Members Exhibit

Dear Friends,

Please mark your calendars for my reception at the Glen Ellyn Library Sunday afternoon, 2:00 to 3:30 January 7th.

I have more fluorescent dinosaurs and their friends on display on the second floor!

The Library is at 400 Duane Street in Glen Ellyn.

These paintings of dinosaurs were inspired by my high school reunion trip two summers ago when I went to the Detroit Zoo.

They had animatronic dinosaurs there that were almost life sized (enormous!) and moved and roared.

Just watching the way children and families interacted with them was so much fun.

Since then I've visited dinosaur exhibits at the Brookfield Zoo last summer and the Jurassic World exhibit at the Field Museum.

I'm hooked on dinosaurs!

It will be cold outside, but please come if you can!  There is a large parking lot right by the library.

Nancy Staszak

Long-Time MCS Member

Mary Ann Gradisher, long-time MCS member, passed away on December 13. Mary Ann recently was awarded Third place for her collage in the Remnants and Remembrances show at the Chicago Cultural Center. The obituary:

FEARLESS. PASSIONATE. INSPIRATIONAL.

It is with a very heavy heart I'm here to report the lost of Illiana Artists's president, Mary Ann Gradisher. This spirited woman had an amazing appetite and passion to learn, experience, and create. She was a prolific producer of mixed media, collage, and cold wax. If I could describe her in one word it would be fearless. Fearless in trying something new. Fearless in travel. Fearless during her battle with cancer.

I saw her as an inspiration. Many people her age would not have traveled to Cuba like she did last year. Why? To experience the color, old cars, and the art. One day MaryAnn stopped by my house and during a conversation, she told me that she was driving by herself to Arizona for a workshop. I asked why don’t you ask a friend to come along instead of traveling alone? Her response was they’re all afraid to travel. I can’t wait for them to make up their mind. This woman would go on her own to a new adventure, artsy-fartsy retreat, or sporting event at the drop of a hat. Nothing held her back. I hope to be as fearless when I'm her age.  
 
May people though MaryAnn was a tough woman, but let me tell you she was an old softy inside. When you got to know her you understand she knew what she wanted out of life. MaryAnn was an inspiration to many – I personally learned much from her.

The Illiana Artist's Regional Juried Event was a show near and dear to her heart. MaryAnn enjoyed seeing the variety of work walk through the Chesterton Art Center's doors. Suzanne and I were helping MaryAnn receive artwork the day she got the call her cancer was in remission. To make sure it wouldn't come back she had radiation treatments. With incredible energy, she went to Chesterton (pre-show) to make sure everything was just right. She fought hard and never looked back.

All I can say is that Heaven is going to be a little more colorful, a little more creative, and I’m certain that it will now smell like cookies baking 24/7. Going to miss you, dear friend.

In Memory of Mary Ann Gradisher

Next Meeting

December 3 - 12:00-2:30  Christmas Holiday Party/pot luck /gift exchange.

Bring a dish to pass. It is suggested that gifts be a hand-made object or be useful art supplies. We will probably not have room for the swap table at the December meeting. 

Margi Hafer is in the process of lining-up presenters for demonstrations and workshops for 2018. 

Please email or call Margi if you are interested in presenting a demonstration or workshop during 2018, or if you have a suggestion for a non-member presenter. 

margihafer@yahoo.com  or 815-469-4677 (H) 815-370-3345 (Cell) 

January -  NO MEETING

February 4 - 9am-2:30pm - Work day

March 4 - Tania Blanco will present a fun project

MCS EXHIBITS

Open Spaces at  If These Walls Could Talk Gallery is drawing to an end.

The reception was very well attended and the show looked great!

Please plan to pick up your work Wednesday, November 29th.,  9AM - 7PM.

If you cannot get there, please make sure a friend can pick up your work, or call Tim or Jennifer to make special arrangements. (331) 212-5962    32 S. Stolp Avenue, Aurora IL

November 29th is also the drop off day for Pack the Pantry

If you want to participate, they will receive any donated art works for a silent auction on Friday the 1st to benefit the DuPage/Aurora food pantries.

Generally they would like to see the work reference or use grocery/paper bags in some way.

Our next official exhibit will be at the Downers Grove Library during the month of April.

Donna Prepejchal suggested the theme/title "The Next Chapter."  Anyone else want to make a suggestion?    

We should decide in the next month or two so the Library can do advance publicity, and so we can begin imagining our new work!

Also, Donna has volunteered for the job of contacting judges and taking care of ribbons, etc.  Thanks Donna!

