Raritan Valley Arts Association
Newsletter

RARITAN VALLEY ARTS ASSOCIATION est. 1939

Lion to Lamb Greetings!

Last month we all enjoyed Ed Baumlin's watercolor demo. Using only four colors-raw and burnt siennas, indigo, and cerulean blue, he painted a stunning picture of 6 horses standing (or drinking) in water. We learned a lot! Incidentally Ed is the President of the Hunterdon Watercolor Society which meets in the municipal complex (of which the library is one part) the first Monday of the month. They have an annual show in the Hunterdon Public Library each June with many awards. Their membership fee is $25. a year, and like us, they have demos each month (watercolor, obviously!)

And you will learn a lot this month too-at our meeting Monday, March 28^th at the Somerset County Library, 7:30 pm, when plein air painter Seppo Siimes will demonstrate for us. Seppo has traveled extensively and paints in oils right before his subjects. We will see the magic of one of Seppo's oils coming alive and learn how he does it; do come and enjoy. (if you google Seppo Siimes, you may preview some of his work on several websites). Hospitality will be furnished by Rosemary Zangara. Thank you, Rosemary! And thank you, Linda, for once again obtaining a great demonstrator.

You do know that our two-month show in the galley of the Senior Wellness Center, (near Bernardsville, about two minutes from Rt. 287) is coming soon. Judy Hummer is chairing it. Thank you, Judy! There are application and insurance forms at the end of the Newsletter for you to mail off for her (535 Gregory Ave, Bridgewater, NJ,08807). You may enter one work. The show will run from the end of March through the beginning of May. For more information, please phone Judy at 908/218-1786. You really do want to enter and send in your forms by March 19th, please!

Your editor has just heard that our long time member, terrific artist, and former secretary, Eleanor DeMott is in the hospital. I have no other information but am sure you can direct your get well wishes to Eleanor DeMott, 9 Adams Street, Somerville, NJ, 08876.

Big Apple Trip. It's time! Saturday, April 30th RVAA will run a bus to New York City for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Watercolor Society Show at the Salmagundi Club in lower New York (47 Fifth Ave). Last year's chairwoman, Mary Ann Vaccaro kindly reserved the bus for April 30th. But you'll send your check, made out to RVAA, for $35. to this year's chairwoman, Debbie Hughes, 255 Falmouth Place, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. We are extremely grateful that Debbie stepped up to bat to chair this (and that Mary Ann got the bus), as no one else volunteered. Debbie works and goes to college but you know the old saying ... if you want something done, ask a busy person-and a kind one. Thank you, Debbie! You must come-all the art and camaraderie! Plus, you can probably fit in a most entertaining half hour at the Forbes Museum diagonally across the street from the Salmagundi. Take it from your editor that it is one fine small museum. So cheerful! The trip is great and is so simple for you-8:30 am we meet at the upper parking lot of the library (i.e. Vo-Tech School), In a comfortable bus with a rest room we are driven to the front of the Met (by 10). Then we will all meet out front about 2:30 and go to the AWS Show. You are home about 6, after enjoying driving-home refreshments. All this for just $35! (trust your editor on this-it has taken me as long as 2 1/2 hours each way to get to these places, that's 5 hours of subways, busses, and trains; this is so much easier, more comfortable, and fun, and adding it all up, about as cheap as doing it all by your lonesome) Checks due by April 10th. Reserve your place for this special trip. Questions? Debbie is at 908/725-4639. There is an admission fee for the Met, but not for the AWS Exhibit or the Forbes Museum. Of course you may bring your family, your friends, your significant other. We're a welcoming group!

An email from Kathy Palmer informs me that it's time again for the juried Bernardsville Library Show. Work for this juried show is due Thursday, March 31st, from 10-noon. Paintings not accepted must be picked up between 10-12 on April 1st (Editor's note: regrettably this is not an April Fool's joke). The show runs April 1-28th. The juror of Selection and Best of Show Award is Thomas Valenti. You can download the complete rules and application and insurance forms at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/display.htm (look under April) or fill out when you go to receiving 3/31.

Please remember our June show at the Jewish Community Center. Details TBA.

New venue for us! Your editor has been in touch with Arbor Glen (and how did this come about? By meeting my friend Ellen at Curves who lives there-wow-you never know when opportunities will arise) and they are just starting art exhibits. They have an extensive mailing list-they will arrange an opening reception-they have a gallery on their second floor, etc. They would like a talk by the artist during the reception. The show will be up for a month. So ...they plan two shows a year for this year, perhaps more in the future. Your editor plans to do the September show but they want to start this in June. If you are interested please email me or phone me (908/722-0562) and VIP also phone Elaine Auerbach at 908/595-6553. I hope to get a list of those interested in this.

