Creatures from the Sea Art Exhibit Opening Reception (Tonight!)

Friday, April 1 from 7-9pm. Artists bring to life the aquatic world's frolicking, fanciful, sensual, beautiful, and beastly creatures. Prepare to swim with Sirens, Tritons, and Naiads, or their fellow aquatic travelers from oceans, rivers, or lakes. Imagine a world of watery creatures of all kinds ready for you to explore and observe! We will have special guests from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation joining us to mingle with the fishes, creatures, and—oh, yes—the artists, patrons and all those who enjoy the arts during this unveiling of the exhibit. Bask in the watery wonderland that is waiting for you! Show runs April 1-May 1, 2016. Details: DelRayArtisans.org

Call for Instructors: Grown-Ups Art Camp 2016

Proposals due Friday, April 15. Seeking instructors for a diverse array of programs to be offered June 27-July 15, 2016. We will serve up visual art workshops (painting, photography, pen & ink, mixed media, digital, etc), crafts (knitting, crocheting, sewing and more), performing arts (music, dance techniques, improv, spoken word, etc), as well as artist development (journaling, writing an artist statement, how-to-frame, 'where to find inspiration', etc). We are offering creative play, education and growth to experienced artists, as well as beginners and those non-artist types who just want to engage and explore in the arts. Call for Instructors at DelRayArtisans.org/CFE

Call for Artists: 2016 Spring Art Market

Application due Saturday, April 16. Join Del Ray Artisans in its tradition of outdoor art markets! The Spring Art Market gives artists an opportunity to sell their original handmade artwork to the local community. This is a RAIN or SHINE event in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park, adjoining Del Ray Artisans gallery, on Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 10am to 4pm. Application at DelRayArtisans.org/CFE

Secrets of the Paper Garden: Hand-dyed Paper Flowers Workshop (Register Now)

Sunday, April 17 from 2-5pm. Artist Debbie Smith Mezzetta is back with a new recipe for colorful paper flowers. Debbie will share her "secret" for making these colorful paper flowers using a paper that is unique, conveniently available, and inexpensive. (And, it goes great with coffee!) Workshop is at Del Ray Artisans gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria. Details and registration at mkt.com/del-ray-artisans/secrets-of-the-paper-garden

Spring2ACTion - DISCOVER the MANY FACES of ART!

Wednesday, April 20 is Spring2ACTion — a special 24-hour online giving event to benefit Alexandria nonprofits. This year, to showcase our multi-generational, multi-faceted artists, Del Ray Artisans will host 24 hours of FREE activities with the theme: DISCOVER the MANY FACES of ART! This is one of our biggest fundraisers and outreach events of the year. We will be hosting a breakfast, card making, yoga, meditation, life drawing, wine tasting, music, art talks, a raffle and more. Check out the full schedule of events and donate to Del Ray Artisans on (or before) April 20 to show your support. Details at bit.ly/dra-spring

Partners in Art

Monday, April 4 from 2-4pm. Looking for a chance to get together with other creative people to discuss art and exchange ideas? Then come to a meeting of our cooperatively led Partners in Art group. This program is free of charge and open to all. Donations ($1–3) greatly appreciated. Contact Millie Mateu (milaenartes@gmail.com) or Katherine Rand (katherine@katherinerand.com) with questions.

Life Drawing - Open Sessions

• Wednesday, April 06 from 2-5pm (Short/Long Pose)
• Wednesday, April 06 from 6:30-9:30pm (Long Pose)
• Wednesday, April 13 from 6:30-9:30pm (Long Pose)
• Sunday, April 17 from 9:30-11:30am (Gesture)
• Wednesday, April 20 from 2-5pm (Short/Long Pose)

These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us at the gallery to draw or paint our live models. The fee for each 3-hour session is $10 for DRA members and $12 for non-members. 2-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members. If you have questions, contact Katherine Rand at LifeDrawing@DelRayArtisans.org

Surrealism: A Photography Exhibition Opening Reception

Friday, May 6 from 7-9pm. This exhibit is a collaborative effort between Del Ray Artisans and Union 206 Studio to present photographic artwork that pushes beyond accepted conventions of reality by representing irrational imagery of dreams and the unconscious mind…disorienting realist imagery often based on fantasy, nightmares, hallucination, and the imagination. Show runs May 6-29, 2016. Details at DelRayArtisans.org/shows/

Special Member Benefit Program!

