Holiday Celebration

 Hi MCS Members,

Hope you all had a delicious Thanksgiving with friends and/or family.   Now our thoughts are to the Christmas Holiday Season.  Remember, the MCS Holiday Party will be held at The Patio, 7440 Kingery HWY, Darien to keep us all safe and healthy.  Please read the info from Nancy Swingle below regarding the specifics of this fun event including the gift exchange.

The MCS Board met while at Camp Mack.  Everyone has agreed to serve another year which will begin in April 2022 with the following exceptions:

Margi Hafer has resigned from the position as Education Chair effective as of December 1, 2021 (She will continue as Retreat Chair).  Many thanks and much appreciation to Margi for serving in this position. We have all benefited from her efforts.  The new Education Chair will be responsible for setting up 6 programs in  2022; March, April, May, June, Sept. & Nov. Our members can be asked to share their talents as well as artists outside our organization.  

We also are in need of filling the Exhibits Chair.  The good news is that Joan Lucht has agreed to continue to create the labels; Adrienne Austin will continue as Consultant/Background and Chris Jacobson will help with hanging the shows. The Chair needs to coordinate the various aspects of putting a show together and can add additional members to her team.  This is not a one person job.

WE NEED HELP!  The Midwest Collage Society only exists when members step up to fill the positions that make us a viable organization.   Please contact any board member to volunteer. Contact information is at the end of this newsletter.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays, a safe and healthy New Year with many, many moments of creative Joy.

Take care,

Nancy Castner

President

MEETINGS

December 5 Noon-2:30pm  MCS Holiday Party

MCS Holiday Party will take place at The Patio, 7440 Kingery HWY. (in Darien on Rt 83 near 75th St.)  Everyone will be able to order their own food.  You can check on the menu online.  They will have an area reserved for us.

Everyone is welcome to join in on our handmade gift exchange to share our many talents.  
Please email nancyswingle@yahoo.com, if you are planning to come so we will have an approximate number.

MEETINGS 2022

January:  No Meeting

February 6  9 am-2:30pm  Work Day (no presenter) Bring whatever you want to work on and visit with other Midwest Collage Society members. Bring your lunch.

March 6  noon-2:30pm

April 3 noon-2:30pm

May 1 noon-2:30pm

June 5 noon-2:30pm

July No Meeting

August 7 9am-2:30pm

September 11 noon-2:30pm

October No Meeting  Retreat October 5-9

November 6  noon-2:30pm 

December 4  noon-2:30pm Holiday Party

Fall 2022 CREATIVITY RETREAT (sponsored by Midwest Collage Society)  
Please save the dates of October 5-9, 2022 for next year's retreat at Camp Alexander Mack.
Now is not too early for the Midwest Collage Society to be recruiting for Retreat. We want to encourage all creatives (including collage artists, painters, poets, photographers, writers etc) to attend. If you have attended the Fall retreat in the past, you know how beautiful the camp is, and early October is a great time to be there. I will attach an informational letter to the January newsletter that you can share with fellow artists and friends that you think might be interested in our Fall 2022 Creative Retreat. Anyone with ideas about activities, demos or workshops they would like to see happen at the retreat please email Margi Hafer at margihafer@yahoo.com. 

 

          

        

EXHIBITS  

Awakening at Downers Grove Public Library - April 2022

The Illinois Poets Society will be collaborating. Their members will be invited to write a poem about a specific collage based on the theme 'Awakening'. It is hopeful that there will be a reception for readings. It will depend on Covid restrictions at the time.

So, as the holidays wind down let's think about spring and let your creative juices flow. 

MEMBERS 

Laura Lein-Svencner will exhibit a selection of her works Dec 1st to Jan 19th  at the Glenview Public Library 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL 60025 Exhibit hours are the same as the library hours on the first floor lobby gallery.  
Laura also would like everyone to know that there are some adult classes coming each month at the Indian Prairie Public Library
Starting Jan 8th Vision Board Workshop
Feb 5th Love Boxes (open registration start Dec 28th)
March 1st to March 31st Every Thursday Collage Meditation
April 7th to April 28th One Artist's Journal
If you are a Resident Library Card Member of the local libraries, the classes and workshops will be free upon registration.
You can Register at this Link - https://ippl.libcal.com/calendar?cid=9323&t=g&d=2022-01-08&cal=9323&audience=618&inc=0

Margi will be exhibiting in Holiday Shows at the Tall Grass Art Gallery, in Park Forest and the McCord Gallery, in Palos Park.

