Del Ray Artisans News
...................since 1992

Vote !
February 15^th
Your vote is needed....come to the swap meet too!

As we mentioned in last month’s Well Crafted Word, the ByLaws that have been under development are now ready for members’ approval. Please either mail a proxy vote, see the last page for the form, or plan to attend this very important meeting at the gallery February 15^th, starting at 7:30PM.

It is necessary to have sufficient votes to form a quorum and allow the voting to proceed. Without your vote or in-person attendance the voting cannot take place. PLEASE, please either mail your vote or stop by the Gallery on the 15^th.

And to tease and entice you to attend we’ve cooked up another fabulous swap meet! Back by popular demand, this art swap gives everyone a chance to clean and clear out those unused or “what was I thinking” materials.

 Bring your old, tired or in-need-of-TLC art materials and swap them for some new, exciting and wow-inducing castoffs from someone else’s art bin.

 Vote, swap supplies, eat and be merry- see you on the 15^th!

February showcases handmade cards

Watch as the Gallery gets transformed into a floor-to-ceiling showroom of one-of-kind, handmade greeting cards during the February House of Cards show. And they all are for sale! There will be a visual taste treat of cards to delight and tickle  your funny bones. So plan to embrace your inner card desires with this show.

Cards covering many themes will be presented; from romantic Valentine’s Day to birthdays and the ever popular "all occasion.” Check out how the minds of the Del Ray Artisans function when applied to this particular art form. See samples of decoupage, rubber stamping, sewing, paper layering, hand painting, embossing and 3D work.

Curator Karen Schmitz has been channeling the talents of artisans to create this "hallmark" card show which runs February 4-27. Please stop by gallery Saturdays 10am-4pm and Sundays noon -4pm to purchase cards for the entire year. The opening reception is Friday, February 4, 2005, 7:00-10:00 PM.

March collaborative show

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2005 collaboration with the Springwater Fiber Workshop. The show is titled Art by the Yard and will be an interesting exploration of fabric arts from the weavers of Springwater and the Del Ray Artisans

Artists, it is not too late to prepare an entry for this show. Drop-off date is February 28. See last month’s Well Crafted Word for the Call for Entry or contact Linda Silk at 703.533.7689. There will be multiple awards, including cash.

Elvis Presley himself couldn't have thrown a better party! The Aloha Elvis! 70^th  Birthday Party and Dance was "the ticket" January 8^th, with standing room only crowds (Thanks to great Washington Post coverage). Elvis-Tiki-Honolulu Restaurant fans decked out in their finest tropical attire lined up down the block. Good thing the weather was downright balmy for January! 

Besides the cool art and funky tiki decor, guests enjoyed a delicious buffet, dancing to the swingin' sounds of The Hula Monsters, excellent Tiki libations mixed up by the Chans, owners of the former Honolulu Restaurant which was displaced permanently by the new Wilson Bridge.

All this plus the chance to win cool raffle and trivia prizes. Team Tiki is already talking about next year's Birthday Party (at a larger location!), so mark your calendars now for Viva Las Elvis - "Elvis Eve,"  Saturday, January 7, 2006. Watch the DRA website www.delrayartisans.org and newsletter for updates.

 Team Tiki - Jen Chappell, Karen Schmitz, Susan Slattery and Ted Smouse thanks the following for their help in making Aloha Elvis! a big success:  Axis Instruments, the Chan family, Edible Arrangements, The Hula Monsters, The ReMix, Royce Flowers, judges-Ruthie Logsdon and Janine Wilson, Charlotte Corcoran, Amy Eggers, Ellyn Ferguson, Irene Hoffman, John and Jila, Theresa Kulstad, Katy Musser, Art Scarano, the “other” Theresa, Christopher Wright, Roy Wright, Richard Wyvill and our "event angels from PA" – Jen Chappell’s mom, sis and nephew, plus ALL the other volunteers who helped in ways big and small.

2005 Calendar of Events Click Here

Credit Union news alert

   Be watching for a special mailing from Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union describing services available to Del Ray Artisans members.  Credit Unions are not open to the public so these services are only available to DRA members. If you do not receive this mailing, please let us know by e-mailing or calling the DRA Treasurer (see contact info on the sidebar located on this page)

DRA Lending library

   Did you know that DRA has a small lending library? There are a number of books on the arts and technique that may be checked out for use. Next time you’re in the gallery, ask to be directed to the library area.

Winter, cold, snow....and a card making party  

Never doubt the intrepid nature of some artists. Despite the worst weather of the season, the Sunday after the storm saw the Gallery populated by 8 fabricators making cards and sharing frivolity. All cards were being prepared for the upcoming House of Cards show that opens with a Friday night reception, February 4^th. Make a date to see the exhibit and bring a list of cards you’ll be needing. These cards are not just for show, they are also for sale as part of DRA’s fundraising efforts.

Mural artist opportunity

The Office on Women’s Domestic Violence Special Pals Program is seeking an artist (or artists) to paint a mural on the shelter’s back yard fence for their playground.

If you are interested, please call Betsy Greene at 703.838.4911 or e-mail betsy.greene@alexandriava.gov