In this issue

• Joy is Art, Member art show

• Small Art Show and December Art Loop Market

• Book Discussions

• Art & Crafts Gild Update

• AAC Open planning meeting for 2025 and beyond

• Spotlight on AAC Steering Committee

• Payment due for AAC website listings

JOY IS ART

Join us this Friday, November 1st, from 5:30-7:30 PM, for the Art Loop opening reception for Joy is Art featuring Five AAC artists. This exhibit, curated by AAC’s Sadie Somerville was brought together to complement the production of the play Every Brilliant Thing at the Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water Street; Wilmington. In the play, a handwritten list of the small joys that make life worth living becomes immersive storytelling. The showcase, JOY IS ART features work by Jill Althouse-Wood, Alida Fish, Annette Hearing, Russ McKinney, and Sadie Somerville. The show will hang in the lobby gallery from October 23-November 10, and will also be accessible during box office hours. As there is also a performance the night of the reception, please see www.delawaretheatre.org/parking for parking instructions.

Sadie will be curating a second exhibit in February to accompany the play Tuesdays With Morrie. This is an invitational. She will be in touch with artists whose work fits the theme and her vision for the show.

SMALL ART SHOW

Back by popular demand, The Arden Artisan Collective will be hosting a "Small Art" show in conjunction with a marketplace at the Buzz Ware Community Center for December Art Loop. For inclusion in the Small Art show, artisans  (any maker, high-school age or older, who lives in the Ardens) should drop off art (limit two pieces) on Tuesday, December 3 from 4-6 PM. Two-dimensional work must be no larger than 18 inches in any direction including frame. Three-dimensional work must be no larger than 12 inches in any direction and artisan must provide pedestal for display. All works must be available for sale. Artisans will receive all proceeds from any sale less 20% commission (10% to the BWVC and 10% to the AAC). Please print and fill out application for the show found at www.ardenartisan.com/applications. 3D Artisans must pick up their work at the end of the night on December 6th. All unsold 2D artwork must be picked up on Sunday, December 17th from 2-4 PM.  If you have a conflict for the drop-off/pick-up windows, text Jill Althouse-Wood at 717-799-7286 to make other arrangements.

While the deadline has past to apply to participate in the Marketplace (in rooms 1-2) a few tables may still be available. They are $30 (no commissions collected). Contact Bernadette Donovan ASAP to inquire Bern285@gmail.com. Marketplace tables are not limited to Ardens residents.

Then, make sure to stop by the ARDEN ARTISANS COLLECTIVE "Small Art" Show on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 5-9 PM. This is a great opportunity for community members and Art Loopers to peruse and purchase unique works and gifts made by Arden Artisans and support the local art scene. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

READ AND DISCUSS, or DON’T READ AND STILL DISCUSS.

The AAC is hosting a series of book discussions that are open to the public, the first book discussion will be on *Thursday, November 14, 2024, 7-9 PM, on the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Baylis and Ted Orlando. A standard among artists, Art & Fear is widely available in libraries or second-hand. We will be meeting at Betty O’Regan’s house at 2008 Sherwood Road. Point person is Jill Althouse-Wood. Optional: Bring a snack/drink to share.

*This is a correction from the original newsletter which said it would be the 13th.

Creatives of all disciplines—not just the visual arts—should mark their calendar for  the second book discussion, scheduled for Thursday, January 23, from 7-9 PM.  The pick for that will be Eric Maisel’s classic, Coaching the Artist Within: Advice for Actors, Visual Artists, and Musicians from America’s Foremost Creativity Coach. The more variety we have over the creative fields, the livelier the conversation will be. These books bring up lots of issues for creatives. Even if you haven’t read the books, feel free to come anyway to discuss. Book discussions are free and open to the public. We are still working on a location for this book club.

UPCOMING MEETING FOR MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE

The Arden Artisans Collective will hold a meeting for membership at large to discuss the vision for 2025 and beyond. We may even create a vision board—We are visual thinkers, after all. More details will be forthcoming. For now, mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 24, 2025 from 7-9 PM and plan to be there. The Arden Artisans Collective are open to all makers, from hobbyists to professional, who live or have lived in the Ardens.

SPOTLIGHT ON STEERING COMMITTEE

For the past 9 months or so, a steering committee of 6-7 members have been meeting regularly (though not quite monthly). What do we do? We approve expenditures for the group, organize the calendar and activities, solicit volunteers, and guide members at large who want to organize group activities. We are still a young organization still trying to get our footing. Do you have ideas for the group or have organizational skills? Our next meeting is scheduled for November 12 at 7 PM at Cookie Ohlson’s house. We welcome anyone who is curious about our work to join us. All of our meeting minutes are posted in the members section of the AAC Website.

ARTS & CRAFTS GILD

No new updates. We had planned to present to the Arden Club in November. It depends on their schedule if this is feasible, but we are planning to move forward soon. As soon as we have more information, we will pass it along to you.

**Reminder: $20 Payment is due for listing in the Arden Artisan Directory on the AAC website. Make all checks payable to Jeanne Orr. Or give her cash. Jeanne can be found most weeks at the open artist studio at the Buzz on Monday nights starting at 7 PM. Or bring a check to Small Art Show drop-off on December 3 or Art Loop opening on December 6.