RAA News September 2012

09 Sep RAA News September 2012

Posted at 15:23h in Uncategorized by

Watercolor Exhibit Worth Visiting

During the months of September and October a collection of nine very fine watercolors by Robert H. Meltzer (1921-1987) are on display at the University of Redlands Alumni Gallery.  They can be viewed during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.   Entrance to the Alumni House is located on Grove Ave., just south of the orange groves at Colton and Grove Avenues,  on the eastern border of the U of R Campus.
After beginning his career apprenticed to New York based illustrators in New Rochelle NY,  Robert Meltzer served in the Navy during WWII and was later recalled to active duty as a combat artist during the Korean action.  He received a B of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist U., and MFA degree from U. of Hawaii.  Many other influences  led him to focus on Native American, American Southwest and rural California landscape subjects. He was elected to American Watercolor Society in 1967. Through Crafton Hills College he sponsored many seminars with artists such as Phil Dike, Millard Sheets and Robert E. Wood.
The watercolors displayed are owned by University of Redlands graduate and retired teacher from Beaumont Unified School district, Betty  Kikumi Meltzer, Betty who is an accomplished writer has recently published a book titled “Losing Ground- The Displacement of the San Gorgonio Pass Cahuilla People in the 19th Century”.  Both the exhibit and Betty’s book are worthy of your attention.
Submitted by Janet Edwards

Jean Waller’s “Sierras and Strings”

On October 7th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, a reception will be held at the Redlands Art Association to mark the opening of an exhibition, “Sierras and Strings,” by member and local artist Jean Waller. Featured will be a series of gouache paintings that reflect her interest in travel and nature. “My most enjoyable summers were spent in the eastern Sierras and the many sketchbooks I filled provide reference for my current work,” says Waller. A section of the exhibition will present monotypes created on an etching press in her home studio. Waller played the violin in the Redlands Symphony for 15 years and the imagery in her prints reflect her love of music. The exhibition runs from October 7 through October 26 at 215 East State Street, Redlands. The public is invited.

Jean Waller

MCAEEF Committee Meeting Highlights

Jerry Meeker called the meetng to order on Sept. 5, 3:00pm 2012, minues of June 12 meeing were read and approved.

Classic movies at the Krikorian Theatre:  posteers and flyers are printed and are being distributed.  The first film, IF I WERE YOU, starts Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 pm ,and ALSO on Thursday, Sept. 13., 2″30 pm.

Mike Jensen, son of Joan Jensen, contributed $5,000 to RAA in his mother’s honor.

Grants were approved for teachers and art supplies for the following: Youth Hope Foundatin, Kimberly Elementary, Micah House–Osford and Micah House–Chapel

Ed Sotello

Weaving Fiberarts Class in Oct/Nov

Please pick up the materials list at the Gallery with the sign up list folder if you have not already done so.  If you have any questions please call after Oct. 4.  See you Oct. 17 otherwise.

Evelyn Ifft

Children/Teen Art Show

Thank you to all the Volunteers, Members, Teachers, RAA Administration, and Parents, who helped pitch in to help for the Children/Teen Art Show. Our Reception was held August 25th with a fun turn out of kids. Here are some photos of the food, Art, and some of the Children. One photo shows Ms. Steinweg with her students Kaolo and Ian (favorite vote winner). There was much fabulous artwork displayed. The Art Show also had a new event of cookie decorating as “edible art”. Kids thoroughly enjoyed this, and a BIG thank you to all the Ladies from the RAA that helped “bake cookies” for the kids…including one of our accountants and other long time, RAA members. Also a warm welcome to our new Art Teachers for the Children’s Classes!

Gloria Steinweg

Upcoming National Watercolor Society Presentations

The National Watercolor Society invites your members to sign up for the demonstrations and lectures by Barbara Nechis on August 12; Thomas Schaller on September 30; and Frank Eber of October 7, 2012. Send e-mail to:

NWSPublicity@gmail.com or call 303/955-8750 to receive a flyer and registration form either by e-mail or snail mail.

