June, 2009 MAL Newsletter

Our final meeting of the year is going to be a blast. There will be several things happening at this meeting including our end of the year party, a member art show, and an artist postcard exchange.

For the party, we will need extra volunteers to bring some snacks, as we are going to allow members to bring a guest if they choose. Next we invite you to bring 1 piece of art to show. All members in attendance will vote for “viewer’s choice” and a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place ribbon will be awarded. It is inspiring to see the art our members create, and not everyone has an opportunity to make it to our art exhibits.

The final part of this extravaganza will be an artist postcard exchange. There are many options for making your postcards. A good size for your postcards is 4” x 6”. You may choose to do the popular mixed media collage postcards. Other options could include: refrigerator magnets, note cards, bookmarks, pins, earrings, or a small piece of whatever it is that you do. Another option would be to create 1 piece of art, color copy it (or print it out of your computer), and use a glue stick to attach it to a 4” x 6” note card, or card stock. Be creative!

Please note the postcard exchange will be for members only. As far as how many to make: we’ve been having around 10 - 15 people showing up for meetings. Ideally you would bring enough for everyone, but however many you feel comfortable making is fine. Just don’t take more than you bring, in the exchange.

It has been an honor to serve as president of the Maryland Art League during these last two years. I have been part of a team that has brought many new members into the organization, extended our fine representation through exhibits by improving the screening process and finding new venues, and supported the update of our website. This could not have been accomplished without the leadership and commitment of so many different people. It was a pleasure to be part of these activities.

Our new slate of officers is headed by Ellie Dean as president. She brings a wealth of experience to this position, and I am confident that the Maryland Art League will continue to grow under her leadership. Mary Ellen Gordon will again serve as vice president, Diane Prather will continue as treasurer, and Sherry Sheedy will assume the responsibilities of both recording and corresponding secretaries.

I thank all who helped make my terms in office effective, and I am sure everyone will continue to support Ellie as you helped me.

A great year is planned for 2009 – 2010. We have exhibits and programs planned for the year.

The exhibit venues include the Carroll Community College, the Irvine Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Wells Real Estate, and the Sandy Spring Museum.

Tentatively, we have Bobby O’Donovan, from the University of Maryland Collage Park; Lee Boynton from Annapolis; and Professor Farrell from Montgomery College for future programs.

We are anxious to hear from many of you to share the new ideas or new “toys” that you have found to be helpful in your particular medium.

We hope to see you September 21^st at the first meeting and screening of our 2009-2010 year.

DUES ARE Past DUE

Please check your directory to see if you want any changes in the Directory which will be forthcoming in August. Complete the form below and mail with your check or bring to a meeting ($30 Regular membership, $20 Associate, $40 Reinstated).

Mail checks to Diane Prather, 1702 Broadway Rd., Timonium, MD 21093. Checks or cash can be brought to the June meeting. Please print:

Name__________________________________

Street_________________________________

City_________________ZipCode___________

Tel-No.____________________________

e-mail_____________________________

______________________________________

If you became a new member after Jan 1, 2009 you do not need to pay again until Jun 1, 2010.

Note: This exhibit has a theme, and all work should reflect that theme in some way. It is Her Bounty Our Harvest, Fall Foods and Fall Landscapes.

(Drop off checklist: Artwork must be framed and ready to hang with a wire across the back of the top 1/3 of each piece,

A label must be affixed to the back of your artwork, including your name, title, price, dimensions, and mediums for each piece in exhibit,

An artist statement OR biography is optional. If you choose to prepare either of these, please include a description of the relationship of your art to nature or the use of natural/recycled materials.)

(The Irvine Nature Center hosts a complementary Artist Reception for participating artists. We will provide light fare, wine, and beverages for your guests. We will also create an exhibition postcard for you in PDF format, which you may e-mail or print and mail to invite guests to your exhibition and Artist Reception.)

Each exhibitor will need to sign a release of liability - Can be done at the screening-

There will be no reception. The exhibition will run officially from 11/8/09 through 12/18/09 in the Great Hall Public Gallery.

Community Art Gallery at Holy Cross Hospital, Spring of 2010 with Senior Artists Alliance, April 1st to May 31st 2010. Each group may hang 15 paintings of an average size of 16 by 20. This certainly is not many. They want a framed biography of each artist plus information for a press release. They also will have a reception. They ask for a 10% commission.

The 2009 Fall Watercolor Workshop at Myrtle Beach S.C. is to be held between Nov.1-21 2009.

This is the 55th Waterrmedia Workshop and includes six nights accommodation at the Spring Maid Resort. All meals are included Sunday thru Saturday. Four full days of classes, concluding with Friday evening Gallery night. Participants may register for any one or all of the different workshops For more info call Linda Brauer 410-290 5430 (She attended last years workshop for one week in November and had a thrilling time).

For more information, go to the CAMP Rehoboth website at http://www.camprehoboth.com and follow the link to the LottoHEART page where things are further explained (and see the participating artists). From there, follow the link for purchase of tickets.

The Artists’ Gallery of Columbia invites visual artists to submit original work for a juried show in our Featured Artist space. Artists age 18 or older, living or working in Howard, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Montgomery, Prince George’s Counties or Baltimore City, are eligible to apply. Deliver works to be juried on Thursday, July 30^th. For more information go to http://www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

Our longtime member, Fran Hands, recently had eye surgery and was in the hospital for 3 days. However, things did not turn out well for her because she developed a different eye disorder that has left her almost blind. She can get around pretty well and has some sight, but has to give up her painting and, of course, the Maryland Art League since she cannot drive. Our best wishes go out to her and we thank her for all the years of help she has given the art league. She was one of our first members and through the years she has worked as an officer in every capacity, and was MAL President in 1995-1997 and again in 1999-2000; for many years our Resident Agent for legal and tax issues, she has spent countless hours typing up labels for all of the artwork exhibited as well as preparing the artist lists for the exhibitions. Fran has also been the principle preparer of our yearly Members Directory.

Again, thank you, Fran, for your dedication and service and all the membership wishes you the best.