Newsletter - Laurel Art Guild

Newsletters are published monthly, except during the summer months. If you are an LAG member and would like to see an earlier newsletter, please contact us.

December Issue

The holiday season is in full swing and creativity is shining brighter than ever. Art surrounds us during this festive time, from costumes and garlands to music and dance—all reminding us of our boundless creativity and the role art plays in every aspect of our lives.

Wishing all Laurel Art Guild artist members and enthusiasts a joyful holiday season. May the inspiration of the greatest Artist of all fill your life with creativity, growth, and exciting opportunities in the year ahead.

Stay connected with us on Facebook. I personally encourage you to get involved in our board leadership and the events we’ll be planning for 2025.

Be blessed,

Efrain Montanez

President, Laurel Art Guild

Message from the President

Efrain Montanez

president@laurelartguild.orgwww.laurelartguild.org

December 24′ LAG Newsletter First Draft Download

Laurel Art Guild December program

On Saturday, December 14 from noon to 2pm, LAG will celebrate the holiday season at the Montpelier Arts Center.

We’ll get festive with a potluck lunch and a time-honored LAG tradition, the White Elephant Sale. As always, guests are welcome.

For the potluck, please bring finger food – something sweet or savory or fruit/veggie to share. LAG will provide drinks, cups and plates.

You’ll need to fill out a bid sheet for each item you are donating. You can show the original

price or an estimate of today’s retail price and set a minimum bid for the item – this can be as low as $2 or as high as 50% of the original price, rounded to the nearest dollar. No item should have a minimum bid of less than $2. All proceeds go to LAG’s Scholarship Fund. Unsold items go back home with you. Even if you’re not donating, you can participate by buying. There are often some good bargains and interesting items at this event.

For your convenience, a copy of the bid sheet will be shared so you can fill it out in advance. We’ll also have copies at the party.

Please RSVP at programs@laurelartguild.org no later than close of business on Monday, December 9th. Let us know what food you plan to bring and what sale items you’re bringing. degree from Bowie State University

For your convenience, a copy of the bid sheet will be shared so you can fill it out in advance. We’ll also have copies at the party.

Exhibits

Ongoing: Small Works at MAC. We hung a new show on October 19, 2024. It will run through January 17, 2025. Carol Leo sold one of her paintings during the previous show. Congratulations!

Linda and I are working on shows for 2025 and have three confirmed to date:

Laurel/Beltsville Senior Center Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center – Park and Recreation – Prince Georges County MD – March 22 through April 25

Brookside Gardens Brookside Gardens – Montgomery Parks – October 20 – December 1

John Hollingsworth Art Gallery at Patuxent Wildlife Center Patuxent Visitor Center | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – August

“Paris 1874 The Impressionist Moment”:

An Exhibit at the National Gallery of Art from September 8, 2024-January 19, 2025

Article by Carol Leo

Earlier this month, I had the blessing of being able to attend this exhibit with colleagues from the WWCA (Washington Water Color Association). This fascinating historical exhibit documents the first official Impressionist exhibition held in Paris, France in 1874. It contains the works of the Société Anonyme, the group of artists that we have now come to know as the Impressionists and consisted of 200 paintings by 31 artists who had separated from the Paris Salon, which was the overarching art governance body of the day. “Impression, Sunrise,” an early work by Claude Monet, is on display with the information that it is this painting from which the Impressionists derived their name.

The exhibit compares and contrasts works of the Société Anonyme with those of the Paris Salon. The amazing beauty and style that characterize both sets of paintings make the exhibit an extraordinary visual experience. The complete departure the artists of the Société Anonyme had taken from the accepted painting style of the day is dramatically illustrated by hanging the two styles of paintings side by side. A few of the beautiful Impressionist paintings have “rejected by the Salon” as part of their description.

The placards along the way bring to life the national and cultural events of the day (including the Franco Prussian War) that greatly influenced the artists in their choice of subject matter. This exhibit is a “must-see” for all artists and provides great insight into the development of art in our culture as well as an inspiring and enjoyable artistic experience.

Claude Monet: Impression Sunrise

LAG OPEN 2025 – 56th Laurel Art Guild Open Juried Exhibition

Bring your next masterpiece to life, with submissions open until midnight on Monday, March 20th, 2025.

Timeline: LAG Open Juried Exhibition / Request for Juror Recommendations

I’m excited to announce the dates for the 56th Laurel Art Guild Open Juried Exhibition! That’s right—you heard it here first! There’s plenty of time to bring your next masterpiece to life, with submissions open until midnight on Monday, March 20th, 2025. So, gather your brushes, scissors, or whatever magic tools bring your vision to life and give us something jaw-dropping! Consider this your head start—most folks aren’t in on this yet. See? You’re special! Like American Express says, “membership has its privileges.” So let your creative genius shine!

Submission window opens Monday, January 20, 2025

Submission window closes Monday, March 18, 2025

Show opens Saturday, April 19, 2025

Reception/Awards Ceremony – Saturday, May 3, 2025 – 1-3 pm

Show ends Sunday, June 1, 2025

And while I’ve got you here, we need a juror! If you know any top-notch artists/professors who’d be a great fit, send their names my way ASAP. Our goal is to lock in the juror by year’s end. Thanks in advance, and let’s make this exhibition unforgettable!

