April's Meeting and Exhibits

 

MEETINGS

April 12 - Noon - 2:30  Exquisite Corpse Game and materials pickup (see below)

Each member will receive a piece of drawing paper 9 x 12 with instructions on how to fold the paper and on how to play the game. We will be passing the game piece around and having everyone take part in this game.
Supplies you will need to bring.

· Magazines with images of people or animals and interesting things

· Scissors

· a few glue sticks

· dollar store plastic tablecloth or large sheet of paper to protect the tables.

· baby wipes or a cloth that can be moistened for clean up.

· Ruler

· Pencil, (optional pens, geli pens, stabilo or colored pencils.)

Exquisite Corpse Exhibit Materials Pick Up
If you have signed up for the Three- 8 x 8 wooden panels this will be the meeting to come and pick them up. You will receive panels and D strap hangers with screws for the back.  Three templates will be given for identifying the placement of the body sections.

There is plenty of time to create these three pieces for the exhibit at Indian Prairie Public Library in November 2026. August 2nd meeting will be set aside for a Work Day where members can bring their wood panels and work on them together or other collage art if they have finished them already. Please note you need to be a 2026-2027 new member or renewed member to receive these panels at April's Meeting.

 

May 3 - Noon to 2:30  Basic Kumihimo - the art of Japanese braiding by Betty Kirk. 

Learn how to make a braid or two. Examples of many braids will be presented as well as the applications of braids.

Betty taught elementary school art and has taught weaving at Joliet Junior College. She has been a speaker and workshop leader at local guilds as well as at regional fiber conferences. She has won awards for her work and she sells her work at art fairs in the Chicago area. Check out her website https://bbkirk.com

Joan Lucht runs the meeting.

 

June 7 Noon to 2:30  Speaker needed

July  -  No meeting

August 2 - Work day-Exquisite Corpse 

 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership for 2026 – 2027 renews on April 1. Please make checks payable to Midwest Collage Society in the amount of $20. If you are also interested in joining the National Collage Society, dues are an additional $35.

Membership Form  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.

EXHIBITS

Downers Grove Library  1050 Curtis St., Downers Grove, IL

Run dates March 6-April 7, 2026
Pick up on Saturday, April 11 from 10 - 11 a.m.

 

Future Exhibit

August 28 through October 23, at the Holmstad in Batavia. 

This will be a judged show with 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention ribbons. 

We will need to hang the exhibit ourselves and we are looking for a volunteer. 

Theme will be announced in the May newsletter. Reply to this newsletter with suggestions.

Adrienne Austin and Joan Lucht will take the lead. 

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

September 23 to 27, 2026 at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Indiana

Let the fun begin! 

Early Bird fee of $370 or a deposit of $150 by June 30, 2026 and $220 due by July 31.

Registration after July 31 will be $390.

Registration form with additional information Link HERE

                  

                    

 

MEMBERS

Laura Lein-Svencner is presenting a Two Day Intuitive Collage Workshop at McCord Gallery 

and Culture Center, 9602 W. Creek Road Palos Park, IL 60464 

Saturday April 18th-Sunday April 18th, 9:30-3:30 each day

Call to Register 708.671.0648  OR office@mccordgallery.org

A CALL FOR ART

TLD Design Center and Gallery in Westmont

Link to Enter

 

ART SUPPLIES

Bonnie VanDine has closed her curated paper arts & crafts shop on Etsy. She has a lot of 

wonderful stock left that she was unable to sell and is offering everything at steep discounts.
Items include but not limited to 12 X 12 papercraft kits, pads, 6 X 6 pads, cling stamp sets, 

furniture decor transfers,  Italian letter writing sets, wax seal initial sets, Murano glass pen sets, die cuts, German glass glitter, German scrap relief sheets, vintage music sheets , etc.
Please reply via email Bonniemarie20@comcast.net or phone or text: 630 291-4777
She is in unincorporated West Chicago near Warrenville & Wheaton

 

 

World Collage Day is coming up!

