Thoughts from the President -

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1 Established 1950 Spring 2011 Thoughts from the President - It seems that it has been a long cold winter, well in fact it has been! Spring is almost here and couldn t be more of a welcome sight. Time to hang up those coats and put away the boots and snow shovels and pick up our brushes, canvas, cameras and the tools with which we create. Opportunity is all around us and it is up to each individual to take advantage of what MAA has to offer. MAA is celebrating 61 years now and welcomes 2011 with open arms and invites artists, crafters and lovers of the visual arts to become a part of this colorful quilt! Christiane Hellner-OBrien

2 FAQ s October Using traditional pen and ink, artist Donna Shaw demonstrated the variety of techniques she uses in her intricate line work. November Alex Vranos demonstrated oil painting. Victoria Dubiel - Mono Lake - photography Marlene McKenzie - Silver in Space - aluminum tooling Emile Beckwith - Beachcombing - watercolor Eric Vogel - Emiliio s - pastel Pat Ballsieper - Spring Pond - acrylic Christiane O Brien - Migraine - acrylic Honorable Mention - Kimberley Caruso-Poley - mixed media Honorable Mention - Victoria Dubiel - The Exchange - photography December William Hooey shared his talent and his humor as he demonstrated the technique of using watercolor on Yupo paper. Jaya Thiruvan - Nature - acrylic Emilie Beckwith - Still Lite - watercolor Pat Ballsieper - Hawk - photography Honorable Mention - Victoria Dubiel - The Exchange - photography January Nicole G Currie - Laurel Marsh Boardwalk - photography Victoria Alexa Dubiel - Heart of the Muse - photography Emilie Beckwith - China Rose - watercolor Honorable Mention - Marlene McKenzie - Nature s Black and White scratchboard Honorable Mention - Christiane O Brien - Reflections - acrylic February Artist Nancy Masters shared a wealth of knowledge about how to market your art when she spoke at our February meeting. Marlene McKenzie - Crystal and Rose - watercolor Jaya Thiruvan - Ambition - collage Pat Ballsieper - The Dunes - acrylic Honorable Mention - Kimberly Caruso-Poley - Peonie - mixed media Honorable Mention - Christiane O Brien - Hung Up to Dry - photography What is? At the monthly member meetings, members are welcome to bring in work to share with the group that night. The guest artist will then select up to 5 pieces to be displayed at one of the locations around town for the coming month. How do I display my work at Manchester Town Hall? In order to display work at Town Hall you must be a paid member of MAA. Simply visit the information office located at Town Hall and Doreen can help you schedule a show of your own or a group show with several artists. What is The Show in the Park? Traditionally held the first Sunday in June at Center Memorial Park, a major fund raiser for MAA. Do you have anything to sell? Members can put their ad here free of charge. To submit an ad for the next newsletter please Lynn Sottile at: schultz.design@snet.net Thinking about a slide show of your work and don t know how to create one? Design by Christiane now offers this service especially for MAA members at reasonable prices. htttp://christiane.redbubble.com designbychristiane@cox.net Check out fellow MAA member for GICLEE PRINTS! Chris Huestis PhotoSynthesis, LLC 136½ Pine Street, Manchester, CT P: F: W: E: chris@photosynthesisct.com FOR SALE: Opaque Projector - American Optical, model # 3525 creates up to wall-size enlargements. Asking $250 or BO Call Steve at (leave message) 2

3 In October of this year Elaine McMahon, Art Association member and member of the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild, submitted a piece of artwork to an International Competition of pressed flower artist held at the Horticulture College at the South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, China. There were 147 entries with only 3 from the United States. Elaine won a 3 rd place award for her entry in the Beautiful Garden category. She has won many awards with this art form but this is the first time she has competed with predominately Asian artists who are the best in the word. Elaine will be hosting the next conference here in Manchester next year over Columbus Day weekend. The competition will be open to public viewing and the public will be invited to attend classes for the regular fees and to join this group. The World Wide Pressed Flower Guild is an Internet group with members in 23 countries. They have had conferences and less formal Gatherings of members in many areas of the United States including Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, and California. This is her winning picture. Thought for the Day To laugh often and much,to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded! Ralph Waldo Emerson Support MAA Buy a card What a great way to help The and for just a few dollars. Please check out the work of some of MAA s talented artists and simply purchase a card or two or three. Spread the word. If you would like to have your work added to the collection please provided a digital file along with your artist info and send it to manchesterart@cox.net - Christiane OBrien 3

