ZOOMORPHICA

ZOOMORPHICA, a nine card ATC (Art Trading Cards) show, opens Saturday, December 5th. Entrants are asked to submit nine ATC's in a nine card plastic holder sleeve. Place the name of the artist, address, phone #, e-mail address on the back of each card. Also, submit a SASE so your cards can be mailed back to you once the exhibition closes. The theme of the show is about animals morphing, changing, into something or something changing into an animal or derivations of that theme. The opening reception is scheduled for Saturday night December 5th at 7pm. Artists and their friends are invited to attend. Submitted ATC's must be suitable for family viewing. Any questions e-mail: davidmask@verizon.net

The deadline to receive your ZOOMORPHICA ATC's is Nov. 30, 2009.

Send your ATC's along with an SASE to:
ZOOMORPHICA
C/O David Mask, Curator
1661 Chisolm Trail
Lewisville, TX 75077

You and Me and Everybody We Know, new work by Susan Giller

VAL is pleased to present "You and Me and Everybody We Know" new work by Dallas artist Susan Giller.
Susan is an artist who loves many disciplines of art. Having devoted many years to figure drawing and clay sculpture she feels a close connection with the importance of self discovery in art making. Her first professional job in art was as a tapestry weaver with Scheur Tapestry Studio in Manhattan. There she made corporate tapestries for IBM, RJR Nabisco, Lakewood Wineries as well as private collectors. Her love of drawing developed during this time having the experience of attending the Art Students League, The School of Art and Design and Parsons School of Design, taking many drawing classes. In addition to teaching drawing and clay with the different schools in the area, she has worked with children and seniors on large scale mural installations. Susan shows her figurative clay sculpture at Goldesberry Gallery in Houston and participates in different shows in the area. In 2009, she was chosen for New Texas Talent through the Craighead Greene Gallery in Dallas

Susan's exhibition at VAL "You and Me and Everybody We know" opens Saturday, December 5th with a reception at 7pm that is open to the public.



During these last years I have been absorbed with your relationships and my relationships and everybody we know relationships. The animal in man has been an ongoing obsession since I was a child. Viewing them much like seeing animals in the clouds. Somehow I am stuck on birds, cats and rabbit’s. They have come to represent you and me and everybody we know. I enjoy playing with many medias and love stepping over the boundaries of mixing them all together. The hot days of June and July this year found me scratching and sanding and drawing and scratching some more into the canvas. It was heaven and got me through the heat.

Happenings at VAL

The Visual Art League has been buzzing with activity this fall, from Bryce Lafferty’s 3D watercolor creations, to a three day Art Sale Fundraiser, including a wine tasting. The LISD Faculty exhibit, held every three years, filled two galleries for five weeks. Hope you did not miss it. A special “Hand’s On” workshop meeting in November brought live models/musicians, T-Roy and Candace Miller, to perform and inspire new works by members to be exhibited in the spring of 2010.

Opening on December 5, we present “You and Me and Everyone We Know”, works by Dallas artist Susan Giller, and “Zoomorphica”, an exhibit of Art Trading Cards from around the world, curated by David Mask. A VAL member show themed “Dirty Works” will run concurrently through January 16, 2010. January 22 marks the opening of the annual LISD student art exhibition, with special gallery hours of 1-4pm, Saturdays and Sundays only, through March 3, 2010. The opening reception for a display of ceramic work by Brenda Lichman and Alisa Holen, as well as members’ works inspired by the “Hand’s On” workshop will be March 20.

ArtTalk meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. December 1 is the member holiday party, guest artist Susan Giller will speak on January 9 and Feb 2 we present a collaboration of VAL members Connie Nicholson, Louie Kruse, Bev Zerbe, Alice Brannen and Nell Elliott. In February, we will host Bill Daly’s framing demonstration.

“Acoustic Friday at the Gallery” continues every Friday at 7pm- bring your instrument, your sketchbook , or just your eyes and ears to enjoy the music and great art.