The demonstrations and lectures will be held at the National Watercolor Society Gallery, 915 S. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731-3201.

Or you can call or e-mail Penny Hill, Annual Exhibition Director, at 760/908-3389; NWSAnnualExhib@gmail.com

Looking forward to seeing your members at the demonstrations/lectures.

Another Loss in the the RAA

Donna Laurita, artist, formerly of Yucaipa, who was a member of Redlands Art Association and the Fine Arts Institute (FAI) of the San Bernardino Museum, has passed away this year.  She was a past president of FAI. I thought it was important to let her friends and aquantances know since she felt close to many of you.
Here is a link to her obituary in Webb City, MO:
If you have any questions feel free to contact me.   Please donate to your favorite charity rather than sending flowers or gifts. Also if any of you would like to share memories of her with me, I would appreciate it. Thank You!
Her brother and fellow artist,
Jesse McCormick
Local Color Gallery, Joplin, MO.

Plein Air First Presbyterian Church

As recorded in the minutes of the Los Angeles Presbytery for September 20, l887, “The Presbyterian Church of the East San Bernardino Valley “ was organized on July 7, l887 with eight members and two elders.  On October 29, l887 the Citrograph reported the certificate of the incorporation of the First Presbyterian Church had arrived from the office of the California Secretary of State.  For the first two years services were held in a school house, at the Baptist tent and in the Hamilton building.  In December l888 Judson and Brown donated two lots at the corner of Fourth and Vine which were later exchanged for lots at the corner of Cajon and Vine, the current location. Ground was broken for the church in April 1889 with twenty members and the church was completed in September.  By l890 there were 46 members. By 1898 there was a need for a larger sanctuary which was completed in January 1899.  The church kept growing and more buildings were added, but they were all sold to the Contemporary Club and relocated. The new church, with a Sunday school addition, was dedicated on March 26, l905.  The next building project took place in l957 when John Knox Fellowship Hall and Christian Education facilities were dedicated. A tragic fire completely destroyed the old church on June 29, l967 and the present church was built and dedicated on June 14, 1970.

We are making plans to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Redlands First Presbyterian Church.  So far, we have had a Birthday Barbeque and plan to have a banquet on October 27, a special church service on the 28, the installation of a peace pole, and we’d like very much to have Plein Aire artists draw images of or pertaining tothe church. Our thoughts are to combine a concert with the artists’ display and reception in John Knox Hall the night of the banquet on the 27th.  The art could be sold to members and friends that evening. The art work could be on display in the Narthex for the special Sunday service, or we could leave it in JKH for viewing during fellowship after the service.

Our church is multicultural with members joining us from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malawi, and Cameroon. We host Youth Hope, an organization for homeless Redlands kids, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3 to 6.  Our sanctuary has recently been refurbished and in the Narthex. We have a beautiful large framed stain glass picture that had been a window in the 1905 church and survived the fire. We also have a large church Bible that was rescued from the fire.

The Plein Air will take place on October 1 through 5, giving the artist time to complete and frame their artwork before October 27; also in case the weather does not cooperate we’d be able to easily change the date.

Helen Waitz, 909 794 3860

Remember Playing in Mud?

You can again when you use clay as your medium! Fall classes are starting at AMOCA’s Ceramic Studio the week of September 17th. Classes covering both wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques are available for folks of all levels. Descriptions can be found online at www.amoca.org/ceramicsstudio/ceramics-classes To register contact The Ceramic Studio at 909-622-0464.

Jillian O’Dwyer

Date: September 14th and 15th

Time: 9am-3pm

One day or two day workshop:

  • One day $95.00 (plus paper)
  • Two day $150.00 (plus paper)

Things to bring: Lunch, wear old clothes, stencils, brushes.

Please let me know if you will be attending this month’s class. Will be having workshops in October and November.

