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. 

MCS Meetings and Newsletter

January - NO MEETING

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

March 5th  "Suminagashi" presenter, Fabra DiPaolo

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

The next MCS show will be Curious Discoveries at Downers Grove Library. Depending on participation people can probably have one large piece, two medium pieces or three small ones. 

A prospectus will be sent out in January.

OTHER EXHIBITS

The fundraiser for Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, hosted and organized by Tim Frederick and Jennifer Rauch of If These Walls Could Talk, featured over 30 artists plus students from local high schools, 7 of them being from the Midwest Collage Society. The event featured food, live music from guitarist Eric S. Dinse, and a wine tasting from Aspen Lane Wine Company. To date, the auction has raised nearly $2,000. This money will help distribute food to the 1,000 families who visit Aurora Food Pantry each week. Every dollar donated to the Pantry provides $7 worth of food, meaning this year’s Pack the Pantry will provide $14,000 of food for families.

We thank all the Midwest Collage Society Artists for their art donations.

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. Reception is Sunday January 22nd 2:00 to 4:00pm.

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"  

Opening Reception is Saturday January 21st, 1-3pm. 

Laura Lein-Svencner will be teaching an 8-week art journal and talking-circle class based on the book "Tree Spirited Woman" at Mayslake Peabody Estate, starting Jan 12th. Register by calling 630-206-9588 or visit the website at www.mayslakepeabody.com

She will be doing a demo at DuPage Art League 218 W. Front Street Wheaton IL 

Jan 16th 7-9pm. Anyone interested in seeing the process of Laura's collage work is encouraged to attend.

Her 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'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. Opening Reception Saturday Evening Jan 28th  

Laura's work will be on display and for sale at the Fund Raiser for Robert Crown Center, 21 Salt Creek Lane, Hinsdale IL. This one day event is Jan 28th, from 7-10pm,  www.robertcrown.org/events for tickets. 

All members may submit news up until one week before each meeting to:

Joan Lucht  joan.of.art33@gmail.com

Please submit text as you want it to read without any formatting.

Members Exhibit Woodridge Public Library

Dear MCS Friends,

Tania Blanco, Margaret Swedzikowski and Nancy Staszak each have four works in the Downers Grove Artists Guild  exhibit currently at the Woodridge Library.

The reception is this coming Sunday afternoon, December 11th, from 2:00 to 4:00.  

Refreshments will be served, and there will be a choral concert  that  same afternoon.  

The Woodridge Library is located at 3 Plaza Drive near the Post Office and Village Hall.

Snap shots from Midwest Collage Society Holiday Gatherings

DECEMBER 4, 12am-2:30pm and more

Holiday Party - Bring a dish to pass. If you wish to participate in the gift exchange, bring a hand-made or a lovely inexpensive wrapped gift as well. This is not mandatory, but adds to the fun. If you received mail art bring it to share.

There will be no swap table in December to save space for the party food and gift exchange.

JANUARY - NO MEETING

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.

EXHIBIT/FUND RAISING OPPORTUNITY 

There is little time left for the PACK the PANTRY opportunity at If These Walls Could Talk in Aurora. Let's help raise some funds for the HUNGRY in our community. Drop off is NOV. 30 or December 1.  Tania can drop off for you if you are unable. Call her at 630-464-3749. Details are available on the last MCS Newsflash.

MEMBERS 

Laura Lein Svencner's show is still at If These Walls Could Talk in Aurora until November 30. See her work when you drop off your donation.

Meg Guttman is in two shows opening this coming Friday night. 

Last chance to see THE PRESENT: GIFT and Challenge, Works by Nancy Savaiano Rosenberg at the Chciago Cultural Center (Renaissance Court Gallery).

78 E Washington St.  Last day: December 9, 2016.

Nancy Staszak's show "Dinosaurs and Strange Birds" can still be seen at Lisle Library's Gallery 777 through the end of December. 

Laura Lein-Svencner will be teaching two classes beginning in January.

Creative Vision Boards

Jan 7th 2017 - A Year of Inspiration at Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook IL  Flyers 

Tree Spirited Woman

Talking Circle and Art Journaling at Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook IL 

Thursday Mornings, Jan 12th-Mar 22nd 

Flyer 

Supply list

CALL FOR SUBMISSION

Tinley Park is currently seeking artists for the 2017 Benches on the Avenue public art project.  Attached is the information and guidelines for this program.  