Andrea Fox is participating in THE ART OF GIVING ~ Tall Grass Artists are presenting hundreds of affordable, high-quality works of art perfect for holiday gifts. November 20, 2021 – January 8, 2022

CALL FOR ART

Black and/or White an upcoming exhibit at Tall Grass Gallery. Artists are invited to submit entries.

Exhibit Dates: March 12 - April 16, 2022 

Novembers News for MCS members

 

Hi MCS Members,
Lovin' the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot on my walks. Just thinking about it makes me smile anew. Hope you have been able to enjoy the outdoors.

The retreat was invigorating.  Many thanks to Margi Hafer, her committee,  and presenters for all their efforts to make the 2021 retreat a success.  Thanks too to all participants for sharing their remarkable talents and delightful attitudes in the common goal of creating art and camaraderie for five glorious days.  It was so exciting to be a part of an event much like pre pandemic times.

The MCS Board met while at Camp Mack.  Everyone has agreed to serve another year which will begin in April 2022 with the following exceptions:

Margi Hafer has resigned from the position as Education Chair effective as of December 1, 2021 (She will continue as Retreat Chair).  Many thanks and much appreciation to Margi for serving in this position. We have all benefited from her efforts.  The new Education Chair will be responsible for setting up 6 programs in  2022; March, April, May, June, Sept. & Nov. Our members can be asked to share their talents as well as artists outside our organization.  

We also are in need of filling the Exhibits Chair.  The good news is that Joan Lucht has agreed to continue to create the labels; Adrienne Austin will continue as Consultant/Background and Chris Jacobson will help with hanging the shows. The Chair needs to coordinate the various aspects of putting a show together and can add additional members to her team.  This is not a one person job.

The Midwest Collage Society only exists when members step up to fill the positions that make us a viable organization.  Please contact any board member to volunteer. Contact information is at the end of this newsletter.

Bonnie Jaswith will be our presenter at the November meeting and the unique ornament we will be making is described below.  A nice way to begin the holiday season.

Nancy Swingle has also included information about our Holiday Party so continue reading. An exciting change this year to keep us all safe and healthy.

Take care,
Nancy Castner
President

 

MEETINGS

November 7, Sunday, Noon-2:30pm 

Darien Police Station 1710 Plainfield Road

Holiday Ornament Workshop, presenter: Bonnie Jaswith

Supply List for Ornaments: cutting mat, ruler, scissors or mat knife,  bone/teflon folder or similar, glue or double face tape, needle with large hole. If you are bringing your own papers, cut them to 9-1/4" long X 5-1/2" wide, Pattern on one side only. If they are paste papers, iron on the wrong side.  Flexibility is what is needed.

Bonnie will supply ornament pattern, practice papers and string for hanging ornaments. 

If there is time Bonnie will show a cube that can be used as a box or an ornament.

Register for the Meeting by emailing Cherie Denton at cherayden@yahoo.com with the SUBJECT: MCS November 7 Meeting.  Let her know that you will bring the membership application and dues with you if you haven't paid MCS dues yet.
All participants must be paid members of the MCS. Application is attached

 

December 5 Noon-2:30pm  MCS Holiday Party

MCS Holiday Party will take place at The Patio, 7440 Kingery HWY. (in Darien on Rt 83 near 75th St.)  Everyone will be able to order their own food.  You can check on the menu online.  They will have an area reserved for us.

Everyone is welcome to join in on our handmade gift exchange to share our many talents.  
Please email nancyswingle@yahoo.com, if you are planning to come so we will have an approximate number.

 

MEETINGS 2022

January:  No Meeting

February 6  9 am-2:30pm  Work Day (no presenter) Bring whatever you want to work on and visit with other Midwest Collage Society members. Bring your lunch.

