It's been beautiful of late. The foliage, the weather -- it's no wonder that artists have been inspired by the natural world for centuries.

Please read on to learn more about all we have planned at AVA for your aesthetic enjoyment: new exhibitions opening Friday, October 16 at 5pm; classes and workshops for children, teens, and adults; artist opportunities; free lectures and more! Also included are some updates about the progress of our Branching Out, Deepening Roots Capital Campaign.


Warm regards,

~The Board and Staff of AVA Gallery and Art Center
Vermont Glass Guild: 2015 Art Glass Invitational Exhibition
Featuring Works by 22 Artists
October 16 through November 13
Opening Reception: Friday, October 16, 5-7pm 
Rebecca Lawrence Gallery Entry, Clifford B. West Gallery, E.N. Wennberg Gallery
Click here to download the press release for the Vermont Glass Guild exhibition.


 

AVA wishes to thank Caldwell Law, the generous sponsor of this exhibition.


 
John McNally: Recent Work
October 16 through November 13
Opening Reception: Friday, October 16, 5-7pm 
Elizabeth Rowland Mayor Gallery
Click here to download the press release for the John McNally exhibition.



AVA wishes to thank Caldwell Law, the generous sponsor of this exhibition.
 
Collages of Color: Recent Work from Art Lab Classes at AVA
October 28 - November 28
Opening Reception: Wednesday, October 28, 5-7pm
Johnson Sisters Library, Second Floor


Remembering John Joline (1948-2015): Paintings and Drawings
On Display through October 16
Johnson Sisters Library, Second Floor
Click here to download the press release for Remembering John Joline (1948-2015): Paintings and Drawings
 
    Children's and Teen Classes Starting Soon
  
Oil Painting Studio with Derek Bell 

10/19  World of Art    AVA Member / non-member 
10/21  Dragon Tales    AVA Member / non-member 
10/21  Lego Robotics Club     AVA Member / non-member 
10/22  Gesture, Sketch, Draw    AVA Member / non-member
10/23  Homeschool Studio    AVA Member / non-member 
10/23  Oil Painting Studio     AVA Member / non-member

 
    


AVA is Branching Out, Deepening Roots
Update on the progress of our capital campaign plans
 
We are excited to share with you some news about the progress on the plans that our capital campaign will make possible. As previously announced, we will construct a 3-D studies facility on our property adjacent to the parking lot on the rear of our Carter-Kelsey building. We have received approval from both the zoning and planning boards of the City of Lebanon to move forward on the construction.

The existing building, a small one-family home from 1890, will be demolished in order to provide the necessary space for the new construction, scheduled to begin in April 2016. The re-useable parts of the house have been salvaged, including flooring, windows, doors and cabinets. While the lovely crabapple tree on the east side of the house could not be saved--it was just taken down by AVA artist and board member Michael Kraatz, ably assisted by Justin O'Rourke (see photo)--the wood from the tree is being stored for use in the 3-D center's new woodworking studio.

Before demolition of the remainder of the house takes place later this month, the Lebanon Fire Department will undertake a training session at the site. They will not burn the building down, but will practice access and rescue operations from the roof.

We continue to make progress on our $3.5 million capital campaign. A $200,000 grant this month from the Timken Foundation of Canton helped push us beyond the half-way point toward our goal. We also recently met the challenge from the Byrne Foundation by successfully raising $25,000 in new or increased campaign gifts, and those have been matched dollar-for-dollar by Byrne. In addition, our efforts to eliminate the mortgage on the Carter-Kelsey Building have been extremely successful--in just this past year, the mortgage has been reduced from $410,000 to $130,000. With the pledges we have received, the mortgage will be completely eradicated by October 2016. In addition, we continue to develop our plans for the new artist members' gallery. We are looking forward to providing a beautiful space for our artists to share their work with both the community and other artists, including a frequently rotating show space, promotional opportunities through digital archives, and gallery store possibilities.

Please stay tuned for more progress reports!

