Del Ray Artisans - Alexandria, VA

Autumn is coming! Kick it off! What exactly is Autumn Art Antics? Read on, friends. Picture two people with no clothes on, one male, one female -- they are standing in some fallen (Autumn) leaves. Each person is holding a big leaf in front of their pertinent parts. The leaf in front of the male has printed on it "ART". The leaf, in front of the female has ”ANTICS". These two people have big smiles on their faces. Why? Because it's Autumn Art Antics time at Del Ray Artisans!

This All Member all media show runs from the Friday, September 8 (7-10 PM) opening reception through Sunday, October 1. This is a perfect way to kick-off your Fall-into-Winter art show season! All art is for sale: come see the best of Del Ray Artisans' works! This wonderful show of 2-D and 3-D art is being curated by Kathryn Brown and Paula Lantz, both qualified antic artists. Questions? Paula Lantz 703.836.0866 or Kathryn Brown 703.549.5227

Card-making party, September 10^th

Card Party Sundays (noon-4 PM) are one of the coolest ways to stir your creative soul while hanging out, sharing ideas and bonding with other artists. Members, “newbies” and friends, please come to the gallery for another creative jam session! DRA's handmade greeting cards need to be refreshed and restocked. Everyone loves to receive a handmade card, and what is more fun than to express yourself with shared art supplies as well as sharing tasty treats?

Lots of snacks and supplies provided, but you may bring either or both to share. The goal is fun and fresh new cards!

If you have questions, or can volunteer to help, or would like to offer a demonstration of a particular card-making technique, contact Theresa Kulstad at 703.283.0399 All you need is your imagination! And don't forget to bring a friend!

On October 14-15, Lisa St. Martin will bring her working glass studio to The DRA gallery for a two-day workshop. Each participant will have his own workstation. Torches, tools and glass will be provided.

Lisa happily welcomes all skill levels, however this will be an ideal setting for a beginner wanting to try their hand at this ancient craft with minimal investment. You’ll have the opportunity to practice shaping the glass beads, with tools (and gravity!), decorating your pieces with fine strands of contrasting colors applied as stripes or dots. As the weekend progresses you’ll become more proficient in moving the glass in the flame, forming the beads and blending colors.

As you gain confidence using the materials, you can start imagining and designing your own beads. Lisa will help you think through construction of your design for optimal success. The experienced student can work with Lisa one-on-one to learn more advanced skills and techniques, so come ready with your current challenges. If you’d appreciate some constructive criticism, bring samples of your work.

The workshop will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, 2006 at the DRA gallery. 10 AM-5 PM. Fee is $185 for DRA members, $205 for non-members.

All materials will be provided, please bring a sack lunch. Maximum of 8 participants, pre-registration required. To register, contact Joan Ulrich at ulrichclay@aol.com or call Joan at 703.660.2382.

DRA is currently without a full complement of Board members. We also have several board members who will, sadly, be stepping down in 2007. Filling these vacancies is critical to the smooth operation and continued success of DRA.

So bring your talents and enthusiasm to the table by contacting Nominating Committee member Linda Elliff (LLElliff@aol.com or 703.360.1265), if you are interested in serving. The current board will meet Sept.12 to finalize the nominations of the slate of officers for 2007. Annual elections will be held Tuesday, October 17 (7:30 PM).

Slate of Candidates (as of August 30)
PRESIDENT (Officer)                Susan Slattery
VICE PRESIDENT (Officer)         OPEN
SECRETARY (Officer)               Linda Elliff
TREASURER (Officer)               Marlin Lord
ASST. TREASURER (Officer)      Kathryn Brown
COMMUNICATIONS                 OPEN
FACILITY (co-chairs)               Karen Schmitz &  David Kosar
FUNDRAISING (co-chairs)         OPEN
GALLERY COORDINATOR           OPEN
MEMBERSHIP (co-chairs)         Mara Burk & Jennifer Webb
OUTREACH                          Vicki Walchak
PROGRAMS (co-chairs)            Jamee Telford
VOLUNTEER                           Barb Boehm
HISTORIAN / ARCHIVIST          Cathe Graham
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE  OPEN

Now thatsa Pie !

Many thanks to those who made the Annual Pool Party, Cook-out and Pie Contest a well-attended success! The weather was pool-made, the grill, courtesy of Grillmeister Marlin Lord, was bakin' and shakin' and the pies just rolled right in ready to be judged.