4 An exciting new exhibit space has just become available for MAA artists in Downtown Manchester. If you would like the opportunity to display work on a consignment basis ( 20% to merchant) please let me know. Looking forward to this partnership with a local business that will help to enhance the environment we live and work. contact Christiane (860) or manchesterart@cox.net for details. MAA is very fortunate to have several locations for our members to exhibit their art work. This past year several artists have sold their work and received commissions as a result of exhibiting in one of the MAA locations. We encourage our members to take advantage of this great opportunity, both enriches the community and creates an avenue for artist sto sell their work. Locations: Marc, Inc. Manchester Memorial Hospital Town Hall Cheney Hall Calendar 2011 Please check for up-to-date info throughout the year! MARCH: Tues 8 - The Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30 pm - open studio/show in the Park Thurs 10 - art exchange pickup/dropoff Manchester Memorial Hospital Tues 15 - pickup Town Hall Wed 16 - The Arbors - 7pm - members meeting/artist demo Wed 23 - The Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30pm - BOD meeting APRIL: Tues 5 - Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30 pm - open studio/show in the Park Sat 9 - MAA dinner TBA Wed 20 - The Arbors - 7pm - members meeting/artist demo Wed 27 - The Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30 pm - BOD meeting MAY: Tues 10 - Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30 pm - open studio/show in the Park Wed 18 - The Arbors - 7pm - members meeting/artist demo Wed 25 - The Lutz Children s Museum - 6:30pm - BOD meeting JUNE: Sunday 5-38th Show in the Park Dates may be added so please check for updates is on Facebook too! Who we are The, a nonprofit organization of artists and crafters, was founded in MAA has over 100 members in and around the town of Manchester, Connecticut. We welcome artists and crafters of all mediums. What we do The purpose of the Manchester Art Association is: - To encourage growing artistic talent - To create and foster interest in all phases of artistic expression - To bring artists and art loving people together A New Look for MAA At 60 years young, MAA has decided to freshen up our logo. Pick your favorite and your preference and/or comments to: manchesterart@cox.net. 1. MANCHESTER ART ASSOCIATION We work toward these ends through lectures, demonstrations and discussions of art at our monthly meetings, and donations of scholarships. 2. We welcome donations to our scholarship fund! Manchester ART Association 4

5 Here is an article that just appeared in the By Sydney Altieri February 26, 2011 The has been in town for more than 60 years, doing a fine job of bringing artists and community together. Local artists from surrounding areas flock to this association, hoping to refine their craft and become inspired by other artists. The group held a reception at Town Hall Feb.25, where members described how the MAA is more than just the average non-profit. It s a lot different than just creating [art] on your own, says Betty Rousseau, a water color artist and long time member of the MAA. You find out about other art and other artists. It provided stimulus for me, says Victoria Dubiel, a photographer who joined the MAA four years ago. I love having a chance to say things through photography. I like having an outlet to express myself. It s a nice collaboration of artists, says Helena Deary, a painter and social worker. Even though Deary enjoys painting in her hometown of West Hartford, she joined the MAA to get in on it s community atmosphere. I find painting to be solitary sometimes, says Deary. To take classes with a group of people is fun. The classes offered by the association is a big attractor for many members. Elaine McMahon is an international award-winning artist from Manchester, and a member of the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild. Though she instructs her own classes, McMahon still finds she has a lot to learn. Reminders: Landscapes - exhibit/competition drop off is Thursday March 10 at Manchester Memorial Hospital Gallery - 4pm til 6pm. This is an annual show that comes with cash awards! $20 for 1 piece - $25 for 2 - $30 for 3 - please fill out waiver form ahead of time if possible. The reception to be hosted by ECHN TBA. Use your creativity - Landscapes are not always what you might imagine! Town Hall Exhibit - Tuesday March 15-9am til 11am - please pick up your work, if you are unable to to do please arrange for someone to do so for you. Thank you to all you participated in this beautiful show. Italian Buffet Dinner - Saturday March 19-5pm til 9pm - Emanual Lutheran Church I needed to learn different aspects of art, says McMahon, who incorporates pastels and watercolors into her pressed flower pieces. I needed to know how to use those things. But for others, it s not just about the classes and the community, but also the opportunities. The art association allows artists to get their art up on the walls, says MAA president Christiane O Brien. If you re an individual artist and you don t know how to get your art up, you come to us. A perfect example is Jaya Thiruvan, an artist from South Windsor who came to the MAA to get a kickstart in the art world. Basically I m a budding artist, says Thiruvan. I don t have a lot of background in art, but this is giving me a lot of exposure. New member E. E. Eidman of Enfield joined for the same reason. I thought that it might be a good group to belong to and get a little more exposure, says Eidman. The more you can put your work out there the better off everybody is, and the more people get to see art. You have more showing opportunities if you belong to an organization than if you try to do it on your own, agrees Kimberly Caruso-Poley, a four-year member of the association from Enfield. A non-profit group, the MAA raises money each year for it s scholarship program, which has sent the most recent recipients to the University of Hartford. The association hosts art instruction classes, craft fairs, and even theatre productions. Art will be up on the walls of the Town Hall until March 14. The annual outdoor show will be held on June 5 at Center Memorial Park. 5

