Letter from the President
At the beginning of each year, most of us make new resolutions for the year. I’m hoping
you have added re-joining and being active in the Madison Art Society to your list. For
our part, the board of directors has been hard at work scheduling programs and shows to
get your creative juices going.
Remember we have capped our membership at 250. The deadline to renew your
membership is March 31. After that date, we will fill the membership openings with
artists on the waiting list. We do not want to lose existing members, so if you have not
sent in your dues yet, please do so soon.
Our 39th annual member show is this February. Co-chairs are Linda Loen and Maryanne
Rupp. Sherry Marlowe and Maude Casey will co-chair the juried show during May. They
would like your help in making these shows successful, plus it is a wonderful way to
meet your fellow artists.
Other members picking up key roles this year are new board members Sandy Kensler
and Mike Boyd, who will coordinate the demonstrations this year. Winter studio started
January 6, organized by Renni Ridgeway-Korsmeyer and Sandra Smith. Jay Babina will
again be in charge of the plein air painting outings on Wednesdays as soon as the weather
warms up. Patricia Seekamp is coordinating the monthly exhibits at the Madison Town
Hall. Plans for outdoor shows and the elected artists’ small works show are underway too.
I hope you will all be joining us again for a year surrounded by your artist friends at MAS.
Beverly Schirmeier
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| Prima Ballerina |
Membership Dues and Data
Dues remain at $25 for 2014. Please send your dues to the Madison Art Society, P.O.
Box 1383, Madison, CT 06443. They must be paid by March 31 in order to maintain your
membership standing. Include your name, address, email, and volunteer choice to help
out during the year.
Maude Schmidt, membership chair, with assistance from Linda Loen, does a great
job keeping membership data up to date. If you change your address or your email
information, make sure Maude knows ASAP. She can be reached at mabill2@att.net
or 203- 245-0807. Board vice-president Pat Barone will coordinate volunteers and may
contact you to assist with our programs.
Winter Studio
Renni Ridgeway-Korsmeyer and Sandra Smith are coordinating the winter studio for
ten sessions from January through March at St. Andrew’s Church in Madison. The
class is currently filled, but if you want to be a substitute, please let Renni know at
rkorsmeyer@snet.net or 860-434-1181. Members bring in several still life set-ups to
work from or they work from their own painting inspirations. A group critique is held at
the end of each session.
Mark Your Calendars – Great Events
Whether you update your calendar or new electronic devices, we have some great events
you won’t want to miss.
39th Annual Member Show
February is filled with exciting events, starting with the 39th.
Special thanks to co-chairs Linda Loen and Maryanne Rupp. Reach Linda at 203-453-
1771 or lloen@snet.net or Maryanne at 860- 663-3789 or rupp@snet.net.
Receiving is Saturday, February 1, 9:30 am—noon. If there is a snow delay, we will
notify you by email and reschedule receiving for Sunday, February 2, 1:30–3 pm. Take
down is Saturday, March 1, 9 am–noon.
The member show prospectus is enclosed with the Highlights. Download Prospectus
To accommodate the high number of entries, the board recommended that we limit the maximum size
of the framed work to 30 inches in any direction. The library has offered space on the main floor where
we can hang paintings during the shows. The publicity and the program will note that the
paintings can be found on both floors. As always, artists should submit works suitable to
be seen by families with younger children since the room is used for youth programs.
Demonstrations
In selecting artists for this year’s demonstrations, the board discussed having some of
our own very talented artists demonstrate their techniques. If you have ideas for future
demos, contact Mike Boyd at elizabethgilleboyd@gmail.com or Sandra Kensler at
sandrakensler@yahoo.com, with the name of an artist and a contact number. The small
donations at the demonstrations have allowed us to offer additional events during the
year. Demonstrations at the Memorial Hall:
June 5 – Tony D’Amico
July 10 – Deborah Quinn-Munson
August 7 – Mike Eagle
October 2 – to be determined
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| Fred Biamonte |
February 19
Our first event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 6:30–8 pm, at the
Scranton Memorial Library. Fred Biamonte, an educator at the New Britain
Museum of American Art, will present a psychobiography and slide presentation
on Robert Henri, leader of “The Eight,” who was not only a prolific painter but
also a highly respected teacher.
Art Critique – Frank Federico, Sunday, February 16
This is a critique of selected works from the member show done by respected regional
artists; this year we have Frank Federico. It is a great learning opportunity to hear
observations and constructive suggestions for your own and others’ work.
Frank Federico is a seasoned artist with many credits garnishing his career. He was selected
as the Pastel Society of America's Hall of Fame Honoree for 2012, one of only 37 inductees.
His work has been added to the Butler Museum in Cincinnati. He is a signature member of
numerous prestigious art societies, including Master Pastelist, Pastel Society of America,
Master Circle Member—IAPS, Conn. Pastel Society, Pastel Society of Painters on Cape
Cod, Degas Pastel Society, National Watercolor Society, New England Watercolor Society,
and National Society of Painters in Casein & Acrylic. He has received numerous awards,
including the Grumbacher Gold, Silver and Bronze, many honors from the Pastel Society of
America, National Society of Painters in Casein & Acrylic, Allied Artists of America, and
many more. He has executed three murals in oil, one of which hangs in the Student Union
of the University of Connecticut in Storrs; a figurative piece entitled “Transcendence,” it
reflects the rise to heights and goals of achievement.
