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Minutes of VPS General Membership Meeting: January 2006
The meeting came to order at 1:00 Sunday, January 22, at the T.W.Wood Gallery in Montpelier with 30 people in attendance. Sandy Buck announced that she was relinquishing the Presidency of VPS, and nominated Wendy Soliday to take her place. Wendy, the current VP, subsequently explained the duties of the Vice Presidency and called for volunteers for the position. Rebecca Gottesman answered the call. Wendy and Rebecca were unanimously voted into their new positions. There is presently an open post for Secretary. Anyone interested please notify Wendy. Phil Laughlin will remain as Treasurer and Webmaster. Rene Schall as head of Membership.
VPS Board Member emails/phones:
Wendy Soliday wsoliday@aol.com 229-9594 PUT VPS IN HEADING
Rebecca Gottesman Rebecca@rebeccasart.com
649-2558
Rene Schall rschall@together.net 878-1086
The next order of business was the Committee Reports
1) PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Jayne Shoup Chairperson jshoup@pshift.com 223-0100
Jayne immediately requested volunteers for her committee in order to help her continue to plan exciting programs.The program committee presented a tentative VPS calendar for the year. This is attached to these minutes and also available on the website under Events. Shirley Thompson(near Charlotte), Rebecca Gottesman (Norwich) , Wendy Soliday (Montpelier), and Mallory Rich (Manchester) agreed to host paint outs in the summer so check website for details.If you know a great spot and wish to take other members there to paint , contact Wendy or Jayne. It was suggested that the survey that the workshop committee send out include ideas for future programs we might like to see.
2) WORKSHOP COMMITTEE - Sandy Buck buckart@directway.com 229-9326
This committee is very active and has about 8 members working on upcoming workshops. The committee met before the meeting and will be sending out a survey as to the kinds of workshops members want, and which ones members would enjoy working on. The committee will send out a notice in the very near future regarding the Susan Ogilve workshop in late September. There will be a choice between a 5 day course or a 2 day one. There will be an evening presentation for all VPS members . The first registration will be for VPS members only. Sandy strongly suggests you send in your registration early as there are already 20 requests from people who are not VPS members. The Committee is also hoping that Robert Carsten and Michael Johnson will conduct 1 or 2 day classes this Summer or Fall. The Mountainview Inn at East Burke has offered VPS a great deal for a landscape workshop in early June 2007. The cost may be as low as $90.00 for the room including breakfast and dinner if you choose to stay at the Inn. Please contact Sandy if you would like to help on any of these workshops. It was also suggested that those running the workshops should be entitled to discounts. This was discussed and members agreed that the two people most involved in setting up and running these workshops could request as discounted price from VPS.
3) EXHIBITION COMMITTEE: Rebecca Gottesman Rebecca@rebeccasart.com 649-2558
Wendy Soliday has been acting as exhitbition chair and asked that others take on this role. It appears that there are many helpers but few chiefs to pull them together. Rebecca volunteered to pull committee members together to organize future shows and discuss possible signature membership and awrds at shows. Mallory Rich has again volunteered to organize SVAC show. We thank her for all her work.
Wendy remarked on the great participation from members for shows this year. In the January show at the T.W.Wood, 4 paintings were sold and 35 members participated. We also had great shows at Pegasus Gallery , SVAC, and Charlotte Senior Center. The committee aims for 2 shows a year. The Governor's Office is interested in a show as well as a gallery in Stowe. Several questions needed to be answered to improve our overall process. What kinds of shows, what went well, what mistakes were made and how to do better next time, should the shows be juried, how do we deal with the jury process, etc. Wendy read a list of 12 persons who had volunteered to work on this committee and help organize shows. Shirley Thompson suggested another show at the Charlotte Senior Center but it needs to be planned at least 5 months in advance. Skye Forest brought up the question of awards at shows. She stated it would be an incentive as the next step beyond the local to open up shows to artists in other areas. This would involve packing, shipping, etc. creating an expense for out of towners, but an award might lure them here. Suppliers could be tapped into for rewards ...Drawing Board, Artists Medium, Holbein, etc. Publicity could also be a reward. Our next show is at SVAC in April. Dates are on website. Show opens April 8-30th. Reception is 2-4 Sat April 8th. (VPS meeting at 1) Contact Mallory Rich 375-2940 <mailto:malloryr@sover.net>malloryr@sover.net by Feb 15th if you would like to particpate in show.
4) TREASURER'S REPORT: Phil Laughlin Chairperson. phil@vermontpastelsociety.com
As of 12/31/05 VPS had a balance of $6926.10 in our account. There were several suggestions as to the use of the funds - program expenses, slides, tools to keep up with the growing membership. etc. The most heavily endorsed suggestion was that of creating a lending library of books and video tapes. This would neccesitate either a Librarian who would track the medias's whereabouts, or 4 regional persons. The packets could be easily exchanged within each region. It would be a free library with fees only for postage. Fiona suggested the available books and videos be posted on our website. Ann Wickham volunteered for the Upper Valley region, Skye Forest for the Central Region, and Rene Schall can do it for the Burlington area.We need someone to organize in the southern region. A questionaire could be sent out asking members what they would like to see and read. Donations would also be solicited from members. We also discussed using some of this money for awards and future programs.
