President’s Letter
It is only March and the Madison Art Society has already been very active. We started the year with 21 MAS artists painting at Monday’s Winter Studio at St. Andrews Church. In February we held our 35th Annual Member Art Show, which was dedicated to the memory of Joe Veckerelli. I would like to express a special thanks to this year’s co-chairs, Patricia Barone and Paula Solimene, and to the many members who helped to make the show a success. Over half of our members participated; 115 paintings and sculptures were displayed. Based on feedback from the members and the public, the quality of the artwork was exceptional. The show was well received, plus we sold 13 works of art—which broke last year’s record. Mike Boyd’s oil painting, Audition, was voted the most popular work at our well-attended reception (see photo). At the critique session, Jack Broderick, a well-known artist, provided our artists with helpful insights on their work. Fred Biamonte, a lecturer from the New Britain Museum of American Art, gave an excellent slide presentation about “Connecticut Impressionism: A Celebration of Beauty.”
Planning for the 35th Annual Juried Show is well underway by co-chairs Penny Chittenden and John Copelin. We are excited that award-winning artist David Dunlop has agreed to judge our show and to conduct an oil painting demonstration. Our VP Don Trownsell and his team have been busy soliciting award money. An award will be given in memory of Ann Christensen, who was a strong supporter of the Madison Art Society and other shoreline art associations. If you want to contribute to this award, please send your donation to MAS. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at receiving on Saturday, May 1, 9:30 a.m.–12 noon, and at the reception, Friday, May 7, 5–7 p.m. On Sunday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m., juror David Dunlop will give an oil painting demonstration and talk at the Scranton Library about techniques that we can use to capture luminosity in our own paintings. On Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Scranton Library, we will again hold a poetry night. Members of the Guilford Poets Guild will read poems inspired by our artwork. If you’ve missed this event in the past, it is very interesting to see how your work is interpreted by the poets.
In addition to David Dunlop’s demonstration, Beth Wardwell, our demonstration chair, has scheduled three more interesting Thursday evenings at the Madison Memorial Town Hall for this summer (listed in the Hi-lights). We are also planning several outdoor exhibitions.
Beverly Schirmeier
MAS President
MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SAVE THE DATES
35th Annual Juried Show, May 3–28, 2010
Scranton Memorial Library, Madison, CT
Receiving Saturday, May 1, 9:30 -12 p.m. – open to all CT artists
- Over $1000 in cash prizes and gifts will be awarded
- Select artwork appropriate to be viewed by young children and families
Pick up non-selected paintings, Historical Room, Tuesday, May 4–Friday, May 7
Reception, Friday, May 7, 5–7 p.m.
Demonstration, David Dunlop, Sunday, May 16, 1:30 p.m.
Poetry Night with the Guilford Poets Guild, Thursday, May 20, 7 p.m., Scranton Library
Pick up selected paintings, Community Room, Friday, May 28, 5–7 p.m., and Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m.–noon
Demonstrations are open to the public (we appreciate nominal donations to offset expenses)
David Dunlop, demonstration/lecture, Sunday, May 16, 1:30 p.m. – “Capturing Luminosity” (seating is limited to the library capacity)
David Dunlop has studied the techniques and traditions of "Old Master" paintings from Rembrandt to Turner, and he will share their techniques as well as his own on how to capture luminosity in our paintings. David will demonstrate palette choices, color theories, compositional ideas, and techniques to achieve luminous translucence.
David has been a faculty member of the Silvermine Guild Art Center in Connecticut since 1993. He received his MFA from Pratt Institute and has studied and conducted painting and history courses in Japan and Europe. He is host and writer of the 13-week national PBS series, "Landscapes through Time with David Dunlop," which debuted in 2008 and won a Daytime Emmy in Outstanding Special Class Writing in 2009. David is represented in numerous galleries across the United States, his artwork hangs in scores of Fortune 500 art collections, and he has received honors in national art shows.
Other demonstrations on Thursday evenings are at the Madison Memorial Town Hall
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Diana Rogers, pastels, June 3, 6:30 p.m.
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Suzanne Siegel, watercolors, July 8, 6:30 p.m.
