Saturday, August 20, 2016

Exhibit- Collective Muse, Aurora Public Art Commission










A few highlights from last night reception at Aurora's Public Art Commission Gallery Space with the Midwest Collage Society .


Aurora – The Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society are proud to present The Collective Muse, an exhibit featuring the work of 31 collage artists.

The Midwest Collage Society, a regional affiliate of the National Collage Society founded in 2003, promotes collage as fine art, exhibiting three or more times per year at galleries across the Chicago metropolitan area. 

The Midwest Collage Society boasts more than 60 members from Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, and includes both formally trained graduates and the self-taught. Styles range from traditional collage to mixed media and assemblage.  Artists use paper, paint, wood, fiber, metal, found objects, photographs and more.  The collective works of its members include figurative, representational and abstract art.

“When a group of artists with a common interest interact, nurture, support and educate one another, you’ll find ‘The Collective Muse,’” according to the artists’ statement. “Collage is so much more than paper and paste. Collage artists reuse and repurpose items often considered expendable. A cast-off item can provide the inspiration and focal point for award-winning artwork.”

Artists who will be exhibiting work include Nancy Castner, Nancy Staszak, June Fuerstenhaefer, Elaine Rath, Cherie Denton, Barb Boland, Mary Yezek, Pat Pope,  LuEllen Joy Giera, Melinda VanDril-Beer, Turkan Ildekmirci, Joan Lucht, Marge Boyd, Jerri Reimann, Tania Blanco, Margi Hafer, Donna Johnston, Maureen Gasek, Cindy Hughes, Gale C. Vance, Kathy Schoenauer, Dee De Schneider, Laura Lein-Svencner, Fabra DiPaolo, Margaret Swedzikowski, Rose Kostan-Schwartz, Meg Guttman, Teresa Cash, Karen Sako, Susan Sharp and Mary Alice DeRose.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, in the third floor gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission, in the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Admission is free and light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.


The Collective Muse, presented by the Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society, will be on display until October 22, 2016, during regular gallery hours, noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Rena Church at 630-256-3340. 

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Midwest Collage Society and Aurora Public Art Commission


 An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, in the third floor gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission, in the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Admission is free and light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.

AURORA PUBLIC ART COMMISSION, MIDWEST COLLAGE SOCIETY
TO PRESENT ‘THE COLLECTIVE MUSE’
Exhibit features traditional, mixed media and assemblage collage works from 30 artists
­
Aurora – The Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society are proud to present The Collective Muse, an exhibit featuring the work of 31 collage artists.

The Midwest Collage Society, a regional affiliate of the National Collage Society founded in 2003, promotes collage as fine art, exhibiting three or more times per year at galleries across the Chicago metropolitan area. 

The Midwest Collage Society boasts more than 60 members from Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, and includes both formally trained graduates and the self-taught. Styles range from traditional collage to mixed media and assemblage.  Artists use paper, paint, wood, fiber, metal, found objects, photographs and more.  The collective works of its members include figurative, representational and abstract art.

“When a group of artists with a common interest interact, nurture, support and educate one another, you’ll find ‘The Collective Muse,’” according to the artists’ statement. “Collage is so much more than paper and paste. Collage artists reuse and repurpose items often considered expendable. A cast-off item can provide the inspiration and focal point for award-winning artwork.”

Artists who will be exhibiting work include Nancy Castner, Nancy Staszak, June Fuerstenhaefer, Elaine Rath, Cherie Denton, Barb Boland, Mary Yezek, Pat Pope,  LuEllen Joy Giera, Melinda VanDril-Beer, Turkan Ildekmirci, Joan Lucht, Marge Boyd, Jerri Reimann, Tania Blanco, Margi Hafer, Donna Johnston, Maureen Gasek, Cindy Hughes, Gale C. Vance, Kathy Schoenauer, Dee De Schneider, Laura Lein-Svencner, Fabra DiPaolo, Margaret Swedzikowski, Rose Kostan-Schwartz, Meg Guttman, Teresa Cash, Karen Sako, Susan Sharp and Mary Alice DeRose.



The Collective Muse, presented by the Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society, will be on display until October 22, 2016, during regular gallery hours, noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Rena Church at 630-256-3340. 


Monday, August 1, 2016

MEETING


Sunday, August 7  9am - 3pm
Work Day. Bring a lunch.  Jerri Reimann suggested we have an art supply garage sale in addition to the swap table. If you have collage related materials that are too valuable to give away, you could sell them. So gather your unwanted stuff and let's go shopping!

EXHIBITS
Our next exhibit is "The Collective Muse"  at the Aurora Public Arts Commission.
This is a broad theme, so any newly inspired work will suit!
The exhibition area is very large, so please consider entering up to three pieces.
The show will be judged for cash prizes, and will run August 19 thru October 22.
The commission is 30% so price should reflect that.

Delivery dates:
  August 3, 4, 5, & 6 Noon to 3:30 each day.
Reception: Saturday August 19th 5:00 -- 7:30 PM  (See press release)
Pick up dates: October 26, 27, 28, & 29    Noon to 3:30 each day

The four attachments are: 
  • MCS entry form with information.  Please return to Nancy Staszak by August 1 or bring it when you drop off.
  • Letter to artists from Rena Church (who is curating the show)  Has more information you need
  • Aurora Public Arts Commission contract ---  to fill out and bring with your work at delivery
  • Press release write up by Rena Church---list of participants, more information
RETREAT
Final payments For the retreat are now due.
Checks made out to MCS need to be sent to:
Tania Blanco 
1263 Bainbridge Dr
Naperville, IL 60563
Tania will miss the August meeting. Registration forms are on the Midwest Collage Society blog.
Cost: 240.00

MEMBERS
Collage - Sketchbook to Canvas Class by Laura Lein-Svencner
Thursday Mornings 9:30am – 12:00
Mayslake Peabody Estate 1717 W 31st Street Oak Brook IL 60523
Sept 29thOct 6th, 13th, (No class October 20th), Oct 2nd  Nov 3rdNov 10th 
Everyone wants to create a nice piece of artwork but it seems composition is the stumbling block. In this class we will first work in a sketchbook with magazines exploring the process of how some compositions work and others don’t.  Students can work in an abstract or realistic style, developing strategies to rebuild and break through creative blocks with basic design skills.  Emphasis on personally visual style will be explored.  Some collage palette creating will be introduced along with image transfers and the tack Iron method of collage application. Student will move their sketches to the substrates of watercolor paper and canvas. Independent study of influential artists of our past and present with image references will be shared in class discussion.
6 Weeks  $175.00   Material fee $10.00 collected on first day of class. 
CALL FOR SUBMISSION
"Altered States"
Deadline: 15 September 2016, 5PM PDT
Open to U.S. residents only

The Collage Artists of America is accepting entries for their Juried National Open 2016“Altered States of Collage”, which will hang at the San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center in Tarzana, California, 15 November-3 December 2016The organizers say, “The art of collage, mixed-media collage and assemblage allow artists the freedom to alter materials to create their own reality. This exhibit celebrates your artistic imagination!”  The Juror of Selections and Awards is Leslie Shows, an American artist recognized for expanding the boundaries of landscape painting. Shows’ earlier works were mixed-media collages depicting abstracted landscapes. Her more recent paintings, while retaining the use of mixed media, have become more abstracted and focus on mineral textures and geologic features. There are cash awards for first ($500), second ($300), and third ($200) places, as well as Honourable Mentions and Merchandise Awards. For more information, including eligibility, format, presentation & size requirements and other deadlines, visit the Call to Entries website: