QUARTERLY QUOTE

A white lace curtain on the window was for me as important as a great work of art. This gossamer quality, the reflection, the form, the movement. I learned more about art from that than I did in school.

Louise Nevelson

IT’S COLD OUT THERE, BUT THE VPS ISN’T CHILLIN’–WE’RE ON FIRE

Our hubs engaged in many and varied activities last year and this year promises to offer even more to learn about and take inspiration from

We have two amazing workshops scheduled this year, one just a couple months from now.

We have a members’ exhibition and juried show being planned for 2018, details to be announced.

Continue reading below for more information.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 23-27, 2018: Alain Picard Workshop at Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT

June 21-24, 2018: Karen Margulis Workshop in Hyde Park, VT

VPS REGIONAL HUBS UPDATE

Some hubs are representing the VPS with regional shows right now; some are meeting monthly with informative talks, regular art-making activities, and critique sessions; and some have plans to rotate gatherings at hub members’ studios or houses with an activity idea offered by the hosting member. And they get reported on in Hub Happenings so we can all learn from and then make similar things happen in our own hubs, if we choose.

The newest idea has been to create a VPS Social Media Team by having one or two members of each hub become Social Media Artists (SMAs), offering to photograph hub events, activities, shows and post those images on FaceBook and Instagram. Additionally, if a VPS workshop or the VPS Members’ Exhibition or Juried Show is in a venue within their hub’s region, then the SMA would photograph the reception and promote it similarly. So far, VPS SouthEast, SouthWest, and Upper Valley have embraced this idea with the other hubs moving in that direction. We have some savvy artists in every hub who understand FB and Instagram and have offered to be of help to their hub. Thank you for helping to make the VPS Social Media Team a reality!

VPS EXHIBTIONS

Whether it’s our state or the state of art venues in our state, Susannah has been finding out what previous Exhibitions Coordinators have found out–you can’t count on anything. One of the two venues that promised a 2018 show to the VPS changed ownership and is re-organzing the calendar year, and the other is withdrawing its offer. So we are looking for other places. Hub members have been asked to offer suggestions, so let Susannah Colby know if you have an idea.

Also, as Exhibitions is becoming a bigger part of the VPS experience, and with the Members’ Exhibition becoming more of an event to promote and celebrate, the Exhibitions Team is looking for VPS artists who want to contribute to the effort in specialized ways–such as writing a press release, drafting a show summary for our website, etc. Please contact Susannah, by clicking on the blue link above, if you would like to join the team.

VPS WORKSHOPS

Alain Picard’s workshop, April 23-27, in Bennington, VT, organized by Linda Masten (VPS SouthWest), will be a combination of portrait-making for 2 days and landscape-painting for 3 days,. Artists can take one or both parts. To date, there are 11 signed up, so register today!

Karen Margulis’ Workshop, June 21-24, in Hyde Park, VT is being organized by Diane Szlachetka and Patti Braun (both from VPS Central). As it, too, already has 11 registrants, please sign up soon if you want to assure yourself a place!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE VPS!

We are who we are from the inspiration, creativity and energy that you all give to our organization. Keep it coming, will you!

Matthew Peake