Anyone else want to be a "Seeker" for new venues?   ...or a "Shepherdess" for following through on arranging the exhibit and communicating with our artists?  Please let Nancy Staszak know!   (astaszak@aol.com)

MEMBERS

Treasurer needed!

Dale Lorens, our treasurer for many years, will be moving. Please consider filling this important board position. It's pretty basic and not very time consuming. All the bank statements are online so there isn't really much paperwork to manage. 

Responsibilities:

1.  Deposit checks to Chase Bank--Membership (mostly in April/May/June) and Retreat (May-September). If there aren't too many checks, it is easy to deposit electronically with smart phone, otherwise take to any Chase branch or drop in night deposit at any branch.

2.  Write/mail checks for items such as retreat venue, presenters who do monthly demos, awards to winners of judged shows 1-2/year), reimburse members for expenses such as ribbons, refreshments, etc. 

Dale is willing to answer questions for anyone interested. 

Workshop and class taught by Laura Lein-Svencner

Vision Board Workshop

Mayslake Peabody Estate,Oak Brook IL 
Saturday,  Jan. 6,  9:30 am – 4 pm
Use writing, drawing and image gathering to ignite creative insight that brings themes of change, 

adventure and inspiration to the surface of a large board. You will receive a supply list 

when you register.

 Ages 18 and up. $75 plus $5 supply fee per person. Register at 630-206-9566.

Winter Art Journaling

Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook IL 

6 weeks, Thursdays,  Jan 11th-Feb 19th,  9:30-12:00pm

$175/per student 

Rescuing a hard cover book, students will utilize its structure; gluing pages together forming a base for creative self-expression. This class promises to open doors to adventurous artistic play. Students will learn to manipulate art materials by layering with acrylics, pastels, watercolors, and collage.  Leaving each student a rich platform for personal words relative to the experience they’ve explored. Material fee $10.00, as for supply list when registering.  Register at 630-206-9566

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Pack the Pantry Project V. 

Supporting AURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY (serves Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Will and DeKalb counties)

Artists are donating original art for a silent auction with starting bids of $25 ($25.00 can purchase approximately 100 lbs of meat or 100 boxes of cereal.)  $25 can give a lot.

 BRING YOUR ART BY NOVEMBER 29 to donate.

A reception and silent auction will be held  DEC. 1 2017,  6pm-10pm

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK GALLERY 

32 S Stolp Ave., Aurora, Illinois

Cat Guardians annual New Hope Art Auction  Artists are called to donate cat-themed art for the annual auction on January 6, 2018. Proceeds will help the no-kill cat shelter, Cat Guardians, find homes for homeless kitties. See attached flier for information.

Please keep in mind that all members may submit news up to one week before each meeting. Send to Joan Lucht    joan.of.art33@gmail.com

Collage Demo Wednesday Night November 1st

Plainfield Art League

Nov 1st 7pm meeting, demo and ONS
open to the public at
American House Cederlake-AHC

         ---------- We are NOT meeting at the Library!!!!!!!!!!!! -----------
                This and all demos are free and open to the public

American House Cederlake-AHC is located at 14800 S Van Dyke Rd, Plainfield, IL 60544.

Demo by Laura Lein-Svencner “The Fine Art of Collage”
National Award Winner and National Collage Society Signature member, co-founder of the Midwest Collage Society, Laura Lein-Svencner will share the process of creating your own collage papers; assembling a collage with a tack iron and the application of an image transfer. As a self-taught artist, Laura has been working in the medium of hand papermaking and collage for 21 years, learning and exploring all the ins and outs of paper itself. She primarily focuses on composition, layering, color and ability to create depth in her collage artwork. Her works have been published in many books by North Light Publishing, The Artist Magazine and The Professional Artist. This demonstration is a must see if you are interested in beginning, or have had some experience with, collage.
 

American House Cederlake - AHC is located at 14800 S Van Dyke Rd, Plainfield, IL click=map

MCS MEETINGS

November 5    12 - 2:30pm 

Tammy Deck, fabric artist, will present a program on felted collage. 

Tammy will have a collection of her finished pieces which include works she considers "collage" in layout and sensibility. She will be demonstrating this wet felt variation for the group.