 
Kyudo Free Demonstration and First Shot Program
Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17
 
Kyudo means "the way of the bow" and is an ancient form of Japanese archery. It is also a meditation practice, often referred to as "Zen Archery." Practicing kyudo involves focusing one's attention and calming one's mind for the precise drawing of the bow and release of the arrow. It is a path to opening one's heart and mind to the natural dignity of being human, beyond the obstacles of ambition, doubt, and loneliness. Hitting the target is not considered important.

"You do not practice kyudo to polish your form. You practice kyudo to polish your heart."

           -
Kanjuro Sendai
 
Those interested in learning kyudo can sign up for the "First Shot" Workshop, a daylong practice to be held on Saturday, October 17, 9am-4pm. "First Shot" gives the beginner an opportunity to practice the Seven Coordinations (Shichido), the basic form of kyudo as meditation. A portion of the proceeds from the "First Shot" Workshop will go to the Aya Itagaki Scholarship Fund at AVA. Adults and older teenagers are welcome to participate.
 
A Kyudo demonstration to introduce the "First Shot" Workshop will be offered on Friday, October 16, from 6-7pm. The Kyudo demonstration is free and open to the public.
 
Instructor: Ray Chin is the instructor of a small group of kyudokas who practice regularly in Thetford, VT. He was a student of Kanjuro Shibata Sendai, a bow maker and kyudo master whose lineage spanned twenty generations of master bow makers. Shibata Sendai died in October 2013.
 
Click here to enroll in the October 17 Kyudo -- First Shot Program

Looking, Thinking, and Speaking about Art
With Marcos Stafne, Executive Director of the Montshire Museum 
November 5, 5:30pm -- Free! 
When we look at a work of art, what do we see that makes us draw connections and understand what's being communicated? Join Marcos Stafne, Executive Director of the Montshire Museum of Science, as he leads a tour of AVA's exhibition,Vermont Glass Guild-2015 Art Glass Invitational Exhibition, employing a method of inquiry known as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). Participants in this interactive tour will learn about VTS, look deeply at three or four works of art, and share in a group conversation about what they see.

Marcos Stafne, PhD, formerly served as Vice President of Programs and Visitor Experience at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Director of Education and Visitor Experience at the Rubin Museum of Art, and Director of Public Programs and Traveling Exhibitions at the New York Hall of Science.



Special Programs This Fall 
Click the Program Title for Complete Information
 
Art Lab--the imaginative art program for adults with special needs meets on Wednesdays.

Senior Art--a program where seniors work on their own self-directed projects among a growing community of other enthusiastic seniors meets on Thursdays.

Art for Kids--the unique art program where children with chronic medical conditions make art with medical students from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College meets monthly.

ART STOP!--a free afterschool program that encourages youths in grades 5-8 to take inspiration from AVA's ongoing exhibitions to create their own drawings, paintings, and sculptures is currently meeting on Tuesday afternoons.

CAOS for Toddlers--a weekly program where children with caregivers make their own self-directed art projects using AVA's diverse assortment of art supplies meets on Friday mornings.

CAOS (Community Arts Open Studio)--a weekly workshop where children of all ages with their caregivers make their own self-directed art projects using AVA's diverse assortment of art supplies on Saturdays between 11am-4pm.

 Mixed-media Collage, Jooles Skeet 

Vermont Independent School of the Arts
Seven Stars Arts Festival
Saturday, Oct. 24, 12noon-7pm
Free and Open to the Public
 
The Vermont Independent School for the Arts Seven Stars Arts Festival will include a group art exhibition (opening reception 4-6pm), musical performances by VTISA teachers, their bands/ensembles and their students (12-3pm and 5-7pm), Japanese and Western calligraphy demonstrations (mid-afternoon), free Tai Chi and yoga classes (1-1:30pm and 3:30-4pm. sign up recommended), children's Halloween craft table and face painting, local food and drinks, raffles and a silent auction throughout the day.

Click here to learn more. 
 
Call for Artists, Photographers, and Writers: The Review Review 
Multiple Deadlines Ongoing

The Review Review was founded to help artists, authors, and photographers keep track of the many wonderful literary and arts journals being produced today. The Review Review reads and writes about contemporary publications, and keeps a list of submissions opportunities so more artists and writers can get involved.
 
AVA Gallery and Art Center
11 Bank Street
Lebanon, NH 03766
(603) 448-3117