Del Ray Artisans - Alexandria, VA

Start your beading now! Bead it! 2 is back! Bead it! 2 will run from October 7-October 29, 2006. The gallery reception will be on October 13 from 7-10 pm.

Once again we are expecting entries from all over the country. The 2006 entry form is included in this newsletter. Enter in one, two, or all three categories (a maximum of 3 entries per category). Each category will be juried for entrance into the show as well as best in category prize:

• Handmade Bead: This bead may be made of any material but must be handmade by the entering artist.

• Wearable Bead Art: This category may use purchased beads, i.e. beads not made by the artist.

• Non-wearable Bead Art: This category may use purchased beads, i.e. beads not made by the artist.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help with this show or needs further information please contact Barb Brecher at barb@brecherdesign.com. Please put bead-it in the subject line.

Kimonos, Canvas and Collage show

And you didn't think that our Board members had any time for anything other than volunteering for DRA!!! Board members Linda Silk and Theresa Kulstad will exhibit their adventures in art August 4 - 27.

Wearable art will be wafting through the gallery in the form of hand-painted kimonos by Linda Silk. Silk is a graphic designer whose passion for art extends into several several community projects involving children and the arts.

The show will also feature oil paintings and collage pieces by Theresa Kulstad. Her paintings explore a variety of subject matter while her collage work is a more intuitive process. Opening reception is Friday, August 4 7-10 pm. For a preview, join them on First Thursday, August 3, 6-9 pm. Click here for Registration Form

Award winning artist and lifelong oil painter Barbara Chiminello will lead an informative workshop for anybody who would like to try their hand at oil painting. Barbara will present information for any beginner to get started, and then we’ll have a few hours left over for hands-on action!

This session will be held at the gallery on Saturday, September 16, from 10 AM- 2 PM. Bring a sack lunch and dress for mess!

-an overview of materials and supplies (complete with a shopping list for your first trip into the daunting aisles of the art supply store!)
-demystifying the various grades of paints and brushes
-preparing the canvas
-handling the materials, color mixing, applying paint to canvas
-proper safety and clean-up procedures

The group will work from a simple still life set-up, and Barbara will guide you through the process.

This program will be free to DRA members, $15 fee to non-members. Space is limited to 5 participants, pre-registration is required.

For more information, and to sign up please contact Barbara directly. 703.836.0596 or barbarachim@gmail.com

Autumn is coming! Kick it off with DRA’s semi-annual member opportunity to exhibit artwork in any medium in any subject – join the “Art of Making” in the Fall All Member non-juried show! Up to 3 works may be submitted with no entry fees, and at least one piece will be selected by the Curators from each member's works. So bring your freshest “crop” and be a part of our multi-media showcase of our multi-talented artists!

See the enclosed Call for Entry for the details, dates and guidelines. Questions? Contact: curators Paula Lantz 703.836.0866 or Kathryn Brown 703.549.5227

Help Keep DRA Abuzz!

Featured on WETA Neighborhoods series, articles in the Washington Post, Alexandria Gazette-Packet, Alexandria Times, the Del Ray Sun, and publications in Baltimore, Richmond and Fredericksburg! DRA has done a fabulous job of creating quite a buzz in the DC area.

Help keep that momentum going! As 2006 draws to an end, DRA is looking for members to fill open positions on the Board for 2007. These open spots include: Archives, Communications, Membership Outreach chairs and Program Co-Chair. This is a great opportunity to make an impact in the local arts community, build your resume skills, meet new people and generally have a whole lot of fun.

The Nominations Committee is currently soliciting nominations for Board elections that will be held at DRA's annual meeting in October. If you’re interested or want to learn more, please contact: Barbara Boehm barbxb@yahoo.com or Linda Elliff at llelliff@aol.com or 703.360.1265

Once again, DRA opened the gallery to the Shelley A. Marshall Foundation (SAM) Arts Enrichment Program one weekend in July.

The program provides 12 promising high school art students with painting supplies and easels along with art instruction from a professional working artist at several area locations. Instruction at the DRA site was provided by artist Mehran Rashidfarokhy.

The SAM Foundation was established by Donn Marshall following his wife Shelley’s death at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Donn wanted to keep Shelley's memory alive as well as help further her dreams.

The SAM Foundation has several other programs that have benefited recipients young and old. Visit ShellysFoundation.org

Word has been received that both of the grants submitted by DRA to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts have been awarded.

