Heading into the New Year~ 2026

 

MEETINGS

Many thanks to Nancy Swingle for organizing our holiday party complete with 

good food, good presents and good friends!

 

January - No meeting!

Note the Date Change was Feb. 1st, police station needs room for training. We are cleared to meet  February 8th  - 9:30am - 2:30pm Workday Member needed to run meeting

 

March 1 -Noon - 2:30 with clean up until 3pm Nancy Castner runs meeting

Presenter Laura Smetana, Author & Illustrator 
Laura loves creating bright, joyful cut-paper watercolor collages inspired by nature.  

Her latest author-illustrated book My Love for You is Like the Night Sky, is a companion 

to the award winning, Kirkus-starred, My Love for You Is Like a Garden. 

These are in addition to other published award winning books.  

A supply list will be included in the March MCS Newsletter.     

 

EXHIBITS

MCS will be exhibiting at the Downers Grove Library.  It will be earlier in 2026 due to a 

special traveling exhibit on the Holocaust that the DG Library was selected to host.  

Kudos to the library. Let your creativity flow, the exhibit drop off on Feb. 28th will be here 

before you know it and we won't have a newsletter in February.  The prospectus is attached.
Schedule for this exhibit:
Drop off on Saturday, February 28 from 10 - 11 a.m.
Run dates March 6-April 7, 2026
Pick up on Saturday, April 11 from 10 - 11 a.m.
Reception: TBD

 

Future Exhibit?

There is an opportunity to exhibit at Covenant Living at the Holmstad Creative Arts Center

in Batavia. We would need at least one member to help coordinate and hang the show 

and commitment from our members. If you are interested please reply to this newsletter with 

number of pieces you would exhibit.  

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

Don't miss the next one!  September 23 to 27,  2026

 

MEMBERS

The New Year is almost here and with that is an opportunity to explore yourself through the 

creative act of a Vision board.  
Laura Lein-Svencner will be presenting a 1-Day Workshop at McCord Gallery 

January 10th 2026 9:30am-3:30 If interested check out the link and sign up Here  

Laura will also be teaching Friday Fusion Collage
January 23 - February 27, 2026 (10:30am-1:00pm) 6 Fridays
Register with Naperville Art League
508 N. Center Street, Naperville IL

Working with the Winter season and richness of color in our natural surroundings, students

will learn how to collage with the process of tacking down  collage paper with a house iron

instead of wet glue. Focus is on the shading and shadowing of the papers. We will create

our own collage papers from repurposed sources of found papers.

 

Exploring Exquisite Corpse

 

                                    

As a game or a project watch this video to see the basic of this fun project that can spark inspiration for other ways to display the head, body and feet. 

Learn about Surrealist Manifesto 

                                        

MCS Holiday Gathering and Monthly Meeting

 MEETINGS 

December 7   Noon - 2:30 - Holiday Party (Nancy Swingle - organizer)

Holiday Party will be held at the Darien Police Department. 

1710 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL 60561

Hope everyone will be able to come.
We will be having a potluck luncheon.  Here is the list from the last meeting

 of what people are bringing:
Savory
Nancy Swingle-Sloppy Joes and buns 

Liz W.-Black Bean Salad 

Nancy C.-Something Dairy Free 

Joan P.-Cheese Board 

Nancy Staszak-Veggies 

Margi-Fruit Salad

Joan L-Coleslaw
Sweet
Jerri

Adrienne

Barb T.-something gluten free

Small Waters
Nancy Castner

We also have fun with our grab bag, which is a handmade gift or 

art supplies with a value of 15$.  Please no ornaments in the grab

 bag, we all have plenty of those. Also, if you wish to not be in the

 grab bag, that is certainly fine, no pressure.

Looking forward to the party and seeing everyone!

January - No Meeting 

February 1 - Member needed to open/close and run the meeting

 for our workday in February         

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

Don't miss the next one!  September 23 to 27,  2026

MEMBERS

The New Year is almost here and with that is an opportunity 

to explore yourself through the creative act of a Vision board.  

Laura Lein-Svencner will be presenting a 1-Day 

Workshop at McCord Gallery January 10th 2026 9:30am-3:30 

if interested check out the link and sign up Here  

Laura will also be teaching Friday Fusion Collage

January 23 - February 27, 2026 (10:30am-1:00pm) 6 Fridays

Register with Naperville Art League 

508 N. Center Street, Naperville IL
Working with the Winter season and richness of color in 

our natural surroundings, students 

will learn how to collage with the process of 

tacking down collage paper with a house iron 

instead of wet glue. Focus is on the shading

 and shadowing of the papers. We will create 

our own collage papers from repurposed sources

 of found papers.

