June 2025 Newsletter

Important dates in June 2025


June 6 – All members must have artwork from displays removed from Studio


June 7 – Studio Closes for Construction and refurbishing


June 7 – Crew of Volunteer members prepare studio for construction


June 20 – Crew of members put studio back in working order


June 23 – Studio Reopens


June 23 – Begin hanging Summer studio Art Display

President's Message June 2025


Happy Summer everyone!


I am so excited for the future of the Santa Rita Art League!


We have two very special Art League members who are excited to become our club leaders. These two members embody the volunteer spirit our club needs to remain a vibrant group of creatives.


Brenda Stewart and Pam Guard are currently the 1st Vice Presidents for the League. They are jumping in to help out in many areas. They are excited to learn, help and be leaders for our club. Next year they will be the Art League's Co-Presidents. I am delighted that they are willing and excited to lead our group.


For them to be successful leaders, they need the help of our members to make it happen. Please consider how you can help, in a volunteer capacity, so their vision for ongoing creative success can be realized. When the busy season begins next fall, we need to band together to make the 25/26 season spectacularly creative.


Thank you to everyone who helps us thrive through your volunteer efforts. Because of you, we have had a great 24/25 busy season, and we can look forward to more great seasons to come.


Have a great summer!


Jeani Gustafson


SUMMER ART DISPLAY 


After the studio reopens on June 23, our newly repainted walls will need some art on display.


Those of you who are here for the summer, please bring in a painting or two in June to help decorate our beautiful space. This display will hang for the summer months.


CURRENT STUDIO ART DISPLAY


In the classroom gallery, we have many pieces from the Masters Show.

In the New room gallery, we have a display by the Assemblage group.  

Please stop in to see these displays before they come down in June.

New Member Orientation


Welcome to the Santa Rita Art League, New Members!


For the summer, we will not be having new member orientation meetings. However, please visit the studio, ask questions of our monitors and begin to learn all that the Art League offers. You can also learn about the League by visiting our website.



If you have a specific question or need, please feel free to contact our New Member Liaison, Sally Bryan. Her e-mail address is SallyB@santaritaart.org.


New Member Orientation will begin again in September.

Mix and Mingle


There is no Mix and Mingle gathering scheduled for June.


STUDIO CLOSURE

  • Our studio just keeps getting better!!
  • Fresh paint, refinished floors and the wall between studios A and B will be removed.
  • Improvements can’t happen without closing the studio for a couple of weeks.
  • The studio will be closed June 7 through 23. 
  • No SIG meetings during that time (except plein air).

Parking Lot Closures


Mark your calendars: The parking lots at SRS will be repaved between approximately the 17th and 30th of June.

 

First, the two lower lots will close for about four days. During that period, only the Anza Building and upper decks will remain open, accessible from the upper lot. The pool, fitness building, and clay studio will be closed.

 

When the lower lots reopen, the upper lot will close, but all buildings and amenities will be available to members.

 

These dates will be refined as we get closer and are subject to change based on the conditions encountered when the work gets underway.


SRAL Monthly General Meeting


There will be no General Meeting in June.

Our Next Art Exhibit Announcement! 


In December 2025, we will be hosting our next Members Art Exhibit, and it will be a themed exhibit. At our April General Meeting, the members voted on the theme. Therefore, CHAOS AND HARMONY will be the theme for the December show. Members, you now have 6 months to mull that over; be inspired; generate thoughts and ideas; and create a painting.



It is always very interesting to see the variety of artwork generated by a theme.

Painting size will be restricted to 24" x 30" or smaller.

Volunteering at SRAL!


We could not function without the support of volunteers. We know that many have served and may not be able to continue to serve in specific roles. Consequently, we are always looking for new volunteers to support our programs and administrative functions. 


A new addition, at the studio, is a “Volunteer Board”! We need you! Please review the postings on a monthly basis, as new postings are added. Sign up, ask questions, or find someone to share a job, if it seems a little more than you want to do alone. We really do need you!



This “Volunteer Board” will also be at General Meetings, especially through the fall and winter. Thank you for considering this opportunity! If you have questions, please email Brenda Stewart or contact her by way of the contact information on the back of the Volunteer Board.

Educational Opportunities at the


Community Performance & Art Center – CPAC


Adult Workshops


  • Painting Animals with Pastels and PanPastels taught by Sonsoles (Sunny) Shack on May 26 -27, 2025
  • Gelli Printing Extravaganza II taught by Susan Ettl, a SRAL Member, on July 28 – 29, 2025


Click here for more information.



Current Exhibit at CPAC


"Spring Into Summer"


Featuring Works by SRAL Artists


Leslie Berry, Judy Lawrence, and Susan Ettl and Past SRAL

Members Annella Campbell, Jan Holland, Betsy Kimbrough,

Altie Metcalf, Karen Metcalf, and Rich Metcalf


Location: In the Harry and Ann Paxton Gallery & Theater Lobby


April 30 – May 30, 2025


Click Here for more information.



