ART Can Changes Lives!

Art program transforms failing school

Orchard Gardens, a school in Roxbury, Mass., had been plagued by bad test scores and violence -- but one principal’s idea to fire the security guards and hire art teachers is helping turn it around. NBC’s Katy Tur reports. 

 

May 2013 Program Speaker: Howard Wexler

Howard Wexler will be our guest speaker at our May 2013 program. Wexler studied at the Corcoran Art School and the Abbott Academy of Art, had graduated from Pratt Institute in New York, served in the army in Europe, and was in Paris studying further at the Academie Andre Lhote and exhibiting his contemporary work. Wexler has worked with his longtime colleague Siegfried Hahn since 1961. Hahn and Wexler were teaching painting, drawing and watercolor to mostly U.S Air Force family members stationed in Evreux, Normandy, during the 1950s and 1960s (which is how RRAA member, Joe McDonnell came to be his student). 

When French President Charles de Gaulle asked the Air Force to leave France in 1967, Hahn, a South African by birth, and Wexler, an American answered an invitation from a retired Air Force colonel and his wife to move to Albuquerque, where they set up their own art school that is now under Wexler's direction since Hahn’s passing in 2008.
Wexler continues to teach classes in drawing, watercolor and oil painting using the Maroger medium in their home's adjacent studio. The medium is a resin derived from the mastic tree. "I was in a transition between cubist-style abstract works and realism back then. I later became known for my flower paintings, but they almost took over all of my painting time so I branched out with landscape, figures and architectural subjects," Wexler said. His work has been exhibited widely in Europe and the USA over the past 6 decades.

Several of Wexler's students will also attend with some examples of their work as a result of Wexler's tutelage.

Below are some images that exemplify (oh, so briefly) Wexler's process:

A sketch done on site

A studio version based on the on site sketch

The painting begins based on the previous sketches

Going through many phases, this one gets closer to completion

I will say, that after having visited Howard's studio with Joe McDonnell, the end result of Howard's technique is not something one sees today, but certainly is of the style of the Old Masters. Joe, having studied under Howard, is a perfect example of what can be attained by learning this technique called, Maroger, where the mastic resin is used as a 'blending and mixing' medium for the oil paint.

Painting done by Joe McDonnell using the 
Maroger technique taught to him by Wexler

This program is open and free to the public-you need not be a member to attend! Find out more about the dates and location of upcoming RRAA meetings at our monthly membership meetings page.

City Hall Hosting Rio Rancho Public Schools Senior Art Show ‘Rising Stars’

2012 Rio Rancho Public School Senior Art Show, 'Rising Stars' (photo by Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio)

RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The annual Rio Rancho Public Schools Senior Art Show ‘Rising Stars’ is taking place on the third and fourth floors of Rio Rancho City Hall from April 18-30, 2013. Normal viewing hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Artwork from seniors from Rio Rancho and Cleveland high schools and the Cyber Academy will be on exhibit as part of the show.

Please join them at the reception and award ceremony on Friday, April 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend, free of charge. At this reception at 6 p.m., Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack will present awards to the students featured in the exhibit.

Participation for this show was open to all students of the class of 2013 at Rio Rancho Public Schools’ high schools. The show will be judged by Rio Rancho and Cleveland high school art student alumni. The awards are sponsored by the Rio Rancho Art Association and the New Mexico Art Education Association.

The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) students will also be exhibiting their work at the same time, on the fourth floor of City Hall, as part of their membership requirement. The induction ceremony for these students will take place on April 26 as well, at approximately 6:30 p.m. (after the awards ceremony for the senior art show). Seniors who earn membership receive an honor cord that will be worn at graduation to distinguish them as an NAHS student. The NAHS is a local chapter of the national organization that recognizes excellence in achievement and community service in the arts by junior high and high school students.

Rio Rancho City Hall is located at 3200 Civic Center Circle.

