This fantastic event, involving many of our talented members, is rapidly approaching. The board of Joplin Arts Fest has asked us to reach out to all of our members regarding volunteering to be of assistance. The options range from, passing water to artists, helping with set up and take down of tents, asking folks to fill out surveys, booth-sitting so that artists may take a break and several other options. If you cannot participate as an artist for whatever reason, this a terrific opportunity to be a part of a great cultural event and any assistance could truly make a difference in the success of all involved. Please consider signing up if even just for a couple of hours. It will be greatly appreciated! Here are all the available options: 1) Friday morning Sept 14th from 10 am. to 1pm. And Friday afternoon from 1pm – 4pm. Checking in and helping artists with set-up. 2) Friday evening Sept, 14th from 4pm -7pm or 7pm -9:30 pm Ambassadors and Gate Watchers 3) Saturday Sept. 15th from 8am. -11am, 11am- 2pm or 2pm – 5pm. Ambassadors, Gate Watchers and Clean-up. Anything you would be willing and able to do would be a tremendous help to all involved so please consider volunteering a little of your time! Send and email to joplinrac@gmail.com with “volunteer” in the subject line and we will pass along to Joplin Arts Fest…..Thank you all for your consideration! Andrew Batcheller President

The JRAC Uncommon Gallery Show is fast approaching on June 10th. Opening reception is 1:00 to 3:00 in Columbus, Kansas. Judging will be by popular vote during the month of June. Drop off for JRAC artists is Sunday, June 3rd from 1:00 to 3:00 at Andrew’s Studio on South Connor in Joplin, MO. You must be a current member to participate and your entry should have been completed this year! Please deliver your art work to Andrew’s studio within the time frame designated or call Connie Miller at 816 522 4911 for an alternate drop off.

Joplin Regional Artists Coalition

Board Meeting
April 10, 2018

Attending: Andrew Batcheller, Connie Miller, Steve Doerr, Marta Churchwell, Laura Lowry-Greene, and Emily Rose.

A motion was made by Steve Doerr and seconded by Laura Lowry-Greene to approve minutes from the March board meeting. The motion was unanimously approved.

A treasurer’s report was unavailable for review, but Andrew Batcheller reported that $104 had been received in membership renewals for the last month.

OLD BUSINESS 

Laura Lowry-Greene presented a letter she had compiled that the JRAC board will send to welcome new and renewing members. The letter will be accompanied by a personal membership card and a JRAC member information card, a JRAC brochure, and an exhibit card.

The following final details were discussed for the Blue Bunny Show, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Andrew Batcheller’s studio, 2102 S. Connor:

• While it was agreed that there will be no charge to artists for submitting work for exhibiting, there will be a 25% commission charged on sales. Daria Claiborne has agreed to process any sales. Members may submit one piece of art, no larger than 20 x 20 and predominately blue in color.
• Drop-off of artwork was set for 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the studio. The board will gather from noon to 3 p.m. to prepare the studio for the event.
• There was further discussion that while there will be no admission to the event, there will be a suggested donation of $10. No one will be turned away for the inability to donate. Donation jars will be placed in the studio and at the food and beverage tables.
• There was discussion that exhibit awards will be based on People’s Choice, rather being selected by a judge. The award for first place will be a certificate and a free one-year membership and the second and third place awards will be certificates and ribbons. Andrew Batcheller reported that he has ribbons and Steve Doerr has a format for the certificates, which he will prepare.

• There was a review of the board-provided food, which will include chili, brats and wieners, blue corn chips, salsa, and guacamole. The board will provide drinks to include wine, blue punch, iced tea and blue lemonade, and Missouri Eagle Distributing Co. has agreed to provide a cooler with a variety of beers. Members who attend will be asked to bring desserts.
• Andrew reported that he had distributed posters and event post cards to art-related businesses and galleries and to two members in Springfield for distribution to galleries there.
• There was discussion on art pedestals and table and chair needs, and Andrew reported that he has a canopy for artwork that will be raffled.
• Steve Doerr will get tickets for raffle of art pieces by specific artists and he will print copies of the liability waiver for artists who submit artwork for the exhibit portion of the event.
• There was agreement to hang a board on which members may place sticky notes offering input on what they would like JRAC to offer its members.

It was reported that Emily Rose and Andrew are to meet with Sarah Serio to discuss formatting of the e-newsletter that was sent to members when she was JRAC president. Emily has agreed to begin sending a monthly member e-newsletter to include information on JRAC news and exhibits, along with listings of shows and art-related events in which members are participating.

NEW BUSINESS

There was discussion on artwork to be submitted to the exhibit in June at Maple Uncommon Hotel and Gallery in Columbus, Ks. Laura Lowry-Greene, who is hosting the show, noted that the artwork that sold at the previous exhibit at Maple Uncommon was new work that had not been shown previously. It was agreed that while there will be no hard rule against showing artwork that has been exhibited previously, members will be strongly urged to submit new work for JRAC exhibits.

The next board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Andrew’s Batcheller’s studio, 2102 S. Connor.

