Mark Your Calendars. "PROMISE" MURAL UNVEILING + ARTFEST IN HENDERSON IN JUST OVER A WEEK.

These recent photos taken by HAA Vice President and member Nicky Watts showcase HAA affiliate member and mural artist Ozzy Villate in his element, applying the finishing touches to his "Promise" mural, which he has been painting with love and conviction on the side of the Rainbow Club Casino for the past two months. Ozzy began painting his mural on February 25th and will complete this wonderful work just in time for Mother's Day weekend and ArtFest in Henderson, a major weekend event.

The official unveiling of "Promise" will be kicking things off this year's ArtFest, next Friday evening on Water Street, to an expected packed crowd. This is the 12th Annual occurrence of the much-anticipated Henderson event that reportedly attracts over 40,000 attendees a year.

An HAA table will be set up for the sale of new HAA t-shirts. WE COULD USE VOLUNTEERS TO MAN THE TABLE. And we welcome any and all help and participation for other Henderson events all year long. As for ArtFest: Come one. Come all.

If you're already an HAA member and available to help out or interested in membership, please get in touch with us here: ArtistsInHenderson@yahoo.com

Additional photos from HAA member Nabila Khanam should be forthcoming and will be posted here after tomorrow.

Find out more about what's going on, when, where, and for how long, at the following links:

hendersonlive.com/special-events/artfest

Las Vegas Nevada News Feed » Spend Mother’s Day Weekend At ArtfestTM of Henderson

A Few New Members

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to new Henderson Art Association members Ed Klein, Debora Herrera, and Brian Daley. They are the most recent additions to our growing body of artists and the first to be welcomed in 2009.

As a reminder to all members and artists seeking membership, jurying is the first step of the membership process. Fulfilling the balance of dues is the second. Dues, along with show entry fees, proceeds from fundraisers, and percentage of art sales, are what allow our organization to cover operational costs. Despite not having a brick and mortar gallery at this time, we have plenty of expenses to cover. So, should you have total or partial outstanding membership dues, please submit the balance.

Look for new members (and existing) to be featured here shortly.

Who Made the Blog Today? Ed Hoag

HAA artist Ed Hoag's work is derivative of and inspired by his background as landscape architect and educator. He is currently Associate Professor Emeritus from Texas A&M University as well as Signature Member of the Nevada Watercolor Society and Texas Watercolor Society.

Ed has traveled extensively in Italy and to a lesser extent in the western United States and Mexico, and he is represented by galleries in Texas and New Mexico. His work has been accepted into many regional and national juried shows and exhibitions. He teaches classes and workshops in and around the Las Vegas area.

Ed works in oils and watercolors. Landscapes, architecture, and wildlife are among his favorite subjects. He only paints what he has seen and experienced. His style emphasizes the effects of light upon his subjects and varies from representational to impressionistic, depending upon his mood.

Ed can be contacted via email at edmjhoag@cox.net

Call For Entries: Village Arts Festival

Mark your calendars. The Village Arts Festival at Lake Las Vegas will be taking place Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17, 2009. You're invited to join painters, potters, sculptors, glass artists, photographers, and other members of the artistic community in the unique atmosphere of the Tuscan-themed village square.

Over 50 fine artists selected from around the country exhibit their work along the breathtaking Lake Las Vegas shore.

The festival is a production of The Boulder City Art Guild.

Download an application form online at www.villageartfestivals.com

Find out more at bouldercityartguild.org or by phone at 702.293.2139.

Upcoming Juried Show: Celebrating Life! 2009

Mark your calendars. The Celebrating Life! 2009 Juried Fine Art Competition will be taking place May 12th and 13th, featuring the work of active adults age 50 or better. Entries are due on May 12th and 13th at the Charleston Heights Arts Center.

A Reception and Awards Ceremony will follow on Friday, May 22nd from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Awards will be presented at 6:30. The exhibition will remain on display at the Charleston Heights Arts Center from May 22nd until July 1st, 2009.

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Honorable Mention will receive a plaque.

There are restrictions to participant eligibility. For further information, please call 702.229.1012 or visit artslasvegas.org

View images from last year's show here: City of Las Vegas Arts Commission - Celebrating Life! 2008

Boulder City Fine Arts Festival

Mark your calendars. The 24th Annual Boulder City Fine Arts Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, April 18th and 19th, 2009. Each day the festival will run from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm in Boulder City's beautiful Bicentennial Park.

