Oct. 10

BWS meeting to feature Mandalas

with Sara Steffey McQueen

The Bloomington Watercolor Society will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. Members are welcome to share the number with guests, and a phone number will be posted on the door as backup. For those choosing to attend via Zoom, the meeting room and password stay the same month to month. However, for security reasons, Zoom meeting details are not published on the Web. Instructions will be sent by email and members are welcome to share them with guests.

After a brief business meeting, Sara Steffey McQueen will lead a session on creating Mandala Art. She writes:

“I was first introduced to Mandala art around 1973 with the work of Jose Arguelles and his book on the subject. Studies of Indian philosophy, Tibetan Buddhism, and southwest Native American art deepened my interest. Early 20th century psychologist Carl Jung used mandalas as a tool to bring the inner psychological world of his clients into expression.  An 11th century  nun, Hildegard von Bingam, drew and painted mandalas as a part of her path to God. Mandalas cross all cultures and beliefs. Throughout history and in nature, the circle has been a great source of artistic inspiration.  

“Mandalas come in many different forms, but they have the common element of radial symmetry and concentric bands or borders. Different than a kaleidoscope, mandalas do have symbolism and personal meaning for the artist.  In psychology and art therapy, they are used for organizing our ideas and as a method inquiry and a focusing technique. Today there are many personal development approaches that use drawing and collage for gathering ideas and structuring and exploring our inner world.  Sometimes these are called ‘Mapping’ or ‘Story boards.’

“I have found the use and study of Mandalas to be a way to bring my interests & inspirations into awareness and expression. In this workshop I will introduce a different approach to painting from the ‘inside-out.’”

Suggested material to bring (Sara will bring extras):

• Sketchbook or Journal
• Square paper
• Straight edge
• Compass, tracer shapes (circles, any shapes)
• Watercolor paints
• Crayons
• Permanent markers

COMING SOON!

2022 Annual Membership Show of the Bloomington Watercolor Society:

“We Paint…Historic Bloomington!”

Oct. 7 – Nov. 23

Beautiful homes, historic buildings, cultural trailblazers, prominent folks and memorable places, captured in watercolor and other water mediums are all part of this year’s membership show.

Please join us at the Opening Reception on Gallery Walk Friday, Oct. 7, 5 – 8 p.m.

The Vault at Gallery Mortgage

121 E. Sixth Street

Bloomington, Ind.

Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Many thanks to the Monroe County History Center for their collaboration in creating this exhibit!

BWS paint-out and potluck

Saturday, Oct. 15 at Peden Farm

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Enjoy a paint-out at a pleasant, historic Monroe County farm. Share a meal with fellow BWS members. White and red chili, coffee, and tea are provided. Bring a dish to share.

More information and driving instructions to be provided closer to the date.

Paper marbling workshop with Andrew Preston

Experience the ancient art of paper marbling using acrylic paints, homemade rakes and combs, and specially prepared papers. Students learn to create multiple patterns, from the simple and elegant “stone” to the eye popping “nonpareil.” We will also practice special effect processes such as Spanish Wave and the use of synthetic gall. By the end of the workshop, students will have made a variety of marbled pieces.

To register go to https://bloomingtonwatercolor.org/home/activities/paper-marbling-workshop/.

Saturday, Oct. 22

First Christian Church

Choose one session.

Session 1: 10 a.m. – Noon

OR

Session 2: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $75 ALL supplies included PLUS supplies to take home!

Non-members may register for unfilled spaces beginning Oct. 10 for $85.

BWS at Peden Farm Children’s Festival

by Jeanne Dutton

September 29 dawned sunny and chilly – very chilly – but that didn’t slow down the volunteers at Peden Farm! It was busy as a beehive with dozens and dozens of folks of all ages setting up tables, preparing displays, keeping the coffee pots full and donuts served before the hundreds of children began arriving.  

BWS members met and greeted the little visitors to the table and each child chose an animal drawing from the sample sheet. We showed them how to ink their thumb and press their fingerprint onto a BWS bookmark, and then we helped them draw their animal…and sign their name because artists must always sign their artwork!

Our reward on Thursday was a wonderful lunch of hearty beef stew and fried biscuits with apple butter, just the thing to perk us up after the morning chill.

BWS was well represented and what a fun time we all had. Many thanks to these folks for volunteering: organizer Sarah Ward, Linda Branstetter, Patty Uffman, Andy Roberts, Sharon Parsons, Sara Steffey McQueen, Jan Ellis, Jo Weddle, Kitty Garlock, and Carol Rhodes.

