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LAA News
September 2019
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First General Meeting of the Season
Tuesday, September 17th |
Mia Merlin
"Overwhelming the World with Goodness" - Desmond Tutu
Carol Otto Cole
In the Art world, it's not easy to climb from youthful and relative obscurity to a place where your dedication and struggle receive a hemispheric spotlight. Or is it easy to have high-profile collectors, curators, admirers and followers any artist would covet. Alas, as all LAA members and art lovers know, it takes someone special with limitless imagination and humility to push the grind and claw the muck for the long-term rewards. Someone with compassion for the suffering of others and who is willing to combine her artistic and team-building skills to effect a touching memorial. Someone very much like the LAA's guest speaker for September 17.
Mia (pronounced MY-uh) Merlin, an Atlanta native now living in Savannah, by day teaches Art Appreciation and Drawing and Painting at Georgia Southern U - Armstrong Campus. With an 2003 MFA in Drawing and Painting from Georgia State University, Merlin along the way developed a fondness, ever evolving, for the intimate depiction of everyday life. Her mother and daughter are ever-present subjects in paintings, sometimes eating in sunlit domestic interiors or just hanging with friends ("Girls", pictured, is evocative of the intimist painter Pierre Bonnard with his intense use of color and ability to crystalllize the most transient expressions). Check out her website, miamerlin.com and you'll find a portfolio broken into unorthodox but well-tended categories: "Mom", "Sea of Lily", "Savannah", "Parade", to name a few, are all autobiographical and personal rather than the customary Still Life or Landscape divisions normally found. She says the process of painting allows her to appreciate the world and to experience its complexity and mystery, as she intimately studies the hidden worlds within the familiar.
Merlin's work has been viewed nationally and internationally in exhibitions, juried shows, and museums. In 2010 Merlin's painting was selected by the US Art in Embassies program as part of an exhibit in the US Embassy in Vatican City, and more recently in Manama, Bahrain. She has had solo shows at Fay Gold Gallery, Emory University and the University of West Georgia, with "Birthday Party" chosen among the top 10 art shows of the year by Atlanta's art magazine, Creative Loafing. Her paintings have been selected for permanent collection by the Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture Atlanta's Library System.
But to the important part. Mia Merlin is someone you would want for a neighbor, friend, or family member. In a world seemingly gone mad with sick, senseless tragedies, Merlin was inspired after the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando to memorialize the slain victims. A quote from Desmond Tutu comes to mind: "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." Merlin reached out to artists through a single Facebook post, and the 49 Portraits project was born: a country-wide collaboration of artists coming together to paint each of the victims as a loving tribute for their family members, after an admirable exhibition in Orlando's City Hall. Treat yourself to the website, 49portrait.com, and prepare to be profoundly touched.
So grab your comfortable gear and join us for a memorable evening with Mia Merlin as we begin the LAA's 33rd season. Anyone interested is welcome to join its membership for this fun evening ($3 guest fee), at the Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, Tuesday, September 17 at 7 pm. For information about LAA, visit landingsartassociation.com or contact Daryl Nicholson, Membership Chair at darylnicholson@me.com.
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Artist of the Month - September
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The Landings Art Association
Announces its
September 2019 Art Exhibit
featuring the works of
Elizabeth Slocum
and
Karen Macek
LAA Plantation Gallery
September 5 - October 1
Opening Reception Thursday, September 5, 2019
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
The Landings Art Association invites you to join Artists of the Month Elizabeth Slocum and Karen Macek at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 5th for a reception in The Plantation Club Gallery celebrating the opening of their new show.
Currently president of the Landings Art Association board, Elizabeth Slocum grew up in a family of artists and artisans in upstate New York. She was exposed to the many creative mediums available at an early age, however, she was never able to find her own niche.
After graduating with a degree in business/marketing, Elizabeth became an advertising executive for media giant Hearst Corporation in New York. While working, she continued to pursue her love of art, honing her skills with several different mediums.
Relocating seventeen times to various places around the globe with her husband Chip, Elizabeth took advantage of the multi-cultural experiences she encountered, focusing on specific areas within the world of art. From owning an interior design/event planning/flower shop to teaching classes in stained glass, creativity was the common thread throughout her career choices.
In 2010 Elizabeth stumbled onto a form of mixed media art that she continues to mold and refine into a technique she can call her own. Using acrylics and oils to start backgrounds and detail, she then adds in custom papers, glass, metals, re-purposed items, and natural fibers to design a piece of art that is filled with texture and depth. Each one-of-a-kind piece incorporates papers that are either handmade or purchased from Asian markets, and is finished off with many layers of a sealant blend that Elizabeth created through hours of experimentation. In addition to mixed media pieces, she also works with watercolors, acrylics, oils, and paint pouring techniques.
Elizabeth has exhibited mostly in galleries along the east coast, but also in Texas and Mexico. Her works are in private collections around the US, Canada, and Europe.
Elizabeth is represented by The Signature Gallery in downtown Savannah. She may be contacted at bsartista@yahoo.com or 804-318-0066 for inquiries into an existing or custom piece.
Artist Karen Macek is presenting a body of work she refers to as "Point of View: Take 2", through which she offers her interpretation of The Lowcountry, primarily the expanse of our marshes. Her luminous paintings are made using a variety of methods and mediums. For some she applies layered glazes with a rag brush, while others are created using a mixture of oil and cold wax applied with a palette knife. For others she uses sweeping brush strokes.
