VPS Newsletter July 2023 

QUARTERLY QUOTE 

An artist is not paid for their labor but for their vision.
James Whistler

• We had a fabulous reception for our Members’ Exhibition at Park McCullough House
• Hub activities have continued throughout spring into summer.
• Our last workshop for 2023 is coming.
• Our Juried Show is currently accepting submissions.

Continue reading below for more details.

CALENDAR OF SUMMER 2023 UPCOMING EVENTS:

Jun 4-Oct 8, 2023: Members’ Exhibition (ME) at Park McCullough House in North Bennington, VT

Sep 1-Nov 18, 2023: Juried Show (JS) at Long River Gallery in White River Junction (WRJ), VT

Sep 8-10, 2023: Nancy Nowak Workshop in Bennington, VT

VPS REGIONAL HUBS UPDATE 

VPS: Central has been inspiring each other with monthly challenges, such as all of them painting the same scene. One member is planning to host a garden tour and paint-out. Additionally, their hub is planning for a hub show in Jeffersonville, VT.

VPS: Champlain is involved with many diverse activities, including a show several members are having in South Burlington. They continued planning for the ME which opened in June, and discussed the possibility of hub members participating in a craft festival. Finally, their topic of discussion for the April meeting was favorite art books.

VPS: MidState met in May and discussed their upcoming hub show in June and July. They also tried an innovative way of critiquing each other’s painting by posing the question, “What if….?” as framing feedback that way seemed easier to hear. Examples included, “What if you added some grasses in the foreground?” or “What if you tried it on white paper?” Finally, one member demonstrated making homemade pastels.

VPS: SouthEast gathered in April to coordinate transport to the VPS ME in Bennington. That was followed by a wide-ranging discussion of upcoming VPS workshops, and about frames, matting techniques, the pros and cons of using mats, and mounting paper. Several members brought in paintings of the same subject past and present, and others brought new works for critique. A suggestion was made to include a reference photo when showing a painting.

VPS: SouthWest met in April, continued planning for three upcoming shows, and enjoyed a critique of each artist’s response to the challenge of painting flowers.

VPS: UpperValley welcomed new hub members in April and reminded everyone of solo shows that their hub members were having. In May, four hub artists met to paint en plein air, and additional dates for painting outdoors were set. Finally, updates were provided for the upcoming JS they would be hosting.

 VPS EXHIBITIONS

This year’s Members’ Exhibition (ME) hosted by VPS: Champlain had its opening reception June 4 at the historic Park McCullough House in North Bennington. Nearly 40 people were in attendance. The dreary wet weather could not dampen any spirits, as the food, libations, award ceremony, and conviviality among all the attendees made for a fabulous beginning to this long running exhibition. Special thanks to VPS: CHP and to VPS: SW for collaborating on this ME. It is certainly a VPS Members’ Exhibition to remember.

The Juried Show (JS) is fast approaching, with the final call for submissions being just weeks away. VPS: UpperValley will be hosting this JS at the Long River Gallery in WRJ, VT, and it, too, will have a nice long run, being on view during some busy months for WRJ: September 1 through November 18. Please submit your images through the ShowSubmit link.

VPS WORKSHOPS 

Here is who we have lined up for this year’s final workshop:

Nancy Nowak: “Boats and Structures,” Sep 8-10, 2023, Bennington, VT. Only a few openings remain for this, so sign up soon.

VPS BOARD NEWS

As you know the VPS Is powered by you but steered by the ten-member Board of Directors. These are voluntary positions, and they depend on a member of the VPS offering to fill a position for a minimum of 2 years. Most of our board members have been serving for 6 to 8 years, partly because the job is rewarding, but partly because no one else has offered to do it.

And just to remind everyone, we had no president in 2015 and our organization declined. There was real concern that it might cease to exist. The same could be true for the other board positions, which underscores how important it is for all of us VPS artists to be willing to fill each and every board position.

Because the two-year terms are staggered, five board positions come up for election every year at the autumn annual meeting. This year they are Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Member-at-Large #1, Member-at-Large #2. The job description for each of these can be found in our bylaws by going to https://vermontpastelsociety.com/bylaws/ and reading Article 7: OFFICERS

The board meets twice a year remotely and once a year, also remotely, with all VPS Members for the annual meeting. Occasionally the board discusses issues via email.

Please contact me at [email protected] with any questions and make my day by letting me know that you are considering volunteering for one of the board positions.

As a VPS member, you are permitted to post two pastels on the website gallery. Remember to check what is up there now and update your images as you make new work. We get over 5000 visitors and 8000 visits a year, and the Gallery of Member Art gets the most traffic, so take advantage of the exposure:

https://vermontpastelsociety.com/participation-in-the-members-gallery/

Also, you can share noteworthy news about your artwork, about prizes you were awarded, about your upcoming shows, about your hub, or about other pastel items of personal interest. Check it out by going to the VPS website and clicking Member News on the drop-down menu or click on this link for submission instructions:

https://vermontpastelsociety.com/vps-member-noteworthy-news/

Don’t forget that you can also rent DVDs for free as a member. The information is on our website.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN VPS! 

With one more VPS-sponsored show in 2023 to exhibit your works, with one more workshop, and with our Hubs meeting regularly, there is great value in being a member of the VPS. We stay active because of the continual support for our organization which each of you provides. Thank you all so very much!

Matt Peake, VPS President