Celebrations!

Winter holidays began this year with Channukah; Solstice, “Festivus”, Christmas, Kwazaa / Boxing Day, New Year’s Day / Circumcision, Three Kings’ Day / Epiphany carry us into 2018. If I missed one, let me know.

Holiday cards from some of your Board members:

Vanessa Martin

Irma Sturgell

If other Board members send me images, I’ll post those cards here, too.

Officer changes: At the December 10 meeting and Holiday Party, where a good time was had by all, Vanessa Martin nominated President-elect Eileen Richardson as president; the nomination was approved by unanimous voice vote. Susan Fisher nominated Vanessa Martin as interim treasurer; the nomination was approved by unanimous voice vote.

Reminder: Open Studio at Carol Till’s on Wednesday, January 10, 10 am – 2 pm. On the agenda: printmaking!

Carol will continue to encourage us in the art of making embossments from solar plates (we’ll be hoping for sunshine!), and guide attendees on additional embossing techniques, building on those learned at the November open studio.

Note from Carol to experienced printmakers: If you want to run some prints from a zinc or solar plate that you have, bring it and your own paper, and take advantage of my press. I have limited ink colors, mostly black/earth tones.

As usual, bring something for advice/critique/show-off!

Here is a great opportunity to learn more about this printmaking technique - embossments.

Carol Till's Studio:

 3665 Estes street

 Wheat Ridge, CO

 phone: 303 423-2697

RSVP at caroltill@mindspring.com.

Reminder: Executive Board meeting on January 14, 2018, to review and preview and make plans. Any member who wants to propose an agenda item should contact a board member, or plan to attend.

Exhibits: RMSBA members selected for the US Botanic Gardens “America’s Flora” (opening May 2018) are Constance Sayas, Dorothy DePaolo, Sharon Garrett, and Vanessa Martin. Congratulations, Ladies! Through January 2018, “Cannabis: A Visual Perspective” remains on display at the University of Colorado Natural History Museum in Boulder. “Whimsy: Botanical Art & Illustration” is on view at the Denver Botanic Gardens until February 11, 2018. Keep your eye on this space for a Call for “Lost in the Woods” and related upcoming announcements.

Road trip: Missing all of this activity, your Editor spent 2-1/2 weeks visiting the southern deserts and the Tucson area, and the southern Colorado Plateau. Visited amazing places traveling to and from. Great bird spots at Bosque del Apache NWR (and lesser-known wetlands). Watched CSU lose at the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque. Best Lunch: The Oracle Inn, Oracle, AZ. Best Sunday Lunch: El Paraguas, Espanola, NM.

Saguaro NP _ Rincon

Pincushion 

Bird Nest in Cholla

May your New Year be merry and bright – and creative!

Winter Holiday Season Approaches at Lightspeed

Ah, Thanksgiving. Perhaps you gained only two or three pounds over the annual chow-down shop-fest 4-day excesses event. Lucky you. Now only three weeks to get trim for the next stuffing…

Open Studio with Carol Till was a big success. Seven members joined her to celebrate her birthday, make solar plate exposures in conditions of perfect sunshine, and make prints using her wonderful press, including chine colle. She explained all with great patience and good advice. Thank you, Carol.

…and here, your Editor’s efforts:

Solarplate embossment printing with colored inks

We all had so much fun she agreed to do it again in January! So save January 10…

Notice: Open Studio will not convene for December, as everyone is totally busy.

Exhibits: “Cannabis: A Visual Perspective” remains on display at the University of Colorado Natural History Museum in Boulder through January 2018. “Whimsy: Botanical Art & Illustration” is on view at the Denver Botanic Gardens into February 2018.

RMSBA Annual Holiday Party is December 10 at Shiere Melin’s in Arvada. Be sure to RSVP to her via your email invitation.

Election Tuesday – Remember to Vote

Reminder: Open Studio at Carol Till’s on Wednesday, November 8, 10 am – 2 pm. On the agenda: printmaking!

Carol will introduce us to the art of making embossments from solar plates (we’ll be hoping for sunshine!). Carol has small 4-6” pieces that you can use to make your own embossment plate. Ink and paper are provided.

Note from Carol to experienced printmakers: If you want to run some prints from a zinc or solar plate that you have, bring it and your own paper, and take advantage of my press. I have limited ink colors, mostly black/earth tones.

As usual, bring something for advice/critique/show-off!

