By Elsa Koop-Angelicola, Gallery Manager & Associate Curator

One of my favorite aspects of my role here at the Strand Center for the Arts is the diversity within our programming. This programming ranges from theatre events, classes for both adults and youth, art camps, gallery receptions, Lake City Arts Fest, Artisan Markets, as well as our free Wednesday Night activities: Collage Night and Show & Tell!

Accessibility is a key aspect of the work we do at the Strand. Being a community arts center it is crucial that our activities and events are accessible to everyone. Both Collage Night and Show & Tell are free and open to the public and are held on a monthly basis. These events provide community members with the space to relax and create, or even a forum to engage in thoughtful discussions around art.

Artist Sarah Dyer speaking at Show & Tell circa 2025

Show & Tell is a free to attend event that is hosted by Gallery Manager & Associate Curator, Elsa Koop-Angelicola.

Artists and makers of all kinds are invited to “show and tell.” During this impromptu presentation artists will share their work for 5-10 minutes and answer any questions group members may have. Once everyone has had their chance to speak, mingling and sharing is highly encouraged. There is typically a table set up within the Arts Center Gallery for folks to display their work, as this allows the group participants to observe artwork during the showing and telling.

This event is meant to be informal and is meant to give people the opportunity to showcase their artwork in a fun and engaging way. With this event I hope to inspire people through proximity to other artists and the artwork within the gallery.

I remember seeing how much people really loved listening to a guest speaker when we hosted the Artist Salon series. As time went on we gradually stopped doing the Artist Salons, but I wanted to reinvent them. I opted to lean into my fond memories of show & tell from elementary school and critique from college, which the current Show & Tell Series!

Artist Gisele Hanson at Show & Tell circa 2025

This has been a really fun and interesting event to host, as I’ve seen many familiar faces attend as well as some new ones. Having someone come to Show & Tell and leave feeling more inspired or invigorated is the ultimate goal. It’s amazing to watch someone’s confidence radiate from them as they talk about their work and it is inspiring to observe the support artists have for each other. Sometimes when one shares the meaning behind their artwork things can get personal or even heavy. Seeing artists from the community feel comfortable enough to share their personal stories and lift one another up is very special.

Photographer Ron Nolland speaking at Show & Tell circa 2025

With that being said, I don’t want to forget about Collage Night!

In 2023, the Strand shifted it’s operating hours and began staying open later on Wednesday nights, as we realized there is more foot traffic in the studios on Wednesdays. We tried a few different late night art activities and quickly realized that Collage Night was by far the most popular. Local artist Nicole Babu (The Culprit) shared some of her expertise in the medium over the course of 5 months, and even helped host the first 5 Collage Nights. This art form deeply inspired myself and other Strand staff. Eventually Collage Night became a regular Wednesday Night activity and is held bi-monthly in the gallery.

Community members participating in Collage Night circa 2025

Having Collage Night as a free and assessible Wednesday Night activity is important for a variety of reasons. There have been instances in which Collage Night (or Show & Tell) were the first time someone had ever stepped foot into the Strand. I view participation in our free activities as a sort of unofficial welcome to the Strand, and the nature of the community building work we do here. It also allows community members to see firsthand the other events and opportunities we have going on in the Art Center at any given time.

Collage itself is also a very open medium and is accessible to a variety of skill levels. Plus, collage is absolutely endless when it comes to creativity! It’s FUN! During our Collage Nights, participants can expect to find tables set up with all of the materials they will need, as well as some music to set the mood.

The glorious mess of collage! Circa 2025

I find that it is an absolute blast watching what people make when they come to Collage Night! Some people come in with ideas just ready to be glued down to the paper, while others are much more methodical and take more time carefully curating their collage composition. It’s very fascinating to watch everyone’s process because I know it’s always going to be something different. I have grown to appreciate collage so much more since hosting these events.

We’ve had Collage Nights in the past that were themed, such as for Halloween, and this year in 2026 we’ll be hosting a total of 7 Collage Nights, all of which have their own special theme! For example, the April 22nd theme is Earth Day (for Earth Day of course) and the June 17th theme is Pride for Pride Month!

Hosting a variety of free events such as Collage Night and Show & Tell are a great way to help people find their way to the Strand and further promotes our mission of cultivating a greater sense of community and creativity. Art truly is for everyone!

Fun and Free: Accessible Art Activities for All!

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