 | President's Message
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Coming very soon!
2011 VWS MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
We will be conducting a full membership survey over the next 3 months. The objective of the survey is to best understand how our members experience the VWS, what they like and don't like, what is important and to know how well we are doing and where we need to improve.
Stay tuned - YOUR PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL
Jan Olmstead
President
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The start of a new year is so often a time of change and so it was with our Board of Directors. Four dedi-cated and hard working board members reached the end of their two-year term and stepped down as of January 01. Retiring are Annelein Beukenkamp, Loretta Weitzel and Rob O'Brien with Gary Eckhart retiring due to personal reasons,each one leaving a legacy of great accomplishments and a Society that is better off today because of their involvement and dedication.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR A GREAT TWO YEARS!
I am ordinarily a fan of change. In my professional and personal life I have always welcomed change. It's good for the soul. However, I must admit THIS change gave me heartburn and sleepless nights "How can we ever replace them?" I would ponder when I should have been sleeping. Well, truth is you can't replace them. They have each left their indelible individual marks on the VWS. But, you can fill the positions with new talent.
So the search begins over hill and dale, under rocks and behind trees, phone calls, emails and news, and letter pleas. Then, as if by magic when you least expect it, the new team, one by one, steps up and says, "Hi, here I am, sign me up."
And oh how grateful we should all be for the amazing energy, experience and talent these individuals bring: Reggie Springer filling the position of Secretary, Rebecca Gottesman filling the Director of Exhibitions, Amanda Amend as Director of Volunteers and Claudia Carl filling the position of Director of Programs and Education. Read what they have to say in this newsletter, "We are the Newbies."
And so it is, our membership remains strong, our board is complete, the planning has begun and I am a happy camper getting my beauty sleep.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jan Olmstead
President
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| Please Renew your 2011 Membership
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If you haven't paid your dues, please do soon. Send your $35 check to Lois Macuga, PO Box 338, Quechee, VT 05059.
You will find the renewal form on our website.
Click here |
| 2011 VWS Exhibitions
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VWS Exhibitions Director Rebecca Gottesman has locked in two exhibitions so far for 2011. Plan to show your work at:
- the VWS annual JURIED Awards show in Grafton at the Hunter Gallery and the Phelps Gallery in the Old Tavern in July
- and at an OPEN show at the Chandler Gallery in Randolph in October.
You will be receiving a prospectus for each of these exhibits several weeks prior to the dates. |
| Member Painting of the Month - A New Feature |
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Rigs Old Red Pickup - Joann DiNicola, Randolph, VT
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| We Are The Newbies |
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Regina Springer-- VWS Recording Secretary
I was born and raised in Connecticut, but since 2004, I have been living in Vermont. As an 1989 graduate from Cornell University Medical College Physician Assistant Program, I formerly worked at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and now I work at the White River Junction VA Hospital. I am married and live with my husband Al in Ludlow.
I began painting in watercolor in 2008 at which time I joined the VWS. Since then, I have been an active volunteer coordinating the 2010 paintout series and co-chairing the 15th Anniversary Celebra-tion. Last April, I became the interim Recording Secretary on the board of directors and then was elected to the permanent position last spring.
Amanda Amend-- VWS Director of Volunteers
It is a pleasure to be working with the Vermont Watercolor Society. Talent, passion for art, and warmth for newcomers--- you are inspiring and welcoming, and I look forward to the next couple of years as your Director of Volunteers.
I am just getting to know the art scene after careers in music and in languages. In my first career, I taught violin and viola at Grinnell College and performed with orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. My second career was as a linguist and educator, teaching both Spanish and English language learners in Spain, Mexico, and here in Vermont. About five years ago a night class in painting and drawing caught my eye, and since then I've fallen head over heels for watercolor.
2010 brought wonderful challenges my way, first with a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, followed by classes with Lisa Beach ,the VWS workshop in Landgrove with Mel Stabin, and the October show in Stowe. At the core of all these experiences was getting to know you fine artists. 2011 will bring more opportunities for community in VWS, both locally and at the state-wide level. I look forward to seeing and painting with you!
Claudia Carl -- Director of Education and Programs
I volunteered for the position of Director of Programs and Education because my predecessor made it look like fun. Also, the Mel Stabin workshop last fall was a very positive experience for me. The warmth and encouragment of the other VWS members there gave me the courage to become more active.
I grew up in New Jersey with truly creative parents and I was encouraged throughout my childhood. As a result I have been involved with arts & crafts my whole life. In 2007, I started watercolor classes through the Access program at CVUH in Hinesburg. To date, I have been accepted into two VWS juried exhibits.