6 Committee Chairs Membership - Linda Lilling / Show Tent- Victoria Dubiel Program - Kimberley Caruso-Poley Exhibits/Hockanum River-MAA Show - Sara Reid Spaghetti Dinner - Shirley Delante Show in the Park/MCC Craft Fair - Christiane Hellner-OBrien Scholarship - Sue Hollister MCC Craft Fair - Carolyne Gimbrone Webmaster - Chris Larson MAA Meetings at The Arbors Membership fees: Individuals 18+ years of age are $30/yr. Family membership for a couple with children under the ages of 18 for $40/yr. Individuals under the age of 18 may join for free. NEW! Student $20/yr. MAA meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month from September to May at The Arbors on West Center Street in Manchester at 7:00 pm. Special thanks to Manchester Businesses The Arbors Cheney Mill Self Storage The Lutz Children Museum Manchester Historical Society Cheney Hall Marc, Inc. Manchester Memorial Hospital ECHN Town of Manchester Hockanum River Association Downtown Manchester Special Services District Schultz Design, Inc. Art is the signature of civilization. - Beverly Sills,

7 Author/illustrator/artist, Jack Allen shared some of his amazing work along with amusing stories at the Lutz Children s Museum on February 23, A wonderful evening was spent sharing stories and experiences with MAA members. Thank you! Elaine shares one of her amazing creations - all from maple leaves! Thank you Tim Maynard - your classical guitar music provided a beautiful backdrop for the Exhibit at Town Hall this year! E.E. Ediman enthusiastically shares her contemporary piece at the reception at town hall. Your Art Wanted for the Website! FREE publicity for YOU! Chris Larson, webmaster, has offered to add your artwork to the site if you bring up to 4 pieces to a meeting to be photographed. Please print your name and title, medium, and size of each piece on a 3x5 card (one card per painting). Call Chris prior to the meeting at Find MAA on FACEBOOK!!!!! log on and check it out and see the latest updates NOTE When dropping off artwork or picking upfor exhibit: 1. Ensure hanging wires are secure with minimal slack to prevent damage/injury to the public. 2. Artist should insure valuable artwork for damages. 3. Please have place cards filled out neatly (in advance if possible). 4. An exhibit waiver form must be filled out neatly (in advance if possible). 5. If picking up, please initial the Exhibit Program that you have picked up previous works. Any artwork not picked up on the scheduled day will remain until the next exchange date. (Rules apply in this instance. See next.) Tip: Prepare place cards and Waivers (available on the MAA website) in advance if others will be dropping off your artwork for exhibit. Please note: If you can t make the pick up and drop off dates and times, please make arrangements with a friend or fellow MAA member. Under NO circumstances may you pick up your artwork before the scheduled pick-up date WITHOUT 1. notifying the Exhibit Coordinator first. 2. signing out with Security at the front desk of the Hospital, and 3. replacing the art taken down with a new piece of artwork. If these rules are not followed, you will jeopardize your privilege of exhibiting your artwork with MAA. 7

8 ...to bring together artists and art-loving people. Inside: Dinner with a Twist Art of the Month Winners Italian Buffet Calendar