Since this Newsletter is getting long, I hope you all know that you can always go to www.raritanvalleyarts.org and look at past issues for previous show entry information, like Kit's gallery at Trinity United Church, the Farmstead in Warren, and the Dessert Plate Bakery and Cafe in Somerville.

Members in the News

DONNA SOUREN will have a selection of floral paintings at Starbucks in Bedminster during the month of March. Stop by for a cup of Coffee or Tea and enjoy the exhibit. Donna also has two paintings at the Art & Photography Exhibit at Leonard J. Buck Garden. The show features photography, paintings, & drawings of the four seasons at Buck Garden. The exhibit is being held at the Visitor Center weekdays, February 22-March 11, 10am-4pm.

PEG TOMBRO received her NYBG (New York Botanical Garden) Botanical Illustration Certificate recently and donated a botanical illustration to support KIA Art Institute. (Editor's note: I have seen Peg's botanical paintings and they are real works of art. It is very difficult to get your B.I.Certificate; you take classes and work for years, so ...many congratulations, Peg!)

Please send me YOUR NEWS for the April issue. Thank you!

All current RVAA members are welcome to participate in the show. One original work may be submitted. Acceptable media includes oil, pastel, watercolor, collage, acrylic. Works may not exceed 40 inches in any direction. All artwork must be securely framed and wired for hanging. There is space for 23 paintings. There is a possibility that we will have to go to a jury if more than 23 submissions are made.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
Entries will be juried if more than 23 works have been submitted to the show. (If there are fewer than 23 submissions then no jury will be necessary). Phone calls will be made only to those that have been declined. Declined works may be picked up at the regular RVAA meeting scheduled for that same evening or at the Wellness center between 3:00 and 5:00pm that same day (March 28).

FEE:
$10.00 for one submission

RECEIVING:
Artwork is to be brought by the artist to the Senior Wellness Center on Monday, March 28, 2011 Between the hours of 10:00am - 12:00noon.

INSURANCE FORM:
An insurance form must be filled out and will be distributed during our regular RVAA meetings or extras will be available at the time of receiving.

PICKUP OF ARTWORK:
Artwork must be picked up by the artist on Friday, May 6, 2011 between 10:00 and 12:00 noon.

SOLD WORKS:
Any artwork that is sold is to remain hanging until the show is over. Sold works may be picked up during the take-down of the show. Proper identification must be presented in order to pick up sold work (and for unsold work for that matter). Sales tax is responsibility of the artist. The Wellness Center is to receive 10% of the proceeds resulting from the sales during the show. All checks will be made payable to the artist.

QUESTIONS:
Any questions or concerns can be directed to Judy Hummer (908)218-1786. 535 Gregory Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Complete the form below and submit entire form with entry fee at receiving (03/28/2011)
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: RVAA ($10 )
Receiving Date: Monday, March 28, 2011 (10:00-12:00)
Take down date: Friday, May 6, 2011 (10:00 - 12:00)

DO NOT DETACH 

Artist: ____________________________        

Address: __________________________   

City:  _____________________________

State: _________    Zip: _____________

Phone: _____________________                     

Title : _________________________ 
        
Medium : _____________ Price : _______     Entry # _________


________________________________________________________________
TO BE ATTACHED TO BACK OF PAINTING 

Artist: ____________________________ 
       
Phone: _______________________

Title: _________________________  

Medium : _____________ Price : _______     Entry # ____________
     
_________________________________________________________________
ARTIST RECEIPT  (Take down date: may 6 from 10 -12) 

       
Title: _________________________  

Medium: _____________ Price: ________    Entry # ___________

EXHIBITION INSURANCE INFORMATION

Statement: I understand that the County of Somerset will provide insurance for exhibits that are displayed at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center, 202 Mount Airy Road, Basking Ridge, on an excess basis, in the total amount of $25,000 (for entire exhibition). The maximum limit for any one item of artwork on display is $1,500. There will be a $250 deductible for each claim. The County of Somerset and the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services will not be responsible for any artwork left on the premises after 48 hours following the scheduled closing date of the exhibition.

DIRECTIONS: please mail to Judy Hummer by March 19

Please PRINT or TYPE all requested information and return to:

Judith Hummer
535 Gregory Ave
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Artist's Name  ______________________________________________

Address  _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Telephone  ___________________________  E-Mail  ___________________________

Exhibition Dates:   March 28 - May 6, 2011

Title of Artwork  _____________________________________  Value  ______________

Medium  ______________________________  Dimensions  ______________________

Is the artwork available for sale?    YES  ________   $_________   NO  ______________


Signature  _____________________________________________  Date  ____________


NOTE:  Artwork will NOT be insured if this form is incomplete.

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