March Newsletter

 

To champion art as essential to life and give our community a creative voice

 

From the President’s Desk

It’s March and Spring brings longer days with Daylight Savings Time.  Art Center Morro Bay will offer interesting classes and an engaging demonstration!  Debbie Gedayloo will guide you through her process of, “Painting with Wool-Needle and Wet-Felting Fiber Art”, Monday, March 12, 3-5pm.  Page Graeber will give a collage workshop, and Brady Cabe will offer an array of on ongoing photography classes beginning March 17th!
 
The Morro Bay Art Association Student Art Exhibit, will be on display March 3 through April 7 at the Morro Bay Public Library.  The art reception and award ceremony is Saturday, March 10, 3-5pm.  Selected students received framing from MBAA, and board member Liz Moore, provided classroom training.  Awards are sponsored by the Jackie Morello Scholarship Fund.  
 
Windows to Other Worlds is currently on exhibit.  The People’s Choice Award in conjunction with For the Birds, goes to Hedy Hale for her painting, First Light.  People’s Choice Award winners are allowed to enter a future show with all entry fees waived.  Congratulations Hedy!
 
Calling all photographers!  We are fortunate to have Kerry Drager judge the upcoming exhibit, “Thru the Lens”.  Artists may enter this juried exhibit by digitally submitting up to five images to MBAAJuriedShows@gmail.com.  Visit our website at  https://artcentermorrobay.org/index.php/upcoming-exhibits/  for more information and prospectus.  Entry deadline is April 1, 2018.    
 
We bid a sad farewell to Vice President, Lynn Douglass.  We are deeply grateful for her unyielding dedication!  Lynn has worked hard to bring us engaging classes, workshops and demonstrations.  She worked double duty with docents, to ensure our gallery has remained open every single day, without fail, and helped with extra events throughout the year.  Her limitless efforts included staffing the MBAA Art in the Park booth and managing monthly demonstrations.  Lynn’s boundless efforts have proven immeasurable.  Following her husband’s retirement, Lynn and Scott have planned new adventures, as they hit the road in their newly acquired 5^th wheel recreational trailer.   We wish them many happy travels to interesting destinations.   
 
So much goes on behind the scenes, and changes occur seemly by magic. Truthfully, Art Center Morro Bay is only as successful as the volunteers who manage and operate it.  Currently, we have an urgent need for board members and volunteers.  Without board positions being filled, the MBAA will not be able to continue with all of the benefits it now provides its members.  We need your support, now!  All of these positions require computer skills.  Many of them can be split or arranged so that you work with a partner.  Terms are generally one to two years.  Please give me a call if you would like to become the next Treasurer (or helper), Marketing Director, Gallery Director (or Co-Director), Docent Director, Adult Education Director or are willing to share responsibilities in any of these positions.  Training is provided.  Please email or call me, 805-423-1100.   
  
We thank you, members, volunteers and exhibitors! 

2nd Monday Demo

Painting with Wool-Needle and
Wet-Felting Fiber Art

March 12

3:00pm - 5:00pm

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Windows to Other Worlds

Los Osos artist, Flo Bartell, traveled to northern India with her husband and a group of artists in January, 2017 with the intention of studying the woodblock prints of Rajasthan, India.  The group stayed in simple hotels, enjoyed local foods and visited with local craftsmen and artisans.  Traveling from Jaiphur to Udaipur, Flo and the others sought to enliven their creative wonder and awe! It worked.  Five artists from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Missouri and California are featured.

A visit to the woodblock museum proved to be a treasure house. The original use of woodblocks carved with patterns inspired by stories and plant life was primarily for textile art. Inking the solid blocks of wood with their intricate designs onto fabric transformed the static element of wood into the flowing element of cloth. The designs became the decorative fabrics of the region.

The fruits of that trip represent the core idea of the upcoming show, Windows to Other Worlds, February 22 through April 2.  When you visit the show, look for other Morro Bay Art Center artists’ interpretations and glimpses of their foreign travels and insights. This is a show that celebrates our common humanity and the artistic spirit that blossoms in diversity.  Our travels can transform us. As Leonardo da Vinci said,  “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer".

Written by Sue Nash


Sue Nash is a new member of the Morro Bay Art Association who has lived in Cambria for eighteen years. She taught Art Appreciation at Cuesta College, co- owned a gallery on Maui and written a manuscript about Hawaiian petroglyphs. Her work is represented by Hana Coast gallery of Hana, Maui. 

What a treat to learn about weaving from master weaver, Sandra Rude! Sandra gave a brief history of weaving and told how early weavers created such beautiful tapestries and garments. She also showed us a miniature version of what most of us would recognize as a modern-day loom. Sandra had a wonderful slide show and talked about her process of taking a photo, editing it in Photoshop, and then she uses a program called WeaveIt to create the pattern for her loom. We all enjoyed seeing the beautiful examples of Sandra’s woven scarves, portraits, and framed still-life images.
 

    

 

Sandra showing students one of her woven scarves

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS Mixed Media Collage
with Page Graeber
March 22, 2018   9:00am - 12:30pm

Joy of Plein Air Landscape Painting
with
Debra Joy Groesser
June, 12, 13 & 14, 2018   times varied
Nebraska artist Debra Joy Groesser received her BFA degree in art in 1978. Her landscape paintings have garnered national recognition and awards. Being outdoors, whether in her perennial garden, in the mountains or by the sea, provides endless inspiration for her work. Debra’s ability to capture mood, emotion, atmosphere and a sense of place in her work attracts collectors, both private and corporate, worldwide.  Prior to the workshop, Debra will give a demonstration, free and open to the public on Monday, June 11, 2018, 3-5pm. This workshop will begin with an indoor class encompassing preparation, use of value and tools. The following 2 days will be held out of doors, on location. Designed for all skill levels.  Learn more here.

Classes & Workshops

Upcoming Classes with Joan Fee
 

Resin Beach Art
Saturday, March 17
10:00am - 12:00pm

Joan Fee provides an assortment of shells, colored glass, an 11” x 14” frame and resin to complete a beautiful custom beach scene. Class fee is $75.00
 

Succulent Wreath Class
Sunday, March18
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Learn how easy it is to create and maintain a succulent wreath. Choose from a heart wreath, two sizes of round wreaths or a square wreath. Everything is provided including beautiful, locally grown succulents,
wreath forms and use of tools.

 

Sea Glass Wire Wrap Jewelry OR Mobile 
Wednesday, March 21
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Learn basic wire wrapping to make a necklace and two pierced earrings or a mobile. Everything is provided including local sea glass, wire, beads and use of tools. No experience necessary.

 

Beginner Mosaic Class
Saturday, March 24
10:00am - 1:00pm

Choose a bunny, heart, garden rock, mirrors or wine bottle base piece then add your choice of broken plate pieces and baubles to create a custom mosaic masterpiece. Everything is provided to complete the project.

 

Pre-registration required for all Joan Fee classes 
 http://www.creativemetime.com/
or call Joan at 805-286-5993
To register for any of Joan Fee's classes, click here.