The event is sponsored by the Boulder City Art Guild. Find out more information here.

www.bcfineartsfestival.com

Who Made the Blog Today? Drina Fried

Born in Buffalo, NY, where her father ran a successful jewelry display manufacturing business until he was 85, Drina moved west and spent much time as a California artist before settling in Las Vegas in the spring of 2008. Her mother was a self-taught artist and writer as well. Drina was one of four children and the only granddaughter of Taylor Caldwell, an author in the late 1930s-1980s who turned out 33 best-selling novels.

In September of 2008, shortly after her arrival, Drina's fabric collage won "Best of Show" at her first Henderson showing. Her work was also recently shown at the Liberace Museum and much of it currently hangs in collections in the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles area, and back east in Buffalo.

Drina's collage process is unique and involves layering chosen fabrics to form the under-picture. Then various embellishments are added to emphasize shading and contrast, including paint, embroidery, and other media. Often her visions are cityscapes, florals, or interiors with windows leading out to landscapes. She uses the process of looking, perceiving from a digital image, and interpreting into a varied fabric "canvas." Permanent heat-set glue makes each piece as strong and durable as oil or acrylic paintings on canvas. So vivid and enticing is her work that she often displays pieces behind glass to protect them from the wandering hands of viewers attracted to the texture.

View more work and learn more about HAA member Drina Fried at her site: www.artbydrina.com

Artists Unite

Above: HAA members talk shop over comfort food. Here: HAA Board Members Charme Curtin and Nicky Watts proudly display one of three new Henderson Art Association t-shirt designs.

On Sunday, March 23rd, HAA Board Member and artist Sharon Menary was again kind enough to open the doors of her home and studio to host back-to-back HAA meetings. Turnout was great and there was hardly enough time to cover all of the things on the agenda, especially since the living room was filling up and we didn't want the food to get cold. Shirts were unveiled and plans for a big year were discussed. New board members were announced and new faces were present among a wealth of old ones. Here is the most current list of 2009 Henderson Art Association Board Members. A list of members will follow and several members (old and new) will soon be featured and welcomed here as well. Check back often.

President: Deborah Mays

First Vice President: Nicky Watts

Second Vice President: Norm Rosenfeld

Treasurer: Shirley Jeane

Secretary: Vina Curtis

Gallery Director: Andrew Maioli

Events Coordinator: Sharon Menary

Creative Director: Dana Satterwhite

Artists-at-Large: Charme Curtin + Roberto Rico

Thanks again, Sharon.

Mark Your Calendars.

Back-to-back Board and General Meetings of the Henderson Art Association will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at Sharon Menary's studio. The HAA Board Meeting will begin at 1:00 pm and last one hour. The General Meeting will immediately follow and run from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. At both of these meetings, changes over the past year and those in the foreseeable future will be discussed. New board positions will be confirmed and announced. Roles, duties, and expectations will be outlined and clearly defined. In the words of newly-elected Board President Deborah Mays, "The General Meeting will be more in the spirit of a party in recognition of our members and an opportunity to meet the new Board members."

So, current members in good standing, past members looking to get back in good standing, and future members who have never had any standing at all, we welcome you. Guests of members are welcome as well.

For directions and additional details, contact Sharon Menary (sharonmenary@yahoo.com) If you are interested in membership or becoming part of the art community, visit the membership page of the HAA website, artistsinhenderson.com/membership or email us here: ArtistsInHenderson@yahoo.com

Who Made the Blog Today? Aileen Dike

Aileen Dike was born in New Zealand and grew up there as well. Although the southwest desert is a direct contrast to the forested mountains and green pasturelands of her homeland, she loves to paint the colorful southwest. Her paintings will take you on a scenic journey of the Mohave Desert with interludes of the animal and bird life one can observe there. Aileen is mostly self-taught but has taken advantage of learning through short workshops with a number of renown artists. She has shown and won awards with the Nevada Watercolor Society, Boulder City Art Guild, and Henderson Art Association and also accepted into the Western Federation of Watercolor Artists show in Park City, Utah. Aileen's work may be viewed in the Boulder City Artists Guild Gallery in Boulder City, NV and City Lights Artists Co-op Gallery in Henderson, NV.

