Baby, It's Cold Outside Show Opens: Friday, January 7

Del Ray Artisans celebrate winter and help the homeless during their January show, Baby, It's Cold Outside, running January 7-30. The darkest days of January are highlighted by an all member show of mixed-media art. The show also features a drive to collect new socks for the homeless of Alexandria. Donated socks benefit the Carpenter's Shelter.

Opening Reception: Friday, January 7 from 7 pm to 10 pm. Meet the artists while you snack on light appetizers. Members of the public attending the opening are encouraged to bring new socks to donate during the reception.

Sock Hop: Saturday, January 15 from 7 pm to 10 pm. The entry fee is one pair of new socks for each person admitted. Enjoy Rat Pack music and dance the night away.

Members of the public that wish to visit the show and donate additional socks may do so during regular gallery hours. For gallery hours and more information, visit: DelRayArtisans.org or contact Constance Springer Zabowski & Celeste Zabowski at 703-407-6992 or cspringer43@gmail.com.

Beginning Calligraphy Workshop: Saturday, January 8 (1-4 pm)

Registration Deadline: January 4. In conjunction with the February show, Love Letters, Del Ray Artisans invites you to learn basic calligraphy strokes and lettering with instructor, Jenny Nicholson, a calligrapher since 1988. Workshop fee is $20 members, $25 non-members, and includes a calligraphy marker (yours to keep!). For more information, contact curators Matthew Tito Cuenca (571-213-9177, matthewcuenca@hotmail.com) or Tracy Wilkerson (703-501-1736, tlwideas@comcast.net). This is a popular workshop, so register early at: calendar.DelRayArtisans.org/view_entry.php?id=801&date=20110108.

Free Gesture Drawing Session:
Sunday, January 9 (9:30 am-12:00 pm)

Learn how to capture the figure quickly and take advantage of dynamic short poses. Guest instructor Robin Croft will share an unusual exercise to encourage a fresh approach to seeing your subject. Bring a LARGE paper or newsprint pad and the following: red/black Conte, stick charcoal, woodless pencils, chalk pastel, and India ink. Session is free, but space is limited so please RSVP by January 8 to Katherine Rand at 703.836.1468 or DRA.LifeDrawing@gmail.com.

Open Life Drawing Sessions: Wednesdays, January 12, 19, 26

Work from live models in our regular Open Life Drawing sessions at the gallery. All skill levels welcome. Sessions are drop-in. No registration required. Bring supplies. Fee for each 3-hour session: $8, DRA members; $10, non-members. Two-hour sessions: $6, members; $8, non-members. For details visit: calendar.DelRayArtisans.org. For questions, contact Katherine Rand at 703-836-1468 or DRA.LifeDrawing@gmail.com.

January 12, 11-1 pm (gesture) & 2-5 pm (short/long pose)
January 19, 6:30-9:30 pm (short/long pose)
January 26, 11-1 pm (gesture) & 2-5 pm (short/long pose)

Card Making Party: Sunday, January 16 (Noon-4 pm)

Back By Popular Demand! Theresa Kulstad and Karen Schmitz are ready to squish up your creative juices again with a card making party! Join us at the Del Ray Artisans gallery to create one-of-a-kind, hand crafted greeting cards. The timing is great for you to get Valentine's Day cards ready for February's Love Letters show. This event is open to all over 12 years old and donations for time and supplies are appreciated. Donated cards will be sold at the gallery to benefit Del Ray Artisans. For more information, visit DelRayArtisans.org or contact Theresa at tkulstad@verizon.net.

Love Letters Call for Entry: Sunday, January 30 - Monday, January 31

Follow the tortured footsteps of Van Gogh and Toulouse Lautrec. Love Letters, the exhibit, running February 4 -27, invites you to submit artwork inspired by art's most powerful emotion—love. Open to Del Ray Artisan members and non-members. Artists may submit a maximum of three entries and are required to accompany each submitted artwork with a love letter to the artwork subject matter. Drop off hours are Sunday 1/30/11 from 7-9 pm and Monday 1/31/11 from 6-9 pm. For details, download the Call for Entry: DelRayArtisans.org/shows/calls/Due-2011-01-31-LoveLetters.pdf. In addition to the exhibit, two creative workshops and a Valentine's Day event are also planned. Please direct your questions to curators Matthew Tito Cuenca (matthewcuenca@gmail.com) or Tracy Wilkerson (tlwideas@comcast.net).

Love Letters exhibition opens: Friday, February 4

A collection of love-inspired artworks paired up with artist's love letters. Join us as we eavesdrop on the private conversation between artist and admiration. Reception is Friday, February 4, from 7-10 pm and runs through Sunday, February 27. Two creative workshops and a Valentine's Day event are also planned. Visit DelRayArtisans.org for details and registration. For more information, contact Matthew Tito Cuenca (matthewcuenca@gmail.com) or Tracy Wilkerson (tlwideas@comcast.net).

Beyond Form: Expressing Art Call for Entry: February 27-28

Fareeha Khawaja and Betty Plummer will curate DRA's multimedia all-member abstract art show in March—Beyond Form: Expressing Art, spotlighting painting. We seek the spiritual essence of things, the energy of color and line, the artist's feelings, emotions, inspiration. As an added exhibit opportunity under our Gallery Without Walls program, DRA artists may submit selected abstract artworks from Beyond Form for a juried exhibit at the Signature Theatre, for 8 weeks during the run of ART. DRA hopes this inspires you to start painting NOW! For more info, contact Betty Plummer at 703-892-8638 or DRA.newsletter@gmail.com.