  World Collage Day, Saturday May 9th, 2026 What are you going to collage that day? 

March 1st Meeting, Recap for our presenter Laura Smetara

 Laura Smetara what our presenter today, 

Laura has had some real life experiences that have inspired her stories and Illustrations for her books. 

Amazing book a story about her grandfather and son. 

Shared about the place of her family and birth place

The real work before it goes in to a book. 

Laura's sharing how she make the papers for her work, very simple but the technique carries through all her books makes them so recognizable.

We where allowed to use some of her stencils and papers to create collage cards.  It was fun to create these too. Looking forward to more books from Laura. 

 

Downers Grove Public Library, Annual Exhibit, "Emergence"

Blue Bells, 20 x 20 Collage on Watercolor paper, 

It's that Time of Year....dropping off for Installation of Exhibit, "Emergence," Midwest Collage Society has an annual Exhibit at The Downers Grove Public Library 1050 Curtiss, Downers Grove IL Starting March 6th till April 7th, Reception March 8th 2-4pm, come meet the members, Become a member? and enjoy the work displayed, Interested in what we are about and what we are doing, visit our blog-https://midwestcollagesociety.blogspot.com/

 

March 1st Meeting and Downers Grove Exhibit

MEETINGS

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

Presenter Laura Smetana, Children's Book Author & Illustrator

Laura loves creating bright, joyful cut-paper watercolor collages inspired by nature. Laura will share the story behind a few of her books including, My Love for You is Like a Garden and My Love for You Is LIke the Night Sky, both of which feature vivid cut-paper watercolor collages, followed by a demonstration of her collage technique. Then Laura will lead a card making cut-paper collage activity. By the end of the session, you'll have a few unique cards that you can give to friends and family. 

Materials needed: collage papers (if you would like to use watercolored papers, please paint a selection of papers in varying colors in advance), scissors, a pencil, glue stick and your enthusiasm!  A selection of small scrapbook collage papers and cardstock will be provided.

 

April 12 - Noon - 2:30  Exquisite Corpse Committee will be presenting a fun group activity 

about Exquisite Corpse and what that is all about and hand out the set of  8 x 8 wood panels 

for those members that signed up for this project. What is scheduled already for an exhibit of the Exquisite Corpse will be November 2026 at Indian Prairie Public Library.  

Please take a look at our Blog for added information about Exquisite Corpse games and about the Surrealist.

 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership for 2026 – 2027 renews on April 1. Please make checks payable to Midwest
Collage Society in the amount of $20. If you are also interested in joining the National Collage
Society, dues are an additional $35.
A membership form, Hit the tab above MCS Logo 

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.

You can print out the form above under the MCS Logo, look for the membership tab. 

EXHIBITS

Downers Grove Library  1050 Curtis St., Downers Grove, IL

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 is almost here.  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 Sunday, March 8th, 2pm to 4pm.

Following is the list of those who have signed up to bring: treats to share:

Nancy Castner             Veggie Tray

Joan Petranovich         Cheese Tray

Adrienne Austin            Sweet Treats

Ellen Myers                   Cookies

Nancy Staczak              Veggie Straws

Laura Lein-Svensner     Nuts

Joan Lucht                     Cookies

Please send an email to Nancy Castner at designsbynanc@gmail.com 

to add your contribution to the list. Sign-up will also be available at the

 MCS March 1st meeting.

 

Future Exhibit

August 28 through October 23, at the Holmstad in Batavia. 

We will need to hang the exhibit ourselves and we are looking for a volunteer. 

This will be a juried exhibit. Theme to be announced in upcoming newsletters. 

Adrienne Austin and Joan Lucht will take the lead. 

 

FALL CREATIVE ARTISTS RETREAT

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

 

MEMBERS

Laura Lein-Svencner will teach Friday Fusion Spring Collage Class

Mar 13th-April 17th at Naperville Art League,10:30-1:00 6 Weeks
Call to register at 630-355-2530 or register online at Naperville Art League Classes

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.