PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
End of Summer Greetings!
I’m writing this the day after our Sweet Corn Festival and my mind is in a “vegetative” state so we will see what happens. I don’t have any financial reports yet but, if the crowds were any indication, I would say we had a very successful year, especially on Saturday. The weather was perfect and many of our food vendors ran out of product, not to mention that we ran out of parking spaces! The watermelon booth had nonstop customers most of the weekend, and the watermelon was delicious! Once again, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Warren Brown, Sheryl Scott, Cheryl Miracle, Jane Trame and Roger Browning (and Jerry Red, for staying awake all weekend working security) for their endless hours and dedication to make this gigantic event possible. I would also like to thank everyone on the Sweet Corn committee, and those FAA volunteers, many of whom worked multiple shifts and multiple days… we couldn’t do this without you! I don’t think many understand what an undertaking this is, and the hard work involved, and that’s why we need EVERYONE’S help to accomplish this major fundraiser for our organization, so next year, please reserve the third weekend in August to volunteer.
In June I attended the Free Friday at the park in Fairborn and received a certificate in recognition of our contribution. It was very well organized and attended, consisting of a movie, games, (even chess), bubble machines, food, and of course, the splash pad. I, for one, am happy that we can be a part of a positive environment for Fairborn.
We also had the B-W Greenway show over the summer, which was excellent with many beautiful pieces, and FAA was well represented in the winner categories, so congratulations! They are listed later on in the newsletter, as are other shows that happened this summer.
I’m looking forward to our meeting, Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00 pm, when Catherine Green will be our guest demo watercolor artist. Don’t forget to come early that day for the annual Art Supplies Sale which will be held from 5:30–6:30 pm.
Take care and keep creating!
Linda Brandenburg, President
FAA DEMO ARTISTS AND WORKSHOPS 2023
September 5 Catherine Green, watercolor demo
October 2–4 Watercolor Workshop with Alicia Farris
October 3 Alicia Farris, watercolor demo
November 7 Sarah Maxwell, watercolor demo
December 5 Christmas Party
FAA DEMO ARTISTS AND WORKSHOPS 2024
January No meeting
February 6 Gary Blevins, acrylic/multi-media demo
March 5 Peggy Bowman, journaling demo
April 2 Charmaine Boggs, acrylic/mixed-media demo
May 7 Demo TBD
May Workshop TBD
June 4 Social
July No meeting
August No meeting
September 3 Shirlee Bauer, watercolor demo
October 1 David R. Smith, watercolor demo
October 1–3 Watercolor Workshop with David R. Smith
November 5 Rosemary Nick, collage demo
December 3 Christmas Party
SEPTEMBER’S FEATURED ARTIST – CATHERINE GREEN
Fairborn Art Association will be hosting Catherine Green as their guest demo artist on September 5, 2023, at 7:00 pm. Their gallery is located at 221 N. Central Avenue, Fairborn.
“Journey to a Pet Portrait Business” – Catherine Green has been an oil painter for 35 years, taking classes with Cincinnati and Dayton area artists, as well as classes at the Cincinnati Art Academy in drawing and painting and the Baker Hunt Foundation in Kentucky. She “fell into” watercolor and her pet portrait business entirely by accident, and will reveal why she has been successful working with clients in 35 states coast to coast to paint 130 portraits in the last six years. She will also complete a watercolor portrait, and explain her process.
…Submitted by Carol Edsall
2023 WATERMELON BOOTH PRELIMINARY REPORT
The watermelon booth at the Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival went through 222 watermelons and sold about 1800 cups of watermelon. Profit is around $2700.
.…Submitted by Roger Browning
ART SUPPLIES SALE
Our Art Supplies Sale will be held on September 5 from 5:30–6:30 pm (simultaneously with our board meeting). Prior registration is not required. If you have art supplies that you wish to sell, you may bring them to the FAA Gallery for set up between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. The doors will be open and a table will be provided. If weather permits, some tables may be set up outside. Set up and all sales transactions are your responsibility so make sure you bring enough money to make change. Final cleanup of all items is also yours to do; nothing is to be left in the gallery or outside.
REMINDERS FROM THE GALLERY COORDINATOR
Did you know that the gallery is here for the use of all FAA members? As a member you may host an art workshop or art class at a very minimal fee per student. All you need to do is coordinate the dates with Carol Collett. Also, all members are encouraged to host their own art exhibit during the months of February, April, September, October and November. We would love to see your art hanging at the next meeting.
…Submitted by Carol Collett
FAA LIBRARY IS OPEN
Just a reminder that we have a substantial art library for the exclusive use of all FAA members. It is located in the room left of the kitchen. We are always accepting books if you have any to donate. Why don’t you plan to come in a little early for the next meeting and take a look? Also, we are normally open on Thursdays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Fridays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. If you are unsure, call Carol Collett or Lucy Burns.
…Submitted by Carol Collett
MEMBER NEWS
Clarice Moore sold three of her paintings to Five Rivers Health Centers in Dayton, Ohio.
Bonnie Kuntz has three pieces on display at the Five Rivers Health Centers. They are various sizes and are all bright colors in acrylic. The lady who purchased them liked their whimsical and colorful style. There are lambs, a pig, and a polka dot giraffe.
MJ White’s first novel, An Invitation to the Party, was published by Regal House Publishing in July, shortly after her 81st birthday. It features a Great Pyrenees named Vera, whose watercolor portrait she painted.
The following FAA members won awards at the Miamisburg Art Gallery 2023 Annual Juried Art Exhibition. The show is open through September 9.
