Del Ray Artisans News
since 1992
February 2006 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2
| In This Issue |
Springwater Fiber and DRA
Name your Muse-juror's remarks &
more
Clean out your closets! Artist Swap Meet & General meeting
DRA adopts an art
family-hurricane relief
2006 Calendar of Events
Don't miss our Open Studio nights
Annual Spring Arts &
Crafts Sale coming in May
In Memory
Virginia
Commission for the Arts-grant review panelists
Member news
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-20th
of month preceding
e.g. (1/20 for February)
email to:
NEWSLETTER
EDITOR
Web Curator: Roy
Wright
EMAIL SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Once we receive your information we will begin sending you new exciting information about us once it becomes available.
WCW ARCHIVES
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
The theme of this year’s annual Del Ray Artisans and Springwater Fiber Workshop Collaborative Show is art for the home. “Mi Casa, Su Casa” will feature the work of artists from all levels working in a wide range of media. For those applying to be in the show, the emphasis is for the art to reflect what turns a house into a home. Entry forms are available on-line at www.thedelrayartisans.org.
The opening reception will be
held on Friday, March 3rd (7-10 pm) at the DRA gallery. The exhibit
runs through Sunday, March 26.
The show will be juried with multiple prizes to be awarded at the reception.
Come create for a cause! An exciting addition to the opening will be a “Fiber-a-thon” which will be in full warp mode all evening. Artists from both groups will be creating wearable items to be donated to Katrina Relief or injured military and their families. For further information, contact Randy Scheessele at 703.535. 6510 or randall_m._scheessele@hud.gov
Name your Muse-juror's remarks & more
Juror Joe Kabriel spent several intensive hours choosing 41 works by 25 artists and awarding the following artists four Muse Equal Merit awards:
Paula Lantz "Wandering the
Universe"
Isabella
Martire "Canna"
Karen Schmitz
"Begin..."
F.
Belair-Rigdon "In Between"
Mr. Kabriel shared a number of comments regarding the show with its two curators: He was very impressed with the range of media and the fact that artists exhibited a variety and depth of techniques that were "absolutely fabulous." He further stated that he looks for the following when jurying a show:
-A sense of movement with a strong kinetic energy
-Visuals that reach out and demand attention- "snaps or pops"
-Use of conventional elements, line, value, texture, shape and
color
-These same elements should be combined with a personal investment
from the artist to provide content or concept that is more
"than a pretty picture, it should speak of something more."
During the show opening, January 6th, the music of "Hearts of Sound" transformed the gallery into a aural wonderland through the combined sounds of their hammered dulcimer, flute and harp. Curators Richard Wyvill and Karen Schmitz were delighted with the comments made by long-time member Alice Kale: "The show was just wonderful!"
Curator and master framer Schmitz would again like to remind DRA artists to please be aware of the framing presentation of their artwork. The framing element alone can really enhance or detract from one's work. Members can look forward to attending some framing workshops conducted by Schmitz in the future.
Special thanks to Joe Kabriel, Brian Marquis, Hearts of Sound, Theresa Kulstad, Royce Flowers, Susan Slattery, Leslie Wilder, Christopher Wright, and the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau for making the Muses of the first show of 2006 proud!
Clean out your closets! Artist Swap Meet & General meeting
Tuesday, February 21st is THE date for the first General Member Meeting of 2006. And . . it’s the much-anticipated return of the very popular White Elephant Art Supply Swap Meet. So let the scouring of your basements, garages, attics, closets or car trunks begin!
Delicious food and beverages will be served followed by a brief business meeting to update members on DRA happenings. Then it's on to the serious business of “swappin’ till you’re droppin’! So bring your "stuff" and plan on a 7:30 pm start.
DRA adopts an art family-hurricane relief
Thanks to
various efforts and resources, the Del Ray Artisans gave the gift of hope and
$1000 to The Arts, Hancock County Mississippi to support Katrina relief efforts.
From shared donations and silent auction proceeds, to the Holiday Fine Art and
Craft Market baked goods and ornament sale, along with some private donations,
the DRA community stepped up to give fellow artisans some hope and a reminder
that they have friends everywhere.
We plan to continue this effort throughout the year. If you would like to support this please earmark donations for The Arts, Hancock County, MS through the Del Ray Artisans. We thank all who participated and supported this cause in 2005. To learn more visit http://www.hancock-art.com/ and click on the Adopt-an-Artist applications. These were submitted by various individuals affected by Katrina, and reveal some compelling stories of loss and recovery.
