Open Life Drawing Sessions:
Monday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 23

Open life drawing continues at the Del Ray Artisans gallery. 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. Monday, Feb 21, 2-5 pm Short/Long Pose; and Wednesday, Feb 23, 11-1 pm Gestures & 2- 5 pm Short/Long Pose. The fee for each three-hour session is $8 for DRA members and $10 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Please check the Del Ray Artisans calendar (calendar.DelRayArtisans.org) for upcoming dates and times. For questions, please contact Katherine Rand at 703.836.1468 or DRA.LifeDrawing@gmail.com.

Beyond Form: Expressing Art Call for Entry:
February 27-28 (6-8 pm)

Beyond Form: Expressing Art is open to all area artists, with a spotlight on painting. See the gallery zipping with positive energy, beauty, truth, and color! See the counterpoint of monochromatic simplicity, stillness, and restraint—lending balance and white space. Whichever direction you go, let it be lovely, for as Kandinsky once said, "An empty canvas is a living wonder... far lovelier than certain pictures." Download the Call for Entries at DelRayArtisans.org/shows/calls/Due-2011-02-28-BeyondForm.pdf. As a benefit to Del Ray Artisans members, an additional exhibit opportunity under our Gallery Without Walls program allows DRA members only to submit selected abstract artworks from Beyond Form to a juried exhibit at the Signature Theatre during the run of ART [for 8 weeks from March 29 through May 22]. For more information, contact Betty Plummer at 703-892-8638 or DRA.newsletter@gmail.com.

Beyond Form: Expressing Art Opening Reception: Friday, March 4 (7-10 pm)

All-media show exploring the color, energy, and simplicity inherent in abstract artwork. The gallery will be buzzing with energy and color! We'll make art happen, so you'll feel the emotion, movement, and meaning that artists express through art—whatever the style! Show runs through March 27. For details, visit DelRayArtisans.org or contact Betty Plummer at bplummer11@verizon.net.

Open Life Drawing Sessions: Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23

Open life drawing continues at the Del Ray Artisans gallery. 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. Mar 9, 11-1 pm Gestures & 2-5 pm Short/Long Pose; Mar 16, 6:30-9:30 pm Long Pose; Mar 23, 11-1 pm Gestures & 2-5 pm Short/Long Pose. The fee for each three-hour session is $8 for DRA members and $10 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Please check the Del Ray Artisans calendar (calendar.DelRayArtisans.org) for upcoming dates and times. For questions, please contact Katherine Rand at 703.836.1468 or DRA.LifeDrawing@gmail.com.

Seeking Volunteers for Outreach and Fundraising

[DRA members only] There are two recent vacancies on the DRA Board: Outreach Director and Fundraising Director. This is a rewarding way to meet your volunteer commitment. Interested members should contact dra.volunteers@gmail.com or dra.membership@gmail.com for details.

Seeking E-Blast Editor

[DRA members only] Editor responsibilities include collecting, compiling, and formatting DRA and metro-area arts events that are of interest to DRA members. A working knowledge of HTML is helpful but not mandatory. The eblast is distributed weekly. This person would work closely with the DRA web curator and Communications Director. If interested, contact Paige Ireland, DRA Communications Director at DRA.Communications@gmail.com.

Seeking HTML Layout Volunteer

[DRA members only] Looking for someone to help layout the DRA weekly eblast in HTML. Candidate would work with the Eblast Editor to format DRA and metro-area art events into a weekly publication (e.g. this email). Must know HTML and be able to FTP files. 1 volunteer needed. If interested, please contact Dawn Wyse Hurto at WebCurator@DelRayArtisans.org.

See The Big Picture

Help us frame a better future for ALL the arts. The message is the same, regardless of the medium: The arts strengthen our communities, lift our spirits, and build a better quality of life for all Virginians. And it's time we all spoke up about it. We're asking you to play your role by telling Virginia's leaders that you, too, support the arts. Add your name to the list by visiting Virginia for the Arts Foundation. For questions, please contact Trish Poupore, Executive Director, Virginians for the Arts at 804-644-2787 or VaforArts@aol.com.