Carol Till's Studio:

 3665 Estes street

 Wheat Ridge, CO

 phone: 303 423-2697

RSVP at caroltill@mindspring.com.

Example embossment rolled with ink:

An embossment printed over an etching to add texture:

 Join us!

Boo!

Dates 10/31 Halloween (All Hallows Eve; Samhain to Wiccans); 11/1 All Saints Day (All Hallows); 11/2 All Souls Day (Dia de los muertos in Mexico: Day of the Dead to honor one’s ancestors), Now that’s all set…

Reminder: Open Studio at Carol Till’s on November 8. On the agenda: printmaking!

Cannabis runs ‘till 1/31/2018 at the CU Museum of natural History. Go visit.

RARE II came down on October 9, following a nearly two and a half year tour of Colorado and New Mexico: six original venues and four add-ons. What a show!

ASBA-by-the-Bay. Who went? What happened?

There’s Still Hope for a Rocktober, Baseball Fans

Check out this link: Postcards from Denver. Only a few seats left!

POSTCARDS FROM….Denver a four-day Primer & Plein Air watercolor workshop

Thurs, Sept 28 – Sun, Oct 1, 2017 • 9:30am – 4:00pm The Art Gym, 1460 Leyden St., Denver Instructors: Marjorie Leggitt and Leon Loughridge

Happy Independence Day (Feliz Día de la Independencia) yesterday, Mexico

Member meeting in Broomfield at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library, 1 - 3 pm, September 24, which is Sunday. Location: 3 Community Park Rd, Broomfield, Colorado; we will be in the Eisenhower room.  Check your email for more details.

Exhibit snapshot from “Cannabis: A Visual Perspective”:

… and there’s more!

Be sure to visit full-sized, framed, lovely show at the CU Museum of Natural History!

Shows and Shows

RMSBA exhibit at CU makes the News. Nice mention of “Cannabis: A Visual Perspective” in the Health News section of the Sunday Washington Post. RMSBA artists get kudos. Other appearances in media about the show can be found at the Boulder Daily Camera (includes an interview with Susan Fisher), Culture magazine, the Hemponaire online guide, and perhaps there are others out there, too. If you find some, let us know.

We had a very lively opening reception for “Cannabis” on September 7 at the CUMNH. The show is coherent and beautifully hung along a single wall, with the scientific posters on an adjacent wall, all very effective. More guests than we usually expect, as all those scientists came, too. If you went and took pictures, please send a copy to your Editor, who will post them.

Heidi Snyder is cover artist for this month’s Botanical Artist. Her intricate illustration of Canyon Hackberry (Celtis reticulata) is the only representative by an RMSBA colleague in the ASBA exhibit “Out of the Woods.” Well, ok, we live in grasslands and deserts… Congratulations to Heidi for gettin’ in, and for having made so compelling and beautiful an artwork that ASBA published it on the cover, where we can all see it.

Reminder: Bring your Flash Drive to Open Studio Wednesday, September 13, 10 am – 2 pm, at Judy Vanderbosch’s studio at 6585 E Colorado Dr, Denver, 303-375-7718. Turn east off Monaco. email: redbudart@gmail.com.

“Cannabis: A Visual Perspective” landing now

Nice post Labor Day at the SBAI Blog promoting our exhibit at CUMNH in Boulder.

Open Studio invitation from Judy Vanderbosch:

Scanning at Open Studio

September 13, Wednesday 10am to 2pm

Judy Vanderbosch Studio

Judy has a large scanner for 12” x 17” images which can professionally scan high dpi, tiff, jpg. Be thinking about all the possible needs such as for printing, email, or entering shows which each image needs a different dpi or tiff or jpg. Judy can scan your piece for all these possibilities so you are ready for anything. She will scan all day free to RMSBA members. 

Judy is also a graphic artist and worked for several printing companies. She will give us some hints on how to set up art for printing and scanning. How to look for and talk to a printer. Please bring your Flash Drive to transfer your scans too. It is not possible to transfer the files thru the internet.

Soup and bread will be provided for lunch and bring your projects to work on while others are getting their art scanned. Plenty of parking!

Address:

6585 E Colorado Dr

Denver, Colorado 80224

phone: 303-375-7718

email: redbudart@gmail.com

Thanks, Judy. We’ll see you on the 13^th.

You're Invited!

Delivery Day!!! and happy Labor Day weekend

TODAY is the day to deliver your art for “Cannabis: A Visual Perspective” to Shiere Melin at her home in northwest Arvada. Check your notice of acceptance into the show for the exact address – or consult your ASBA Member Directory.

