authors to submit 2D or 3D visual art or poems or short stories on a theme of “Welcoming” to be considered for a Welcoming Community Exhibit.

Submissions will be reviewed by a jury. If selected, author/artist will be invited to exhibit at the Taste of Nations event on April 21 at the National Guard Armory. There is no fee to enter or to exhibit. Entries are due March 23.

To submit visual art, send JPEG with size dimensions, title and medium to kelsey@austinareaarts.org. Including an artist’s statement, 150 words maximum, is optional.

To submit literary art, send a PDF (no more than three pages) to kelsey@austinareaarts.org. Including an author’s statement, 150 words maximum, is optional. For questions call 507-434-0934.

Interested in serving as an art or literature jury member? Contact kelsey@austinareaarts.org.

Coming soon at the Paramount Theatre

•Feb. 16-18: “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,

7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17; 2 p.m. Feb. 18.

•Feb. 21: “Casablanca,” 7:30 p.m.

•Feb. 25: Austin Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven & Brunch, 2 p.m.

•Feb. 28: “Vertigo,” 7:30 p.m.

Coming soon at the ArtWorks Center

•Feb. 20: Charcoal Portraits with Katie Hunnerdosse,

6 p.m.

•Feb. 22: Introduction to Drawing with Bonnie Broitzman

•Feb. 23: ArtRocks Open Jam Session, 7 p.m.