Save the date: Tuesday, May 24 from 7-9pm. Mark your calendars for a special, free Member Benefit Program that is being planned for all Del Ray Artisans members. Details will be announced soon.

Call for Curators: 2017 Show Proposals

Proposals due Wednesday, June 1. Interested in curating a show at Del Ray Artisans gallery next year? Contact Kathy Turner, Director of Curating, with questions: Curating@DelRayArtisans.org. Proposal form at DelRayArtisans.org/CFE

Del Ray Artisans members are required to volunteer for at least 12 hours per year to support the organization and its mission. Below are some volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Update: The New Year means a New Volunteer Binder! Please feel free to enter into the binder any volunteer activities you have accomplished during 2016. However, we prefer that you email your hours directly to the Volunteers Director. As a reminder, participation in exhibits requires member artists to assist with various duties such as gallery hosting, hanging, helping during the reception, etc. These hours do not count as volunteer hours. Be on the lookout for many upcoming changes and announcements. If you have questions, please email Josh, your Volunteers Director, at Volunteers@DelRayArtisans.org.

Time-Sensitive Requests

• Adopt-a-Park: Pick Up Litter
  Del Ray Artisans volunteers pick-up litter in Colasanto Park, which is a part of the City of Alexandria's Adopt-a-Park program. Inspections are on Mondays, so Sunday is the best pick-up day but not a hard rule. We need volunteers to sign up for weekends now through November 30. If you are interested in assisting, contact Marlin with your preferred weekend at AdoptAPark@DelRayArtisans.org

Communications

• Layout The Well-Crafted Word newsletter
  Interested in laying out Del Ray Artisans monthly newsletter? To volunteer or request more details, contact Betsy at Communications@DelRayArtisans.org
• Post our Events on assigned Online Calendars
  Post approved DRA publicity materials on a specific online calendar. Each volunteer will have one or two calendars to update; instructions will be given. Must have internet access. Contact Dawn at Technology@DelRayArtisans.org

Curating & Curator Support

• Join the Curating Team!
  Volunteer to curate or assist a curator (hanging artwork, data entry / spreadsheets, distributing postcards, people skills). Experienced past curators especially needed, but all volunteers are welcome. Contact Kathy at Curating@DelRayArtisans.org
• Help Curators design their Postcard
  Postcards contain the vital show information: show title, dates, reception information, any special events and other information the curators wish to highlight. Help curators put together this file for the printer. Must have access to software capable of creating printer-ready files (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) and be able to email documents. Helpful skills: creative design and content proofing. Contact Kathy at Curating@DelRayArtisans.org

Photography & Video

• Event Photography
  Seeking volunteers to take photos of Del Ray Artisans events for our archives and Flickr Photostream. Volunteer to photograph opening receptions, workshops, regular programs, or markets. We are hoping for around 10-20 photos from each event. Contact Sean at Archives@DelRayArtisans.org
• Photographers Needed to Document Shows
  Seeking volunteers to take photos of each piece of artwork in a show (as well as some overall gallery shots) for our archives and Flickr Photostream. Contact Sean at Archives@DelRayArtisans.org
• Photograph Processing
  Seeking volunteers to process photos for our Flickr Photostream. Task involves cropping, downsizing, color correcting (if needed), and adding meta data (e.g. artist name, title, media, price, show). Must have Photoshop or comparable application. Contact Sean at Archives@DelRayArtisans.org
• Seeking Videographer / Film Maker
  Seeking a volunteer to record a Del Ray Artisans workshop and edit for online viewing. Alternative option is to create an online course explaining an art or art-related activity. Contact John at VP@DelRayArtisans.org

Programs

• Help plan workshops and events for Del Ray Artisans
  We are looking for volunteers who are interested in supporting and/or helping design and schedule workshops and events at the gallery. If interested, please contact Theresa at Programs@DelRayArtisans.org

