DEMO NIGHTS ARE A HIT!
In July, DVAA member John Tomasetti used his watercolor techniques to create a covered bridge in a winter landscape. He always offers plenty of useful tips while creating a lovely New England image in record time.

In August, fine artist and published illustrator Astrid Sheckels worked more watercolor magic while giving us an insider's view of the business of illustration: we had a glimpse of the process from story board of thumbnail sketches to finished paintings to published reproductions which compliment and complete a text.

On September 16, noted artist Barbara Johnson returns to share her skills. We're always impressed with her ability to demonstrate while waxing eloquent on everything from art supplies, to her own 30+ year career, to general art history! With Barbara at the easel, you'll always learn something new or get a fresh perspective. Barbara invites you to see her work on her web-site: www.barbarajohnson.com or sign up for fall classes by going to her site and clicking on "workshops." All classes (6 weeks each) are conducted from her Cottage St. studio in Easthampton.

Again, we have arranged to use the Community Room at the Montague Public Safety Complex. So set your GPS for 178 Turnpike Rd., Turner's Falls. The complex is at the intersection of Turnpike Rd. and Montague Rd (Rt. 47). Coming south on Ave. A in Turners, Turnpike Rd. is the second left after the Golf Course. Coming north over the Montague City Bridge, Turnpike Rd. is the second right after the Farren Care Center. There is plenty of parking on your right, when you pull into the police side of the complex. The entrance door is between the fire house garage doors and the police station. For further directions call 413-773-5330.

You're welcome to sit in on the board meeting: 4:30 - 5:30 (which will precede the members meeting/demo. Bring an appetizer or snack to share from 5:45 - 6:15, and get acquainted with fellow members. During the refreshment time the board will share pertinent information. By 6:30 Barbara will begin her demonstration. By the conclusion of the meeting (8:00 at the latest), someone will bring home the raffled "demo" piece, we'll all be enriched by the experience, and the night will still be young enough to enjoy as you wish!

Reserve a place at our 80th Annual Meeting!
Save October 21 and celebrate our 80th birthday. We'll meet at The Greenfield Grille (formerly Bill's), on Federal St., in Greenfield, at 5:30. There will be a cash bar, appetizers, a first course, entrée, and dessert. The three entrée choices are Chicken Marsala, Beef Tips with Brandy Peppercorn Sauce, or Pasta Primavera with Grilled Vegetables. The board is planning a celebratory DVD presentation. Don't forget that this is an election year, so there's business to attend to! Cost for the dinner is $12 per person (a real bargain with the cost subsidized by the DVAA). Make checks payable to DVAA and mail to DVAA, P.O. Box 1076, Greenfield, MA 01302. From the three options, choose your entrée and write it in the memo line on the check. Deadline for reservation/payment is Oct. 6th.

In Memoriam:
Joe Baker, 88 passed away August 15, 2011. Joe was a Greenfield native and a life-long artist. He served as an engineering draftsman during World War II. Returning to Greenfield after the war, Joe's design abilities were put to use when he went to work for Wilson's Department Store where, for 45 years, he was responsible for display and advertising. Most of us know Joe as a DVAA member for over 50 years. No DVAA show was complete without at least one of Joe's oil landscapes. Messages of sympathy may be sent to Joe's wife and family at 159 Shelburne Road, Greenfield MA 01301. Joe's family has suggested that memorial contributions be made in Joe's memory to the DVAA.

CALENDAR OF TRIPS AND EVENTS

September 16:
Members Meeting (see page one)

September 18:
9 a.m. Apple Valley (Ashfield) plein aire day (see below)

October 21:
Annual Meeting and elections: DVAA 80th Birthday Celebration (see page one)

October 23:
11:30 a.m. Pastel Demonstration co-sponsored by Bernardston Cultural Council, at UU Church in Bernardston . (Call Annette, 648-9890, for details.)

Kim Sebrey invites you to Apple Valley (Ashfield) for our last organized plein aire day for 2011, Sunday, September 18, 9a.m. Call Kim if you would like to paint in or around her orchard: 625-9615. To reach Apple Valley take Route 2 W. to Shelburne, then 112 S. to Ashfield. At the blinking light turn right onto Hawley Rd., then right onto Apple Valley Rd. Look for mail box #947. Turn right and take the drive over the bridge to the house. Remember to call Kim if you plan on going, also if you want direction clarification.

