Gallery by the Lake

08/22/2026

Take Great Pictures with Your Smartphone!

Saturday, September 5th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Do you want to take better-looking, more interesting pictures, but don’t want to do it with an expensive digital camera? If you have a smartphone, you already have a camera with plenty of capability to make beautiful photographs.

In this class, we’ll cover topics that will expand your photographic abilities and make you a whiz with your smartphone’s camera:

• Some basics on composing your picture
• Phone camera settings
• Editing your photos
• Preparing your photos for printing
• Tools and gizmos

Your instructors will be Shawn Wilson of Phototek and Ryan Courville and Dan Plummer of Gallery by the Lake.

All you’ll really need is your smartphone and perhaps its charger. The cost is $30 for the general public or $25 for Gallery by the Lake full members.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Central School Arts & Humanities Center Room 225
809 Kirby Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601

Sign up at our website:

https://www.gallerybythelake.org/event-info/taking-great-pictures-with-your-smartphone

07/13/2026

We loved seeing the familar & fresh faces who showed up for the opening reception for Creature Continuum!

Didn't get the chance to see us on opening night? Creature Continuum featuring Kat Bertrand and Kaleb Davis is on view until September 5th in our 2nd floor gallery at Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center

07/10/2026

Need Friday night plans? We got you covered! Join us starting at 5PM at Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center for the opening reception of our newest showcase - Creature Continuum.

Featured artists Kat Bertrand and Kaleb Davis invite viewers into the world of the dark, mystical, and whimsical with their collections of creatures that go beyond our world.

Supporting their work, our other 25 members have contributed work that show their interpretation of the theme.

📍 Where: Historic City Hall (2nd Floor)
🕔 When: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
🥂 Details: Light refreshments will be provided!

06/29/2026

Step into the continuum... 👁️✨

Mark your calendars for Friday, July 10th. We are thrilled to announce our next major exhibition: Creature Continuum, a dual-show featuring the captivating works of Kat Bertrand and Kaleb Davis.

Get ready for a fantastical showcase of creatures that explores aesthetics ranging from mysterious grit to mythical whimsy. This collection will challenge your imagination and pull you into entirely new worlds.

Stay tuned for opening reception details! Which side of the continuum will you lean into—the grit or the whimsy?

🗓️ Opening Friday, July 10th
📍 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center - 2nd Floor Gallery

06/26/2026

Good news! If you needed a little extra time to capture or select your perfect shot, you're in luck. Gallery by the Lake has officially extended the entry deadline for our 2026 8th Annual “Hit Me with Your Best Shot!” bird photography competition and exhibition! 📸🦅

You now have until Friday, July 3rd at 11:59 PM MDT to get your submissions in.

Please note that our artist notification date has also adjusted accordingly and will now be pushed back to Friday, July 17th.

Don't miss the chance to have your work featured in this staple annual showcase at Historic City Hall. Get those lenses ready and send us your absolute best work!

✨ Learn more about the rules & details:
🔗 https://www.gallerybythelake.org/2026-competition

✨ Submit your entries directly here:
🔗 https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17405/CAFE

Photo Credit : Jim Johnson, "On the Move - American Kestrel", 2025

Gallery by the Lake "Hit Me With your Best Shot" National Bird Photography Competition.

06/26/2026

Looking for weekend plans for the kids? 🛠️🦋

Tomorrow morning is our Collaging Bugs Class in partnership with the The Children's Museum at Port Wonder! Skip the screen time and let them get their hands on some bright papers, textures, and patterns to design their own creepy-crawly art.

Class kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, June 27th at 10AM. Grab those last-minute tickets at the link below before registration closes tonight! Discounts available for siblings.

🗓️ Tomorrow! Saturday, June 27th
📍 The Children's Museum at Port Wonder
🔗 Snag your weekend tickets here: https://www.gallerybythelake.org/event-info/collaging-bugs

06/23/2026

🎨 Last chance to experience The Sound of Dreams!

This stunning dual-artist exhibition by Brittany Manuel and Buddy White closes this Saturday, June 27th. If you haven't walked through the gallery to see how these works converse with one another in person, this is your official invitation.

Drop by and see us at Historic City Hall before it packs up!

📍 Historic City Hall
🗓️ Closes Saturday, June 27th
🕒 Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM
🎟️ Free & open to the public