December 2005  VOLUME 13 ISSUE 12

A-Musing January show
Is Figuring something you're interested in?
DRA Website alert! 
Membership renewals
Eichers fund donation
Artists, here's another benefit of membership
Visit Barnes & Noble, buy stuff, benefit DRA
Amazing help!
Public Art Project initiative in Del Ray
Visual & Performing Arts Teachers Wanted
Member benefits

DEL RAY ARTISANS NEWS

Contributors this month include: Rob Rudick, Karen Schmitz, Linda Silk, Barbara Brecher, Susan Slattery, Dave Nicholson and Kathryn Brown.

Many thanks to our monthly sponsor:
Royce Flowers - lovely arrangements seen at every opening.

Thanks to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts for their continuing support.

Edited by:  Dave Nicholson
Submission deadline-20^th of month preceding
e.g. (12/20 for January)
email to:  NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Web Curator:   Roy Wright
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A-Musing January show

January will transform the Del Ray Artisans Gallery into a place of inspiration as artists reveal their Muses to the world. Curators Richard Wyvill and Karen Schmitz are asking artists to open up and "Name Your Muse!" Be it a person, an animal, a memory, a book, a song, etc.  

Wyvill and Schmitz are very excited to have Joe Kabriel as the juror for this first show of 2006, thanks to Theresa Kulstad. Kabriel is a distinguished Fine Arts Chair at the Montgomery College of Art and Design and a painting instructor with The Art League School.

Three Muse awards will be presented for outstanding works at the Friday, January 6^th opening reception (7-10 PM).  

Artists will have three dates to drop off up to 3 pieces of artwork at the DRA Gallery:

      Sunday, Dec. 18 - 4-6 PM
      Monday, Dec. 19 - 6-8 PM
      Monday, Jan.   2 - 6-8 PM

Entry fee is $10 DRA member/ $15 for non-members. Muses, music and visual delights will rule the gallery January 6-29. Questions? Contact Richard Wyvill at 703.548.3940/ richard@rfwyvill.com or Karen Schmitz at schmityk@yahoo.com

Is Figuring something you're interested in?

Del Ray Artisans will offer a 3-day, drop-in life drawing salon in early 2006! Presidents' Day weekend, Feb.18-20, the gallery will host a marathon of drop-in life drawing sessions. Included will be both long and short poses.  

Here's a chance for both members and non-members to explore or reconnect with the human figure. Both beginners and professionals are welcome. Look for next month’s flyer in the WCW for more details, but reserve your spot now as we expect this to be well-attended!

In order to offer this exciting opportunity, volunteer support is needed. Members may exchange the studio fee for a 3-hour volunteer monitor shift. The gallery will be an “open studio” each day, so several shifts will need to be covered. This is an excellent opportunity to fulfill your volunteer hours early in the year while furthering your drawing skills in a communal atmosphere. Volunteers, and those interested in additional information, should contact Joan Ulrich at ulrichclay@aol.com or Theresa Kulstad at tkulstad@verizon.net.

Have you been having trouble accessing the DRA website? Please change your bookmark or set your browser to:   www.thedelrayartisans.org

Don't ask, just trust us on this one.

Don’t forget! It’s time for many of you to renew dues for 2006. Ask Santa to stop by the membership “gift certificate” table at the (Dec. 2-4) Holiday Market and treat you to a year’s worth of art exhibits, events and fun!

Eichers fund donation

A very special thank you to Ms. Harriet McGuire for her $250 donation to the Eichers Scholarship Fund. The money in this endowment is used to fund the annual scholarship that is awarded by the Del Ray Artisans to a graduating Alexandria high school senior.

In addition to the initial donation from the family of DRA member, Ted Eichers, and Ms. McGuire's donation there have been a number of anonymous donations over the past several years. You may wish to help us grow this endowment by making a year-end contribution now.

Artists, here's another benefit of membership

Artifacts Framing is now offering an ongoing Del Ray Artisan member benefit of 15% off all custom frame jobs!

Thank you Artifacts! Owners Stephany White and Thilys Araujo would also like for members to know that they currently have 20+ "great" frames on sale, priced from $3 to $20 in styles ranging from modern to traditional. Stephany suggests the frames are "good for artists needing an inexpensive solution to framing."

Both Thilys and Stephany are local artists with over 20 years experience in custom framing, art, and decorating. So stop by Artifacts and get your work framed today while enjoying yet another valuable benefit of being a DRA member.

Artifacts is located at 201-A East Custis Avenue and is open 6 days week. 703.519.1711 www.artifactsframing.com.

Visit Barnes & Noble, buy stuff, benefit DRA

Barnes & Noble-Potomac Yard will donate 15-25% of all in-store sales during the 3-day period of Friday-Sunday, December 9-11,2005, to the Del Ray Artisans when customers present a vouchers when making their  purchase! Mark your calendars now!. This is a fun way to support your arts group while finding books, CDs & DVD gifts for everyone on your holiday list. 

It’s easy! We have provided 4 Bookfair Vouchers in this Newsletter. Keep one for yourself and distribute the rest to your family, friends & co-workers.

Make additional copies or go to www.thedelrayartisans.org for vouchers. Even easier-send a link to our website to everyone on your email list! Vouchers can be used multiple times during the 3-day Bookfair period.  

Many thanks to Barnes & Noble for this great fundraising opportunity. We look forward to participating again-so it’s now up to you, our members, to spread the word, distribute vouchers & shop 'til you drop at Barnes & Noble-Potomac Yard. 3651 Jefferson Davis Hwy., (Route 1) Alexandria, 703.299.9124

Store hours: 9 AM–11 PM everyday 

There are a few rules & limitations for the Bookfair, so please review carefully: 

• Voucher must be presented at the time of purchase during the 3-day Bookfair period.
• We cannot distribute vouchers inside or directly outside Barnes & Noble.
• Barnes & Noble members may use their cards to make (discounted) purchases.
• All Barnes & Noble merchandise & all forms of payment are eligible for the Bookfair.
• The following transactions are NOT included in the Bookfair:
• - purchase of gift cards
• - purchase of B&N memberships
• -purchase of Café consumables

Considerable hat-tipping to all who volunteered this year to help with the Adopt-a-Park clean-up efforts.As we judge it, DRA only lost 3 points for the entire season. A remarkable accomplishment from everyone

Special recognition goes to Peggy Ashbrook who did an utterly amazing 12 weekends of pickup. If you see Peggy please give her your heartfelt thanks as DRA certainly appreciates and thanks her for her unselfish commitment to Avenue beautification...and DRA.

Public Art Project initiative in Del Ray

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.

Submit letters of interest and qualification statements to:  Harold Little  email or snail mail to: Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center,  1605 Cameron Street,  Alexandria, VA  22314 , Attn: Harold Little    

And as a follow-up to the mailing you should have received 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.