Art and Soul Listings

Art & Soul – Mixed-Media Art Retreat, Kansas City, April 27-May 1, 2015

This dynamic, fun, and inspiring week of art classes will be here in the Kansas City area bringing great instructors from throughout the US.  “Connect with like-minded people who share your passion for creative exploration at Art & Soul.  Follow your sense of adventure as you choose from dozens of workshops in collage, assemblage, jewelry, fiber arts, journaling, painting, art dolls, sculpture, altered books and so much more.  No matter what your level of artistic experience, their talented instructors will take you under their wing and make your creative spirit soar!”  Check out the extensive offerings at their website:

http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/ .  You will want to register soon.  It just happens to be located here in my town, just outside Kansas City, at the historic Elms hotel.  Know you have a Midwest Collage member here who will gladly help you with your outside-the-Retreat plans.  Once you attend, I think you will agree, we want to keep this valuable art opportunity in here in the Midwest.

Award Winners, Tall Grass Art Assoc., Journeys, Passages, Retreats

MCS Exhibit at Tall Grass- Judged

Our judge, Jessica Segal of the Union Street Gallery

Juror Comments

 

Overall Comments

This show was extraordinary. The range of work was impressive, really showcasing the diversity of collage as a medium. The layout was well thought out, creating interesting connections and dialogue between pieces that would not normally occur. It was overall a very enjoyable show.

Judges Individual Comments

1st-Laura Lein Svencner

Paths on This Good Earth

Very successful composition and masterful use of technique and layers. There was sort of an odd playful whimsy to the piece that I loved. I was drawn to it and came back to it several times, each time finding something new and exciting in the piece.

2nd-Jerri Reiman

Tipping Point

Simple but powerful. Subject matter provokes emotion and viewer can relate or sympathize. Wonderful attention to detail in the laying in regards to the direction of the lines of text and the overlapping of edges. This helped add both literal and metaphorical depth and weight to the imagery.

2nd-Pamela Peterson

De La Terre A La Lune

Very beautiful, there was such depth and soul to this piece. The imagery of light penetrating dark is powerful and here it was handled with such subtle delicacy. Smart use of texture and text/illustrative elements to enhance the composition.

3rd-Barb Pompei Boland

Searching

I loved this piece! This little piece packed so much punch. It had a very appealing composition with a wonderful upbeat color palette which drew you in, then up close you could really see the depth to the layers.  A very successful marriage of collage and abstraction and a smart use of map and text imagery to reinforce this idea of "searching".

3rd-Joan Lucht

Below the Surface

Love this approach to this piece and the fun mix of media.

3rd-Margi Hafer

Thank You Marcel

Well constructed, a fun homage to Marcel Duchamp. Especially enjoyed the small book of art that allowed viewers to interact with the piece. Each small work in the book was a successful piece in of itself which was impressive.

HM-Nancy Savaiano Rosenberg

In Memory

This piece had a sort of eerie or ghostly feeling which I was fascinated by.  The implication of layers in the composition was clever, the way the components of this composition overlap and connect. I enjoyed the relationship between the geometric and organic shapes, the way the organic component sort flowed throughout the piece, often appearing to be squeezed or forced by the geometric shapes.

HM-Rachelle Hickey

In Transition: Unfolding

Innovative and progressive use of collage. Imagery is powerful, evoking a lot of emotions and preconceived ideas of meaning.

HM-Nancy Staszak

Speak To Me

Beautifully constructed composition with depth and meaning.

HM Carol Kazwik

Traveling 3: Bee Messages

Fun mix of styles and inferred nostalgia.

HM-Honorable Mention 

Ribbon will be passed out at our next Midwest Collage Society meeting on March 1st.

MCS Newsflash - March 2015

March 1^st Meeting 

Meeting Location: 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien IL

Time: All day open studio workday 9:30 to 2:30 (stay all day or part of the day)

Time to Share:  Come and enjoy a creative day. This will be a great time to hang out with creative artists and learn from each other. Note: There is no formal program. - There will not be a photographer at the March meeting.

What to bring: A project, sack lunch and snacks to share (if you wish).

Bring swap items.  

Optional – If you participated in the Downers Grove library bring projects for critique if you wish.
There is no formal program. - There will not be a photographer at the March meeting.

Board Members - We will have a short meeting is the current Board in the afternoon at 1:30. 

MCS Indiana Retreat - Save the Date– Wednesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 27 2015

Location:  Camp Mack Indiana

Cost:  $225 for 4 nights and 11 meals.  A true bargain for all the fun we pack in.  

Ready to Register:  Registration forms will be available at meetings and will be e-mailed to past members.  

If you wish to be included in the e-mail please contact Tania Blanco   taniablanc@aol.com

Upcoming Meetings

April 

The April meeting will begin at NOON in order to renew memberships and elect new board members.  For the program, Veronica Fremont, a sculptor, jewelry artist and owner of Cicada Pi Studios in Oak Park will give a workshop on cold connections for mixed media, will be demonstrating how to use rivets and other means to attach objects in 3D projects.

May

Karen Sako, a collage artist and instructor at Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich, will give a demonstration of her collage technique and a hands-on workshop for members.

Exhibit Opportunities

Downers Grove Library Exhibit - Theme "Celebrating Home"

Registration:  February 20, 2015

Drop off:  Feb. 28th from 11am - noon

We have very few participants so far… Please respond as soon as you can.  

Tall Grass Show

Pick up from tall grass is Sunday march 1 and Monday march 2.  10am - 4pm

Claudia would appreciate all work picked to be picked up these two dates as she needs to hang 

another show.

The tall grass show is in the process of being judged so that MCS can participate in the Alliance of Fine Arts http://allianceoffineart.org/

Best of the Best Show

March at Mayslake Peabody Estate -  http://www.mayslakepeabody.com/

Eligible artists will be notified early next week.  Please promptly respond to Nancy Staszak if you are awarded a ribbon and plan to be in the show so we can notify Alliance of Fine Arts.

Official Registration will be the responsibility of each artist.  Details will be sent.
Questions – Barb Boland  barbidoodle@comcast.net


Member News

Intro to Oil & Cold Wax Painting with Dianne Martia

Naperville Art League, 508 N. Center St., Naperville, IL 60563

Mondays., February 23 – March 23; 1:30–4:00 pm

Fee: $130 + $6 Supply Fee
Register through Naperville Art League at 630-355-2530

For more info: www.napervilleartleague.com or www.diannemartia.com  

All Members - Look for a MCS News Bulletin in your email this will be sent as an attachment to your March Newsletter.

Downers Grove Library March Exhibit forms

Midwest Collage Society-Downers Grove March Exhibit from pdf

Jerri Reimann is exhibiting her work in Norris Gallery

Whimsy Encore!Norris Gallery, Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL 60174
Reception: Sunday, February 8, 2-4 pm
Free admission, free parking

On the campus of St. Charles East High School, towards the east side of the campus. Has a large sculpture of dancing children out front.
http://norrisculturalarts.com/events/view/112