Karen has been drawing and painting since childhood. As an adult she used her skills to build a 30-year-career in the garment industry. Her travels all over America, Europe and Africa inspired a vivid color palette that is indicative of the energy reflected in her work.
"Everything about the process of painting excites me. This conversation between my brush, my canvas, and my paints continues to explore the nuances of expression and challenge. Simply put, I love to paint!"
Karen is an active member of the Landings Art Association, having chaired or co-chaired the Spring Art Show in 2012, 2013 and 2017. She is also a member of the Telfair Academy Guild, and founder of "Color x Twelve", an annual show of twelve local artists.
Karen is supportive of several local charities including The One Hundred Club, benefitting the Children's Hospital in Savannah, Safe Shelter, and AMBUCS, donating paintings as auction items. She also designs posters and collateral printed materials for various fundraisers.
Don't miss the Opening Reception
Thursday, September 5 from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
(Public Welcome/Refreshments Available)
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| From our President's Desk |
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ANNOUNCING
THE LAA/SOUND VIEW
2019 FALL HARVEST OF
ART AND LITERATURE
Sunday, October 20, 11-4 PM
in the Village on Skidaway Island
The LAA Board is pleased to announce that we're bringing back an old favorite highly restylized! On Sunday, October 20 from 11 to 4 pm, the LAA and the Village Library will be taking over the Village on Skidaway Island.
Not only will the sidewalks be overflowing with wonderful works of 2D and 3D artisan designs, there will also be a book sale and author signings by the Village Library...all sponsored by Sound View Wealth Advisors!
To help celebrate this fall tradition, the Village Bar and Grill will be outside cooking and pouring libations; a jazz band from the Fine Arts Music Department of GSU will be performing; the Landings' Plantation Club will be serving up a storm; Blick's Art Materials will be demonstrating, sharing, and selling fun-filled artistic ideas; and a farm harvest of local seasonal fruits, veggies, and pumpkins will be on hand to take home.
All advertising and promotion will be included in the cost of a space. This will include a TWATL cover, posters, banners, full page ad in the TWATL, and articles in the Landings Journal, TWATL, Skinnie, and Savannah Morning News.
We are still in the initial planning stages of this fun-filled event but now is the time to book in your reservation to participate and start creating your works. All spaces are approximately 10' long. There will be no space numbers - you chose your space on strictly a first come, first served basis.
Upon request, we will provide 3 screens each or you may bring your own. You may also bring a pop-up should you desire. All set-ups/take-downs are the responsibility of the participating artist. No tables or chairs will be provided - you need to bring your own.
Cost per space: $40 without screens or $50 with screens. Set-up starts at 9 am. Should you wish, you may share a space and the cost with another LAA member.
To reserve your space(s), snail mail or tube your name, phone, email address, and the number of spaces you require along with a check made payable to LAA to Margie Sone at 37 Dame Kathryn Drive, Savannah GA 31411.
For questions or concerns, you may contact Margie Sone at 954-662-8127 or Betsy Slocum at 804-318-0066.
Please note that this is a Sunday afternoon arts and literature cultural event. There will be no children's activities, face painting, rides, vintage cars, or food trucks.
RAIN OR SHINE THE FESTIVAL WILL GO ON SO PLAN ACCORDINGLY!
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The LAA/Sound View Wealth Advisors
MEMBERS' GALLERY
at The Plantation Club
Coming up this month...
Intake will take place at Plantation between 9AM and 11AM on Wednesday, September 4th. Please remember to pick up your artwork from August even if you are not bringing in a new piece.
Congratulations to Phyllis Tildes, the 1
st
Place winner of the LAA/Sound View Artist's Award for July and Pam Reynolds, Honorable Mention winner!
Looking ahead...
Coming in November -
NAME THAT TUNE!!!
All 2-D artists are asked to name their artwork after a popular song from the 50's, 60's or 70's. To be eligible for a 1
st
place ribbon and $100 prize in November, remember to name your piece after a song that was popular during these 3 decades! The artwork itself does not have to conform to a certain theme.
Remember...Oversized artwork (larger than 30"x30" framed) is accepted with a prior reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum size for oversized art is 36" LONG X 36" WIDE. This includes the frame. Contact Marie Tomlinson at inkstresse@gmail.com to reserve a spot. For all other artwork, the maximum size remains at 30" X 30" framed (with hanging wire) and, as usual, NO reservation is required.
For further information, please contact our LAA/Soundview Gallery at Plantation Coordinator, Marie Tomlinson, at inkstresse@gmail.com.
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The Landings Company Venue
September-October Artist |
Plantation/Soundview Gallery
Monthly Winner-August |
Congratulations
Phyllis Tildes, First Place Winner and Pam Reynolds, Honorable Mention
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2020 Membership dues must be
paid
by December 31st...Look for upcoming details and forms in the October newsletter and on out webpage.
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MERRILL LYNCH AUGUST
INTAKE/PICK-UP
DATE CHANGE
Please note that the existing LAA display at Merrill Lynch will remain in place until Wednesday, October 2nd. There will be no intake/pickup on September 4th.
Watch for coming details soon.
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