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Jack Montmeat, drawing, August 5, 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor Exhibition Dates
Madison Art Society Annual Scranton Library Memorial Art Exhibition, July 28-29, $25 fee, 10% donation to the library on works sold, tents provided. Contact Seymour Page, 203-245-7280, seymourpage@sbcglobal.net
Madison Arts and Antiques Fair, August 14, no entry fee, 10% donation of sales to Madison Exchange Club. Contact Bev Schirmeier, 860-399-6116, Bschirmeier@yahoo.com
Madison Art Society and Deacon John Graves House Historical House Tour and Art Exhibition, August 28, no entry fee, 15% donation on works sold to the DJG House. Contact Bschirmeier@yahoo.com.
Bauer Farm Harvest Festival, October 16, exhibition of MAS plein air painters’ scenes of the farm and plein air painting, no entry fee or donations. Contact Bev Schirmeier, 860-399-6116, Bschirmeir@yahoo.com
SUMMER PLEIN AIR PAINTING
Are you interested in painting outdoors? We have a strong plein air painting group that goes out on Wednesday mornings in the summer and early fall. If you are interested in joining us, please email Jay Babina at jbabina@snet.net or 203- 481-3221.
HAVE YOU PAID YOUR DUES?
If you are not sure you paid your 2010 dues yet, contact our membership chair, Maude Schmidt, 203-245-0807. In order to retain your artist membership and pay a lower entry fee rate for the juried show, your dues MUST be paid by April 30, 2010.
If you have changed your email address, let Maude know too. We are trying to save money and go green, so much of our communication is via the internet. Stay up to date by checking our website managed by Jan Blencowe at www madisonartsociety.blogspot.com.
MADISON TOWN HALL EXHIBITS
MAS artists’ paintings are featured in a rotating exhibit at the Madison Town Hall. This is a great way to gain exposure for your artwork. Our artists for January and February were Patricia Barone and Paula Solimene. March and April’s artists are Robert Langer and Nan Iselin. Maryanne Rupp is the coordinator; contact her at 860-663-3789.
Robert Langer
Robert Langer is an accomplished animal and landscape painter. He belongs to the Madison Art Society as well as many other Connecticut art associations. He is a graduate of Art Instruction, Inc., with a diploma in commercial art. His formal instruction has also included study at the Paier College of Art in Hamden for two years as well as taking lessons with Lou Bonamarte in watercolor and with Christopher Zhang in portrait painting. Robert is greatly influenced by the work of Ken Davies and Andrew Wyeth. Contact him at robert.langer@sbcglobal.net
Nan Iselin
Killingworth artist Nan Iselin is a watercolorist who started studying art with Stan Carver in 2002. Since then she has also worked with Lou Bonamarte, taken classes at the Lyme Art Association, and done plein air painting with Bob Langer and Judy Burgella. She has explored working with acrylics, soft pastels, and prismacolor pencils. Nan sees art as a spiritual journey and a time for personal growth and creativity. Nan is a member of both the Madison and Clinton art societies. She can be reached at chasnan7@att.net.
Artists in the News
Announcement: MAS will continue to publish announcements of shows that our artists are involved in and provide a web link for our artists on our website. However, the Board of Directors unanimously decided that commercial postings do not conform to the ultimate goals of our organization and violate our newly obtained 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
Jan Blencowe has been selected to speak about her Connecticut landscapes at the Collectors and Explorers Club on April 20, 5:30 p.m., at the Historical Society in Hartford and on April 22, 2:00 p.m., at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.
Penny Chittenden and Peggy Kent will display their paintings at Simply Pearls at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa throughout March and April.
Corina Alvarezdelugo, Diana Rogers, and Nile Barrett will show their artwork at Gallery One in Old Saybrook until April 25.
Daniel Dahlstrom has his paintings on view at Venetucci’s Gallery in Westbrook.
Karen Wiesner’s pastels and oils will be on display at Water’s Edge Resort, Westbrook, in March, and Beverly Schirmeier’s artwork will be exhibited in April.
Susan Wolanic has an exhibit of her watercolors at the Derby Neck Library. There is an opening reception on April 18, 2–4 p.m.
Denise Casey, Patricia Seekamp, Diane Stone, Diana Rogers, Beverly Schirmeier, and Maryanne Rupp have pastels in the Connecticut Pastel Society Member Exhibition at Gallery 53 in Meriden. The paintings can be viewed throughout March. Maryanne won a CPS Merit Award for her entry.
Sister Joan Bernard had knee replacement surgery and is now at Madison House. Her room number is 209, and her phone is 203-318-3631. Everything went well and she is looking forward to hearing from friends.