Warmly,

Anita Henley Carrington

Vice-President, LAG

Member News

Carol Leo

While participating as a vendor in the Patuxent Wildlife Annual Holiday Show and Sale, Carol

Leo was delighted to have been commissioned by a customer to do pencil illustrations for a book

the customer is writing for her grandson. Carol will be in one more holiday show a

and sale on Thursday December 5, at HCAC (Howard

County Center for the Arts) from 4-8 PM.

Two of six illustrations

Margaret Boles

Shared with Margaret’s permission by LAG Newsletter editor Rebecca Rothey:

I don’t know if this is something that you would put in the newsletter or not, but it is something that I needed to write now as I await the soon-to-be flight to New Hampshire to bury my beloved husband, Dennis Alan Boles, who recently passed from this life to the next, from pancreatic cancer. While caring for him these past six months has been most difficult, it has given me much time to reflect on the things that have given me great joy in this long life: the morning sunshine; lovely, lively music and flowers; children’s voices and curiosity; good, caring friends and their wonderful art; people’s great diversity and creativity. We have been very blessed and lucky in our over 60 years of marriage and in our supportive childhoods.

Margaret Panebianco

Margaret Panebianco’s artwork was selected for inclusion in the recycled objects art exhibit “Waste And Wonder” at The Chesapeake Arts Center. Her two mixed media artworks are titled “3 for Self Care” and “Ruby Red – Renewal.” Margaret was one of 15 Artists chosen. The exhibit continues through January 9, 2025.

Margaret’s art collage titled “Colorful Can Do Attitude” was juried into the HOPE AND JOY art exhibit, sponsored by The City of Bowie Arts Council. “As we enter into a season of cheer, we invite you to submit artwork that embodies the spirit of optimism and happiness.” (From the Art Call). The show runs through February 22, 2025 at the Bowie City Hall art gallery.

Raymond Robinson

Raymond “Rob” Robinson will be exhibiting his Shadowboxes during a one-man show at the Laurel Beltsville Senior Activity Center from December 16 – January 31, 2025. Here is a picture of one of the entries called Grannie’s Garden.

Rebecca Rothey

Rebecca’s painting, Faded Gladiolus, was selected for inclusion in The Salmagundi’ Club’s “Blooms” exhibition.

Diane Shipley

Diane Shipley has some rusty metal work and a couple of abstract paintings on consignment at beachKraft Gallery, 18200 Georgia Avenue, Unit O + N, Olney, MD. She also has her greetings cards for sale in the gift shop at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.

Art Retreat at Shenandoah Art Destination

By Stacy Andrews

In 2023, I attended an art retreat at the Shenandoah Art Destination. I meant to share my experience in the LAG newsletter sooner, but I am only now finally sitting down to write about it.

The Shenandoah Art Destination is about 3.5 hours from Laurel in Lexington, VA. It is the dream of artist Jan-Willem Boer and wife Nancy Boer.

The couple hosts multi-day workshops (including lodging) in painting, drawing, and printmaking at their studio, as well as larger trips around the world. Workshops are tailored to each participant’s interests and needs.

I attended a workshop focused on watercolor painting. I was joined by several other beginning watercolorists and an acrylic painter. There were several group

workshops, as well as individual projects. Jan-Willem encouraged us to experiment with different colors and techniques. I often get hung up on perfection and details, but this experience helped me let go. I also enjoyed getting to know the other participants, and we have stayed in touch.

I would encourage fellow LAG artists to try out the Shenandoah Art Destination! The 2025 schedule should be posted in the next month or two.

Hello Artists,

LAG’s Holiday Party will happen Saturday, December 14 at noon at the Montpelier Arts Center. We’ll get festive with a potluck lunch and a long-time LAG tradition, the White Elephant Sale. As always, guests are welcome.

For the potluck, please bring finger food – something sweet or savory or fruit/veggie to share. LAG will provide drinks, cups and plates.

A White Elephant (supposedly a rare animal) is any new or gently used art supply or art-related item you’ve accumulated that you realize you no longer use or need. If it’s been lying around your studio for a while and you’ve been meaning to find it a new home, then it’s perfect for this event. Remember, one person’s unneeded item is often another person’s treasure. You’ll need to fill out a bid sheet for each item you are donating. You can show the original price or an estimate of today’s retail price and set a minimum bid for the item – this can be as low as $2 or as high as 50% of the original price, rounded to the nearest dollar. No item should have a minimum bid of less than $2. All proceeds go to LAG’s Scholarship Fund. Unsold items go back home with you. Even if you’re not donating, you can participate by buying. There are often some good bargains and interesting items at this event.

For your convenience, a copy of the bid sheet is attached so you can fill it out in advance.

You need to let us know if you’re coming by close of business on Monday, December 9, 2024. Please sign up by return email. Let me know what food you plan to bring and what sale items you’re bringing.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Mary Ellen Simon, Program Chair