May 1, 2026

President's Message

Dear Members

So many exciting events and opportunities for our artists on the horizon. Check them out in this issue. Be sure to mark your calendars; you won't want to miss out. And don't forget to review the information about the gallery Board elections coming up soon.

Keep making your art, with appreciation and a big smile.

Cheryl Ehlers

Up Coming Events, Deadlines and More . . . At A Glance

• Entries now open for "Art of the Ages", Jun 1 – July 6, Here

Deadline May 29

• Applications now open for 75th Annual Fine Art Open Award Show. Here

• May 3, 2026, Sunday Carlsbad Street Faire - stop by and see Rose & Gloria in our booth. Parking pass here

• May 6, 2026, Art Share: 5pm-6:30pm. Contact Scott

• May 7, 2026, Demo, Sculpture with Dana McCullough, Sign-Up Here



• May 9, 3-5pm, Reception - Join us!

• May 9, 3-5pm Scavenger Hunt (during the reception), Join in the fun!

• May 13, 2026, Inside Look: 5pm-6pm, Contact Cheryl

• June 1 - Take-In 9:30AM-1PM - Art Removal May Show

• June 4 - Demo 1:45-3:15pm, cold wax techniques Melinda Cootsona, Sign-Up

Upcoming Gallery Board Elections

The Nominating Committee has been diligently pursuing candidates for our upcoming open positions. Candidates do not have to be Members or Artists, so referrals are welcomed. The Voting Slate will open Late June for Membership to Vote on the candidates. to meet our deadline of installation on August 1, 2026.

Please direct your communication to Susan Bell or by text @ 760-405-3199.

We are seeking: The following Board Positions.

• President:     Knowledge of Budgets, and Community Programming (assisted by BOD Members).
• Gallery Director: Gallery Management and Maintenance, Hosts, etc.
• Director of Publicity: ( Manages all the PR teams and scheduling of posts, etc.
• Parliamentarian: Responsible for managing the governance laws for non-profit and requirements at BOD meetings if voted and accepted.  Cheryl Ehlers has agreed to be considered to fill this position.

The following volunteers will remain in their Board of Director positions:  

Susan Bell, Vice President: Fundraising and sponsorship, support to the President

Scott Bruckner, Membership Director: Responsible for accepting New Member artists.

Judy Richardson, Secretary: Recording Secretary

Julie Brooks, Programs Director: Responsible for implementing action all our Programs

Carolyn Alkire, Treasurer

We are also seeking the following Committee (not Board) positions needing to be filled:

• Gallery Jobs Coordinator to make phone calls and keep our programs filled with volunteer assistance 
• Gallery Manager (Board Position) - Gallery Management and Maintenance, Hosts, etc.
• Assistant Gallery Manager – monthly and as needed
• Monthly Art Take-in Coordinator – once a month, Excel skill required.
• Assistant Programs Manager – monthly and as needed
• Assistant Director of Publicity – as needed
• Assistant Shrink Wrap Coordinator
• Volunteers willing to place Phone calls to Show ribbon award winners on Thursdays, once a month 

Welcome New Members

Shawn Ayazi, Sculpture; Ariana Ayazi, Acrylic, Monica Coronado, Acrylic; Bob Sember, Mixed Media

At the Gallery

A few things to note:

• Gallery Hours - The Gallery is now back to weekend hours 9am-8pm.

• Attention all Hosts; You all will be contacted via email regarding procedures, issues and instructions for hosting the gallery, monthly. Please make certain you read, print and keep the email for future reference Thank you.

• Hosts, please remember, if you are the last shift, bring in our signs and lock the front door.

• Hosts, when you are hosting the gallery, make sure to take a look at all the art! Pick your favorite and text a photo of it to Michelle Montrose from our Social Media Team at 619-865-5728.

HAPPENING IN MAY 2026 and the months ahead . . .

May Show - Spring In Motion

April 20 - June 1 (42 day exhibit)

Judge:: Lucas Smith

Reception: May 9, 3pm-5pm, Join us!

Art Removal: June 1

May 7, 2026 – 1:30pm, DEMO 

Sculpture with Dana McCullough, Sculptor & Instructor @ the Lieu de Sculpture studio in Carlsbad, (next to the gallery).

Only a few seats left. Sign Up Here

Visit Dana

Join us for a Scavenger Hunt during the Reception. Find the artwork that goes with these pictures and win a free fountain drink from The Boarding Home and a $1 off coupon for Gelato Love.

Art Share with host Scott Bruckner, May 6, 2026, 5pm-6:30pm - Join now for a monthly Art Share at COAL. On the first Wed of each month, an event where you will share your work, ideas and creative ene rgy, and get to know fellow members of the gallery. 

Whether you are just starting out and looking for comments on your work, or you have years of experience, this is a way to connect with others in a very relaxed and supportive environment. You will find it inspiring and uplifting, I know I do. 

No judging. No competition. Just creativity, community, and connection. Contact Scott to let us know you will be there.

Inside Look with host, Cheryl Ehlers, May 13, 2026, 5-6pm. Come meet and talk to our featured Monthly Artist, Marjorie Weaver.

INSIDE LOOK SEEKS MONTHLY SHOW ARTISTS 

 We offer Members:

• NCAG Website presentation (Home page and Event sections)
• Social Media presentation
• Coast News Calendaring
• Local Event Calendaring
• Community Calendaring

Signup today to, share about yourself, your art journey, and your inspiration. Introduce yourself to members and the public. Sign up here now.

Contact Cheryl.