Tammy L Deck creates one-of-a-kind textiles that blur the lines between fashion and art by intertwining fibers, threads and fabric in a painterly, collage and even sculptural approach which are all transformed, as if by magic, by hand through water.  Deck’s award-winning work has been featured on HGTV and DIY television, appeared in books, magazines and numerous Chicago area Fine Art Shows, as well as, solo and group exhibits. Her body of work has captured numerous "Best of Show" and various ribbon awards. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Deck studied fashion design and holds a degree in Clothing and Textile Science with Fashion Design and Fiber Art Emphasis (1985).  Deck has been teaching textile art and design from her own Studio & Gallery in Westmont, IL since 1993 and added a second location in Berwyn, IL with the purchase of a live/work building in 2015.

Learn more about her artreprenurial career at www.TLDDESIGNS.com

Deck currently has work featured in a group exhibit at the State Street Gallery of Morris University in Chicago and will be exhibiting for the 6th year during the "One of a Kind Show" at Chicago's Merchandise Mart December 7-10.

December 3  Christmas Holiday Party/pot luck /gift exchange.

It is suggested that gifts be a hand-made object or be useful art supplies. We will probably not have room for the swap table at the December meeting. Mo will have a sign-up sheet at the November meeting for helping with set-up and clean-up, as well as sign-up for type of food (appetiser, salad, hot dish, dessert).

Margi Hafer is in the process of lining-up presenters for demonstrations and workshops for 2018. Since she will not be in town for the March meeting, we hope that a MCS member will offer to do something for that month. 

Please email or call Margi if you are interested in presenting a demonstration or workshop during 2018, or if you have a suggestion for a non-member presenter. 

margihafer@yahoo.com  or 815-469-4677 (H) 815-370-3345 (Cell) 

MCS EXHIBITS

Open Spaces at If These Walls Could Talk Gallery

Postcards are ready You can stop over there and get them any time or wait until you drop off your work next week. Digital postcard is attached if you want to send them out by email to your friends and neighbors sooner.

Drop off is Wednesday, November 1st during gallery hours from 9AM to 7PM

32 S. Stolp Avenue, Aurora on the east side of the street between Downer Place and Galena Blvd. Some navigation systems cannot find the address, so try "Building 30"  if you are having trouble.

Everyone who got their entry forms in by the 18th may enter two pieces.

If your entry form was later than that, you are allowed your first choice piece.

You may park right outside the gallery and leave your lights blinking when you drop off your work.

The Reception is Friday night, November 3rd 7PM-11PM

We may bring home baked goodies or anything IF we want----but they will have beverages and treats.There are parking garages along both Stolp Street and Galena Avenue.  Parking is inexpensive for the evenings.

Remember, your work should be properly wired, and have your name, title, medium, price and contact information on the back. The commission is 50%, so your work should have been priced accordingly.

MEMBERS 

Come out and support your fellow collage artists.

Tania Blanco, Nancy Castner, Cherie Denton, Carol Kazwick, and Nancy Staszak are vendors at the 20^th Annual St. Thomas the Apostle Church Art Fair. 20% of Sales benefit the Haiti Education fund.

Saturday, Nov 1, 11 am – 6 pm and Sunday Nov 12,  9:30 am – 1:30 pm

St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Rd., Naperville, IL 60563

Congratulations to Fabra DiPaolo, Elaine Rath and Lezlie Lenz for having their artwork accepted in the National Collage Society 33rd Annual Juried Exhibit.  Also Laura Lein-Svencer was one of three jurists.  376 collages and assemblages were entered from 39 states and 7 countries.  Only 67 pieces were selected.

Laura Lein-Svencner won Theme Award for Winged Messenger, Assemblage Violin, at the Naperville Art League's October exhibit, Steampunk Revolution.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Pack the Pantry Project V. If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry will host the fundraiser again this year.  Artists are called to donate 2D or 3D art for the silent auction.  Reception and Silent Auction will be held FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 6-10 pm.

All art is due at If These Wall Could Talk Gallery,32 S Stolp Ave, Aurora, IL 60506, by November 29, 2017.  If you deliver art to Tania Blanco 1263 Bainbridge Drive Naperville 60563 by November 21, she will deliver it for you. More information is available at gallery 331-212-5962.

Cat Guardians annual New Hope Art Auction  Artists are called to donate cat-themed art for the annual auction on January 6, 2018. Proceeds will help the no-kill cat shelter, Cat Guardians, find homes for homeless kitties. See attached flier for information.

Please keep in mind that all members may submit news up to one week before each meeting.

Send to Joan Lucht    joan.of.art33@gmail.com

Open Spaces-Midwest Collage Society Exhibi

The Reception is Friday night, November 3rd 7-11 pm

From our meeting yesterday....Assemblage box with Pam Eberlin

Our MCS meet at our local police department training room so if you wonder about that...now you know...we are very grateful for the use of the room for this large group.