 Upcoming Exhibit at CPAC


“Plein Air”


Featuring Work by Arizona Artists


In the Harry and Ann Paxton Gallery and Theater Lobby


September 30 – November 3, 2025


Reception: Friday, October 10th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM


 

"Collage/Mixed Media Celebration III"


Featuring Work by Arizona Artists


In the Harry and Ann Paxton Gallery


November 3 – December 19, 2025


Reception: Friday, October 7th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM


Click Here for more information

DISPLAY OPPORTUNITIES


Desert Hills Lutheran Church is looking for artists to apply to display at the church.  

Requirements:

1. The artist should have a website showing their work.

2. Ideally 15 to 20 art pieces are desired for display.

3. Their exhibit would stay up at the church approximately 1-2 months.

4. The artist has the option of putting on a reception at the church.



The art selection committee at the church will decide who can exhibit. If interested in this opportunity, please contact Desert Hill Lutheran Church by way of Karen Workman at Karenmaggieart@gmail.com or 801-420-8160.


SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)


There are 11 Special Interest Groups and all of them are open to the members of the Art League.


  • ABSTRACT
  • ASSEMBLAGE
  • COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA and ACRYLIC
  • FIGURE DRAWING
  • LEARNING ABSTRACT


  • OIL PAINTING & PASTEL
  • OPEN STUDIO
  • PLEIN AIR
  • PORTRAIT
  • PRINTMAKERS GUILD
  • WATERCOLOR

On the SRAL website there is a complete description for each SIG.

If you wish to learn more about any of the SIGs, Click Here



Click here for the list of SIG chairpersons and their e-mail addresses.


Below is additional INFO not on the SRAL webpage.

ABSTRACT SIG

                    

The Abstract Group is on summer break until Monday, September 8th at 10 am. Have a great summer everybody!




ASSEMBLAGE


The assemblage group will meet all summer in the studio, on the 2nd & 4th Fridays from 1pm-3pm.



COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA and ACRYLIC


This group will be meeting one time monthly during the summer on the first Wednesday of the month, from 1-3 pm in the SRAL studio. 


The usual twice monthly schedule will resume in October.


You can contact Janet Johnson by Clicking Here.


All Art League members are invited to participate in this SIG. Get ready for a terrific year.


We will continue with our experiments in composition:

  • Compositional Design: Pyramid
  • Art Principle: Unity
  • Element: Form


Again, it is not necessary for you to participate in our challenges to attend the meeting. Bring something to share or work on, resources to share, etc. We love hearing new ideas and seeing new techniques.



FIGURE DRAWING


This group will not be meeting during the summer months


The Figure Drawing Group meets on the first Saturday of each month from November to April, 9 AM to Noon. We hope to see you then. Have a great summer!



 LEARNING ABSTRACT


This is a new group that is board approved and coming to you all in mid-October, on three Monday mornings each month, including the second, third, and fourth Mondays.


This group will be a work group, painting in the studio and learning together. We will work with artists from the Abstract SIG (formerly known as the Abstract Briggade) and utilize materials from our comprehensive library, as well as YouTube offerings, and more, to support everyone.


Reach out to Brenda Stewart if you are interested in joining the group or if you are interested in teaching using your medium of choice, or a favorite technique. Otherwise, just plan to attend in October.



OIL/PASTEL


The group will meet on June 2nd and 30th.

They will not meet in July and August.

They will resume meetings the first Monday in September.


We are a friendly, supportive, and informal group that allows our members a scheduled time to paint, share ideas, and techniques. We welcome both beginning and accomplished artists alike!



OPEN STUDIO


This popular event occurs every Tuesday from 9AM to 1PM. As recently updated, all members are welcome to use all media types. Oil paint is allowed in the main studio on Monday and Tuesday only, so this is a great time for oil painting, but only an odor-less solvent, such as Gamsol, can be used. Our usual members stop to have lunch at noon. Come and join us for a cool time this summer, and bring a lunch!



PLEIN AIR PAINT OUTINGS


This outdoor group will be painting all summer, with a very early start time, on Thursdays, beginning about 6AM to 9AM, as it becomes too hot after that time. A schedule for June has not yet been decided, however many of our group have become full time residents, and we are happy to add anyone else interested in painting outdoors. 


If you would like to join us send an e-mail to Nanci Sheppard. Click Here



PORTRAIT


The Portrait group will continue to gather throughout the summer, although they will not have a model. The group will meet and share their work, including members' works in progress.



PRINTMAKERS GUILD


Coordinators: Karen Keim and John McGraw


In September, we return to our schedule on the second Wednesday and the fourth Thursday of each month (alternate Thursdays in Nov./Dec). Interested SRAL members are always welcome to visit or join us in printmaking. Limited supplies are available for participation. To join the e-mail list, or if you have questions, please contact Karen Keim at KarenK@SantaRitaArt.org



WATERCOLOR


This group will continue to meet every Friday from 9 AM - 12 PM over the summer, except when the studio is closed for remodeling in June, of course. (Some of us also meet via zoom most Friday mornings in summer, 9 AM - 12 PM AZ time.)



To contact Valerie St. Marie Click Here

Click here for the list of SIG chairpersons and their e-mail addresses.