"Sock it to Winter" Sock Hop Host Needed

[DRA members only] Looking for a volunteer to act as the host with the most for the "Sock it to Winter" sock hop on Saturday, January 15, 2011. We are also seeking community outreach volunteers to help collect socks, socks and more socks! For details and to sign up, contact curator Constance Springer Zabowski at cspringer43@gmail.com.

Youth Art Symposium Seeking Activities Coordinator

If you're a person interested and willing to facilitate activities for youths in the areas of arts & crafts, drawing, painting, basics of drama, theatre, dance (including hip-hop, jazz, etc.), or poetry/spoken word, the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., wants you! Event date: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 2:30pm at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For details contact: Celena Noel 225-773-0789 or celenanoel@gmail.com.

DRA Seeking Imagery for Newsletter

Doodle for DRA! Do you do small line drawings that can be added to The Well Crafted Word? Stars, faces, abstract designs, etc., can spark up articles and add original style to our newsletter. Artists will be credited under the drawing. Please send your original art to DRA.newsletter@gmail.com in JPG format.

Have content for The Well Crafted Word?

[DRA members only] Submit all your articles, notices, images, etc. for the Del Ray Artisans newsletter by the 10th of the month for the next issue. Submit your content to the editor, Betty Plummer, at DRA.newsletter@gmail.com.

Arts Advocacy Update

Virginia Arts Advocates need your help! The organization is proposing a plan to legislators to achieve its Dollar-per-Capita goal for arts grant funding over the next three fiscal years. Virginia's ranking is currently #35 among states for funding of its arts agency (43 cents per capita). Virginians for the Arts (VFTA) understands that recovery from the present fiscal crisis won't occur overnight. Nevertheless, in the face of the unprecedented fiscal pressures faced by arts organizations, they believe it is imperative that the Commonwealth adopt an orderly plan for restoration of the $3.1 million cut since 2009.

What Can You Do?
Call and make an appointment with your legislator to discuss the difference the arts are making in your community, invite him or her to an arts event, or go out for a meal or coffee to thank him/her for past support. To join a meeting with other local advocates organized by VFTA, email Trish Poupore at VaforArts@aol.com, or to meet with constituents, visit: capwiz.com/artsusa/va/directory/statedior.tt?state=VA&lvl=state.

POPArt Group's "Christ Calls Us To Creativity" - VA

Entry Fee and Form Deadline: January 7. Show them... I will show you my faith by what I do. Call for artists working in all media and living in Virginia, D.C, and Maryland. Entries must be original artwork, no reproductions. Photography, printmaking, and digital art must be limited numbered editions. There is a $25 nonrefundable entry fee. Each applicant may submit up to three works. Show dates February 13, 2011 - March 13, 2011. Show and Tell Gallery is located at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22152. For more info contact: Kathleen Gillmann at 703-644-6512 or Melinda Reidy 703-599-6216 (POPArtGroup@poplc.org).

Crystal City Business Improvement Project - VA

Submission Deadline: January 14. Calling all Artists: The Crystal City Business Improvement District is seeking qualified artists to help produce a temporary, outdoor art exhibit for the Crystal City Water Park. Selected artists will receive a grant of $5,000 from the Crystal City Business Improvement District to build and implement their concept. Download the submission packet at www.crystalcity.org/_files/docs/illuminationcfa.pdf. For questions, contact Joe Petty at 703-412-9430 or jpetty@crystalcity.org.

2011 Artistic Rain Barrel Program! - VA

Application Submission Deadline: January 14. The Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program partners invite you to submit a design and application to have your artwork featured in the 2011 Artistic Rain Barrel Program. Turn a rain barrel into a work of art as part of a fun way to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to improve water quality. All artistic barrels will be on display with interpretative signage at local libraries, nature centers, community centers and businesses throughout Northern Virginia in spring 2011. To apply for this program, complete and submit this application by January 14: DelRayArtisans.org/shows/calls/Due-2011-01-14-RainBarrel.pdf.

DC Art Decathlon - DC

Proposals due: January 15. Calling all artists to flex their creative muscles. Decathletes are recognized by peers and laymen alike as being the best all-around athletes. If the best all-around athlete is one who most efficiently balances speed, strength, technique, and endurance, then what defines the best all-around artist? The DC Arts Center's Visual Arts Committee wants to know what you think and what you can do! For more information and proposal criteria, contact Carolyn Law at dcacgallerymanager@gmail.com.

Learn Photoshop and be dangerous! - VA

Seating is limited: Register NOW. FCA is offering a two-part introduction seminar intended for anyone interested in learning the basics of Photoshop. It is also recommended for people who know a little about the software and wish to understand it better. Part I: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 7:00-9:30 pm  or  Saturday January 22, 2011, 1:00-3:30 pm. Part II: Thursday, February 3, 2011, 7:00-9:30 pm  or  Saturday, February 5, 2011, 1:00-3:30 pm. FCA members and students, $40; non-members, $60. Fee includes Parts I and II. The seminar will be held at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required. For more info and registration form visit: www.fallschurcharts.org/pdf/Intro_to_Photoshop_2011.pdf.

Mindful Meditation for Enhanced Creativity - VA

Class begins in February... This 9-session series introduces you to meditation to enhance your creative potential; assisting people who are creative in the arts, or any area of life, to be centered and confident in their being as they create. Register early - a deposit of $50.00 is requested to hold your place [size is limited to 8]. Total cost is $150.00 for the (9) hour and a half sessions. Class location: Convergence at 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA. For more info, contact Rusty Lynn at rustylynn@earthlink.net.

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

©2010 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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