Our first-time request for a technology grant was awarded in the amount we had requested. This amount must be matched by DRA as part of the grant's requirements. A replacement for the borrowed computer now in use will be the purpose of this grant.The other grant was for badly-needed funds to add to DRA's operating fund. It is through grants of this nature that DRA can continue to bring all the art, fun and goodness to the Avenue.

Serious kudos to those who helped pull these grant requests together; Juli Branson, Kathryn Brown, Susan Slattery, Marlin Lord and Dave Nicholson

It's the annual Del Ray Artisan Pool Party, Pie Baking Contest and Cookout for our members, on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Swimming starts at 6PM followed by refreshments, snacks, hot dogs and if you are lucky, a slice of prize winning pie. Come and join in the fun. Families and SOs are welcome as well. Meet DRA Board and committee members to hear what's going on in. Will your pie be "best in show" or "best in dough"? You may even be lucky enough to be a judge in our pie contest unless, of course, you are a winning entry! Pie must be submitted no later than 7:30 pm to be in the contest.

DRA Gardening Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 9, from 8 am – noon. Refreshments and food provided. Bring garden tools if you have them. Please contact Jordan Wright at 703 549-1548 or email to jordanwright@comcast.net if you will be joining in the fun!

July 6                                1^st Thursday (6-9 PM) – Red, White & Blue theme
July 8-9                             Shelley A. Marshall Foundation student workshops
July 11                               Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
July 12                               Life drawing open studio (7:00-10:00 PM)
July 13-14                          Silver Art Clay workshop
July 24–28                          Art Camp / K. Schmitz & L. Silk
July 26                               Life drawing open studio (7:00-10:00 PM)

August 3                            1^st Thursday (6-9 PM) - Fashionistas theme
August 4 -27                       Kimonos, Canvas & Collage / Kulstad & Silk
August 8                             Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
August 15                           DRA Annual Pool Party (6:00 PM), General Meeting & Pie Baking contest

Sept. 7                              1^st Thursday (6-9 PM) - Chew on the Avenue theme
Sept. 8–Oct. 1                    Autumn Art Antics / Fall All Member Show, / Kathryn Brown & Paula Lantz
Sept. 9-10                          Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Sept. 12                             Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
Sept. 16                             Workshop "Oil painting: starting from scratch"

October 6-22                     Bead II / Juried exhibit /Barbara Brecher 703.548.2878
October 7                           Art on the Avenue (10 AM-6 PM)- Dance & art activities in the gallery
October 10                         Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
October 14-15                    Workshop "Lampwork glass with Lisa St. Martin"
October 17                         DRA Annual Meeting & Elections (7:30 PM)
October 27-Nov. 4               Dia de los Muertos workshops / event / exhibit
October 29                          Del Ray Halloween Parade (2 PM)

November 10–26                DR Dozen invitational photography exhibit/ curator Rob Rudick 301.270.2323
Nov. 11                              Business Issues for Photographers with Keith Barraclough, 1:00-3:00 PM
November 14                       Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
November                           Photography workshop

December 1-3                      Fine Art & Fine Crafts Holiday Market / Juried
December 2                         Holiday on the Avenue - Tree Lighting & Luminaria Display (6:00 PM)December 8,9 & 10             Barnes & Noble BOOKFAIR & Ornament workshop
December 12                       Board Meeting (7:00 PM)

Rob Rudick magazine profile

The work of DRA photographer Rob Rudick was featured in the July-August issue of Elan Magazine. The article highlighted Rob's striking automotive images and included seven pictures from this series. Also included was his picture "Alpaca Grazing", shown in last year's Del Ray Dozen Photography show. A July exhibit of his work at the Byrne Gallery in Middleburg complemented the article.

The Del Ray Citizens Association is seeking proposals for public art projects in the neighborhood in order to create a durable artistic contribution to the streetscape.

There will be no entry fee. Look for a detailed design call available soon at the DRA gallery, or contact Pat Miller at pmiller1806@comcast.net.

Opportunities are available with the City of Alexandria for qualified instructors of Music, Theatre, Dance, and Visual Art. Sessions cover a max 4-10 weeks and may cover four quarters. Instructors will be self-employed contractors and not City of Alexandria employees.

And as a follow-up to new members you should received information packet from our credit union, CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union. Suzanne Waltmeyer will be happy to answer your questions. Please call her at 703.236.7635.

Membership in DRA is a great deal! Not only do you get to meet Del Ray's coolest people, but we bring you real benefits that no other arts organization can/does offer. If your membership has expired or you are reading this free copy of the Well Crafted Word, please drop a check in the mail to renew your membership or join the fun.