CALLS FOR ARTISTS
If you'd like to publish a call for artists and crafters, call David Sund (413-773-5330) or e-mail your request to him at tadd-p@peoplepc.com

DVAA board member, Jean Kozlowski (413-498-5344) is always looking for artists to hang work in the hospital cafeteria (Baystate Franklin Medical). While sales are not common, we participate in the hospital's Healing Arts Program as part of our mission to promote art and artists while bringing beauty to people who are in crisis.

3rd Open Juried Art Show at the Agawam Public Library
November 1 - 29, 2011
Start of two week drop off of art: Sat. Oct. 15, 2011
Last Day to Enter & Last Day to Drop off art at Library: Saturday 10am-1pm, October 29, 2011
Judging: Sat. 2pm, Oct. 29, 2011 Closed to public
Pick up art not accepted in the Show: Tue., Wed. Thurs., 10am - 8pm, Nov. 1 - 3, 2011
Reception & Awards: Fri. 7pm - 9pm, Nov. 4, 2011
Pick up art at end of show: Wed. 1pm - 8pm, Nov. 30, 2011. Fees: $25 pre-registration per entry by Sat. Oct. 15, 2011; $30 after Oct. 15
Entry: One Entry per Category - original art only.
Categories: Acrylics, Oils, Watercolors, Pastels, Other Media (pencil drawing, charcoals, pen and inks, block prints, collage, encaustics)
Awards: Total $1,800 - Juror's Choice ($300) and 1st ($150), 2nd ($100), 3rd ($50) in each Category
Location: Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper Street, Agawam, MA, 01001
Download Prospectus/Entry form: http://www.agawamlibrary.org/about/friends.htm
Or Contact: Bob Kadis, (e-mail) r.kadis@comcast.net (phone) 413-789-4814

NOW SHOWING
If you would like to publicize a show call David Sund (413-773-5330) or e-mail your announcement to him at tadd-p@peoplepc.com

SEPTEMBER
Works by Jo-Ann Denehy , Helen Hodges and Carol Walker are among the items on display at the new venue The Daylilly (Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield). Diane Nevinsmith will have a show of her watercolors at Atkins Farm Market.

OCTOBER
Louise Minks presents her annual workshop: NEW ENGLAND ON FIRE! October 14, 15, 16 $180 or $65/day. For more information visit her website: www.LouiseMinks.com, or call 413-367-2800

NOVEMBER
Visit Gallery 11 South! Pam Adorno, Elice Davis Pieropan and David Sund invite you to their annual Holiday Sale. (Rt. 5&10 in Bernardston).

DECEMBER
Should your name appear here?

Birthday Celebration or Memorial Service?
Will this year's annual meeting really be a birthday celebration, or will it be a memorial service? Your feedback at last year's annual meeting was vital to the direction taken by this year's board of directors. (Hope you noticed!) But now the board needs a bit more from the membership. First of all, we need people willing to fill essential offices (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary). Edith will not be treasurer next year. David has been on the board for eight years.

If we can't fill a slate of officers, with a fresh vision for the future; then what? Do we try to maintain our current direction, but return to an informal committee making the decisions (as was the case for a couple of years prior to Bev Phelps presidency)? Do we hire someone to function as treasurer/secretary who will be accountable to the board? Do we take our savings and endow a scholarship (GCC, UMASS, The Clark) and disband or become an informal confederation of artists? Is DVAA worth maintaining or has it lived out its life expectancy? All of these are important questions, which we as your board don't wish to answer in a vacuum. We need your in-put, everybody's in-put (not just the 20 or 30 who make it out to an annual meetings).

What have you done as a member of DVAA? Please check any of the boxes that apply to you in 2010, 2011. Remove this portion of the newsletter, and send it back to us with your check for the annual meeting dinner. If you're not attending the dinner, mail this to our P.O. Box or bring it to the September meeting.

Attended a demo/members' meeting
Exhibited in a show
Helped Hang a show
Gone on a field trip or paint-out
Sat in on a board meeting
Filled an office (board member, etc.)
Paid dues
I'm a lifetime member, keep me informed
Sat a show
Recruited another member

Why I think we need to save DVAA: __________________________________________________________________
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What I intend to do to keep DVAA alive:______________________________________________________________
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