MCS COMMITTEE

Membership and Treasurer - Joan Petranovich dijitize@aol.com
Communications - Joan Lucht  joan.of.art33@gmail.com  
Creative Retreat - Joan Lucht and a very nice volunteer 
Andrea Fox   jnafox@comcast.net
Nancy Castner   designsbynanc@gmail.com

November's MCS Meeting

 

 Novembers Meeting 

November 9 (Second Sunday!) Noon - 2:30 - Presenter Laura Lein-Svencner (Laura Lein-Svencner runs meeting) If you are planning on coming to the meeting,  please let Laura know by sending an email   lonecrow4@gmail.com

Holiday Party

December 1   Noon - 2:30 - Holiday Party (Nancy Swingle - organizer)

Nancy swingle will be in charge of the Holiday party this year.  We will be celebrating at the Darien Police Department.  She will be bringing her Great Aunt Bessie's Sloppy Joe's and buns.  She will have a list at the November meeting for everyone to bring something to add to the party, either a sweet or savory goodie. Or email her nswingle@myyahoo.com
Also, we will be having our Grab Bag, with a value of $15.00.  Handmade treasures or supplies, but please no ornaments, we all have plenty of those!

Member needed to open/close and run the meeting for our workday in February         

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

Don't miss the next one!  September 23 to 27,  2026

MEMBERS

 Laura Lein-Svencner is offering  50% off her Online classes at www.lonecrowstudio.com
Just enter the coupon code 2025HALFOFF upon your check out.

Joan Lucht is selling a papermaking kit 

with a blender and an easel for $25 each.

Reply to this Newsflash if interested.

      

         

EXHIBIT OF INTEREST

Please see attached info regarding an upcoming exhibit by The Collage Sisthas Collaborative  taking place at Water Street Studios in Batavia.

Wonderful Exhibit to See

 Joan Ladendorf has an exhibit at Addison Center for the Arts, amazing design work from real collage to digital collage pieces made from her papers she created.  I was just astonished by her color palettes and design shapes and visual texture. 

No Meeting in October....November's Meeting Info and beyond

 MEETINGS

October -  No Meeting

November 9    Noon - 2:30 - Presenter Laura Lein-Svencner (Laura Lein-Svencner runs meeting) If you are planning on coming to the November 9th meeting,  please let Laura know by sending an email  - lonecrow4@gmail.com

Supply list 

December 1   Noon - 2:30 - Holiday Party (Nancy Swingle - organizer)

Member needed to open/close and run the meeting for our workday in February

          

EXHIBITS 

Layered Narratives

Addison ArtsCenter at Addison Trail High School

213 N. Lombard Rd, Addison, IL 60101

Thank you to Carol Weber for organizing this outstanding exhibit!

Pick up October 4th from 1 to 4pm

EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITY

Darien Art Council has a call for art. All artists of Illinois
https://darienartscouncil.org/  
Apply by Oct 3rd no later for Dec 3rd exhibit.

MEMBERSHIP 2024-25

Come join the fun and friendship!  Please make checks payable to Midwest Collage Society for the half/year fee of $10. A membership form is attached. 

Please send the completed form and your check to:
Midwest Collage Society
c/o Joan Petranovich
1513 Maple Ave
Downers Grove IL 60515
If you have any questions, please contact Joan at 630-512-0141 or dijitize@aol.com.

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

Retreat 2025 is a wrap. It was an art filled and fun five days! 

Save the dates for 2026. September 23 to 27.

MEMBERS

 Laura Lein-Svencner is offering Friday Fusion-Collage, October 3-November 7, 2025, (10:30am-1:00pm), 5 Fridays

$155.00   NO CLASS on October 24!!!
Working with the season of Fall and the richness of color students will learn how to collage with the process of tacking down collage paper with a house iron instead of wet glue. We will create our own collage papers from repurposed sources of found papers. Arranging them in nice compositions and fusing them down on substrates of watercolor paper or wood panels. We will also be extending our knowledge of good design with the elements and principles weaved in our foundation.

Nancy Swingle's art piece "Kaleidescope Mandala" has been accepted into the "illiart" exhibit at Gallery Seven in Lockport. The exhibit is open from October 2 to October 26.  The art reception is on October 12th from 1-3p.

Former member Kathleen Schonauer is the author of a new book, Collage Your Way to Yourself. Information is attached.