               2012 Rio Rancho Public School Senior Art Show, 'Rising Stars' (photo by Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio)

Call For Art For Valles Caldera 10K, Half and Full Marathon 2013

The complete prospectus for this call for art is here:



 

Photographing Your Pottery or 3D Art

There is a science to photographing your art correctly. What works for photographing 2D art does not work as well for 3D art. Often, when submitting images for juried shows, allowances for 3D art is made by way of accepting at least 2-3 views of the work. Many artists shortchange themselves of even being considered because, well, there is no other polite way to say it, they take lousy photos of their art because they dont' want (or can't) to spend the money on hiring it out. However, you need not 'suffer' with bad images of your work with so many helpful people out there publishing lots of DIY articles on how to achieve this goal.

The folks at Handmadeology (the science of Handmade) publishes lots of great articles to help you out with. Such as, how to photograph your ceramic pottery!

"TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR CERAMIC POTTERY (an article excerpt from Handmadeology)

Here are suggestions to help take great pictures of your pottery. Step by step lighting set up that defines three dimensional form and shows true vibrant colors.

Move a table close to a window. To make the light coming in from the outside easier to work with it’s a good idea to tape a piece of tracing paper to the window. For more information on how to do this please read this."

You can read the rest of the article here.

I, for one, am looking forward to see what some of you do with this wonderful DIY article. Please let us know and leave us a comment here.

Image Sources Just For You!

Since one of the mediums I work in a lot happens to be photography, I never have a shortage of image files to work with in my art studio. However, a lot of artists who paint do not dabble in photography and struggle with finding images that are 'kosher' to use without infringing on copyright. Well, yes, then there are some who never concern themselves about that at all and as a photographer, I find that disregard to be along the lines of piracy!

But, there is a way to get  your hands on images and use them legally. The nice folks at ArtSpark explains how:

"In a world where text is everywhere, visual representation of ideas, process and data is more important than ever to capture (and hold!) the attention of your intended audience.

Two of ArtSpark’s favorite treasure troves for visual images, including photographs, illustrations and icons, are FREE (although attribution is required for one and suggested for the other).

1) Flickr.com images with a Creative Common license.

You can access Flickr.com Creative Commons images easily by doing an “advanced search” and scrolling down to the Creative Commons area.  The attribution license “lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials.”  I have found great images and illustrations (also drawings) on Flickr.com this way, and even developed a couple of relationships with fellow creatives.  (NOTE:  you can search and access/download content without having a Flickr.com account.)"

You can read the rest of the article here.

Professional Development for Artists Made Easy

Most artists are pretty good about seeking out classes and workshops in order to fine tune their technique and ability with their medium(s). However, when it comes to professional development  it is more often avoided rather than sought out. In fact, sometimes, I think people view it like the plague! Yes, if you are an artist with a desire to sell your work, that automatically makes you a small business owner, like it or not. So, why wouldn't you seek out ways to hone your business skills so that you can sell more of your art, thus giving you even greater excuses to create more?

If the chief reason why you don't seek out professional development is due to accessibility and cost, then I think I'm about to give a dead end to that 'excuse'!

Enter the Creative Capital Professional Development Programs (PDP)!

Here's the 'low down' from their site:

Artists can now access selected workshop content at home, in the studio or wherever there is a computer with internet access.

When? 7-9:30pm EST. Most webinars are offered on Mondays.
We offer at least two live webinars each month, so there are new opportunities to enhance your career year-round.

Where? Anywhere!
All you need is a computer with sound and an Internet connection.

Who? Everyone!
Designed for artists of all disciplines and at all career stages. If you're new to professional development or just interested in a refresher course, there is something for everyone.

How Much? Only $25!

FIND OUT MORE HERE.

So, now what's your excuse?    : )

What would make it even more fun is for several to get together at one person's house and tune in on a webinar topic. After the session is over, share with each other what you got out of it. I think you will be amazed at what can unfold from there.