March News Flash

Special thanks to Nancy Castner for creating last month's Newsflash and to Nancy Staszak for e-mailing it to members.

MEETINGS

March 5th   MEETING CANCELLED DUE TO REMODELING OF MEETING SPACE

April 2nd    "Collage a Tree of Life" presenter, Andrea Fox

$20 dues are due for 2017-18 and election of officers.  

Consider: Only paid members can exhibit with MCS and the Newsflash will only be sent to and only include news or exhibit information for paid members. Membership connects you with 50+ creative women, offers fresh ideas with guest presentations, and affords multiple opportunities to exhibit, potentially win awards, and sell your work.

Here is the lineup of new officer candidates:

President: Nancy Castner

Education / program chairman: Margi Hafer

Hospitality: Maureen MacDonald

Staying on for another year:

Vice President: Tania Blanco

Treasurer: Dale Lorens

Exhibit Chairman: Nancy Staszak

Membership:  Cherie Denton

Newsletter: Joan Lucht

NCS Delegate/blog manager/meeting site coordinator - Laura Lein-Svencner

AFA Representative: Margaret Swedzikowski (temporarily)

May 7th       "Spirit Dolls" presenters, Mary Warner and Nancy Castner

June 4th      "Creating and Layering Stencils" Ginni Guzior

RETREAT

Save the DATE FOR FALL RETREAT: September 20 - 24, 2017.  $250 for 5 days of creative play. Applications will be available the first week of April. Questions: contact TANIA BLANCO 630-464-3749 or e-mail taniablanc@aol.com

MCS EXHIBITS

Curious Discoveries

Downers Grove Public Library---Month of April

Prospectus/Entry form   - please fill it out and return to Nancy Staszak by March 25th. 

Melody Danley has also reserved two cases for our 3D work. 

The cases are about four feet long and have a depth of fourteen inches.

Members MAY be able to bring two pieces----depending on size.

The theme "Curious Discoveries"  is broad---including anything from geographical journeys to scientific experimentation to personal/emotional experience to knowledge from books to imaginary events to found objects (literally!)

Just approaching this theme could lead to accidental/serendipitous  discoveries in the process----so get to work now if you haven't already started something!  This should be fun!

Please start thinking about Remnants and Remembrances for the Chicago Cultural Center this summer. They will be needing images soon.  We are hoping to include works by Sylvia Koch, Barb Arntzen and Donna Johnston in memorium.

OTHER EXHIBITS

The Alliance of Fine Art Best of the Best 2017 Exhibition will be held at the Mayslake Peabody Estate throughout March and April

Reception with Awards Presentation: Thursday, March 16, 2016, 6-8:00pm

Address: 1717 31st St, Oak Brook

Call 630-206- 9569 for gallery hours

Included are works by seven MCS members: 

Mary Yazek - “Cat Coat Lady”

Joan Lucht - “A Tree Whisperer”

Carol Weber - “Unlock"

Laura Lein-Svencner - “Painted Mare, Shaggy Bark Hickory"

Elaine Rath – “Birds of a Feather”

Karen Sako - “La Coqueta”

Carol Kazwick - “Frida”

ALLIANCE OF FINE ART

Attached is a flyer for the student scholarship exhibit. MCS is assigned art students from Plainfield High School. Photos of the work chosen for the exhibit is attached. Wish them luck!

MEMBERS 

Donna Johnston passed away on Friday the 17 of February after a lengthy and brave fight against cancer. Our prayers are with her family at this time of sorrow.  Her sister Margi Hafer will notify us when there will be a celebration of her life in the spring. She was a wonderful artist who thoroughly enjoyed the fall retreats and she will be sorely missed.

From Margi:

My sister Donna has been in and out of hospitals since last September, with various issues relating to her cancer. The type of cancer that Donna had was Stage Four Melanoma, which started with a mole on her left leg 10 years ago. While in a rehab center in January, Donna developed a blood clot in her left leg which sent her to the hospital again. There was nothing that they could do for her but try to control the pain. Donna went to a Journey Care facility called the Pepper Family Hospice Care Center in Barrington on Friday, February 10th. We were all impressed by the loving care she and the family received there. Donna passed away on Thursday, February 16.

There will be a Memorial Service at her church in Huntley.

Any of our MCS friends are welcome to attend.

Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Shepherd of the Prairie Church

10805 Main Street

Huntley, IL 60142

There will be a luncheon at the church following the service

Memorial donation suggestions:

Journey Care Foundation

2050 Claire Court

Glenview, Il 7635

or

Donna's church Shepherd of the Prairie

Margaret Swedzikowski has work in the Best of the Best exhibit representing Downers Grove Art Guild.

Mary Yezek has a solo show at the Downers Grove Public Library for the month of March. 

Tania Blanco will  present a mixed media and experimental collage workshop at the Addison Trails High School on Saturday March 25, 2017  9:30 - 2:30. $50.00 some supplies will be provided. A fun open studio time after a few demonstrations. Applications for the workshop will be available at the March 3 meeting.  Or contact Tania directly at 630-464-3749 or taniablanc@aol.com

Laura Lein-Svencner will be exhibiting with 6 other women in A Woman’s ViewArt Exhibit 

201 Gallery Argonne National Lab

March 15th-June 9th Building 201 Lobby

Artist’s Reception March 22, 4-6pm

She will also be teaching:

Collage and Mixed Media Open Studio Class at Mayslake Peabody Estate

1717 West 31st Street Oak Brook IL

6Wks-Thursday Mornings, Starts April 6th-May11th 9:30-12:00 $175.00

Call to register 630-206-9566

Laura Lein-Svencner and Sandra Bacon from MCS will be doing demonstrations along with 8 other artists at:

Dillman’s Free Festival of Artists-March 18th,

11-2pm Addison Art Guild

One Friendship Plaza, Addison Il 60101

sharing Information- Zentangle's

Building Appreciation for the Arts

 

February 24, 2017

Attention: Community Calendar

For Immediate Release

Lemont Artists Guild Contact: Liz Popp Connelly, (815)341-1145, lizzypopp@hotmail.com

 

March 15, 20017 – ZENTANGLE, BEYOND THE BASICS presented by Sue Jacobs

 

The March 15th Lemont Artists Guild meeting, will begin at 7 PM at the Homer Township Public Library,14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL. Sue Jacobs is a Certified Zentangle teacher in Barrington, IL. Sue will explain and demonstrate her techniques.  She encourages all to draw along.  Sue will have kits on hand for $5 which include five 3 ½” square tiles of printmaking paper, a Sakura Pigma  Micron pen, special pencil and tortillions to create softness.  She will also have extra tiles for 50 cents each.  Participants are welcome to bring their own supplies if they like.

 

"Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from structured patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being." The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. 

 

 Sue has dabbled in all kinds of art mediums including mural work.  She has been featured in magazines and newspapers.  She is well known as a Zentangle artist.  Her blog www.suejacobs.blogspot.com has followers all over the world and over 600,000 page views.  Her Zentangle work is in 5 different Zentangle books.  Sue does traditional Black and White Zentangle and many Zentangle Inspired Art pieces using color.

    

The public is welcome; a donation for the local food pantry is appreciated.

          Free parking.  Refreshments will be served.

          For more information call Liz Popp Connelly

           (815)341-1145 or www.lemontartistsguild.org

 

 Lemont Artists Guild Mission Statement: Our mission is to enhance life in Lemont and surrounding communities by providing fine art education, instruction, programming and appreciation through a supportive environment that nurtures creativity and individuality.

 

Thank you,

Liz Popp Connelly

Lemont Artists Guild President

 

 

Lemont Artists Guild presents

Zentangle: Beyond the Basics

By Sue Jacobs

Wed., Mar. 15, 2017 7-9 p.m.

at Homer Township Public Library

14320 W 151^st St., Homer Glen

Information: (815)341-1145

The Passing of a Collage Members~

Dear MCS Friends

It is with a sad heart that I tell you about my sister's passing.

My sister, Donna (McGohan) Johnston, was 76 years old. She has fought a battle with stage four Melanoma for three years. Donna was hospitalized several times since last September because of various side effects of drugs, lymfedema, and the cancer itself.  She has been in hospice since February 10th, and had a peaceful death last night, with her children at her side. Donna was my painting buddy and my best girlfriend.  I know she loved being a member of the Midwest Collage Society, and she was sad that she was not well enough to attend meetings since the September Retreat. The Retreat meant a lot to Donna, and she treasured the drumming circle, the friendships she made, and the beautiful prayer circle the day we left the retreat. A big THANK YOU to all of you who participated in bringing the joy of COLLAGE into Donna's life.

