Mission Statement

The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists is an open and diverse group of artists, collectors and admirers who share a love for the practice and perpetuation of botanical art and illustration with a fond focus on plants in the Rocky Mountain Region.
We encourage and participate in educational outreach, juried and non-juried exhibits, lectures, workshops and regular chapter meetings. The RMSBA is proud to be the very first chapter affiliation of the international organization, the American Society of Botanical Artists.

Monday, May 25, 2015

RARE II

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and on the Walls!


RARE II opened May 16 in Durango at Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. The heavens wept with joy. The student staff provided refreshments, sweet and savory. Dignitaries spoke and visitors attended. Artists and groupies admired their works.
Jo Childers starts the tour






Carefully chosen enlargements of paintings introduced the exhibit. The gallery space is open and beautiful, and we were thrilled to be accompanied by lovely objects from the Basketry and Beadwork collections. What a wonderful hanging!
Helen Smithwick and visitors
Gallery context



Posters also supported the exhibit of 40 botanical paintings: seven story boards tell of artists’ experiences and journeys (thanks to Patti Hearn) and two composite maps encourage visitors to consider the challenges posed by environment and human pressure (thanks to Martha Narey).























An after-party hosted by RARE Queen Sharon Garrett brought out the very best in everyone, including a rare appearance by the ReJeCTs [Retired Jeffco Classroom Teachers], who wrote a song in our honor, which Dorothy DePaulo proclaimed “the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for us.”

You can sing along, to the tune of “The Streets of Laredo” (some of you may recall the Smothers Brothers’ rendition…)
     As I walked out on the streets of Durango
     I saw some young artists with works of their own:
     Botanical pieces, meticulous detail.
     They worked long, hard hours, left Partners alone.

     They dug up rare plants, and they copied from photos,    
     Right under Vanessa(the President)’s nose.
     Half wanted to quit and the others said “F**k it!
     We’re not getting paid, and this earthy s**t blows!”

     Here’s to the artists: They suffered, they conquered.
     Hooray for the art show! Now, let’s have a toast!

 The ReJeCTs gave us a grand send-up (lyrics & vocals by Jo Childers & Andrea Waner, supporting vocals by Pam McClelland & Lynn Horseman); Vanessa & Jan nearly croaked laughing, while Dorothy & Sharon were moved to tears. I expect at least one of them will have posted an iVideo to YouTube by now… maybe we’ll post one here.)

Jan Haring, Dorothy DePaulo, Vanessa Martin
Grouping of four on Ginger Root
Our Host Director & Dorothy Depaulo






 
 

 More pictures to follow -- send me yours!


Thursday, May 21, 2015

May 24 Meeting

Meeting in Sedalia

We meet Sunday, May 24th at 1:00 at Cherokee Castle and Ranch, 6113 Daniels Park Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135

Please notify Vanessa Martin (martin.vanessa655@gmail.com) if you’re coming!

We ask $5 as a donation for the castle tour.
You may also need an umbrella...

Guests are welcome!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

It's May!

RARE II Opening Reception

Anyone interested in attending the Opening Reception on May 16th from 2-4 pm who wishes to carpool please contact Vanessa Martin at (720) 870-1488 or email martin.vanessa655@gmail.com. We plan to leave on Friday May 15 and return Sunday May 17. Details for hotel accommodations are unknown at this time and depend upon who all is interested in going.  


May Meeting

May 24th, 1-3 pm at the Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 6113 N Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia, Co, 303-688-5555.  Web site: cherokeeranch.org 

As we will be touring the castle and grounds, we ask you to bring $5 each to help cover some of the expense of the tour. Please note that this meeting is Sunday, May 24th instead of our typical last Sunday of the month.


RARE II Catalog

RARE II – Imperiled Plants of Colorado: the catalog of 40 beautiful illustrations of imperiled species by RMSBA members, will be available for purchase starting at the Opening Reception in Durango May 16. The catalogs also will be available for purchase at our monthly meetings beginning with the May 24 meeting at the Cherokee Ranch and Castle. Cost is $20.00.  If you are interested in purchasing one or more catalogs but will not be at an upcoming meeting, please contact rmsbartists@gmail.com to make other arrangements.

RMSBA Exhibit Traveling Notebook

We need artists’ biographies and statements for an exhibition traveling notebook, which will accompany shows, and whose content can be changed as participation varies. Right now, we especially need RARE II artists to put together these items, and bring their drafts to the meeting at Hudson Gardens in June, when we all will get some formal instruction on how to make ourselves shine.


in lieu April Meeting

RARE II Frame-a-thon (April 24) and Gathering of the Guilds (April 26) replaced our April meeting. The framing of 40 artworks and several composite posters for RARE II went rather smoothly, with not too many surprises, and we all were glad to have it done! Thanks to Sharon Eaton for the work site and the lunch and thanks again to the framer wannabes who labored so carefully under Ronda Ballard’s watchful eye.


The Gathering of the Guilds seemed well-attended in the rain- and snowstorm. RMSBA had a nice parlour space set up and participating members sold stuff and entertained the public. Your Blogster was thrilled to see many of our members there – not a few are members of other Guilds – as visitors and as exhibitors. Beautiful fabric and weavings, marquetry and jewelry, knives and embroidery, prints and cards and engravings, shower salts and ceramics and silks, artists and crafters -- even a distiller. Be advised -- a dye plants garden grows at DBG-Chatfield.