Erica's Reception and Unveiling

Collective member Erica Sears was recently commissioned by the folks at the Chandler Center for the Arts to create large abstract paintings for the renovated Esther Mesh Room.  On Friday, April 21 the paintings were unveiled at a reception for the artist.

 Guests arrived to find the paintings dramatically draped (on left wall)

The audience listens as the hosts at Chandler describe the history of the room and the commission

Three generations

The big reveal!

Erica talks about her experience of doing the paintings, which she has dubbed "the girls"

The artist, the ladies of Chandler, and "the girls"

The audience flocks to see the work up close

Next time you're upstairs at the Chandler Center for the Arts, spend some time with these paintings!

Congratulations, Erica, on creating beautiful, versatile pieces (they are designed to work as one unit or separately) that bring color and interest to the elegant room.  May they add another lively dimension to many an event in the Esther Mesh room!

April 2013 Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 4/21/13, 2-4 PM

Alexis, Donna O., Erica S., Erica V., Ken, Lynne, Malia

Discussion of Erica Sears’s experience of creating new commissioned paintings that will be unveiled tonight

The Foundation Center at 109 State St.—database of grants (see http://libraries.vermont.gov/other/grants)

Grant for artists/parents from Sustainable Arts Foundation (see http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/)

Housekeeping for next week’s meeting—Artists Market spruce up

Welcome Centers—how to present Collective & figure drawing sessions

Sharing work in progress—Lynne: acrylic and watercolor paintings

            Alexis: angel drawings and painting (acrylic with Demar retouch varnish)

            Erica V.: automatic paintings in water soluble oil

Alexis spoke on a panel for VSA about mental illness and the arts

            Alexis will be exhibiting in MA in July

May 9 Washington County Mental Health exhibit at the VT State House, reception 2-4PM

July 21 Collective Meeting at Alexis’s studio

Bethel Historical Society art show, bring work Wed. May 1 5-8PM (see http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethel-Historical-Society/203035726375597)

January 2013 Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 1/20/13, 2-4 PM

Erica, Kevin, Malia

Exhibits to see: “The Way We Worked” at AVA

“Source” at Helen Day Art Center

Pastel show at BALE

Interstate rest area displays—Holly Sanders is spearheading

Ideas for the future:

Plan upcoming Collective show—theme?  Music or movies & art?  Based on work created in a class?

Fourth Friday gallery walk/art talk idea

Featured artist

Get artists to present their work again

Coffee Party

Upcoming Craft Center events:

Next Tuesday RTCC luncheon

Thursday downtown visioning meeting this Thursday

Wed. 2/20 Soup & Bread dinner 5-7PM

Recommended movies: Les Miserables

Fly Fishing on the Yemen

Hyde Park

Silver Lining Playbook

What does Randolph need???

E-mail Collective re: Fourth Friday Art Cafe 5-7PM—call to artists, writers, musicians, Erica will be contact person

(No meetings February or March)

November Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 11/18/12, 2-4 PM

Alexis, Dmitri, Donna, Malia

Craft Center Open House Sat. Dec. 8, 2-5 (?)

            Collective members in attendance: Malia

            Mailing?  Advertising?

            Send e-mail to artists (GMCC & Figure Drawing mailing lists): update your exhibit, attend Open House

            Discount offered—minimum 10-25% (draw from a hat?)

Herald ad, calendar, article by JoAnn Meginnes

            Poster/postcard?  Image from Alexis, Malia will add text

            Raffle artwork?

Update GMCC flyer with new events, print more

            Advertise meetings in the Herald, other places

            Have flyers at the Open House

Rotate monthly meetings to members’ homes/studios?

October Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 10/21/12, 1-2 PM

Alexis, Donna, Donna S., Erica, Ken, Kevin, Malia, Sandy

Open Studio weekend—decent turnout, many first-time visitors, positive feedback about exhibit

Kimball Gallery—weaving will be on display through next week, then Creative Collective can display again

Featured artist idea

Collective Open House before holidays?

            Thanksgiving 11/22—e-mail to select dates

            Call to artists—especially small/inexpensive items

10-15% off during Open House?

            Make flyer & distribute widely at cafes, galleries, craft stores

Advertise better—piece in local paper, Seven Days

Rest area displays—Randolph, Sharon, new one in Hartford (Hartland?)

            Possible display cases from Porter Museum

Art in the Park—town would make Branchwood available, would need insurance binder for the day

            Charge a small fee for artists to display

            Plan for next summer

Display work from Craft Center events such as Erica’s Drop-In Studio & figure drawing sessions

Difficulty of getting participation for art events

Upcoming WRCC Café events:  10/30 11:30-12:30 free community lunch prepared by RTCC culinary students; late November northern Italian dinner

September Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 9/16/12, 1-2 PM

Alexis, Donna, Ken, Malia

Open Studio weekend, October 6 & 7, 10 AM to 5 PM— Ken has 3 artists who will be bringing new work

Weaver’s Guild meeting same weekend as Open Studio, so need to move artwork out of Kimball Room Gallery space

*Meet to move artwork this Friday 9/21 late morning

*Send reminder to all artists in Artists’ Market to swap out work prior to Open Studio; encourage participation; 2012 dues; artists studios for rent at WRCC

*Publicity for Collective & Figure Drawing—Seven Days

*Work with SPA, Burlington City Arts, other arts organizations to promote our programs—who will establish contacts?

Art in the Park idea—town will support with permission from the Selectboard, insurance rider for event only; possible to hold it at Branchwood property or in town hall parking lot

Alexis’ shows coming up: 9/28 at Knitting Studio in Montpelier and 10/7 Benefit Auction at the Round Barn in Waitsfield

Bethel Town Hall Show opens 9/22—looking for artists to participate, submit work Wed. 9/19 from 5-8 PM

August Meeting Minutes

Creative Collective Meeting 8/20/12, 6-8 PM

Alexis, Emanuelle, Eva, Ken, Malia

 Introductions & updates, show & tell

Update on figure drawing: dates scheduled for White River Craft Center, 2-4PM

9/9 male

9/16? Female

9/23 male

10/21 male

Need: lighting, props, pillows, throws

Bring own easels & materials

Is there somewhere at the Craft Center to store easels? Drawing horse-building idea?

Round Barn in Waitsfield currently has photo show, including several of Ken’s pieces

Also at Round Barn October 7, art auction benefit for Hannah’s House, including Alexis’s work

Fall Open Studio October 6 & 7—ask artists to swap work out prior to the date!

Labor Day weekend Vermont Festival of the Arts winds up in Waitsfield and Warren

We all owe dues for fiscal year 2012-- $10 payable to the White River Craft Center collected by Ken

“Featured artist” on a rotating basis, to be showcased in local media—Ken will talk to someone who might be the first

“Art in the park” idea—possibly at Gifford?

Weekend staffing—discuss with Kevin, take turns doing a shift every 6 weeks or so?

Bring musicians back into the Collective

Barry’s video online at Bangor Daily News--  http://bangordailynews.com/2012/07/25/news/portland/street-musician-sound-sculpture-artist-invites-portland-passers-by-to-make-music/

Films recommended “Margin Call”, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”, “The Body Found” (“docufiction” about evidence of mermaids) ,“Breath Made Visible” about the modern dancer Anna Halprin, “The Black Power Mixtape”