March 6  noon-2:30pm

April 3 noon-2:30pm

May 1 noon-2:30pm

June 5 noon-2:30pm

July No Meeting

August 7 9am-2:30pm

September 11 noon-2:30pm

October No Meeting  Retreat October 5-9

November 6  noon-2:30pm 

December 4  noon-2:30pm Holiday Party

 

MCS RETREAT 

It was wonderful to be back at Camp Alexander Mack in October. Thank you to all of you who helped coordinate and present workshops and demos at the retreat. We had 15 participants this year and we all enjoyed our time to create and explore together. 

Please save the dates of October 5-9, 2022 for next year's retreat at Camp Mack.

Now is not too early for the Midwest Collage Society to be recruiting for Retreat.  We should be thinking about calling our retreat the CREATIVITY RETREAT (sponsored by Midwest Collage Society).  Encouraging all creatives (including poets, photographers, writers) to attend. The best promoters will be those of us who have attended multiple times. Tania already has two people who will be marking their calendars for the 2022 CREATIVITY RETREAT.

 

 

EXHIBITS  

The next exhibit and the first for 2022 is on the calendar for April at the Downers Grove Library. There is a possibility that this will involve poets who will select a work as inspiration for writing.

We would like to ask the membership to offer suggestions for a theme.  So far we have received " A Downers Grove Spring" or "Spring in Downers Grove". 

Please reply to this newsletter to let Joan know of your brilliant suggestions.

 

MEMBERS 

Margi Hafer received "Best of Show" Award at the Gallery Seven "Illiart Exhibit" for her abstract watercolor "Lost Summer" Exhibit closes October 31.
Margi will be exhibiting in Holiday Shows at the Tall Grass Art Gallery, in Park Forest and the McCord Gallery, in Palos Park.

 

Andrea Fox is participating in THE ART OF GIVING ~ Tall Grass Artists are presenting hundreds of affordable, high-quality works of art perfect for holiday gifts. November 20, 2021 – January 8, 2022

 

Laura Lein-Svencner will exhibit a selection of her Abstract Mixed Media Collage Artwork at Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien IL 60561 November 1st- November 29th  Exhibit will be on the First and Second floor of the library and can be viewed during  Library hours. She will also be offering a Demonstration to the public at the library for Free on Saturday Nov 13th, from 1-3pm. 

She is excited to share the upcoming  workshop she will be offering to the public free if you're a registered card holder.   First one is Vision Boards Jan 8th 10-2pm.  Limited to 15 people.

Link for Vision Board Workshop https://ippl.libcal.com/event/8327987

 

CALL FOR ART

Expressions: Art and Verse  Submit 3  images to be reviewed by Illinois State Poetry Society who will then select artists to connect with poems.  See details on ADDISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS website.  Deadline was Oct 29 but has been extended until Nov. 2.

 

InSIGHTful: A Visual Arts View of Optimism  Artists are invited to enter artwork from the past year that conveys OPTIMISM. Imagery can depict, but is not limited to, the creative use of materials or imagery, exploration of color, recording interactions or connections, the use of innovative techniques, or capturing peaceful moments of quiet beauty. Submit your entry through ENTRYTHINGY.com online. Location: Norris Cultural Arts Center Gallery, St. Charles, Illinois                                                                                                                                              Show dates January 22 – February 26, 2022
Entry deadline Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Artist notification Artists will be notified of the status of their entries by December 14.
Date to drop off accepted work Monday, January 17 (time schedule will be sent to artists) Number of entries: 1 – 3 / Entry Fee: $30.00

 

Black and/or White an upcoming exhibit at Tall Grass Gallery. Artists are invited to submit entries.

Exhibit Dates: March 12 - April 16, 2022 

 

New Hope Art Auction

Looking for artists to donate original artwork (with a kitty theme) to benefit kitties at
CAT GUARDIANS CAT SHELTER.
All profits from the auction go to help us help homeless cats.
Artwork displayed at Naperville Art League Gallery
INTERESTED ? ElizabethReichert@yahoo.com 

 

 From Nancy Uznanski
I want to get in touch to see if anyone in your group would like magazines to use in their work. Jackie and I have culled many, - examples - Travel and Leisure, Cooking Light, Health, Better Homes and Gardens, House Beautiful, Cosmopolitan, Ski magazines like Ski Utah etc, and a few others If there are takers, let me know, Thanks, Nancy if you want to text me my cell is 630-452-9001