First place in Drawing: Tom Kinarney – Pantherina
First place in Water Media: Connie Gifford – Wheels and Spokes
First place in Mixed Media: Rose Schultz – Mezquita Marvel
Third place in Mixed Media: Nancy Dankof – Between the Lines
FAA members Shirley Harbaugh and Jan Lendino exhibited in August 2023 at the Gateway Arts Council Gallery in Sidney, Ohio, as two of six artists in a show titled “The Miami County 6.”
FAA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS FOR 2023
The Fairborn Art Association (FAA), 221 N. Central Ave. in Fairborn, awarded three outstanding high school graduates with a $1,000 art scholarship each. Letters were mailed to high school art teachers and guidance counselors in the Greene, Montgomery, Clark, and Miami County areas requesting that graduating seniors, who are going to pursue higher education in the fine arts or related discipline, submit digital copies of artwork for review. A committee of FAA members, comprising artists with many awards and years of experience, reviewed every entry. Of the many outstanding entries, three students were selected to receive a scholarship check.
Natalya Sutarto, from Bellbrook High School, Emma Williams from Archbishop Carroll High School, and Hannah Hurst from Archbishop Alter High School were selected as winners of the scholarships. Ms. Sutarto will attend the Columbus College of Art and Science; Ms. Williams will study at the University of Cincinnati; and Ms. Hurst is headed to Purdue University.
…Submitted by James M. Gifford
2023 FAA PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Congratulations to the following FAA members on their People’s Choice awards given at our June 6 meeting.
First Place: Carol Edsall – Woodland Trail
Second Place: Connie S. Gifford – Early Morning Ride
Third Place: Jeffrey Davis – Wisdom of Age
Honorable Mention: Eileen Thomson – Emma’s Artistry, Rose Schultz – Rounding the Windward Mark, Clarice Moore – Boodle & Strawberry, Linda Brandenburg – Wading Red Egret, Shirlee Bauer – Here Come the Kids, Cindy Sayeedi – The Downy Woodpecker
Judge’s Merit Award: Tessa Kalman – Cheeta Bros., Jan Lendino – Lavender Profusion, Warren Brown – Early Spring Sunset, Judy Mielbrecht – RT, Marsha Elliott – Winter in Ohio, Teresa Stoddart – 1st Bloom Iris
B-W GREENWAY LANDSCAPES 2023 JURIED ART COMPETITION AWARDS
The B-W Greenway Community Land Trust and the Fairborn Art Association, for the 12th year, sponsored a juried art competition to heighten public awareness of local greenspaces and the need to preserve these assets. Each year, a different location is selected for the artists to visit and be inspired. The 2023 locations were Hebble Creek Reserve and Community Park Reserve. This year, the competition attracted 36 artists and 66 pieces of artwork. The juror for Landscapes 2023 was Remy Groh. On July 9, the opening reception was held at the Fairborn Art Association Gallery and awards were presented to the following artists:
First Place: Elizabeth Beecher – Along the Pond
Second Place: Edmund Merricle – Redwing Blackbird
Third Place: Julia Roberts – Walk in The Woods
Honorable Mention, nine artists received ribbons: Gene Fabricatore, James Gifford, Kim Ceccarelli, Brendan Higgins, Tessa Kalman, Jane Trame, Shirlee Bauer, Nanci Payne and Suzie King
People’s Choice: Yuki Hall – Winterlude
OCTOBER WORKSHOP WITH ALICIA FARRIS
In this unique workshop, Alicia Farris will begin by teaching her colorful and expressive style of painting human faces. The second portion of the workshop will focus on her technique using animal subjects. Alicia will provide for registered students, photos of the subjects she’ll be demonstrating so that artists may follow along with the demo if they wish. Alternatively, students may use their own subject matter. Whatever the subject, Alicia teaches and encourages her students to paint from their hearts to communicate emotion about what they are painting.
Alicia is an award-winning artist and instructor whose work has been included and recognized in numerous National and International exhibits. She recently received Honorable Mention in the American Artists Professional League 91st Annual Grand National Exhibit at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Two of her works were awarded Honorable Mention and Finalist awards in Splash 24, the Best of Watercolor publication. Farris’ work was also included in the Signature American Watercolor International Exhibition, Missouri Watercolor International and International Watermedia Exhibit Watercolor USA, Watercolor West, and Southern Watercolor to date in 2023. Alicia has been published in Missouri Life, Signature, and Watercolor Artist Magazines. Farris won first place in the reader’s competition and was featured with an interview in The Art of Watercolour International magazine published in France and distributed to 36 countries. She is signature member of multiple National and International watercolor societies and is asked to teach workshops and serve as juror for art organizations nation-wide. View her work and more of her story on her website: https://www.afarris.com
The registration form for the October 2–4, 2023 Workshop is available in the Gallery and on our website Home Page under Forms.
YELLOW SPRINGS TEXTILE ART GROUP EXHIBIT AT THE WINDS CAFE
Six members of the Yellow Springs Textile Art Group are presenting a group fiber art show, their fifth time for this biennial exhibit. The members are all local fiber and textile artists who create innovative embroidery, weaving, and art quilts. “Stitch By Stitch: A cross-cultural exploration of contemporary textile and fiber art” can be viewed from September 5 through October 28 at the Winds Café, 215 Xenia Ave. in Yellow Springs. There will be an artist’s reception on Sunday, September 17 from 4:00–6:00 pm.
REMINDERS
Our next meeting will be on October 3. The deadline for submitting articles to be included in the October Newsletter is Monday, September 18, 2023. Please call or email your articles to April Coppess.
Please note that, for privacy reasons, the Fairborn Art Association will not post personal email addresses or phone numbers in the newsletters or on our website unless we have the respective member’s permission. Consult your FAA Directory for contact information for members. For non-members, we will provide the contact information we are given for them.