Special appreciation goes to Barb Boehm, Kathryn Brown, Linda Elliff, Theresa Kulstad, John Marcovic, Karen Schmitz, Susan Slattery, and Joan Ulrich for their help before, during and after the party.

1st place Pie award went to James “Birthday Boy” Locke for his "Del Ray Farmers Market Peach Pie" James won dinner for two at DRA fave Los Tios. Thank you to Los Tios for the gift certificate! 2nd place winner was Pat Taylor for “Pat’s Pecan Pie.” Pat took home a gift certificate for Artfully Chocolate, Del Ray's newest business owned by DRA member Eric Nelson. 3rd place "Frozen Custard Lemon Meringue Pie" winner (and now member!) Gail Parnell reports "Wow, what a fun evening….never dreamed my good ole frozen lemon custard pie would come in 3rd. I certainly have enjoyed the folks and events at DRA and was delighted to win a membership. This is a group that has enhanced the community and I'm pleased to join you." Needless to say, she was excited about winning and also took home an artfully painted rolling pin (created by Theresa Kulstad) which will be passed on to next year's winner.

“Once again, we brought all recyclables home, did not even leave a cigarette butt on the grounds. It was our pleasure to serve the community, the DRA, and the environment,” states member James Locke.

James was asked how to involve more folks in DRA’s Adopt-a-Park project: James responded with the following: “My wife Carol suggested that the top reason [to get involved] is being able to keep all the money found during a clean-up period. Like the $20 bill she found last night (not true but sounds good). A second reason is "Civic Pride" doing something for the community. When others see what we are doing it just may give them a little kick in their (ed. Hoofed quadruped pack animal with renowned bad temper) to do the same. If not at that park, then elsewhere.”“Finally,” says James, there IS a financial benefit to [the City] in that we do it for free. The City does it for a price, i.e. someone is collecting a wage. If one multiplies this [DRA earns a small annual stipend] by various other locations within the city, it adds up to a sizable chunk of tax dollars saved. As homeowners…we would rather have reliable fire, police, parks, etc. by simply saving the City from having to spend said money towards having to do the clean up.

“More than that [there is the] PRIDE of knowing….our community of Del Ray is cleaner. As participants, it makes [us] feel a bit taller and better knowing we are helping to maintain our City and community showing others that we really care about our surroundings.”

Here's an opportunity to take part in a unique activity which will make a big difference in the lives of others. The Recovery Cover, named by our own Theresa Kulstad, is used by post-mastectomy patients during the initial surgical recovery period. Originally designed by nurses in Georgia, the easily assembled fabric Recovery Cover helps to attractively disguise the surgical drain. Saturday, September 23 DRA will host a Recovery Cover Project day 10 AM - 5 PM in the gallery. Drop by anytime and join the “Sewing Bee.” Alice Eichers will be on hand to provide patterns and materials, along with coordinator Jane DeWeerd and Springwater Fiber. Participants are encouraged to bring lightweight colorful cotton remnants and grosgrain ribbon to be used. Please let friends, survivors and groups helping cancer survivors know about this event. Please join us, all ages are welcome. Help make cancer patients’ lives easier and more positive. Refreshments will be served. Bring a friend!

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!

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. 10                                    Card Making Party (noon-4 PM) Barb Boehm & Theresa Kulstad
Sept. 12                             Board Meeting (special start time 6:00 PM)
Sept. 16                             Workshop "Oil painting: starting from scratch"
Sept. 23                                     Recovery Cover Project (10AM-5PM)/ Jane Deweerd 703.548.2612

October 7-22                     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 13                                Opening reception (7-10PM) Bead It! 2
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
November 11                       The Business of Photographers workshop / Rob Rudick, (1-3:00 PM)
November 14                       Board Meeting (7:00 PM)

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 & Bookmark-making Party (at B&N-Potomac Yard)December 12                       Board Meeting (7:00 PM)

Along with 45,000 other art and music lovers, DRA is looking forward to the Art on the Avenue festival which takes place along Mt. Vernon Avenue! We will be open 10 AM-6 PM with Bead It!2 on display and “hands on” art activities for kids. Mask making is being considered and, from noon -1 PM, there will be exciting dance performances by the Choreographers Collaborative Project. If you are interested in leading an art activity or volunteering to assist (teens welcome) email Susan Slattery at summerh@erols.com or call 703.922.7290.

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.

More antics than a roomful of clowns

Card-making party, September 10th

Now thatsa Pie !

Card-making party, September 10^th