Who Made the Blog Today? Charme Curtin

Charme Curtin has been fortunate to be surrounded by artists all her life. Her mother was a professional oil and watercolor artist and her father designed jewelry when they were not working as real estate brokers. Because of this, other professional artists were always visiting her family's home, coaching Charme on a broad knowledge of different mediums. She now specializes in watercolors.

She attended classes with the Laguna Art Colony in Laguna Beach, CA; Memphis College in Memphis, TN; and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. She has taken watercolor classes from Julian Bloom, Jim Burns, Gerald Spencer, and Jan Schaeffer. She recently studied oils with Tamara Geddes and Lois Payne.

Her beautiful artwork has received numerous awards in various competitions and has been published in the National Watercolor Catalog. Charme has been affiliated with the Cypress Art League, Orange County fine Arts League, and served as past board member of the National Watercolor Society. She is currently on the Henderson Art Association Board, the Nevada Watercolor Society Board, and a member of the Boulder City Art Guild.

Her most recent show "Art: The Song in Your Heart" is currently on display at the Henderson Multigenerational Center Gallery (located at 250 S. Green Valley Parkway). Read more about the inspiration behind that show at this link to an earlier post: Creative Henderson: HAA Artist Charme Curtin's Exhibit Makes LV Sun

See more of her Charme's work at her website: My Work - Work by Charme'

A New Medium

"Pineapple" by Drina Fried

It's always good to be trying new things. This post subject comes courtesy of HAA artist Drina Fried.

Last Sunday, February 22, Debra MacDonald, National Marketing and Sales Manager of Chroma, gave a demonstration of interactive acrylics to a packed house (literally) in HAA artist Sharon Menary's studio. The workshop was free and artists turned out in numbers.

Historically, oils take an eternity to dry but can be blended to perfection. Acrylics are tough to blend but dry in an instant, sometimes too quickly. Interactive acrylics intend to give you the best of both worlds. They mimic the look of oil paint. Their finish is smooth and non-plastic. They provide the artist flexibility to blend and re-blend, while maintaining the faster drying nature of acrylic paint. 

To learn more about this product and others, visit this direct link: Atelier Interactive / Products / Chroma

Chroma is an international manufacturer and supplier of artists' oil paints and mediums, artist's acrylic paints and mediums, artists' hyper gouache, educational acrylic paints, art students' acrylic paints and paints, and mediums for decorative art.

They have offices in the UK, the US, and Australia. You can find out more or stock up at their website: www.chromaonline.com

Perception vs. Reality

I spend my days dealing with, shaping, and influencing these two things—for brands, for organizations, for myself. You have the way things are and the way things appear to be. There's what people think. Then there's what we'd like them to think. There's what people see. Then there's what we want them to see. Simple. Right? Hope everybody's still with me.

Well, when it comes to art, especially art right here in the Las Vegas Valley, especially, especially in Henderson, there's no greater need for clarification. And more than simply defining things clearly, it seems there is a need to push ourselves perhaps to and beyond the point of being challenged; maybe even to the point of being a little (or a lot) uncomfortable.

Normally, I'm totally onboard with the articles I see being written about the local art scene, its growth, resurgence, proliferation, or complete lack thereof. Today I read an article, however, that got me going in a completely different way. Initially, I took offense. The first three paragraphs were unflattering and mildly condescending in their tone, suggesting that the subject matter portrayed in many pieces rendered locally is flimsy, shallow, and less-than-fit for inspired conversation. There was a subtle allusion to the work being superficial and elementary.

Then, somehow the article redeemed itself by not being totally unflattering. It seemed almost pitifully empathetic to the plight of the local artist. In the end, I didn't get upset because, while I may have said it differently, much of what was being said is exactly right.

The perception within local art organizations is one thing. That of the public on the outside looking in is altogether different, much like what a painter intends when painting is often a far cry from what passes through the mind of the viewer. The perception of our art community is that it is small, quaint, safe, and trailing edge. The reality of it is, in many ways, pretty close to the perception. But it can be changed and it will.

I took these allegations personally and to heart. My instinct was to come to the immediate defense of all of my fellow artists, for whom I take time out to write, applaud, and support here.

The reality is, there is an overwhelming amount of artistic talent between us but often it is not promoted, displayed, or showcased properly. Or, in an effort to represent each of us fairly, we represent all of us unjustly. But, honestly, to the author's credit, I wholeheartedly agree that more of the same is not going to get us the results we need to see, now or even when there's a drastic economic turnaround.

