September 2023 Newsletter
1. ARDEN FAIR: Check out the map. Those are all our neighbors in purple. (I hope I didn't miss any.) Aren't we glad to live amongst artisans and makers? Let's support them at the fair. What can you do? Buy from them, of course, but it goes beyond that. Visit their booths to show interest and drive traffic. Tell your friends and guests about them. Make sure you send friends/family to the AAC Booth (Starred on map) to provide their email to win a basket of goodies. It's free and it helps build our email list. Don't forget to check out featured artist Janet Williams in the Backstage Gallery.
2.FALL ARTISAN SOCIAL--CHANGE OF DATE to Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 from 7-9 PM at the Buzz. If you would like to present work, let me know. Work should be new work. We will take repeat artisans if you have new work you want to share. Email Jill if you are interested in showing (can be actual work or images for powerpoint). Bring a drink/snack to share--or don't. No Presh. Please bring a donation to the Buzz to help cover expenses for the room which they are providing for us.
*IMPORTANT NOTES* At this social we will be collecting $20 for the 2025 year for the website listing which is due November 1. We will again be having a trading table. Bring supplies/tools/materials you no longer use for trade or gifting. Lastly, we will have applications for Winter Market Tables which will be due early October. (See below for details)
3. AAC RETREAT PLANNING MEETING:
WHAT/WHEN/WHERE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 at 7 PM at Betty's House (2008 Sherwood Rd; Arden) we will have our second meeting to plan for our 2024 Arden Artisan Retreat which will take place at the Buzz on Saturday, January 20 from 7AM - 3PM.
THE GOALS OF THE RETREAT:
*To plan for 2024 and beyond--both as a collective and as individual artisans
*To elect or specify members to specific roles for the coming year and identify potential support players for those taking leadership positions
*To provide speakers and activities that will inspire and help artisans grow in their craft or business as well as help us grow the AAC.
*To socialize and network
WHO SHOULD ATTEND PLANNING MEETING: Anyone who wants to give input and/or wants to help bring this to fruition. It will be quite an endeavor.
4. EARTH DAY ART EXHIBIT-- I am curating an exhibit of AAC Artists with an Earth Day Theme to take place at the Delaware Horticultural Center in March/April 2024. I will be putting out a call for the first round of entries by the end of October. We need images to the DHC by November for their marketing team. Start to think about what you may want to submit and have good images ready. Work needs to be able to be hung on a wall for this exhibit. No freestanding 3D work. This is our first exhibit outside of the Ardens, so I am looking for quality presentation that puts us in a good light and artwork that fits the theme of Earth Day.
5. WEBSITE LISTING RENEWAL--Artisan listings in the AAC Websites run November to November. We will start collecting $20 renewals/new listings for the 2023-4 year s at the September Artisan Social. If you need a page designed to go with your listing, that cost is a one time fee of $50. Updates to your page can be made at a nominal rate.
6. SMALL ART SHOW/WINTER MARKET-- We will once again have the AAC Small Art Show for the First Friday Art Loop, December 1st at the Buzz. It looks like it may be up for three weekends this year. TBD. Like last year, members will be allowed to submit two pieces. One change is that in addition to the Buzz taking their 10% cut of any sales, the AAC will also be taking 10% of sales for a total of 20% commission on any pieces sold. Artwork needs to be 18" or smaller in any direction, including frame. We will include work by any high school students who want to participate. All work must be available for sale and finished in a professional manner. 2D work must be ready to hang.
A winter market will also happen concurrently to the December Art Loop on Friday, December 1. AAC members will have first shot at tables, a few weeks before we open it to the greater public. The applications will be due Early October. I will be sending them out as soon as I get approval from Bernadette. Watch your email. I will also put both the Small Art application and Winter Market applications on the website.
7. AAC RETREAT--Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 20th, 2024 from 7AM-3Pm. This is an important date. We are hoping for lots of participation. (You don't need to participate whole day). We are going to be creating a day that will set us all up for success in the new year--think growth mindset for individual artists as well as our group. In planning for the day we are considering having someone lead a meditation/journaling hour (optional) to start the day at 7. Then a welcome period with coffee and light breakfast items at 8:30 with an official AAC 2023 kickoff meeting at 9. After that we will have speakers, activities, and prepared lunch. The cost of the retreat will be $25 to cover costs of Buzz rental and breakfast/lunch. Pre-registration will be required.
8. AAC MEMBER EXHIBIT AT THE BABY GRAND-- We have a contract for a show at the large Gallery at the Baby Grand for July and August. This is a great opportunity for visibility for our group. We are looking for someone to curate this exhibit. Since I already curate the Small Art Show and will curate the Earth Day Show, it would be nice to have someone else's imprint on this. I am willing to help and also have another volunteer. It would be an excellent time to try something new because you will have support.
--Jill Althouse-Wood
REMINDER: If you have news of exhibits, craft shows, workshops (that you are giving), etc that are happening October or later, get the information to me by September 15 so I can post on website and on social media. Additionally, you can send news of awards to post on social media. Your triumphs are the group's triumphs. Send info to ardenartisans@gmail.com
Listings in our Arden Artisan directory are prorated at $10 for the rest of the year. (Yearly fee is $20 due November 1). Make check 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. After you pay, you send a photograph to represent your work, as well as your name, primary medium, and website or social media link to AACupdates@gmail.com. If you don't have a website or social media presence and require a landing page directly on the AAC website, you can have one created for a one time fee of $50 (also payable to Jeanne Orr). $30 of fee will go to the website creator and $20 to the AAC. In this case, you need to send 4 images and a 500 word bio/artist statement to AACupdates@gmail.com.
Newsletter Archives