Book drop

Tonight (Regifting Eve?), the Arts Council of Greater  Lansing gets in the spirit with “It’s a Holiday Booking,” a special one-time event at its Old Town headquarters. Members of the council are invited for champagne and light refreshments and to take home up to five art books.

“We were trying to find a way to thank our members, and then this donation (came in),” said Arts Council spokeswoman Dawn Gorman.

“So we created this event around it.”

Last month, local artist Linda Nelson, a retired Michigan State University professor, donated her collection of over 500 art books to the Arts Council. The collection is heavy on art history and instructional books, it includes tomes dedicated to subjects as disparate as North American landscapes and Chinese woodblock printing.

“I wanted to give (my books) to someone who could get some use out of them,” Nelson said. “I’ve already read them all, and I just don’t have room for them anymore.”

In September, Nelson, 85, suffered an artery inflammation in her right eye, permanently cutting off the sight to that eye. She had been occupying two East Lansing apartments, living in one and using the other as her art studio. But after her vision became impaired, she decided to move into a retirement home. The move eased the challenge she found in some of her everyday tasks, such as cooking.

“When you have one eye, you’re a disaster in the kitchen,” Nelson said. “It’s hard to see what you’re pouring into what.”

Nelson taught human development and family studies at MSU, “mostly qualitative research.” She had dabbled in painting during her career, but when she retired in 1994, she dedicated her life to art.

“I like experimenting in things that move,” she said. “I started doing sketches at concerts. I’ve done quite a number of cello players. I like the cello — it’s big, and you can see it from the audience. I got bored drawing pianos. You can’t see the keys.”

Nelson isn’t one of the Arts Council’s 230 members, but Gorman said the nonprofit would probably make her an honorary member. And if you’re not a member, Gorman says no problem — there will be membership forms ready to go.

“It only takes a couple of minutes (to fill out the form) and a $40 membership fee, and after that, you’re all set,” Gorman said. “If you’re an artist or an arts organization in Greater Lansing, we offer a lot of benefits.”

The council hosts grant workshops, educational conferences and networking events. Gorman said the key is to get creative types to transform their art into viable careers. Members include the gypsy folk music group Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle, the Wharton Center and Impression 5 Science Center.

“We help artists grow the business side of their art ventures,” Gorman said. “We have a lot of visual artists who are members, but we’re really reaching out to other areas.”

Nelson said she’s proud to be a contributor to the Greater Lansing creative collective, but she hasn’t picked up a paintbrush since the inflammation.

“I don’t see the same way,” she said. “I still have tons of art supplies, though, and I plan to use them. I’m not giving them away.”

And if you’re looking to close the Seinfeld-ian holiday loop, remember, there are only six shopping days left until Festivus. Happy regifting.

It’s a Holiday Booking!

3-6 p.m. today Arts Council of Greater Council 1208 Turner St., Lansing FREE (517) 372-4636, lansingarts.org