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.
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
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.
MEETINGS 