Boulder’s Daily Camera announces our exhibit at this internet address. Let’s hope for enhanced attendance!

Taste of Colorado occupies Civic Center Park and environs, closing Colfax Av from Cherokee to Lincoln until 6 am on Tuesday, September 5. Parking is in Cheyenne… J

Traffic may be fair to partly awful as a result of the CU-CSU game. Stay off I25.

DU new students move in on Labor Day, so traffic will be greater in the University Park area, and Evans & University likely a mess. Welcome, Pioneers.

Labor Day approaches – Remember to use your breaks and vacation days that cost so much struggle

Friday, September 1, is turn-in day for your art for the Cannabis exhibit. Check your acceptance notice for any final procedures and deliver your stuff to Shiere Melin. The Opening Reception is next week in Boulder.

Open Studio on September 13, 10 am - 2 pm, to be hosted by Judy Vanderbosch at her Redbud Studio, 6585 E Colorado Dr, near Cook Park in southeast Denver. Join us (suggest intent via this link) for whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure, as Judy takes us through some scanning demos and opportunities.

Catalog cover

On the Road Again. Vail was lovely on Saturday for the last event for our  RARE II exhibit. Some clouds kept sun intensity down at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center hosting our exhibit and the reception. The permanent displays about alpine regions and ecology welcomed and embraced our artworks like long-lost cousins. The venue is at the west end of Gerald Ford Park. 

We opened RARE II in Durango in May 2015 at the Center of Southwest Studies amid the lovely cultural artifacts of the Colorado Plateau, basketry and pottery. We close this exhibit in the world's highest botanic garden, among the Alpine plants in their enchanting setting.

Panels from Ft Lewis College fit the doors

We hope this final venue gets plenty of visitors. If your travels take you west on I-70 during the next couple months, remember that admission is free, and you need to take a break from driving and get a little exercise.

Gallery reception

Patti Hearn's Artist posters & Martha Narey's Map posters survived

Nanette Kuich chats with Jan Boyd Haring

Visitors

Dorothy DePaulo signs in 

Vanessa Martin & Ann Fleming at permanent display

Alas for South Texas. My relations and connections all are ok, but lots of folks are in distress. As long as that storm system stays in place, it moves moisture off the ocean surface and delivers rain to the land, especially in the areas east to north of the eye. Streams can’t drain, roads flood and livestock drown. Sewage and petrochemicals in the water, serious problems ahead with structures. The highway system is designed to slow floodwaters by ponding up – we can see that’s workin’. Keep your fingers crossed for all residents. I expect the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is pretty well silted up, as are the other gardens and arboreta in the area. The Menil Art Collection is on low ground, too, I think.

Weeping Angel in Houston Cemetery

Texas Ecosystems

Wooden Elevation Model - Flooded! 

Today's Texas Navy

ASBA 2017 – Registration proceeds… new instructions… new information…

Deadline Day!!!

TODAY is the last day to submit your art for the Cannabis exhibit. You have until midnight (likely Eastern Daylight Time) to participate and send in your stuff. Wait no longer.

Open Studio on both September 13 and October 11, 10 am - 2 pm, will be hosted by Judy Vanderbosch at her Redbud Studio in southeast Denver near Cook Park. Join us (suggest intent via this link) for whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure, as Judy takes us through some scanning demos and opportunities. By October’s Open Studio, you might have your holiday cards ready for scans…

Monsoon Season Cool(ish) & Damp

Open Studio August 9 at the Mercury Café, 2199 California St, 10 am - 2 pm. Join us (suggest intent via this link) for whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure.

Cannabis show deadline approaches at light speed. Participate and send in your stuff. Contact Vanessa Martin if you need last-minute access to plant materials.

RARE II opens in Vail at the Betty Ford Gardens on Saturday, August 26, reception 3 – 5 pm. This is the Last Known Venue for RARE II so come up for the sendoff.

Wildflower report from Clear Creek County. The Guanella Pass road is covered like a carpet with coneflowers from Clear Lake all the way to timberline.

                           

The rest of the Clear Creek Corridor is in lively color as well. 

ASBA 2017 – Well, registration proceeds… new instructions…

Maximum Penstemon outbursts soon to diminish

RMSBA Art Show & Sale at Tagawa Gardens was fun. Our colleague Lotus McElfish came early on her annual trip to Colorado, so she could participate with us (Vanessa M, Martha N, Judy V, Teresa B, Irma S). We made some sales and a few new friends. Our site was right in front of the High Plains Iris Society rhizome sale, so we got a lot of eye traffic from people on the way to buy ‘Crystal Gazer’ and its many cousins. Some of them stopped… Good times!