A little history

In 2008 BWS member Tricia Wente wanted to have a “We Paint Parks” exhibition.  In 2010 BWS members drew names of Bloomington parks out of a hat and then took on the challenge to do a painting of whatever park each had chosen .  Forty-two members participated and had 12 months to complete their paintings. Some members painted two areas. BEAD and Bloomington Parks and Recreation were big supporters of the event, which was shown at the Showers Atrium from Nov. 4 to Dec. 2 of 2011.

Obituary

Barbara Edmonds, 1948-2022

Longtime BWS member Barbara Edmonds died unexpectedly at her home Aug. 27. Her daughter Angela asked us to pass along these words: “The UU family with Free Thinkers, Humanists, Poetry classes, Womens Alliance, and general community of artists were very important to her, especially during the pandemic and times of challenging political climate. She revered all of the individual and collective intellectual conversations, talents and compassionate efforts within these arenas. Thank you for embracing her contributions and giving her a platform for living her purpose of transformation and service to others.”

Angela suggests anyone wanting to make a memorial donation consider Green Initiatives program through https://amma.org or the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Bloomington (https://www.uubloomington.org).

Member News

Sara Steffey McQueen will be exhibiting her intuitive acrylics in Seymour for the month of October. They are on display at Pacey Apothecary, 125 W. Second, Seymour, IN 47274. There will be a reception Friday, Oct. 28.

Carol Rhodes’ painting, “Still Waters,” was accepted for Greening the Statehouse 2022: Clean Water for Indiana. The 15th annual Greening the Statehouse, Indiana’s largest environmental gathering, will take place Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the IMMI Conference Center in Westfield, Ind.  The event is water themed, and Hoosier Environmental Council called for water-themed art because 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.  The program for the day includes presentations, a lunch of locally produced foods, and abundant break time for networking and engagement with the artwork. Juried Artwork will be displayed in the conference space for this one-day conference. Learn more about the event at https://www.hecweb.org/gts/.

Kathy Barton has a solo show, “Happy Little Paintings,” at Bloomingfoods Near West Side, 316 W. Sixth St. The show will go through the end of December.

Beyond BWS

Phil Bowsher, a BWS member, will return to Owen County Art Guild for another Human Figure Drawing class Oct. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. The session will have a live model. Any medium is welcome. Bring an easel and supplies. Watercolor paper will be for sale for $2 per sheet. Cost is $25 per person. Call 812-829-1877 to reserve your space. Address is 199 W. Cooper St., Spencer 47460.

Viridian Moon is currently hosting a Middle School Art Teachers show: https://www.viridianmoon.art/events. Irina Shishova, gallery owner,  said. “It would be great if local artists could come for the reception on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. to show these amazing teachers their support.”

Paint! Bloomington is a citywide art event that encourages everyone to paint anywhere in Bloomington on Saturday, Oct. 8. Organized events include a judged paint-out, classes, and demonstrations. Advance registration is NOT required and the events are free. To participate in the judged paint-out, artists must check in between 9:30 and 11 a.m. at the Woodlawn Pavilion in Bryan Park to have their canvases or papers stamped before beginning their work. To be eligible for judging, completed works must be delivered to the Woodlawn Pavilion by 3 p.m. Classes will be at the Woodlawn Pavilion from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for youth and teens/adults. Participants will have opportunities to paint with them, and models for portrait classes will be there from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Throughout the day artists will be giving demonstrations and participants will have opportunities to paint with them. Supplies will be available for classes at the Pavilion and some supplies are available for painting on the Bryan Park grounds. Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington, Bloomington Watercolor Society, Upland Plein Air Painters and The Portrait Group and Artists for Climate Awareness are teaming up to bring this fun event to Bloomington. Please email paintbloomington@gmail.com for additional information.

Calendar

Oct. 7 Opening Reception for BWS Membership Show, “We Paint … Historic Bloomington,” at The Vault at Gallery Mortgage, 121 E. Sixth St., Bloomington

Oct. 8 Paint! Bloomington. Starts at 9:30. Woodlawn Pavilion in Bryan Park

Oct. 10 BWS monthly meeting. 6 p.m. First Christian Church and via Zoom

Oct. 15 BWS Paint-out and Potluck. Peden Farm. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Oct. 22 Paper Marbling Workshop with Andrew Preston. First Christian Church. 10 a.m. – Noon OR 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Human Figure Drawing Class with Phil Bowsher. Owen County Art Guild in Spencer. 2 – 5 p.m.

Oct. 22 Viridian Moon’s Reception for Middle School Art Teacher’s Show. 3 – 5 p.m.