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

Happy, happy, happy shopping and much more

The  10^th Annual Holiday Art and Crafts Sale hits the gallery again, but for two weekends this year! Yes, you have double the opportunity to get that perfect unique gift for that perfect unique someone. Don’t miss this chance to purchase DRA art and crafts for all those on your holiday shopping list

December 4^th and 5^th, and 11^th and 12^th. Hours for all days will be 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the gallery. There will be a wide variety of items for to purchase.

Contact Linda Silk 703.533.7689 with any questions about this event.

Adopt-A-Family

DRA has decided to undertake an Adopt-A-Family drive this year. Among all the everyday plenty that we often take for granted; there are those who need a little something to make their day a bit brighter. 

Please send a monetary donation by December 18^th made payable to DRA, to be used to spread  Holiday season cheer to a deserving family.

The DRA elves will then work some magic by putting together and delivering a package from all of our DRA family.

 This is the first time we have tried this. If successful, we anticipate repeating the effort in the future.  Please mark your donation envelope “Adopt-A-Family” and mail to: 2210 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301. May Your Holidays be joyful!

Salvation Army food pantry

Earlier this year DRA participated in and served as a collection point for our local Salvation Army’s Food Pantry drive. The response from our members and the public was quite generous.

The Salvation Army once again finds itself short of food for their program. Again, DRA is serving as a drop-off point for this drive. Through December 12^th, the end of the Holiday Sale, collection boxes will be in the gallery for drop-off of items.

Please think of  those you can help to have a little better day and donate non-perishable, healthy food staples such as, beans, rice, tomatoes, canned meat, etc.

Mask-scara’s howling success

From the time guests stepped into the gallery, to the very end, the fun never stopped! Mask-scara was yet another well attended fundraiser. The combination of mask art and Halloween atmosphere in the gallery was spook-tacular, while the artfully costumed crowd added yet another  dimension to this unique event.

Chairperson Theresa Kulstad along with committee members Stacy Block, Angela Calos, Jen Chappell, Charlotte Corcoran, Irene Hoffman, Liz Martinez, Beth Offenbacher, Sharon Reilly, Karen Schmitz, Linda Silk, Susan Slattery, Ted Smouse, Christopher Wright, Lynn and Richard Wyvill, all contributed an enormous time and energy creating a  successful event from start to finish. 

Too bad the masks were only up one night. The gallery shined with these “maskerpieces” and the spooky décor was an “installation” that literally drew in curious newcomer people right off the  street!

 We thank everyone for their support. 

Del Ray Artisan member and Capitol Christmas tree

Martin Angebrandt submitted a winning design for the 2004 Capital Holiday Tree Ornament Competition for the City of Alexandria.  The ornament was formally presented to the City when the national holiday tree stopped at the Masonic Temple in Alexandria on Sunday, November 28^th.

The ornament body is a hollowed birch ovoid and bears a silhouette of George Washington in copper foil on a white ground. The top cap shape pays homage to the Masonic Temple. The ornament hangs from a heavy gauge copper wire connected directly to the ovoid body.

Predictions for 2005 - Elvis Sighted in Alexandria

Honor the King and banish the winter chill at Elvis Presley’s 70^th Birthday Dance Party Saturday, January 8^th,  8PM to midnight! Get your tiki on and join the Aloha Elvis exhibit artists for the rockin' tunes of The Hula Monsters. Grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts and white sequined jumpsuits encouraged! The party is being held in lieu of an exhibit opening.

Admission is $15 per person and includes live music and a spread of tempting, tropical fare. Guests have the option of enjoying world-class Mai Tais concocted by Master of Mixology, David Chan, assisted by his wife Anna. Both are the former owners of the recently closed and sorely missed Honolulu Restaurant.   

There could also be a surprise guest or two, so don't miss this event! However, if you can't make the party, not to worry, the exhibit runs through January 30^th and is open Saturdays (10AM-4 PM) and Sundays (noon-4 PM).

 Aloha Elvis will delight and amaze. Show themes include visions of Blue Hawaii, portraits of the King, pieces inspired by Elvis' music and a look back at the time Elvis swiveled his way into America’s hearts. For more information, contact Team Tiki at summerh@erols.com, jchappell@fsco.com, or 703.317.9340.

Team completes grant application

You may not know this but DRA receives up to 20% of its operating funds from a grant from the City of Alexandria. For example, during the current grant cycle this amounted to almost $8,000.00.

Consequently, completion of each year’s application is extremely important to DRA’s well-being. This year we had very capable assistance from Jen Chappell, review by Susan Slattery and again the tremendous help of Marlin Lord, Kathryn Brown and Dave Nicholson.

We hope to report successful consideration by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the City Council. Stay tuned.

Grants are also being pursued from other sources including the Alexandria Rotary Club, Target Corporation and Virginia Commission for the Arts.

February
House of Cards-Call for entries

February 4-27, the DRA gallery will convert to a "House of Cards" showroom. The exhibit will evoke the artist as cardmaker with the gallery as a "hallmark" for creators to showcase cards of all genres, be they Valentines, birthday, get-well, special occasions, humorous or the ever-popular "all occasion” greeting. 

Get ready for the Friday, February 4^th opening, just in time for Valentine's Day, too! Participating artists will each have their own wall display area for exhibiting up to 20 cards. The entry fee for participation is $10-DRA members/$15 non-members. The cards will be sold throughout the month of February, and artists may replenish their original 20 as their cards are sold. Cards should be 5” X 7” or smaller.

Curator Karen Schmitz challenges artists to think outside the 2D envelope by including small items such as handcrafted jewelry, magnets, stickers, pins and charms with their cards. Card prices can range from $3-$50. Design elements may be hand painted, collaged, decoupaged, stamped, drawn, sewn or a mix of media.

On two consecutive Sundays, January16^th and 23^rd, there will be an all day cardmaking event with demos and supplies provided to make cards($1 per card). Artists with their own supplies are also encouraged to come. The curator welcomes all cardmakers and any artists who wish to help her make the gallery into a "House of Cards" to contact her at schmityk@yahoo.com or703.317.9340

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New Board members-part 2

We welcome Charlotte Corcoran’s return to the DRA Board as Historian/Archivist. Previously, Charlotte has served as the Vice-President. A longtime DRA member, Charlotte is a freelance surface designer  who has studied visual communications and textile/surface design at the Corcoran School in Washington, DC.  She specializes in embellishing interiors with faux finishes, murals, design applications and custom artistic furnishings. 

Charlotte asks members to help in her effort to keep up-to-date and comprehensive records of all things DRA. She would appreciate clippings of any and all articles, blurbs, mentions, etc. relating to DRA, in case she misses something. Drop off items at the gallery or send to her home address:  3308 Circle Hill Road, Alex., VA. 22305.

Rebecca Gordon joins the DRA Board as Gallery Coordinator. She is a musician, writer and filmmaker who has recently returned to the visual arts. She has completed an interdisciplinary MS through the Physics Department at American University and has been teaching Audio Technology, Sound for Film, and Cyberculture as an adjunct professor for the last few years.  

In addition to her responsibilities with DRA, Rebecca currently serves on the Steering Committee of Artomatic 2004 and  has served as the Chair of the Artomatic Development Committee.  

Rebecca has lived in Del Ray for the last 12 years and says she looks forward to becoming more involved in DRA.

PWBA  calendar oopsie!

If you purchased the 2005 "Then and Now" PWBA calendar, illustrated by member Alice Kale, there is a replacement page for you for the month of August. It is one day “off” due to a printing error.

If you purchased a calendar, please email Alice Kale at jkale@erols.com for a replacement page.

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.