Cannabis show deadline approaches at light speed. Participate and send in your stuff. Contact Vanessa Martin if you need access to plant materials.

RARE II opens in Vail at the Betty Ford Gardens, reception on Tuesday, August 22 Saturday, August 26, 3-5 pm. This is the Last Known Venue for RARE II so come up for the sendoff.

Open Studio August 9 at location TBD, 10 am - 2 pm (a special scanning project is in the works). Join us (suggest intent via this link) for whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure. Keep your eye on this space for further announcements.

Susan Rubin’s “Good Fortune” is at Spark Gallery, 9^th & Sta. Fe in Denver, showcasing her trompe l’oeil approaches. The show is up through August 13.

ASBA 2017 – Well, registration proceeds… sticking plasters as shown above may have been useful at the microprocessor level...

High summer summit o’ blossoms and fruits

June meeting saw us examining art containers for nearby (check out ArtSacks) and distant (see AirFloat) exhibits and shows. We also saw the 12x12 Small Works Essentials natural gallery frame from Dick Blick/Utrecht (#18862-1904) prescribed for ASBA 2017. General discussion included our Prez Vanessa showing us a technique for mounting prints to wood panels using decoupage product. Carol Till recommends Plasti-care (Steve Capone, 4211 S Natchez Ct, Englewood) as a source for Plexiglas. There’s a scrap pile available at $2/lb for the smaller pieces. So there, framers and printmakers.

Canada Day is tomorrow, July 1. Happy birthday, neighbors. Have a lovely party. Thanks for picking such a great flag design back in 1965.

Rocky Mountain Land Library is offering some swell workshops this summer. Eileen Richardson offers this flyer.

Independence Day is Tuesday this year. Fireworks shows all over the place, so make sure you find one. July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, sending a serious dart into the eyeball of the British Lion. Years of war and political struggles followed. We’re still here.

RMSBA Art Show & Sale at Tagawa Gardens in Centennial on July 22. The Lavender Fields Forever festival and the High Plains Iris Society expected. A bunch of us are taking stuff to sell and you can visit with us while you’re there. Come on out!

Cannabis show could use some more entries so let’s beef up the participation. Contact Vanessa Martin if you need access to plant materials. The deadline for submissions approaches…

RARE II opens in Vail at the Betty Ford Gardens on Saturday, August 19. This is the Last Known Venue for RARE II so come up for the sendoff. 

Open Studio July 12 at the Mercury Café, 2199 California St, 10 am - 1 pm (it gets warm after that). Join us (suggest intent via this link) for whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure. A participatory demonstration with carbon dust, ink, and drafting film is anticipated.

After Solstice, days shorten, nights lengthen, and the Heat goes up

Dorothy DePaulo and Heidi Snyder have an Opening this evening (6 – 9 pm) at Valkarie Gallery, 445 S Saulsbury St, Lakewood. Come see what they’ve been up to!

Reminder: Member meeting tomorrow, June 25 1 – 3 pm, at Koelbel Library, 5955 S Holly St, Centennial. Bring what you’ve been working on and show us.

June 10 – Another crop of graduates from DU – they’re the last in the Regular Academic Season – Rock on!

June 13 – Loved ‘Wonder Woman’.  Wore my 'Xena' T-shirt. Loved the film. May have to acquire a personal copy… ‘Beauty & the Beast’ pretty good, but I can live without a personal copy.

June 19 - Golden Banner, Shooting Star, Mountain Iris, Strawberry, even Columbine, all at the meadows occupying the 8000’ elevation range. Go see! Go also to see Dos Chappell Visitor Center on Mount Goliath, where King’s Crown and Purple Fringe are headlining.

Who's This?

June 20-22 – Summer Solstice, when the Sun hangs around at the farthest northern reaches for a couple days, to make sure we got the point.

Open Studio will happen on July 12 at the Mercury Café, 2199 California St, 10 am - 1 pm (it does get warm after that). Join us (suggest intent via this link) for help, critique, exploration, encouragement, a good cry, uninterrupted time, and whatever might be your Open Studio pleasure. We look forward to seeing your work and hearing your plans.

ASBA 2017 – Well, the conference hotel and the overflow hotel are fully booked. Good luck.