Federico conducts workshops domestically and abroad. He teaches a regular art class at
West Hartford Art League. His paintings have been exhibited in New Orleans, Florida,
California, New Mexico, New England, Brunei, Stockholm, and Tokyo, in group and
solo exhibitions. He is currently represented by Elaine Beckwith Gallery in Jamaica, VT,
PS Gallery in Litchfield, CT, and Gregory James Gallery in New Milford, CT. Federico
considers himself to be a colorist and a contemporary impressionist. He looks for the
essence in a landscape or a figure, while applying emotional and aesthetically crafted
content.
Alain J. Picard – Pastel Demonstration, Sunday, May 18
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| Alain Picard |
May 18, 1:30 pm, at the Scranton Memorial Library.
Alain earned his B.A. in illustration from Western Connecticut
State University and went on to study at the Art Students League in
NewYork City. Picard cites Sargent, Degas, and
Sorolla among his artistic influences. A love of light and beauty are
immediately apparent in his pastel and oil paintings. Alain’s work has been featured in such
publications as the Artist’s Magazine and Pastel Journal. He has garnered top awards throughout the
Northeast in esteemed exhibitions, including the Portrait Society of America, Hudson Valley Art
Association, Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, Connecticut Pastel Society, and Pastel
Society of America. Alain is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and
the Connecticut Pastel Society, where he is the current president. The Artist Magazine
highlighted Alain as one of the 20 contemporary artists “On the Rise.” He later won the Best
Portfolio Award at the 2009 Portrait Society of America conference in Washington, DC. A
frequent workshop instructor and demonstrator for art associations, schools, galleries and
museums, Alain was recently invited to demonstrate a portrait in pastel at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art. He lives with his wife and two sons in Southbury, CT.
Juried Show, May 2014
We are pleased that Marge Casey and Sherry Marlowe will chair the 39th
show, which will be held at the Scranton Memorial Library in Madison. Nationally-
known pastelist and oil painter Alan Picard will be the juror.
Putting on a show of this size takes over 40 artists so we will need lots of volunteers.
Please let us know how you can help out. Fundraising for prize money starts in March.
Receiving is Saturday, May 3, 9:30 am–noon. Jurying is Saturday, May 3, 1–4 pm,
and hanging is Sunday, May 4, 1–3 pm. Pick-up of non-selected work is Monday, May
5, until Friday, May10. Reception is Thursday, May 8, 5–7 pm. Demonstration by
Alan Picard is Sunday, May 18, 1:30 pm. The combined Guilford poetry and art show
reception is Wednesday, May 21. Take-down is Saturday, May 31, 9 am–noon.
Bauer Farm Harvest Festival – Outdoor Plein Painting and Art Show
We have been invited back to the Annual Harvest Festival at Bauer Farm in Madison.
It will be held on Saturday, October 18. Members of our plein air group are invited to
display their plein air painting of Bauer Park and to paint that day.
Madison Town Hall Art Exhibits
Patricia Seekamp is in charge of the Madison Town Hall exhibits, where members’
artwork is on display for two months. Please contact her if you want to participate and
show your work. She can be reached at wseekamp@sbcglobal.net or 203-453-6720.
Madison Town Hall Artists Penny Chittenden and Betsey Evarts
The Madison Art Society presents the watercolors of Clinton artists Penny Chittenden
and Betsey Evarts. Their work will be on display throughout January and February at the
Madison Town Hall, 8 Campus Road, Madison. The exhibit is open to the public free of
charge and can be viewed during normal business hours.
Penny Chittenden
A native of Hartford, Penny moved in 1961 to Clinton with her husband Bill and raised
their five daughters there. She graduated from the Chaffee School, where she won the art
award, and majored in the history of art at Goucher College. After college she worked in
the education department of the Wadsworth Athenaeum. She now finds great pleasure
painting en plein air, in informal studios, and with other shoreline artists. Penny has
served on the boards of directors of the Madison Art Society and the Clinton Art Society.
She wrote and illustrated a children’s book, Camel for a King.
Penny has painted with some outstanding artists—Betty Lou Schlemm, Charlie Movalli,
Lou Bonamarte, Tony Couch, and Judi Betts. Her watercolors and oil paintings have
been exhibited throughout Connecticut. Her subjects include land or seascapes, still life,
florals, and human interest. Penny led several groups of painters to France and Greece.
Enjoyment of art is subjective. She only wants to share with the viewer the joy she felt
while painting.
Betsey Evarts
Betsey Evarts interprets the effects of light on subjects in their natural settings. She
enjoys painting outdoors and finds that the unpredictable alchemy of the medium is
always an adventure and a challenge.
Throughout her years of watercolor painting, she has studied with many very talented
watercolorists—Charles Reid, Ted Nuttall, David Dewey, Lou Bonamarte, among
others. Currently, she enjoys working with her fellow artists, painting en plein air with
MAS, and attending the Wednesday watercolor critiques held at the Madison Park
and Recreation. Betsey belongs to several art organizations in addition to the Madison
Art Society, such as the Clinton Art Society, Guilford Art League, and the Essex
Art Association. She is an elected artist in the Connecticut Watercolor Society. Her
watercolors have been exhibited throughout Connecticut.
Artists in the News
Paul Marra received the signal award at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival and the Robert
Brackman award at the Glastonbury On the Green—First Prize Watercolors.
Marge Casey’s work will be on display at the Guilford Free Library throughout February.
Maryanne Rupp will display her paintings during January and February at the Liberty
Bank in Clinton. Bruce Lighty, Cindy Stevens, and Beverly Schirmeier have their paintings on display
at Malone’s Coffee House in Clinton.
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