June Show - "Art of the Ages",

Jun 1 – July 6

Enter Here - Deadline May 29

Take-In: June 1, 9:30am-1pm

No Reception

Art Removal: July 6

Demo -June 4, 2026, 1:30pm,

 Cold wax techniques with  Melinda Cootsona, Sign-Up Here

Judge: Richard Hawk



Applications Open: APR 1, 2026 noon HERE. 



Deadline to apply: JUL 15th @ NOON. 

Acceptance Notice: By JULY 25 @ noon, 

Art Take-In Date:  AUG 2, 9:30AM – 1PM. 

Art Removal Date: SEPT 5, 2026, 9:30AM - 1PM

Volunteers Needed for

Madd Hatters - July 23, 5pm-8pm

Madd Hatters - August 9, 10am-4pm

Jingles - Dec 6, 11:30am - 5:30pm

Youth Show Coordinating Asst - Oct 2026

Sign-up



Call for Artists Holiday Bazaar open to 10 inside and 10 outside 10-8pm, Saturday, November 28 @ the Gallery. Food/Music and cheers! Signup

Booth Managers Needed

Want to work the NCAG Booth at the Carlsbad Street Fair, Nov 1, 8-4pm. Contact Cheryl for details. ncagpresident@gmail.com



April Awards

May Best of Show

Sybilla Voll

New Mexico

Mixed Media

People's Choice

Joan Hansen

"Summer Afternoon"

Acrylic

View all May awards here

Members, do you have a Facebook or Instagram page? Provide your info here.



COAL/NCAG members are invited to a special closing reception, hosted by Julie Brooks, for "Let's Go Wild", at the Expressions Gallery, Escondido Arts Partnership, 262 East Grand, Escondido, CA, on May 1, 3pm-5pm. The Let's Go Wild exhibit features COAL/NCAG artists COAL Artists Julie Brooks, Ira Cosmos, Elena Miller, and Joan Hansen.

Congratulations to Barbara Beck and Priscilla Monger on being selected for the "Alchemy + Light" exhibition at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad, CA, running from March 27 to August 23, 2026. Featuring over 90 works by seven female photographers from the True North Photo Society, the show explores the intersection of analogue, alternative processes, and digital photography, highlighting experimental and luminous visual experiences. Be sure to stop in to see this exciting exhibit. 

Little Fest Highlights

Do you have news of you're upcoming exhibits, awards, etc. you'd like in Brushmark? Please send all the details in a format ready to be published along with any photos to Cindy. It will be published in the next Brushmark that comes out 2 weeks after receipt of your submission.

Who To Call for Help

Director of Programs, Julie Brooks, click to contact Julie

• Demo & Expression Programs
• Art on the Green

Director of Membership - Scott Bruckner, click to contact Scott

• 2026 Membership Drive/Renewal

Baffles Coordinator, Charcee Colosia, click to contact Charcee

Applications open on Sept 26 for Baffle period Oct 1- Nov 3 (1 month). Apply Here

Demo Coordinator, Sharon Commins. Be sure to welcome her when you see her at the Jan 8 Demo. Click to contact Sharon

Jewelry and Sculpture Space Rentals - See tabs 8 & 9 on Members Info Page

Publicity Chair We need to find a replacement ASAP. Do you know Instagram? This is a key position that has risen our organization to the top in social media. Can you please contact Julie Brooks. Meanwhile, while hosting.. Text her the photos and information of any to Julie at (909) 538-6218. Remember to tag, post and share all our posts!

Programs

Art on the Green - Open to All Artists and Art Organizations

Join us each weekend "on the green".

Art on the Green now has a new direct application link.  Easy signup Here.

Sign up opens on Mondays 8am and closes on Fridays by 6pm via the online accessible on the website page of Art on the Green with all the details.

Please remember, while your surroundings are more casual, you are representing our gallery and are held to the same standards of professionalism as our gallery staff. In addition, we have special rules for AOG vendors to assure that those standards are maintained. Those who choose not to follow the AOG vendor rules can lose their privileges.

Questions, please contact Julie Brooks

Demo and Expression get details here.

Questions, please contact Sharon Commins

Grades: ages 1st – 12th, you have plenty of time to prepare your art for the October 2026 exhibition. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2026.. You can now Apply here.

Contact Show Director: Charcee Colosia at charlotte.charcee@gmail.

We Love Our Volunteers

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers! We couldn't run the Gallery without you. Each month, we will highlight many of our volunteers and introduce them and their jobs. You may not always see them - they might be in the back room, behind a desk or at a computer. But everyone of you are critical to our operations. Thank you all!!!

Welcome and thank to our newest members of our Social Media team. Michelle Montrose is doing posts. For extra added fun, Michelle also does live portrait demonstrations in costumes at local Renaissance fairs. Michele Gorcey and Ira Cosmos are doing reels. Katinka Clementsmith is the word smith and Julie Brooks is backup.

When you are hosting the gallery, make sure to take a look at all the art! Pick your favorite and text a photo of it to Michelle Montrose at 619-865-5728.

Welcome and thank to Jen Powell, our new web master.

Open volunteer positions - we need you! Jobs Coordinator, Publicity Chair, Publicity assistants. Contact Cheryl if you can help.

COAL Membership

We accept artists all year long, but we also have a renewal deadline December 31.



Renew or signup for this page BECOME A MEMBER

Questions: Contact Scott Brucker

Did We Miss Something?

Please check the website. All information is listed on our website under Members Info here.

• Get your Parking squared away & view the Hosting Calendar: Easy to find along with the revised Substitute Host Lists and all the Gallery Information.

To contact the Brushmark Editor, email Cindy Fatica

Gallery Hours

11-5pm Daily - January - March 31, 2026

Extended Hours beginning April 1, 2026