A Special Invitation

The Denver Hospice invites and encourage RMSBA members to paint a mask for The Denver Hospice 2016 fundraiser. While not an official RMSBA function, this is still a worthy opportunity to do a good thing and get exposure.

 The Denver Hospice, a non-profit patient care organization which cares for end-of-life, terminal individuals in the Denver metro area and surrounding communities, holds a major fundraiser every two years called "The Mask Project" and is reaching out to new artists who might be interested in participating. The next event will be the Fall of 2016; a final date has yet to be determined.

Each mask is an oval-shaped form made of clay. TDH usually asks local Denver folks to pick up the mask if possible, as this helps minimize costs; however, if this is not practical, they are happy to mail one to you at no charge. Once the mask has been finished, they do ask that you cover the costs of returning the mask to them. If artists prefer to drop off completed masks in person, they are welcome to do so. Please submit masks to the TDH Administrative office located at 501 South Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80246 at the corner of Virginia Avenue and Cherry Street (east side of Colorado Boulevard).

Any members interested in participating should contact Kristen Tucker, Special Events Manager who is in charge of "The Mask Project," at her direct number 303-780-4517; her email is ktucker@care4denver.org.  She will assign a mask to an artist. The deadline to complete the mask is September 18, 2015. Website: www.thedenverhospice.org.  

Contact Vanessa Martin (martin.vanessa655@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

June Open Studio

Open Studio 9am – 1 pm, Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Valkarie Gallery & Studio, 445 South Saulsbury Street, Lakewood.

Bring your projects, your sketch ideas, artistic problems and solutions, new materials you are trying out, frustrations you need to vent re:same, and so forth.

Are we still on for 300 days of sunshine?

May 24 meeting: Cherokee Castle Tour

Close to 25 people showed up for the tour, amazing for a holiday weekend.  A number of family members came along. The view from the back terrace is breathtaking, you can see from Pikes Peak to Boulder flatirons. At this point, we are scheduled to exhibit Wicked Plants (2015) and RARE II (2017) at the Castle. Plans are in place for the Castle to host a RMSBA artist in residence program in 2016, details to be announced later.

Wildflower Report! [Don’t get your hopes up]

Saturday, May 30, I visited the meadow at the head of Witter Gulch Road at the intersection of CO 103 (Squaw Pass Road, Mt Evans…) to check on the wild iris and the shooting stars I’ve often found there. Surprise! Upper Bear Creek and the steep road to the meadow displayed only dandelions. A quick retreat to Evergreen and up to Alderfer-Three Sisters Park to have a look at the iris in the meadow, where we found – a few dandelions. Maybe next week…

Too much water

The recent rains have left the water in the South Platte River very high in Fort Morgan, as I found on a visit to Riverside Park there on Sunday. The water surface still is very near the bridge understructure, and the sandbars are covered completely. Gnat- and fly-catchers wait on line for another pass at the bugfest. The high velocity and tremendous force of the river are causing bank damage: the irregular black lines show where the pavement is collapsing along with the banks on the perimeter trail in the park. Guess what we found blooming? Dandelions. And a few lanky, tiny-yellow-flowered creatures I can’t identify. The wild rose hedge is really nice, though.

Supercell storms

Let us not dwell on the results of the unfortunate hailstorm that struck my Denver yard without provocation the night of June 4, leaving many dismembered rose blossoms and shredded iris and other wreckage in its wake. It could have been worse. We hope your plants have been spared the worst of the whirlwind and iceballs.

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!

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!

It's May!

RARE II Opening Reception

Anyone interested in attending the Opening Reception on May 16^th 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

A 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.

Now that the Taxes are Over...

Open Press Workshop

We’ve put together a workshop over 3 days -- 2 Saturdays and a Thursday -- at Open Press to learn drypoint printmaking techniques from Mark Lunning himself! The class is limited to 10 people, so please check your calendars and sign up early. 

Workshop cost is $100, a bargain since it includes basic materials. Here are dates and times:

          May 2, 2015 from 1-3:00pm

          May 9, 2015 from 1-5:00pm

          May 14, 2015 from 1-5:00pm

Location:  40 W. Bayaud Ave., Denver, Co.  (303) 778-1116

Web: http://www.openpressltd.com/

Mark Lunning, master printer and owner of Open Press, regularly teaches at the Art Students League. We are fortunate he is teaching this workshop exclusively for RMSBA. Do an Internet search and see some possibilities for this technique. Start thinking of what images you will want to make, as we expect to complete two plates.