So, after suppressing my initial wave of outrage, I could appreciate the article for its candor and the unintentional back-handed methodology within it that lit a spark within me. I know the author's intentions were as good as my own and she is in fact much more advocate or ally of the art community than she is adversary. Please click on the link and read it in its entirety.

Juried fine art show includes work from local art groups - Las Vegas Sun

Also, know that new positions have been created on the HAA board and old ones have been filled by other standing board members and even a few new ones. There will be a General Meeting on the 22nd of March to discuss the state of the local art scene and the role we play within it. Within the next few days, I will proudly post and announce the names of winners from the juried City Lights show at the Liberace Museum and congratulate all who participated and went home with honors.

Art may not be flying off the shelves or walls, as it were, right now but someday it will again. While it's relatively quiet, let's take stock and collectively work on our perception to create a more beautiful and bountiful reality.

Plaza Gallery Hosts February Third Thursday Reception

This Thursday, February 19th, is Third Thursday in Henderson. In true fashion, Gary and Susanne Reese, owners of Plaza Gallery, invite you all to an opening reception featuring The Art of Sonya Young. Three pieces, "Westbound," "Heart Song," and "Sea Goddess," shown above.

Artist Sonya Young welcomes you to view her work at the opening of her solo exhibition. Her watercolors are described by some as "reminiscent of Orphism artist Sonia Delaunay, mixing complementary colors with designs bridging cubism and abstract expressionism."

The reception will take place from 5:00 pm till 9:00 and Sonya's work will be on exhibit through March 15th. Plaza Gallery is located at 223 S. Water St., Suite B in Henderson, NV, across from the Events Plaza downtown.

See more of Sonya's work at her site: artbysonyayoung.com

See more from Plaza Gallery at theirs: plazagallery.net

HAA Artist Charme Curtin's Exhibit Makes LV Sun

Charme Curtin's show, "Art: The Song in Your Heart," went on display this week at the Henderson Multigenerational Center Gallery and will remain in place until March 13th.

There will be a reception at 7:00 pm on February 18th, open to the public.

Her inspiration? Cowboys, the West, and her love of both. According to an article in Thursday's Las Vegas Sun, it was art and her children that originally drew her to Henderson four years ago. Meet her and learn more firsthand at Wednesday night's reception.

The Henderson Multigenerational Center is located at 250 S. Green Valley Parkway.

Check out her show there and see more of Charme's work here: My Work - Work by Charme'

To read the entire article from the Sun, click here: Western artist drawn to Henderson - Las Vegas Sun

Watercolor Workshops. Current, Upcoming, and Ongoing.

Stephen Quiller's "Pulsating Night Sky"

Joan McKasson's "In the Country"

Bill Fravel's "Mahalo Kaui"

This week, renowned watercolor artist Stephen Quiller of Creede, Colorado is giving a week long workshop, courtesy of the Nevada Watercolor Society.

Please don't get upset because you're just now hearing about it and it's already underway. By the time the news got to us, the course was already full. That's good news for everyone but the latecomers.

But there's more good news. NVWS will be sponsoring another watercolor workshop featuring renowned artist Joan McKasson. This one won't be taking place until early September, so you've got plenty of time to sign up and get your brushes ready.

If you're interested in the Joan McKasson workshop, it will be taking place from Thursday, September 10th through Sunday, September 13th. The cost for enrollment is $200 for NVWS members and $225 for non-members. Payment may be made in the form of a check made out and sent to Nevada Watercolor Society, PO Box 27224, Las Vegas, NV 89126.

The workshop will be held at the Spanish Oaks Clubhouse on Sahara, near Palace Station, and HAA Events Coordinator Sharon Menary is the point of contact. Email her here: sharonmenary@yahoo.com

Lastly, highly-decorated and newly transplanted watercolor artist Bill Fravel will be teaching classes at Henderson's Desert Art Supply on Thursday mornings, starting on February 19th. Classes will run from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm or, as some like to call it, noon.

This particular Desert Art Supply is located at 2750 Green Valley Parkway and Sunset in Henderson. There is a materials list most of whose contents can be purchased at either of the two Desert Art Supply locations (Charleston Ave and Eastern or Green Valley and Sunset). For this list and additional information, email the artist at billfravel@aol.com

Each of these talented artist/instructor's work may be viewed at their sites, respectively, listed below.