 If you have any questions, please contact:

 Joanne Carroll, Administrative Assistant

Marketing Department Village of Tinley Park

708-444-5031

www.tinleypark.org

Our Next meetings and Members Info

NOVEMBER 6, 12pm-2:30pm.

Our November artist will be Kelly Pocci from the Book and Paper Arts Guild. Her program will be on Mail Art. Please bring scissors and glue or glue stick. Don't forget clocks are set back this weekend.

DECEMBER 6, 12pm-2:30pm.

Holiday Party 

Margi will have a sign-up sheet at the November meeting for people to bring food in December. There will be and optional "hand made" gift exchange.

MEMBERS

New MCS member, Andrea Fox, received "Best of Show" award for her watercolor still-life at the Bloomingdale Park District Art Gallery. Margi Hafer received an Honorable Mention for her watercolor.The theme for the exhibit is Attention to Detail the exhibit continues until November 5^th

Opening reception for Nancy Staszak
Dinosaurs and Strange Birds
Friday November 4th 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Lisle Library Gallery 777
777 Front Street, Lisle, IL

Laura Lein-Svencner will be presenting a Solo Exhibit, IN FLUX at If These Walls Could Talk-Gallery, 

32 South Stople Ave, Aurora IL. Nov4 - Nov 30th   Opening Reception is the First Friday November 4th 7-9pm 

Website link http://www.itwct.com/

Tania Blanco and Cherie Denton are participating in the St. Thomas Church Art Fair.

Wine & Cheese Reception: November 12th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Fair hours:  Nov 12, 1  p.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov 13, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Address: 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, IL

^{LuEllen Joy Giera has been invited as a guest presenter,}

Working Lunch with Collage  -  "Glue Your Way to Happiness"

Founder, PlanetCollage; Co-Founder,  Midwest Collage Society

Jointly provided by Northwestern Medicine - NM Academy and AMSN Chicago Chapter #317, this Eighth Annual Medical-Surgical Nursing symposium on November 4, 2016 will be a revitalizing full day event with dynamic speakers and a wealth of information relevant to practicing nurses across many specialties as well as advanced practice nurses and community members.  Northwestern Hospital, Chicago.

EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITY

The gallery in Aurora, If These Walls Could Talk will be sponsoring Pack the Pantry fundraiser for the Interfaith Food Bank in Aurora. They are calling out for artists to create work to auction off on opening night.

Artists should think outside the "bag" to create work that would be auctioned in a silent auction with starting bids of $25.00.  (Artists may choose to have a higher starting bid if they wish.)  For some collectors of original art, it is a great way to pick up a work of art at a bargain. For the artist, it is way to give back to the community and have exposure.  several of our members have been part of this event.

Regarding the bags:  Provide your own bag, any size or kind, or use the idea of a bag in a drawing or painting. Patti used a burlap potato bag one year and Tania included a tea bag in one of her entries. I tore up strips of a brown grocery bag, glued  them onto a board and painted on top. Just about anything goes, keeping in mind they want people to purchase the works of art for their homes.

 

Details and Requirements:

We are looking for Artists to create a 2-D or 3D piece of art, using bags as a material source but not limited to. Think out of the bag. All pieces must be gallery ready to hang or display. Title, medium, Artist name and value are required.  Please put a value down for reference.

 

All pieces will start at $25.00.  If you wish your piece to start higher please indicate.

 

Note: There is reason behind the $25.00 starting bid. $25.00 can purchase approximately 100 lbs of meat or 100 boxes of cereal. $25.00 can give a lot.

 

A reception and silent auction will be held December 2, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery at 32 S. Stolp Ave, Aurora IL 60506

 

Pieces are due to If These Walls Could Talk by November 30 at the latest (You can of course bring them sooner if you're one of those overachieving types...)

 

To sign up or for more details contact If These Walls Could Talk at 331-212-5962 or wallstalk@itwct.com.

 

If you need someone to deliver your work,Tania Blanco will be glad to do so for you.  Contact her 630-464-3749, or taniablanc@aol.com. 

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Extraordinary Artist and Instructor, Ingrid Albrecht will be offering 2 workshops this winter in her Ravenswood studio. In the past some of our members took workshops from this lovely lady in her spacious studio in Ravenswood area of Chicago.

Visit her website ingridsartoriginals.com  or call 312-320-0833 to register.

Sat. Jan 28, 2017 Creative Design in Monotype Part 1  9-4, $160 includes light breakfast, lunch, coffee,teas and snacks.

Sat. February 4, 2017  Creative Design in Collage Part 2  9-4 $160 includes light breakfast, lunch, coffee ,teas and snacks.