Contact Vanessa Martin at martin.vanessa655@gmail.com to reserve space. Direct all questions to Vanessa.

Deadline Looms!

The deadline to email your intention to enter the Wicked Plants Exhibit is May 1, 2015. Email Sharon Eaton racereaton@aol.com  to let her know you intend to enter Wicked Plants. 
Do plan to join us, even if you’re not quite sure which vile phytotype you want to portray. Click here for the Wicked Plants entry instructions.

Pergamena at Meiningers

Thanks to their encounter at ASBA last fall here in Denver, Pergamena has chosen Meiningers Denver store at 5^th & Broadway as their retail outlet in the West. Right now on sale at 20% off…

Susan Fisher does a critique

             

                Read the Rare II jurors statement here

Open Studio

Capsicum annuum

Please join us this Tuesday, April 14, at Valkarie Gallery, 445 S Saulsbury St, Lakewood, CO 80226, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for our Open Studio.

Do bring whatever artwork or concept project you are working on and a light snack. You don’t have to be a member to participate, and we’re sure you will find the atmosphere inspiring!

Parchment Sale!

Meininger’s management announces “We have brought in a few sizes of sheep and calf calligraphy finish Pergamena.  We are really excited to have it in the store!  Also wanted to let you know we will be having a 20% off sale next week beginning Monday so a great time to buy it!”

Member Galleries

SHOW YOUR WORK and inspire others

The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists has an exciting roster of events lined up for 2015 and beyond. We look forward to growing our organization and we continually seek ways to get our artwork in front of appreciative collectors and supporters. We are restructuring our blog Member Gallery to incorporate support from our larger organization, the American Society of Botanical Artists. We are all members of ASBA, which offers each of us the opportunity to display our work in the ASBA online artists' gallery.

We hope to get more participation from our members, as we can anticipate an eager national and even international audience. The ASBA member Gallery can also be used as a resource and inspiration for our botanical work. The RMSBA blog gallery hereafter will include a hyperlink to each member's ASBA gallery page. Artists' actual images will no longer appear on the RMSBA blog.

To prepare your work for display, have the following information at hand before loading images onto the ASBA site or forwarding them to the member gallery email as provided below.

Framing Hints

Well, more than hints, in fact. Go check it out: Framing Your Botanical Paintings. Words and samples to live by.

RARE II Exhibition Venue Locations

As you know, The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists will have an exhibit of imperiled Colorado plants. You received an email extending the deadline for submission to 31 March 2015. Time's up!

Venues for the RARE II Exhibit:

May 14^th through December 20^th 2015 – Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO.

January 16^th through April 16^th 2016 – Sangre de Christo Art Center in Pueblo, CO.

May 31^st through June 30^th 2016 – Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, CO.

July 10^th through August 31^st  2016 – SteamPlant Center - Paquette gallery in Salida, CO.

September 2016 - March 2017 -- CU Museum of Natural History in Boulder, CO.

April 2017 - ? -- Cherokee Ranch & Castle in Sedalia, CO.

Welcome 2015 New Members:

Ronda Ballard

Nels Broste

Leanne Canty

Kristi Czajkowski

Laura Farnsworth

Elizabeth Fonseca

Barbara Holden

Marj Hopkins

Jayme Irvin
Elizabeth Lokocz

Karen May

Doug McCallum

Ted D. Milner

Lois Nakhleh

Nannette Nielsen
Judith Scott

Rebecca Swain

Karey Swan

Andrea Wolf

Penelope Yerigan

March meeting

Sunday, March 29, 2015 from 1 to 3 pm

Location: Roxborough Library

              Lockheed Martin Community Meeting Room

              8357 N. Rampart Range Rd.

              Littleton, CO

AGENDA:

1. Welcome new members

2. General housekeeping

3. Open Press workshop – have an opening spot

4. Ronda Ballard (professional framer) will go over framing parameters for the Rare II Exhibit

5. Update on business cards from Dorothy DePaulo

6. Update on RARE II

7. Update on Wicked Plants Exhibit

8. Update on Gathering of the Guilds

9. Open discussion- any topics that need to be discussed

10.Update on RARE II Photo montage –   Patti Hearn will bring what she has put together from the last meeting.  Attendees will help with finalizing.

RARE II

Scans due by 11:59 pm, March 31, 2015, to rmsbartists@gmail.com (300dpi, 8x10)

Of Very Special Note

Congratulations to Connie Sayas for her cover of the current ASBA Botanical Artist! She exhibited this lovely watercolor of Red Onions in the Small Works Exhibit at the Denver ASBA conference last October.