LCA Update 3-15-09

Hello All,

What a nice day!! I hope everyone got out too enjoy it!
I thought I'd sit down and get the latest news out. The LCA has been ask by Midland Theatre to display art in the main lobby. There are 3 large shadow boxes in the lobby. Longaberger Co. decided to pull their display out of the middle one and we were ask if we would like to takeover the space. Susan and I went over and installed our first display and it looks great! So, we will be rotating work monthly. Another great way to get our members work and the LCA name out into the public.

The response from the public for the Newark High School art students show has been fantastic. People continue to stop in to view it. The show will be taken down this coming week to make room for the up coming members show, "Spring: renew, rebirth, refresh" Intake will start on the 20th and the opening is Friday the 27th 6 to 8pm. Members may submit up to 3 pieces and the cost is $15.

Today was the first class for Thomas Nelson's Life Drawing class. I stopped by the gallery earlier and they have a very nice turnout for the class.

The Art Print went into the mail this past Thursday, so with any luck it should be showing up in your mailbox later this week. It is also available online at: April-May Art Print

The board held their monthly meeting this past Wednesday evening. What energy!! Great ideas continue to flow. Russell Merritt our Outreach and Education chair filed the following report:

The educational opportunities for Licking County Arts are growing by leaps and bounds. We have been very busy and have already done several classes. As of now we have been very successful with the Sharonbrooke Home. Mary Woodward and Russell Merritt have held multiple classes there as well as our group demo day. Mary Helen has been working with a Sharonbrooke/Hospice resident. We also have been represented at the Granville Middle School's Arts Mania Day. Thomas Nelson has set up classes for our membership including life drawing classes, beginning this Sunday and has contacted Don Perone to set up a matting and framing workshop.

What we need now are more people to get involved. There are many upcoming opportunities. I am meeting with Babette Wofter, Assistant Director of the Library on Friday to plan our Summer Reading Program Outreach with the Library. We will need teachers and demonstrators for 5 age groups over 6 weeks - Thats 30 classes! The library also wants to set up a "Meet the LCA" day - probably the first week in May where we will be able to set up tables and do demonstrations of our artwork. We need at least 6 - 10 artists for this. She also wants to have a fabric demo and lecture. She would like 2-4 artist for this. We have also been asked by The Works to provide artists to teachers for Curious Kids Tuesdays and some of the YES Club classes. This is another 4-5 artists. So we have almost 50 classes and right now we have 4 education committee members and 3 other available teachers. We need more teachers, speakers and demonstrators. If you enjoy showing your work, speaking to others, sharing and demonstrating, we need you.

If you can help out with our outreach programs contact Russell at: banshuwa@yahoo.com

Mark your calendars. April 25th from 10am to 4pm will be the Arbor day celebration at Dawes Arboretum. The LCA will have at least 1 - 8' table set up. We are trying to get 2 tables. So bring a project out to work on and spend the day with us as we meet and greet visitors, introducing them to the LCA and our great artists. Dawes is expecting 4,000 visitors.

I think that is it for now. Remember, March 27 6pm is the next opening at the Gallery. Argyle Gallery also has an opening for Helma Groot a Columbus artist titled "Not my Baggage"

I'll leave you with an excerpt from a recent Robert Genn newsletter:

"No one likes the idea of sitting with a tin cup and a sign that says "I'm an artist. Feed me." Better to think about who we can feed. In this day and age there's a universe of possibilities. Believe me, when artists get into servicing their passions rather than shivering in the rain, good stuff happens."

Powerful words when put into action!!

Everyone have a great week!

Gallery Video

Below is the first of hopefully many videos made on work in the gallery, shows, short instructional videos, events as well as promotional videos.

Tony

New stocking stuffers are arriving

The weather outside is dreary but the cheer is flowing in the gallery. I had a request to have Alice Turner bring in some of her new works to be given as gifts for this Christmas season. And as usual she never fails to amaze me with her diversity and beautiful individual works. Before she had left I bought myself a bracelet for a gift to myself. Priscilla Rink came in with several framed photos and ready to hang in your loved ones homes. Priscilla needs and I have been encouraging her submit her images to Somerset publication for their quarterly Images magazine. Your (Priscilla's) images have grown in dimension and depth and never fail to draw the viewers into the "story board" compositions and take a moment to read their interpretation into the photograph's layers. The Bridge club ladies are here to enjoy their love for cards but the gambling seems to be under control...this is something we get to tease them about as they enjoy fellowship for a lazy afternoon in downtown Newark. I will miss the gentle voices and laughter when we move because I truly love their energy but we will make the transition one of our own and develop a welcoming and comfortable space that will invite everyone to come on down and sit a spell. Stay close to your emails and read your Artprint closely to discover how you may want to volunteer. Imagine and Live Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Snowy quiet bliss in the gallery...

I have had several visitors in since about 10:30 this morning but now the roads seem to be giving the Holiday shoppers a warning to get home before the little dash of sunlight we have been given today will be whisked away by the soft moonlight's icy fingertips. I hung some new works in stained glass created by a renewing artist named Bruce Wells. They look like they belong in a large window in someones home studio. Welcome back Bruce, we have missed you friend. I am attempting to be upfront with my departure from our gallery at Christmas but please know I will around and have renewed for 2009. Hopefully Thursdays will be my volunteer time with Michelle Channel and we can restore our painting communion with dear friends. I have an opportunity to work on an exhibit due to open around Mother's Day in 2010 that is dedicated to the strong women who have gone before me and still guide me daily as I discover the path for my visual journey. I have been deliberating on my purpose... where am I going?.... where shall I put my days energies to the best use of my time here in this body's vessel. I am embracing the soul of a way faring stranger and mapping my journey's plot.I have not written on the blog because I am taking time for myself to grieve my mother's passing. This experience has been far more difficult than I realized and at times the pain is almost unbearable. I am working with my hands on fabric once again and I feel Mom's presence during these quiet moments. I thank you all for your support and patience as I walk and work through this new path. It is almost as painful as walking away from classroom... you are all so precious to me and have been entrusted with your vulnerability and fragility to me over these last seven years. The lessons I have embraced are too numerable to list and words prove to be inadequate at this moment to express my gratitude.
Imagine and walk in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart