Raritan Valley Arts Association
Newsletter

RARITAN VALLEY ARTS ASSOCIATION est. 1939

Crisp Autumn Greetings!!

Come out Monday, November 22, 7:30pm at the Somerset County Library to watch our demonstrator Jinnie May work on her truly fresh and colorful watercolors. Encouraged in a 2004 workshop by Judy Betts to explore the California Watercolor artists of the 40's and 50's, Jinnie's bold strokes, vibrant colors, big brushes and big paper are a reflection of spending hours studying these artists and attending workshops with many great watercolorists. Jinnie's favorite subject matter is European scenes from several painting holidays abroad. She is an elected member of the following water color societies: New Jersey (Second Vice President), Garden State, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. In addition she is an award winning artist at The Salmagundi Club, the North East Watercolor Society, and Allied Artists of America. Her paintings may be viewed on her web site www.JinnieMay.com or by appointment at her "Askew-is-Me" Studio in Randolph, NJ. She is represented by Design Domaine Gallery in Bernardsville, NJ. COME SPLASH AROUND! (please phone Pres. Linda if you would like to volunteer for Hospitality for this meeting 908/646-3610)

You do not want to miss RVAA's FANTASTIC HOLIDAY DINNER, Monday, December 6th. Doug Axmann has once again kindly agreed to chair the event (thank you, Doug!). It will be at McCarthy's, which we always enjoy. From 22 East you turn right onto Finderne Avenue, and when you get to the second light you turn right onto Main Street and McCarthy's is almost immediately on your left. Holiday spirit reigns; togetherness with our artist buddies rules! Guests totally welcome! Cash bar plus appetizer platters start at 6:00; dinner 7:00ish. You can choose your menu when you get to the restaurant, with tenderloin, salmon, steak, and a vegetarian dish all part of the offerings. Of course this is all prefaced by a humungous all-you-can-pile on your pre-chilled plate from the salad bar. Coffee, tea, and desert after. Yes, we will have our infamous white elephant or similar gift exchange, that is, a white elephant or gift worth $5. - $10., gift-wrapped, and ready to party on home to your house. A little entertainment/diversion will be provided by a couple of our members, maybe you? Any members who wish to share a holidayish bon mot or two, please do! All this for only $29.00. Please send a check made out to RVAA to Doug at 16 Schoolhouse Lane, Somerville, NJ. 08876 by December 2nd. You all simply must come for good talk, good food, and surprises.

Lots of HOLIDAY DOINGS going on in December (note that this Newsletter serves both months). You will find the rules for our month long show at the Somerset County Library at the end of this Newsletter. You can have small works and large. Lots of people come to the library; inevitably some buy. As usual, we need show sitters and there are always more hours than show sitters, so feel free to volunteer even more time. It happens each year - an impulse buyer will find no one at our desk, and then the impulse to buy leaves. And while you show sit you can bring your cards and prints to sell (originals only for hanging and the display cases, except for two prints in each category). MARY CREASY will be helping me again this year and I thank her for that!

DUES ARE PAST DUE! Please send your checks made out to RVAA to our Membership Chairman Doug Axmann, 16 Schoolhouse Lane, Somerville, NJ 08876. Dues are $30. for Individual, $35. for Family, and $15. for Student (through high school). Dues will get you all these demonstrations, two or three exhibits a year (at least three this year!), the annual Big Apple Trip, the newsletters, a presence on the internet (http://www.raritanvalleyarts.org), and last, but not least, lots of camaraderie.

RVAA member Lib Ryman is downsizing a bit and hopes some of you may be interested in frames for sale, including: 20" x 30" 1 1/2" wide brown wood frame for $25, 24" x 30" 2 1/2" wide gold wood with linen liner $35, and 3 36" and 2 30" wood stretcher bars for $1.50 If interested email Lib Ryman: or call: 908-604-9459

Of interest....Gerald Brommer will be giving a Water Media/Collage Workshop April 11-15 "Designing from Line & Shape to Complex Surfaces" at the Mt. Freedom Presbyterian Church Hallon Sussex Turnpike in Randolph. You may view his work at several websites, including recent work at http://www.estherwellscollection.com/Bro_Thmb.htm deposit of $100. is your reservation. Limit: 19 artists (all levels). For more information and a registration form, you may email or call 973/584-3373.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

ALKA DALAL has work in the Art for Paws Juried Show at the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Gallery in Somerville.

Several RVAA members were in the Juried Tewksbury Historical Society Show and a few won awards including: LINDA ARNOLD 2^nd in Florals for "Emergence" and JOAN MCKINNEY Honorable Mention in Buildings for "Marthas Vineyard Blue".

The juried Art for Paws, the FOSRAS Exhibit at the Somerset Cultural and Heritage Commission Gallery at the Somerset County Administration Building in Somerville, which benefits the Somerset County Animal Shelter, invites you to their reception, Friday, November 12, from 6-8. (LINDA ARNOLD has already sold one of her works in that show).

DIANA PATTON will have a one-woman show at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center,775 Talamini Road, in Bridgewater, for the month of December (do check it out; RVAA will have a show there the month of April).

Please send me your news! And remember-the next Newsletter will be in January. Until then, enjoy this holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year!

"Holiday Collection" Members Show and Sale

Receiving dates:
For racks, screens only -Wednesday, December 1st, 5:30-6:30 pm.
For paintings, Thursday 11-12:30 and 5:30-6:30, December 2nd (as long as you check in by 6:30; you can take your time hanging; I have a class at 7).
Take down December 31.

YOU DON'T NEED TO OWN SCREENS; SCREEN OWNERS WILL SHARE THEIRS WITH YOU. Your screen place is assigned according to a floor plan IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOUR FORMS ARE RECEIVED. I need to know how many screens will be brought in to share. All artists need to bring drapery hooks or s-hooks for their own works.

HOLIDAY SHOW RULES---PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

1. Pre-registration by Monday, November 29^th. Membership dues must be paid. Fee for the show is $10.
2. Small works, 8 x 10 and under, will be put in the display cases on a space available basis, and should have a small easel or support, marked with the artist's name and NFS (not for sale) Because the library wants an original artworks show, all works should be original, except for a total of 2 works which can be prints in each category (large and small).
3. Larger paintings will hang on screens on space available basis. Standard screen panel is 36" by 72", and if space permits (depends on how many screens are loaned), screen owners should have 2 or 3 sides and non-screen owners 1-2. You may have noticed that there is less room for screens now, unless they are in the back. We can put large works in the back on their screens which take peg board hooks. Please let me know if you are interested in that.
4. Screens, and all parts of screens, should have owner's name on them.
5. All paintings must be properly wired, numbered, & priced, with small labels
6. Bring list of paintings (even if only one work) on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, plus a copy for you. Name and address and phone number should be on these.
7. There will be a book at the showsit table with each artist's list of paintings and prices in it. The paintings that are sold may be replaced, but new paintings with their prices and numbers must be recorded in the book. Please read the instructions in the book before you sell a painting.
8. Every painting sold must be recorded. Somerset County Library receives 10% of all sales. At the end of the show artists will receive a check from RVAA for their total sales, less 10%. Anything small sold during your showsit time must be recorded also.
9. All paintings must be for sale (except one, marked "not for sale").
10. Artists who display paintings on the screens must volunteer six hours of show sitting time. Artists who enter only one or two paintings volunteer two show sitting hours. Sign up for show sitting on Thursday. FEEL FREE TO SIT MORE; WE LIKE TO BE THERE FOR IMPULSE BUYERS.
11. You may display your portfolio and/or small works, note cards, etc. on the showsit table while show sitting.

Holiday Dinner Form Monday, December 6th

Check for $29.00 made out to RVAA for each person, and mailed to Doug Axmann, 16 Schoolhouse Lane, Somerville, NJ, 08876 RVAA HOLIDAY DINNER for:
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________
 
Phone_________________________

Holiday Show and Sale Form

Please mail form with $10. check made out to RVAA (show fee), to Diana Patton, 497 Stony Brook Dr, Bridgewater, 08807. You must also be a paid up member of RVAA to enter.
Name_______________________________________________________
 
Is entering the Holiday Show.
 I have (# of) ______________________screens to share. (delivery 12/1)
 
I would _________ would not _____________________be interested in putting larger works on the library's pegboards in back.

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