One of my goals as Director of Programs and Education is to help get more VWS members ready and confident to submit their art to our exhibits. VWS should have much more paticipation in this area. Another goal is to develop the regions through group "get-togethers," painting sessions and/or regional exhibits.
The VWS members have inspired me to start thinking about what opportunities there are out there for us as watercolor artists in Vermont. I look forward to organizing some programs, with the help of my fellow members that will be both educational and fun.
Rebecca Gottesman-- Director of Exhibits
I recently rejoined the VWS and was so impressed with its warmth and leadership, I was compelled to fill the board position of the Director of Exhibitions. I have organized many group shows for my students and for myself and look forward to working with the VWS to get exhibitions happening throughout the state.
My mom says I have been drawing on the walls since I was one. I began taking Saturday art classes at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts when I was 10, and have never stopped making art. I earned my BFA in painting and ceramics from Syracuse University and studied in Rome, Italy with Tyler School of Art.
Today, after raising two daughters, I have a studio in the Tip Top Building in White River Junction, VT where I teach classes and workshops in painting. For the past two years I have had the privilege of working as the artist in residence for Dartmouth Hitchcock 's Cancer Center with their palliative care program.
I am excited with the idea of working within the state's regions to help teach, support, and network with the members. I would like to explore the new technology that is out there to make the jury process easier and more efficient for everyone. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you all.
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| Get a Gallery Page on our Website |
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The gallery pages on our website,
www.vermontwatercolorsociety.com are really a showcase to the outside world, representing our membership. The galleries are also a place where members can see each other's work, read a bit about fellow artists, and make contacts. We would like to see everyone's work on the site. And for those of you who already have gallery pages, let's have some fresh material! For more information about obtaining your own gallery page, go here: http://vermontwatercolorsociety.com/j/member-services/obtain-a-gallery-page
If you haven't updated your gallery in a year or two, go here:
http://vermontwatercolorsociety.com/j/member-services/update-your-gallery-page
If you have questions or problems preparing your images for the web, please feel free to contact: cynthia.crawford@gmail.com |
| Here's What is Happening in the Regions |
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Your Regional Point People are discussing new visions for regional activities. Stay tuned for more information in the next Snippets. In the meantime, if you have ideas for watercolor activities you would like to see in your area, drop your Point Person a line. Their contact info is:
Claudia Carl - claudiaec@yahoo.com (W)
Larry Coffin - lcoffin@uvm.edu (N)
Lyn DuMoulin - weednh20@comcasst.net (W)
Lyn Hoeft - lynhoeft@gmail.com (E)
Louisa Pfaelzer - loupfaeltzer@comcast.net (N)
Reggie Springer - rcs4pas@comcast.net (E)
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| Looking for a BOD replacement in 2012
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Looking ahead, our VWS Treasurer Lois Macuga will be leaving her post at the end of 2011. If you have bookkeeping experience or just have an aptitude for numbers, and enjoy sitting on a very friendly board of directors, give her a call and she will tell you what the job entails. Email Lois. |
| Honoring Our Volunteers, A Retrospective View |
 by Cynthia Crawford (VWS Secretary, 2000-2003, President, 2006-2009
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I've been a member of VWS since 1998, and I've watched us grow from a little devoted group of loosely organized painters to our current thriving membership. What I have witnessed throughout the years that may not be so obvious to the general membership is, the sometimes silent, behind-the-scenes volunteerism that has made all this possible. I'll cite just a few examples, while acknowledging that I am most certainly overlooking many, many more people who deserve equal recognition. An outstanding, behind-the-scenes event immediately comes to mind. Some time ago we were in need of an effective database to keep our membership records updated, organized and accurate. Enter Paul and Patsy Highberg, who stepped up to the plate and donated a stellar program called FileMaker Pro. Paul set it up for us. We have been using FileMaker ever since, and when we needed advice, or big changes, Paul was gracious and diligent, revising the entire database at times, and patiently explaining everything from the start, again and again, to each new user. He put countless hours into this program, which is now the foundation of all our important member information. Thank you Paul and Patsy! I can remember a time when we had no Director of Exhibits. A loose committee of volunteers pounded the pavement, bravely approaching galleries with a fistful of slides and requesting venues. Judy Laliberte worked hard that year, as did Rob O'Brien, who was doing this work long before he took on the Exhibits Directorship-I'd say a good six years of service or more. Thank you Judy and Rob, and many others who also followed through with this important work creating a solid foundation for our show successes. Let's jump to the present year. I recently attended a VWS board planning meeting. There was palpable positive energy in that room, a wonderful enthusiasm, a willingness to share and cooperate, and an exciting optimism that renewed my faith in the volunteer process and got me excited and hopeful about the coming years for VWS. It was contagious! I'm sure you too will begin to feel it as the year progresses. Or... you might just want to jump on board right now, and enjoy the camaraderie! I think we are progressing towards an ever-evolving, vibrant community that I am proud to call my watercolor "home". |
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Welcome to the following new members to the Vermont Watercolor Society. We look forward to meeting you all.