Hope everyone had a great summer!

Talk to you soon – Kathy Spear

Redlands Conservancy Seeking Donations

We are organizing a fundraiser for the Redlands Conservancy called Feasting at the Farmer’s Market. The event, Sunday, Sept. 23, will feature produce from local growers paired with local chefs and a silent auction for the 200 guests. If any of your artists are interested in contributing art, we would love to have it!

Contact: Abby Harned (909) 795-7049

Thank You!

Celebrate the 92nd Anniversary of the 19th Amendment at Riverside Art Museum

Raise your voice in a recorded sing-along to honor the suffrage movement and celebrate liberty

We Woke The World, A Living Monument to Liberty at the Riverside Art Museum
Sunday, August 26th
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
For more information, visit www.riversideartmuseum.org/YABII

Riverside, CA — The Riverside Art Museum announces a unique opportunity to help build a “living monument” to the many faces of liberty, called We Woke The World. We Woke The World invites the public to celebrate liberty and women’s early historic and courageous efforts to claim their right to vote. This event, organized by Ari Kletzky, is part of the current exhibition, You Are Breathing In It! Alternative Art Practices, curated by Karla Diaz of Slanguage Studios. The exhibition runs from July 14 to September 22, 2012, and the We Woke The World event is on Sunday, August 26, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The celebration includes a sing-a-long and recording of a forgotten 1917 Suffragist-era song and a historical paper hat-making activity. The song marks a pivotal moment in women’s early history of liberty. It also tells a unique story about the women’s suffrage movement, which is the first successful nonviolent campaign for social change in U.S. history. In addition to songs, women used other tactics, such as wearing newspaper hats at parades. In celebrating this day, we will also make newspaper hats that speak to the history of liberty.

“This historic sing-a-long is a forgotten national treasure that speaks to the importance of participatory liberty, including non-violence, assembly, petitioning, and voting,” says Ari Kletzky, We Woke The World’s organizer. “Women’s vision, courage, and perseverance for participatory liberty demonstrates that the foundation of democratic community and individual rights is the liberty for all citizens to participate equally in decisions about the common good since those who participate create the laws we all must live by.”

“We hope the community will come out to learn more about the suffragist movement and celebrate the pioneers who made it possible for women in this country to vote,” says RAM Executive Director Drew Oberjuerge. “During these times of political divisions and posturing, it is incredibly encouraging to remember what people can accomplish when they work together for positive change.”

The concept of a living monument represents a new paradigm in how we remember history. Through a combination of various elements, such as events like this recorded sing-along which we hope will be a base for others to add their voices, a website, and other activities that stimulate knowledge and imagination, the dynamic history of liberty and its context becomes immediate and relevant to contemporary challenges and dreams. This is a shift from the traditional approach of erecting a monolithic, rigid object (which often finds itself neglected, forgotten, and/or knocked down or destroyed) to an evolving, flexible development that involves people giving history and ideas a voice, indeed giving it a life of its own.

If you are interested in volunteering or would be interested in speaking at the event about your experiences regarding the suffragist movement and what the right to vote means to you, please contact Exhibition Liaison Kathryn Poindexter at (951) 684-7111 ext. 307 or at: kpoindexter@riversideartmuseum.org for more information. More information on the exhibition and other free events are at: www.riversideartmuseum.org/YABII.

RAM relies on the generosity of members and donors to support its exhibitions, education programs, and special events. A 50-plus-year-old, private, non-profit cultural arts institution housed in a National Historic 1929 building designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan, the museum welcomes over 50,000 visitors a year. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. For information on exhibits, events, classes, memberships, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RiversideArtMuseum.org. Find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/riversideartmuseum) and Twitter (RAMRiverside).

Ai M. Kelley
Riverside Art Museum Communications
951.684.7111×303 | akelley@riversideartmuseum.org
www.riversideartmuseum.org www.facebook.com/riversideartmuseum