Art Trading Card free workshops with David Mask are held one Saturday of alternating months from noon-2pm. Bring your favorite art supplies and join us on January 23 and March 20.

Bryce Lafferty August 22nd opening reception

"Vicious Candied Dreaming" by Bryce Lafferty opening reception at VAL August 22nd.

Vicious Candied Dreaming

Vicious Candied Dreaming new work and installation by recent MFA graduate of the Unversity of North Texas Bryce Lafferty.
Bryce Lafferty’s three-dimensional watercolors are a smattering of color and pattern. They sometimes resemble toys, fruit, birds and anatomy. Raising young children has influenced his outlook on art making – he attempts to elevate the childlike experiences of fun, naiveté, day dreaming and discovery to the level of fine art.

Bryce lives in Denton, TX with his wife and two young children. He teaches Watercolor and Drawing at Richland College in Dallas and at the University of North Texas. Having recently graduated in December of 2008, Vicious Candied Dreaming is Bryce’s first solo exhibition since receiving his Master of Fine Arts degree.

Opening Reception:
Saturday, August 22nd 7pm

Exhibition Dates:
August 22nd to September 26th

August 4th Guest Speaker Anne Lawrence

Director of Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas and CADD Art Lab, Anne Lawrence.

Lawrence’s resume includes a background in studio art and art history as well as professional experience at museums, universities, and galleries, bridging the nonprofit, academic, and commercial aspects of art and community. Most recently she was Associate Director at Road Agent gallery in Dallas and volunteered as Head of the Education Committee with CADD from 2006-2008. In her five and a half years at the Dallas Museum of Art, Lawrence gained a greater understanding of the inner workings of a large arts institution by working in the curatorial, registrar, and education departments, lastly as Manager of Academic and Public Programs. She has taught art history and art appreciation courses at various universities including University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, and was a full-time instructor for two semesters at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Lawrence received her Bachelor of Arts in Art from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth and her Masters of Arts in Art History from University of North Texas in Denton. Lawrence was named as Director of CADD and Art Lab in March 2008 and started full-time in June 2008.

VAL
Tuesday, August 4th 7pm

Upcoming guest programs:
September 1st: Bryce Lafferty, artist talk
October 6th: Judy Gelfert, oil painting demonstration

Fresh Ideas Award Winners

FRESH IDEAS 2009
ANNUAL JURIED MEMBERS SHOW
July 11-August 16 2009

Opening Reception, July 11

First Place
Melina Marino
"What!?"
Stoneware

Second Place
Heather Ying He
"Red Onion"
oil

Third Place
Wanda Grice
"Mother’s Milk"
Watercolor

Honorable Mention
April Seiler
"Beacon of Happiness"
Watercolor

Ken Caperton
"The Celestial Bride"
Graphite

Fresh Ideas 2009

FRESH IDEAS
opening reception: Saturday, July 11 7:00pm

ANNUAL JURIED MEMBERS SHOW
Juror: Martha Falsetta

July 11-August 16 2009

Acoustic Fridays at VAL

Acoustic Fridays - please visit the Visual Art League each Friday evening 7pm until the music stops.

Acoustic Fridays at the Visual Art League of Lewisville exist solely to bring together acoustic music and visual art for the pure enjoyment of the community at large. The founders are visual artists who also play instruments and love to jam. All players of acoustic instruments are welcome as well as those who appreciate musicians and artists. The Visual Art League graciously supports this endeavor by providing the gallery space based in part on a grant received from the City of Lewisville as recommended by the Greater Lewisville Arts Alliance.

FRESH IDEAS 2009

More LISD Art Show Opening 2009

LISD's High School Art Show opened this past weekend and I attended and took plenty of photographs. Here are a few of the art works and the folks that attended.

LISD ART Show Opens At VAL Gallery

The LISD Art Show is now on display in the VAL Gallery. The opening for the High School show was last night. With hundreds attending and many awards given out, it was a fun filled event.

VAL opens its doors to LISD each year for display of the best art works by LISD students. VAL supplies small cash awards for the various art categories.