I will miss her greatly, but I  know she will be watching over me, and in my heart forever.

 

Margi Hafer

MEETINGS, Exhibit and Mid Winter Festivals....lots going on.

February 5, 9:30am till 2:30pm  All-day work day.  

March 5th  "Suminagashi" presenter, Fabra DiPaolo
        Please Bring these Items if you plan on attending the mini-workshop

2+ Skinny round Japanese brushes

1   Roll paper towel, smooth is better than paper towel that is “embossed/patterned” 

Fabra will bring the other materials for the demo and mini workshop. 

April 2nd    "Collage a Tree of Life" presenter, Andrea Fox

May 7th       "Spirit Dolls" presenters, Mary Warner and Nancy Castner

June 4th      "Creating and Layering Stencils" Ginni Guzior

RETREAT

SAVE THE DATE for the Retreat in 2017. September 20-24 2017  $250 for 5 days of creative play, includes room and board and a space to create overlooking the peaceful lake.

MCS EXHIBITS
Our next MCS exhibit is for the month of April at the Downers Grove Public Library
Start thinking about "Curious Discoveries"
 We should have room for one or two pieces per person.
A prospectus will be sent out late February or early March

The Alliance of Fine Art Best of the Best 2017 Exhibition will be held at the

Mayslake Peabody Estate throughout March and April

Reception with Awards Presentation: Thursday, March 16, 2016, 6-8:00pm

Address: 1717 31st St, Oak Brook

Call 630-206- 9569 for gallery hours

Seven eligible artists can be represented from MCS, which are being contacted by email by AFA representative Margaret Swedzikowski. If you have not received/seen an email from her by now, but won a prize in any of our shows, please contact her at (630)849-1535

The Summer Exhibit at the Vogt Gallery (July) will be themed around music

IMPORTANT! 

Our Chicago Cultural Center exhibition "Remnants and Remembrances"  will require work ahead of time.
They need some images for publicity by the end of May. These can be good quality jpegs mailed to me. I will forward them to the Cultural Center
They need our artist list and inventory by mid July.  

Questions---Nancy Staszak  astaszak@aol.com

OTHER EXHIBITS

The National Collage Society will be having their annual exhibit at Union Street Gallery http://nationalcollage.cm/orms/juried_entry_form.pdf

Dillman's Free Festival of Artists in Addison ....see pdf 

MEMBERS 

The most recent membership list has been email to the members. 

Nancy Savaiano Rosenberg will be having a solo exhibit at the Lisle Library, 777 Front Street, from January 3 through February 28. Reception on Friday, Jan. 6 from 6pm to 8pm. See attached postcard.

Nancy Staszak has a show, Dinosaurs, Strange Birds and Other Creatures, with Terry Niccoli and Eva Holy at the Woodridge Library during January.   

The following members' art was accepted in the exhibit Wings at Tall Grass Art Gallery in Park Forest: 

Andrea Fox - watercolor "Heron"

Margi Hafer - watercolor "The All American Rooster" 

Donna Johnston - alcohol ink  "Darting Dragonfly" and mixed media " Summer Fling" 

Laura Lein-Svencner -  assemblage "Winged Messenger"  

Laura's collage piece, "The Mystic" won Honorable Mention in the Cloth Paper Scissors Mixed Media Excellence Awards. Watch for the magazine. "The Mystic" will be exhibited in a group show at Art NXT Level/33 Contemporary Gallery Jan 20th-March 3rd. Opening reception is Friday Jan 20th in the Zhou Bro Art Center, 4th floor 1029 35th Street Chicago IL .

Laura Lein-Svencner will be presenting a 1 Day Abstract Mixed Media Collage Landscape workshop at Artists Association of Elk Grove Village.....Link

Laura also has a more intensive Abstract Collage Mixed Media, 3-Day Collage Workshop, March 24th, 25th and 26th, at Amber's Art Place in Lake in the Hills,  Link 

Laura's collage Nudes II and IV were accepted in a juried exhibit Adam and Eve at Old Court House Art Center, 101 N Johnson Street, Woodstock IL. Exhibit dates: Jan 28th-Feb 25th 2017.