January 10 Board
Meeting (7:00 PM)
January 6-29 Name Your Muse / Juried exhibit /curator Richard
Wyvill
January 22 & 29 ©Card
making Party (noon-4:00 PM)/ Theresa Kulstad
703.914.1517
February 3-4 Cupid
© event / Theresa
Kulstad & Julie Branson (Fri. 7-10PM) (Sat. 12-5PM)
February 14 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
February 8-26 Art workshops
February 21 DRA General Meeting & Art Supply Swap Meet (7:30 PM)
March 3-26 Mi Casa, Su Casa -Springwater Fiber & DRA /
Juried exhibit / curator Randy Scheessele
March 14 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
March 20 Del Ray Citizens Association Meet ‘n Greet
Mar. 31-April 23 Spring All Member Show
April 11 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
April 21 Rites of Spring Toga Party & Dance /
Corcoran, Mezzetta, Schmitz & Slattery
April 28-30 Master’s Thesis exhibit - Leslie Rousseau
703.461.0631
May 12-28 Student Art Show / organizer Linda Silk
May 9 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
May 13 Spring Arts & Crafts Show & Sale / organizer
Rob Rudick 301.270.2323
May 16 DRA General Meeting (7:30 PM)
May 20 Del Ray House & Garden Tour
June 1 1st Thurs. Preview of Abstract Art
exhibit (6-9 PM)
June 9–July 16 Abstract Art / Juried exhibit / curator
Laurel Lukaszewski 703.837.0543
June 13 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
July 6 1st Thurs. Choreographers Collaborative
Project performances (6-9 PM)
July 11 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
July 24–28 Art Camp / T. Kulstad & L. Silk
August 3 1st Thurs. Preview of exhibit (6-9
PM)
August 4 -27 3 Artist show – Lukacs, Kulstad & Silk
August 8 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
August 15 DRA Pool Party (6:00 PM), General Meeting & Pie
Baking contest
September 7 1st Thurs. Preview of Fall All Member Show
(6-9 PM)
Sept. 8–Oct. 1 Fall All Member Show
September 9-10 Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Sept. 12 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
October 7 Art on the Avenue (10 AM-6 PM)- Dance & art
activities in the gallery
October 6-29 Bead II / Juried exhibit /Barbara Brecher
703.548.2878
October 10 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
October 17 DRA Annual Elections & General Meeting (7:30 PM)
October 29 Halloween Parade (2 PM)
November 3–26 DR Dozen invitational photography exhibit/ curator
Rob Rudick 301.270.2323
November 14 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
November Photography workshop
December 1-3 Fine Art & Fine Crafts Holiday Market
December 2 Holiday on the Avenue - Tree Lighting & Luminaria
Display (6:00 PM)
December 12 Board Meeting (7:00 PM)
December Cookie Swap / Ornament workshops
Don't miss our Open Studio nights
DRA has Still Life open studio nights Feb. 8-15. Come draw. paint, sketch to your he "arts" desire! There will be several still life set-ups to tease your creative juices. Bring your own supplies and create! See the insert in this newsletter for details. There is no fee for DRA members, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Life Drawing arrives at the gallery on President's Day weekend, Feb 18, 19 & 20, 10am – 8 pm. Multiple models will be available along with a casual atmosphere and friendly folks.
$10/3hrs, $20/day, $50/weekend DRA members get 20% discount Questions? Call 703.838.4827 or email Joan Ulrich at ulrichclay@aol.com
Annual Spring Arts & Crafts Sale coming in May
The Del
Ray Artisans Spring Sale will soon be here. The sale will be held on Saturday,
May 6th (moved up one week from its previously scheduled date). The
sale is held outdoors in Colasanto Park which adjoins the gallery. All members
are invited to participate. Applications and full details will we included in
the next newsletter.
Participants must provide their own shelter, displays, tables and chairs. A few spaces are smaller and do not require shelters. Keep the date (May 6) in mind, and finish up all those winter projects.
Send questions or inquiries to Rob Rudick, robrudick@yahoo.com, 301.270.2323
Doris Lockard, former Del Ray Artisan Membership chair, dear friend and sister-in-law of longtime DRA Volunteer chair Vivienne Lukacs, (and sister of Viv’s husband Richard), passed away peacefully January 17th, 2006, surrounded by her family. Vivienne wrote, “She gave it all she had by having surgery, radiation and chemotherapy but the good Lord wanted her with him. She will be cremated and her ashes buried with her mother and father in Arizona on Saturday.”
Doris was one cool lady, a talented artist and had a great sense of humor. As soon as she relocated back to Alexandria after many years in living in Arizona, she immediately became a DRA member. Next thing we knew she was on the Board! We loved having her involved and will miss her greatly. Doris sure knew how to have a good time. I recall our amazement when she came to a DRA gathering on crutches (recovering from a serious injury). Well, she just didn’t want to miss the fun!
The family does not wish people to send flowers. They prefer that a donation be made to the American Cancer Society designated for PANCAN (pancreatic cancer). Members and others are also welcome to make a donation in Doris’ name to our Ted Eichers’ Art Scholarship Fund.
Virginia Commission for the Arts-grant review panelists
The
Virginia Commission for the Arts is looking for grant review panelists for FY
06-07. Anyone interested will need to attend 1-2 days of meetings in late April
and have read the grants prior to the meetings.
For more information see the Commission's website at www.arts.virginia.gov or contact Peggy Baggett, Executive Director at 804.225.3132.
Member news
DRA member Sue Murray is exhibiting her photography at The Charles Sumner School, Museum and Archives, 1201 17th St., NW, Washington, DC from January 12 - June 23. Contact Sue for more details at dsm514@yahoo.com.
DRA member Richard F. Wyvill is having a solo exhibit of recent works at the Fisher Art Gallery in the Schlesinger Center at NVCC, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. The exhibition runs from March 20 - April 29, with a reception held Saturday, March 25th from 3-5:00 PM. All are welcome to attend.
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.
Visual & Performing Arts Teachers Wanted
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@alexandriava.gov or mail to:
Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center
1605 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
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.