VAL represented @ Chili Cook off in 2008

Here's one for the VAL Diary. VAL was well represented at this Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser in 2008. Wanda Grice and Meg Smith served up a creative dish of chili to a visitor at the event.

VAL was Hot that day.

WAVE CRASH REVISITED: Jessica McCambly 10/'08

ATC Workshop with David Mask

Upcoming ATC Workshops: February 21st from noon to 4pm, March 21 and May 23

2009 First Tuesday of the month guest artist program

Jan 9 Ray-Mel Cornelius (presentation)
Feb 3 Rick Maxwell (presentation)
Mar 3 Cecy Turner (watercolor demo)
Apr 7 Lucille Carter (pastel demo)
May 5 Sonja Terpening (oil demo)
Jun 2 Michael Bales (presentation)
July - no meeting -
Aug 4 Martha Falsetta (2009 Fresh Ideas Juror)
Sep 1 Bryce Lafferty (presentation)
Oct 6 Judy Gelfert ( oil painting demo)
Nov 3 "Hands-On" activity in preparation for VAL member's exhibition in 2010
Dec 7 VAL Holiday party

Natural Tendencies and Transitions opening at VAL

Bekah Jewel

Jackie Haugen, "Peeling Paint" in the VAL member exhibition "Transitions"

Natural Tendencies Installation

Installation Day - in preparation of Rick Maxwell and Lisa Ehrich's opening reception tonight at VAL, January 24th 7-9PM

Hard at work L to R: Allison Starr, Rick Maxwell, and Lisa Ehrich

Bruce lighting the exhibition.

Natural Tendencies, Rick Maxwell and Lisa Ehrich

The Visual Art League of Lewisville is pleased to present “Natural Tendencies” the work of Rick Maxwell and Lisa Ehrich. Both artists work with natural materials that are influenced by nature. Opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, January 24th at 7pm. Exhibition will run through Saturday, February 28th. Maxwell earned his B.A. at the University of Dallas and his M.F.A. at Southern Methodist University. He currently lives in Dallas and is a professor at Brookhaven College where he teaches sculpture, three-dimensional design and drawing. It was the human figure that sparked Maxwell’s interest in his formative years. It is the simplicity of natural form that he has grown to deeply understand. Looking, touching, materials and form are all inseparable in his sculpture. Movement, change and light are the lifeblood of nature and are some of the energies that he attempts to trap in his work. Ehrich earned her B.F.A. at the University of Texas and her M.F.A at the University of North Texas. She currently lives in Dallas and is a department chairperson and professor at Brookhaven College. Ehrich’s makes clay objects that are influenced by nature. Embedded in the layers of intention and accident are the ideas that inspire Ehrich’s work: the sensuality of form, implied volume, human touch to a natural object, symbols of fragility, healing, and regeneration. Maxwell’s work has been featured in exhibitions at Brookhaven College, Mountainview College, Barry Whistler Gallery in Dallas, Rubin/Mardin Gallery in Seattle, Washington. His work is included in numerous public and private collections such as the Los Angeles County Museum, California, Dallas Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Atlantic Richfield Company, and Southwestern Bell. Ehrich’s work has been featured in exhibitions at venues such as the Galveston Community College, McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC) in Dallas, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Irving Art Center, East Oklahoma University, and San Angelo Museum of Art. Her teaching experience field courses include Vermont Carving and Sculpture Studio in Rutland, Vermont. New Mexico Field Course in Sante Fe, the British Field Course in London and the Italian Field Course in Rome.

Rick Maxwell, Black Bunny, 2007, 73x18x24, cedar
Lisa Ehrich, Renewable Energy, Porcelain and metal

Ray-Mel Cornelius talk on January 6th.

There was a full house at Ray-Mel's slide presentation of his work since the 70's. Everyone enjoyed Ray-Mel's illustrative work and how it has influenced his artwork including the work in his current exhibitions at VAL and Norwood Flynn galleries.