Call for Artists: Art on the Avenue on October 1

Submit application by April 1 for the reduced booth fee. Art on the Avenue is a multicultural arts festival organized by the Del Ray Community Partnership. The show welcomes applications from all craft artists and is known for high quality artwork. All work must be original, handmade, created and exhibited by the approved artist. Standard booth rate is $175 if postmarked by April 1. The first round of judging is the first week in June. For questions, email artontheavenue@gmail.com. Application at artontheavenue.org/?page_id=20

Call for Artists: Glenview Mansion Art Gallery Call for Entries-2017

Deadline: April 1, 2016. We’re looking for art of all kinds for our gallery – painting, sculpture, assemblage/mixed media - the oddball and offbeat are welcome! The Glenview Mansion is located in a 153 acre park in Rockville MD with free parking and ADA accessibility. The gallery is housed on the second floor. The application fee is $50 and notification for exhibits in 2017 will be made via email by May 26, 2016. Questions contact Julie Farrell at jfarrell@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8682. Please find an application at www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?nid=1862

Call for Artists: Community Sustainable Arts

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 3, 11:59pm. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts invites artists and artist teams living and/or working in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to submit proposals for participation in a Community Supported Art (CSA) initiative that will provide a unique way for collectors to acquire original art from regional artists. Six artists or artist teams will be selected to participate in the 2016 CSA. Each artist must create 50 pieces of original art for the program. All visual arts mediums will be considered. All artwork must be original, handcrafted by the artist. No giclees will be accepted. Details at CallForEntry.org or contact Sandy Depew at 703-746-5566 or sandra.depew@alexandriava.gov

Call for Entry: Please Touch

International Deadline: April 11, 2016 . Highly regarded Torpedo Factory Art Center/Target Gallery invites national and international artists to submit to this all-media exhibition of interactive works. Visitors will be encouraged to touch and engage with the artwork, so all work must be safe to touch. Our juror is Virginia-based artist and curator, Cynthia Connolly. The entry fee is $35.00/3 pieces. Read complete details and apply at artdeadline.com/ops/target/

Call for Entry: Artful Whimsy Art Exhibit

Digital Entries Due April 25 at 11pm. An all-media, juried show open to all artists. Engaging, fun, fanciful, playful, amusing, an odd or fanciful or capricious piece or, as is often said, "whimsy can be humorous to someone with time to enjoy it." Show runs May 11-June 6, 2016 at ArtSpace Falls Church. Meet the Artists Reception: May 11, 7:30-10pm. Submit photos of your artwork, artist bio, and artist statement to info@fallschurcharts.org. Enter at fallschurcharts.org/art-show-entry-form

Call for Artists: Del Ray Street Painting Event

Seeking artists to participate in La Bella Strada, an Italian Street Painting Festival in Del Ray, Alexandria on Saturday, May 14, 2016 to benefit the Del Ray Montessori School. Please email bellastrada@DelRaymontessorischool.com for more information. We have opportunities for professional and semi-professional artists. Experience with chalk art a plus! Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/labellastrada

Call for Entry: Line Upon Line Art Exhibit

Digital Entries Due May 16 at 11pm. An all-media, juried show open to all artists. This show celebrates one of the most basic elements of art, the line—curved, bent, thick, thin, wide, broken, vertical, horizontal—in whatever form it may take. Line upon line, idea upon idea, medium upon medium, the works selected for this show will be judged on composition, overall design, artistic skill, and creativity. Show runs June 9-July 11, 2016 at ArtSpace Falls Church. Meet the Artists Reception: June 9, 7:30-10pm. Submit photos of your artwork, artist bio, and artist statement to info@fallschurcharts.org. Enter at fallschurcharts.org/art-show-entry-form

All DRA events, unless otherwise noted, are held at the DRA gallery:

Del Ray Artisans gallery at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center
2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301-1124 | Directions
Phone: 703-838-4827 | DelRayArtisans.org

©2016 Arts Resource Foundation. Special thanks to the City of Alexandria, Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts for their continued support of Del Ray Artisans, a 501(c)(3) organization.

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