5) WEBSITE: Phil Laughlin vpswebsite@verrmontpastelsociety.com
Phil reported on the Website and handed out a flyer on the proper way to send him information. Please follow these instructions. This can also be found on the VPS website www,vermontpastelsociety.com in the About Us section. Last year there were over 3000 visitors to the site and several new members have joined after viewing the website. Phil's most important point was the emphasis on proper preparation of the materials sent to him. He stated he was not an editor and materials must be in their final form upon receipt. Artist's Gallery submission will be updated in April and November. Events/News will be posted as needed.
On the website Front Page there is a sole feature artist. At the Director's Meeting, it was decided to cycle through the officers starting with Sandy Buck. After the officers would come the Committee Chairs. It will be changed 4 times a year.
Other
After the Committee Reports, Sandy Buck thanked the members and commented on her time as President. She was thanked by all for her lengthy service to VPS and given a gift certificate. She also announced that IAPS was awarding 2 scholarships not to exceed $500.00 each to someone who wanted to study with a Master Pastelist. If interested contact Sandy. At the close of the business meeting, 2 prizes were awarded from a drawing. Shirley Thompson won first prize - a set of Schminke Pastels that were donated to Belle McDougal thru the North American distributor of Schminke. Ruth Harrison won the second prize - a pastel sharpener.
Robert Carsten had a few announcements. He noted The Clark Museum in Williamstown, Mass. is presenting 10 pastel works that in his estimation were Must See.(up to June 10.) He also recommended the book "Pure Color" The Best of Pastel ...a new publication.
VPS Program: Mock Jury
Next on the program was a wonderful exercise in judging slides called" Mock Jury". The members broke into 6 groups of 5 people each.The object was to view 37 slides from the Colorado Pastel Society. The first runthrough of the slides was a very quick look at each slide. Each group was to come up with Buzz Words describing what makes a good entry and what attracted you to the piece. The groups suggested: Composition ,Color- Vibrant or Limited Palette, Strong Values ,Subject Matter ,Originality-Risk Taking,Mastery of Medium or Skill,Light and Shadow ,Mood, Emotion, Use of space, and technical quality of slide (no mats, distractions, poor lighting Robert Carsten talked about what jurors usually look for when judging slides.
He noted that poor quality of the slide itself was an immediate reason for disqualification. Unprofessional photography, poor exposure, pictures not centered, unfinished edges, crooked slides, anything distracting on the outside of the slide, etc.Withing the painting itself , lines moving off the piece were frowned upon. He said the composition must have an even distribution of space and form - not too equal. The colors must be vibrant with strong values or a limited palette. Hi key palettes were usually good. The picture must grab the jurer and be original.The artist must appear to be a risk taker and have pushed themself further than the norm. The jurer must have an automatic reaction to the mood of the painting. He stated that subjectivity comes into play with jurors and that no one should feel hurt that they didn't get into a particular show. It's all in context and related to other pieces that are being reviewed. He urged everyone not to give up if rejected ,strive for smaller shows, choose wisely and get your work out nationally.
Pick at least 1 big show a year to enter and NEVER make friends with the jurors. He also suggested using a professional photographer for the slides. If not possible, you should photograph outside in daylight when the direct sun is not overhead and the shadows are still luminous. The photos should be taken before the pictures are framed and there should be no unfinished edges showing. If you must take pictures indoors, use broad spectrum bulbs. Next, each member of the group was given paper numbered 1 thru 37. After viewing the slides a second time more slowly, a point value of 1 to 10 was to be awarded to each slide. Then each group tallied up the individual scores and came up with their top 5 paintings. It was facinating to see that the groups agreed almost entirely on the top 5 paintings - 3 landscapes and 2 portraits. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 after a lively discussion on the merits of each painting.
Addendum by Bob Carsten
Dear Members - I appreciate the note taker's time and efforts (thanks
Judy!) at the recent meeting. I would, however, like to make a
few elaborations and corrections for the purpose of clarification to
the notes of my brief talk on jurying slides:
- I mentioned that for a juried competition a frame showing in the slide is improper. Mats are OK. I advised any mats showing to be neutral (white or slightly off-white. an inner colored mat of a double mat is probably OK as well as long as it doesn't distract from the image).
- Lines that move the viewer's eye out of the picture rather than into or around the picture are often viewed as a compositional fault.
- Vibrant colors, strong values, limited palettes, high or low- keyed pictures can be ways to maximize effect, but subtle colors, values etc. used well can be just as effective.
- Risk taking is often of merit but is not necessarily a must.
- I did not say "never make friends with the juror". I said "jurying a show doesn't make one (the juror) friends" after which, I emphasized that a show is juried by merit of the pieces in relationship to one another not by who created them. Therefore, I would add, being friends with a juror or not, doesn't make a difference in regards to the jurying process.
- I did not say that "the composition must have an even distribution of space and form" I said that it is when form and space are (close to exactly) equal, it can be a (compositional) problem. I used as an example one of the slides in which the form (part of a figure) was noticeably equal to the space around it, lacking emphasis in my opinion.
Using a good professional photographer is great. If this is not practical or affordable, taking your own slides is fine. I usually take mine outdoors. I find the color is best when photographed in light shade, not in direct sunlight (on the piece). Color corrected photo bulbs and corresponding slide film should be used for best results of color correctness when photographing indoors. Great results can be obtained either way.
Thanks - it was a great meeting and a great show in an impressive venue!. . . Bob Carsten
Minutes written By Judy Greenwald.