Pamela Dexter, Swanzey, NH (E)
Peter Land, Lebanon, VT (E)
Carol Montgomery, Brooklym NY
Mildred Boyd, St. Albans (N)
Carolyn Shapiro, Montpelier (N)
Jeannette Fournier, Bethlehem, NH (E)
Jane DesJardins, Morrisville, VT(N) |
| Portrait Painter Ted Nuttal Coming to the Landgrove Inn
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In 2011, from July 18, through the 22nd, Ted Nuttal, one of the best watercolor portrait painters and teachers of our time, will be at the Landgrove Inn for a week-long workshop. Contact the Inn at 802 824 6673 or go to www.landgroveinn.com. See Ted Nuttal's work on his website. Click here. ___________________________________________ Watercolor tour of Western Ireland County Mayo September 7-17, 2011 Led by professional artist, instructor and President of the New England Watercolor Society: Becky Haletky
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| VWS Member News
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Peter Bramhall
will exhibit "Parallel Universes" at the AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, NH from May 13 to June 10. Opening Reception May 13, 4-7 pm. Gallery talk 6:50 pm.
Jean Cannon
is exhibiting recent paintings of the moon and trees in Enosberg Falls, VT. Go to
http://us2.forward-to-friend1.com/forward/show?u=a6535f23504b77ded71c29c0f&id=5589f9f0a6
Claudia Carl
has original watercolors on display at the Otter Creek Custom Framing through March, 3 Park St., Middlebury. Her prints will hang on the walls at the Storm Cafe, 3 Mill St, Middlebury during February and March.
Cheryl Daye Dick
is exhibiting pastels, watercolors and oils at the Emile Gruppe Gallery, 22 Barber Farm Rd, Jericho
January 30th-February 27; Hours 10-3 p.m. Thurs-Sunday emilegruppegallery.com
Idoline Duke
is exhibiting at the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe with Gowri Savoor March 4th - April 17th Opening Reception: Friday March 4th 6-8:00. Artist's Talk at 5:30. Idoline was also a Vermont Artist Week 2010 participant.
Chester Kasnowski
is scheduled to teach an oil pastel workshop at Fletcher Farm Art Center on February 26th. He will be doing another workshop called "Uncomplicated Drawing" at the Chaffee Art Center March 5th. Chester will be painting in Costa Rica in March. Last summer Chester painted a watercolor portrait of actor Christopher Lloyd. He graciously agreed to sit for the artist between his performances in "The Death of a Salesman" at the Weston Playhouse.
Marlene Kramer
is currently exhibiting her "Watery Watercolors" at the Putney Library right off exit 4 on 91in the town of Putney in January and February. The hours are 10:30 to 6 , Mondays to Fridays and 10-1:00 on Saturday. Any questions, call Marlene at 722-3378.
Judy LaLiberte
is showing her mixed-media work at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT, in the oncology hallway, through March. She also has work at Paul Frank & Collins law firm in Burlington through mid March.
Doris Ingram, Rob O'Brien, Marijke Westberg, Bob Sydorowich, Maurie Harrington, and Diane Bell
will show their works at the 11th Annual Vermont and Beyond Fine Art Exhibit (this year) at the Rod and Gun Club in Weston, Route 100; 1.3 miles north of the village on February 19, 20, 11 am to 5 pm. Free admission, refreshments and music by "Potluck."
Sandra Pealer
has been accepted into the Philadelphia Watercolor 110th Anniversary International Exhibition of Works on Paper in Reading, PA and the National Watercolor Society's 90th Open Annual Exhibition in San Pedro, California
Joan T. Smith
recenty became the new president of NVAA (Northern Vermont Artists Association). She succeeds Robert Brunelle in this position. The official inauguration will take place during a juried show at Visions of Vermont in Jeffersonville in June.
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Our Sponsor
 The Landgrove Inn is the premier, all-in-one lodging, dining and fun space in which to create, exhibit and learn. Check out the 2010 workshop schedule at www.landgroveinn.com, or call 802 824-6673. Tom and Maureen Checchia, owners.
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Members,
Please remember to send me any art news you have about yourselves or someone else in the society. This includes any workshops your may be taking, or teaching, or perhaps an exhibit that you are taking part in. Send anytime and I will insert into the next newsletter.
Diane G. Bell
Director of Communications
dgbell_adelphia1@comcast.net
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