Best of Show: Paula Giltner: “Low Water Bridge”—There’s a certain amount of magic and illusion to this painting. The soft layered edges of the colors are mesmerizing. I look for more details the closer I get. Taking in the middle ground, background and foreground, the whole picture is filled with light, making light the true subject of the painting. The effects of light on the water are wonderful. Noticing the little details, I’m absolutely delighted in the waterfowl that cut through the water in the foreground.

2D award recipients include:

First Place: Koral Martin: “Middle Earth”—This photograph’s never boring, keeping the viewer coming back for more. The landscape’s sharp and lost edges combine for interest and depth. The reflective pearlesque quality of the surface absorbs and reflects light, increasing the feeling of depth.

Second Place: Andrew Batcheller: “The White Horse”— There is a complexity to the technical aspects of Andrew’s work that doesn’t disappoint in the balance of composition and color. The application of the paint to create the luminous change in values is enchanting before even considering the symbolism of the piece.

Third Place: Jodie Sutton: “The Last Dance”—First seeing this piece, I’m physically drawn in. The small details of the encaustic surface demand to be viewed closer. I find this artwork to be almost magnetic. I resist the incredible urge to touch the wax to appreciate the material. The composition is simple, yet powerful.

3-D award recipients include:

First Place: Valerie Doerr: “Turning 17254”—A lovely form, enhanced by multiple complex textures! The velvety look of the wood is paradoxical to the rough edge of bark left on the piece. The turquoise that fills the cracks is the perfect color and value to complement the lights and darks of the wood’s annual rings.

Second Place: April Davis-Brunner: “Summer Setting”—The attention to the detail of the zinnias is amazing—not an idealized representation of the flowers, but a realistic one appreciative of the life stages of each blossom with qualities of interpretation from the hand of the artist. This is a very lovely sculpture in honesty of the subject and execution of the materials.

Third Place: Angel Brame: “The Voyage Home” has many different facets—the making of the pottery form, the application of glazes that accentuate the different textures of the surfaces and the assemblage of all of the pieces with various materials. All of the elements complement one another. Text is an intriguing accent giving the viewer an in-depth view of the artist’s thought process.

Honorable Mentions:

Helen Stiles: “Self-portrait”—Excellent use of light and dark. Contrasting values make the piece very powerful.

Linda Passeri: “Go North, Pilot Bird #12—This piece draws and navigates the viewer’s eye to various parts of the work, dictated by the atmospheric perspective as well as the artist’s use of color and multi-directional planes.

Mary Parks: “Loud & Clear”—A bold usage of color with a strong composition.

Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé: “Unsilenced”—An exceptionally engaging work of art. The multiple, varying photographic views of a sculpture create a nice repetitive pattern. The accompanying text tells a compelling story. This is an artwork and a novel, all in one.

artCentral extends our sincere appreciation to Koral Martin of KOKA Art Gallery and to Cherry Babcock of Cherry’s Art Emporium for their underwriting of this impressive exhibit on view through March 18, 2018. Admission is free. Call (417) 358-4404 for information.

REMINDERS:

Documents:

JRAC Board of Directors Minutes – January 2018
Amendment of Bylaws

Due to our cancellation at Buttonwood this year, Linda Teeter has arranged for all of us to join her and her terrific gallery artists from Urban Art Gallery in a show at Pittsburgh’s Convention Center. The show will run through the month of Dec. The Convention Center is scheduling many events throughout the month including several Christmas plays and many choir and band events so there will be many eyes on the work. There is nothing better for Christmas gifts than original art! So price accordingly! All interested artists can drop off work at Linda Teeters office at 1321 Illinois, Joplin, Mo.  on Nov. 27th and Nov. 28th from 9am-12pm and 1-5pm. I will gather the work and transport to Pittsburgh to hang on the 29th. There will be a reception on Saturday Dec.3rd from 1pm-3pm. The director of  the auditorium is our surprise judge for best of show for each group and giving 2 general admission tickets to see Red Skeleton Christmas show to each Best artist from Urban and JRAC at reception. I will notify everyone concerning the closing of the show when we have an exact date and the work will be returned to Linda’s office for pickup. It will be at the end of the month. If you plan to submit, please advise me of the Title, media, and price of your work. Thank you so much and thank you Linda, for the generous opportunity. 

The JRAC Board invites all committee members to attend the next board meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 6:30pm. The meeting will be at Andrew Batcheller’s studio at 2106 South Connor in Joplin, MO. Committee members are: Membership-Brenda Hayes, Laura Lowry-Greene, Emily Rose, and Mary Parks. Fundraiser and Promotions-Hiram Mesa, Jennifer O’Donnell, Marta Churchwell, Nominations-April Davis. Communications-Jodie Sutton, Jennifer O’Donnell, Koral Martin. Hospitality-Brenda Hayes, Jane McCaulley. Exhibits and Shows-Mary Datum, Josie Mai. If I missed anyone or if anyone else would like to join a committee, please come to the meeting on Tuesday evening. We look forward to your help with JRAC.