Tax Refund for Art

Virginians have the opportunity to contribute part of their state income tax refund to the Virginia Arts Foundation by checking a box on their return form. The Virginia Arts Foundation, different from Virginians for the Arts Foundation, sends the funds received directly to the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which is then distributed in grants to artists all across the state. It's easy to contribute, just check the box for the Virginia Arts Foundation when you file your state tax return.

Support the Arts

Purchase a special Arts license plate and qualify for a $15 tax deduction! Fifteen dollars of the annual fees for Arts license plates are paid into a fund managed by the State Department of Accounts and held in trust for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Each year the Commission receives the interest from this account to be used for grants to Virginia arts organizations. Since the ultimate recipients of the $15 payments are 501(c)3 organizations, the money is considered tax deductible. Order here.

smARTpower Global Arts Outreach - DC

Application Deadline: Monday, February 28. smARTpower, the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, sends U.S. artists abroad to collaborate with youth and local artists in the creation of community-based projects in China, Ecuador, Egypt, and Ghana, among others. The program is designed to stimulate discourse around social issues including the environment, health, and freedom of expression. Artists will conduct workshops, teach master classes, and perform other outreach activities while abroad. Interested artists can apply online at www.bronxmuseum.org/smartpower

Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship Program - DC

Application deadline: Monday, February 28. Hamiltonian Artists is excited to announce its fourth annual open call to emerging artists to apply to its two-year Fellowship Program, aimed to aid in the professional development of contemporary visual artists. For application requirements, restrictions and forms, please visit www.hamiltonianartists.org/apply.php.

"Got Art?" Individual Artists Opportunities - VA

Proposal Deadline: Tuesday, March 1 (by 5 pm). The Office of the Arts and Alexandria Commission for the Arts invite proposals from artists for exhibitions in the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library. Exhibitions will run six months. There is no exhibition theme, all entries must be three-dimensional works, and all work must be original. Exhibit location will depend on space and availability. Individual artists, consortia of artists, and organizations who work and/or live in the City of Alexandria are eligible to apply. For more information, contact the Office of the Arts at 703-746-5588 or at aca@alexandriava.gov. In the subject line, please mention "Call for Entries 2011-2014."

Bethesda Artist Market - MD

Application and Materials Deadline: Friday, March 4. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is looking for local and regional artists to display and sell their fine art and fine craft during the Bethesda Artist Market. This year's Market will take place on Saturday, June 11 and Saturday, July 9, 2011. Applications and criteria are available online at www.bethesda.org. There is a $15 application fee and $50 booth fee. For more information, please Valerie Hillman at 301 215-6660, Ext. 17 or VHillman@bethesda.org.

Cherry Block Party - MD

Accepting Applications Now. The 2011 2nd annual Big Cherry Block Party (A National Cherry Blossom Festival Partnered Event) takes place in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland on Saturday, April 2, 2010 11am-6pm. Seeking unique arts and crafts, one-of-kind artists, specialized Asian and Japanese arts, crafts and products. 10 x 10 spaces available, but space is limited, and will be assigned upon receipt of application and full payment. For more information, please contact Janet Lugo-Tafur at 202-445-1507 or janet.lugo.tafur@gmail.com.

First Sunday Arts Festivals - MD

Accepting Applications Now. Six summer Art festivals in Historic Annapolis on the First Sunday of each month (May to October) from noon to 5pm. A festival of 100 artists and crafters, live music, dance, theatre, street performers and cafe dining on the streets of Annapolis. For more information, please visit www.firstsundayarts.com. To reserve space, download application.

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

©2011 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.

Add WebCurator@DelRayArtisans.org to your address book to ensure that you continue to receive this e-blast. To unsubscribe, follow the instructions at: DelRayArtisans.org/mailman/listinfo/eblast_DelRayArtisans.org