Stephen Quiller: quillergallery.com

Joan McKasson: joanmckasson.com

Bill Fravel: billfravel.com

Sold!!!

"No Deposit, No Return" by Sharon Menary.

"Dance 'till Dawn" by Sharon Menary.

Menary in a recent photo taken by fellow HAA artist and photographer Nicky Watts.

In troubling economic times, people still have an appreciation for the finer things. Want proof? HAA artist Sharon Menary's painting "No Deposit, No Return" recently sold after hanging for only one day at Henderson City Hall.

In her recent Life's Journey of the Traveling Artists solo exhibition at the Henderson Multigenerational Center, a second painting "Dance 'till Dawn" had been eyed by a past client. She'd noted, if the piece hadn't sold by the time the exhibition was over, she would buy it. Recently Sharon received an email acknowledging the purchase.

Congratulations, Sharon. If you're selling work and you're an active HAA member, let us know and we'll make some noise about it.

The Art of Collaboration

What does a European-style bakery have to do with a blog page dedicated to creativity? Nothing. At least at first glance that's how it may appear. Upon closer inspection you'll find there are actually quite a few similarities.

First, this site is about art. Baking in and of itself is an art. Criterion number one satisfied, and Chef Flemming (hands and treats featured above) takes it to the next level.

Second, the wife of the esteemed pastry chef was at one time a successful mural artist who used to have her own local business. Then the economy tanked and, it would seem, their bakery business was established as much out of necessity as desire. Still, she has a fundamental understanding and appreciation of what it takes to be an artist and a commercial artist, no less. 

Third, Chef Flemming's Bake Shop is one of several businesses in the downtown Henderson, NV area doing all that they can to survive the tough economy. This is territory all too familiar to artists in Henderson and, likely, artists everywhere.

So, in the spirit of there being strength in numbers and applying the logic that trying to build a community is a lot easier together than it is working separately or alone, I am compelled to not talk about painting, photography, watercolors, silkscreening, lithography, or pen and ink in this post and, instead, invite everyone who enjoys sweets and lives nearby to do your part to support local business. In between creating something beautiful and figuring out a way to sell it or make yourself more marketable, consider heading over to the bake shop and buying a treat.

Why should you? Why should any of us? The answer is simple. In a normal economy, artists may starve. In the current economy, if Henderson starves, Henderson artists will definitely starve. One local business doing really well will do a lot more for a community than a whole lot of businesses doing really poorly, even if we're strictly talking morale. And, of course, the goal is to have as many local businesses as possible generating revenue, staying in the black, and keeping their doors open.

One by one, gallery by gallery, show by show, shoot by shoot, stroke by stroke, article by article, each of us is doing what we can to keep this community alive. More than that, we're actually trying to help it flourish even as every imaginable economic indicator would have us believe growth at times like these is simply an impossibility.

Let's stay positive and continue to help out and do right by one another. It's the only way.

Chef Flemming's Bake Shop is located at 7 Water Street in downtown Henderson. To revisit an earlier post about the bakery, click on this link: Creative Henderson: Starving Artists, Starve No More.

To read the article in the Las Vegas Sun featuring Chef Flemming's Bake Shop and a second Water Street District business that inspired this post, click on this one: New Water Street businesses hope to weather economic tides - Las Vegas Sun

Cosmetics Go Creative.

Photos by Nicky Watts. Pictured (from top to bottom): Tania Salazar, Delight Schwartz, Ashley Valley, and Sharon Menary.

On the right, here, HAA member and photographer Nicky Watts.

On Tuesday evening, January 27th, HAA members Nicky Watts and Sharon Menary participated in a fantastic Valentine's Day photo shoot for Mary Kay Cosmetics clients, new and old.

Nicky served as photographer and Sharon was one of the many cleansed, moisturized, made over, and photgraphed that evening. Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant Karen Bindner and a few fellow consultants were the hosts of the event.

The collaboration and the evening on the whole were an overwhelming success. According to Watts, the photos turned out beautifully and she attributes this to the fact that she had great talent to work with behind the scenes and in front of the camera. All of the women who participated "truly are gorgeous and they made [her] job easy."

Above are several of the finished head shots and a couple of images detailing the night's events.

The event and shoot took place at Findlay Cadillac in Henderson.

See more photos from the evening and read a more detailed synopsis on Nicky Watts' blog page: The Adventure of Nicky Watts