Scores of iconic heroes, villains, and other legendary characters converged upon Blue Chip Casino on Saturday evening to celebrate Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ (LCA) annual Art Bash. Themed “Heroes, Villains & Femme Fatales,” the gala featured dinner, live & silent auctions, music, dancing, and more – all to raise funds that will empower Lubeznik to further serve the community.
The gala, themed to match LCA’s upcoming “KAPOW! Mighty Mythos," a vintage comic and superhero ephemera exhibit, is one of the organization's most beloved traditions. Many of its patrons go the extra mile to dress up for each year’s theme. This time, that meant Batman, Wonder Woman, Thor, James Bond, and a number of Cruella de Vil’s mingled over drinks and an extensive buffet.
“We have an incredibly supportive community and I value them so much,” said Janet Bloch, executive director of LCA. “Some of them have been with us for years, and are always excited about what’s going to be happening with the Center. They’re a compassionate, generous group of people who care about the arts and the community, and want to see as many people as possible enjoy the Lubeznik Center.”
Hundreds of patrons attended the festivities, including Roger and Denise Libke – longtime supporters of LCA who have known the Lubeznik family for years.
“The Lubeznik Center does a lot more than I think the community realizes,” Denise Libke said. “They have programs for kids, programs for adults, and a lot more. Art is important, and people need to express themselves. What the Lubeznik Center does is a big part of how people can do that.”
Beyond the food and festivities, Bloch took the stage to begin unveiling LCA’s upcoming 5-year Strategic Plan – a set of guidelines, goals, and initiatives that are set to grow the organization in new and exciting ways, Bloch said.
“It’s an ambitious plan. Over the next five years we plan to really raise our profile in the community,” she said. “We’re going to be doing cool things with the space at the Center, like adding more classroom space, space for artist residencies, and maybe even a café.”
To build the plan, LCA surveyed nearly 100 community members about their hopes and expectations for the Center. Bloch explained that it confirmed something they already felt confident about – the community is eager for new and exciting art experiences, ones that might extend beyond the Center’s walls.
Some facets of the new Strategic Plan include the creation of mobile exhibits that the LCA can take out into the community, facilitating new murals around Michigan City, adding more art pop-ups, and commissioning new artworks.
LCA also plans to greatly expand its educational offerings – with a goal to double the number of classes it offers, as well as plans to provide professional development for teachers. The LCA team is also set to expand its community partnerships – continuing to work closely with Michigan City and expanding its relationship with the City of La Porte.
“Our goal is to continue building awareness so that we can grow support,” said Steve DePalma, president of the LCA Board of Directors. “The LCA is such a valuable resource, so part of our job is to make the community aware of all the benefits it’s providing. That’s why tonight we want to give a look at what’s around the corner.”
Bloch noted that the generosity of LCA’s patrons at events such as the Art Bash is what allows them to offer so many free and low-cost, high-quality art programs to the community.
“The heart of our mission is to make wonderful arts experiences accessible to everyone,” she said. “Over 2500 families, with children, are living below the poverty line in La Porte County – and the percentage is a lot higher in Michigan City. It also goes beyond affordability. Learning about the arts should be easy, fun, and approachable. Our goal is to make that happen.”
To learn more about the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, visit lubeznikcenter.org.
