Art will be blooming in April with the North Penn Arts Alliance.

This April there will be no shortage of art blooming in the North Penn Area with the North Penn Arts Alliance. Starting on April 1^st, we will participate in the First Friday event in Lansdale. Join us as we display members artwork in the first outdoor First Friday of the 2011 season.

On April 6^th, the NPAA will hold their monthly meeting at 521 W. Main St, Lansdale (Univest Insurance Building) at 7 p.m.. Presenting that night will be traveling NPAA correspondent Mike Darr, who will discuss his book, then NPAA member and artist Christine Webb who works in “Fiber and Fabric” will display and discuss Quilting. We will also have our Artist Trading Card trade off with the theme of “April Showers.”

Then join us on April 16^th at North Penn High School as we help at the International Spring Festival and help them celebrate their 20^th anniversary. This annual community event helps raise funding for the Lansdale library. The festival runs from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and admission is free. The North Penn Arts Alliance will be displaying artwork and demonstrating art during the day.

And if that is not enough we will hold our “17^th Annual Spring Members’ Exhibit” at the Elm Terrace Gardens from April 28^th to April 30^th. This is a juried show for all NPAA members, new and old. This year the show will be juried by watercolorist Jim McFarlane. Jim McFarlane is a signature member and current president of the American Watercolor Society (AWS), a signature member of and past president of the Philadelphia Water Color Society (PWCS), and a signature member of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (PWS). He teaches watercolor painting at the Woodmere Art Museum, the Greater Norristown Art League and the Doylestown Art League. He conducts workshops nationally and is a featured speaker on watercolor painting and art history. He has been a finalist in the Artist Magazine Annual National Art Competition and has authored several articles on watercolor painting. Most recently his work was featured in the Spring 2011 issue of American Artist Watercolor magazine. Jim has also been honored with the PWCS Crest Medallion for “Consistent Excellence.” Not only will members’ artworks be on display, but our students from the “Just for Kid’s” Art programs will also have their works on display.

Art has always been around, it is used as a form of communication, it helps people relax and express themselves. A painting or drawing can tell a story, enhance beauty or alert us of the beauty all around us. Art exercises the mind as one views the piece; the viewer is interpreting what the artist is saying or trying to see how the artists came to the conclusion of the finished piece. At the same time the artist is composing, defining, and problem solving, with a line, brushstroke, placement of articles in a mixed media,  a chisel or knife cut in stone or wood, even in molding, stretching, or forming, clay, glass or a precious metal. Art is an expression or a conversation that takes place between you and the artist. Each of us will see, hear, or feel something different because we are as unique as the art that we look upon or create.

Support the Arts in the North Penn Community, the North Penn Arts Alliance and Artists of all ages by visiting our displays and shows. Support the Arts by purchasing an original piece of art or donate to the North Penn Arts Alliance so their mission to offer artists and art enthusiasts' opportunities to create, learn, network, and grow in a supportive environment can continue. What better environment than that of the North Penn Community?

 

Photograph Courtesy of Bob Koenig

What you missed. At the NPAA.

If you couldn’t get to Wednesday night's North Penn Arts Alliance meeting, you missed a lot. There were 26 of us, both artists and friends of the arts that came together. We had a fantastic presentation on silk screening by Debbie Celenza who discussed about the process and showed us how colors are used in a single "pull" on the screen. Then several of us had anything from shirts, tote bags and even paper, silk screened with our own designs that we either cut before the meeting or created it right there. Debbie with the assistance of Karen Celenza and Andrea Metz helped us to set up the piece that was being screened, placed the stencil, and then pulled the inks across the screen. I counted close to 15 different prints throughout the evening. Thank you Debbie.

Our Business portion of the meeting informed us about the upcoming juried show being held at the Meadowoods on April 8-11, the International Spring Festival at North Penn High School on April 16th, and our 17th Annual Spring Members' Exhibit at Elm Terrace Gardens. The dates for this our show is April 25 for delivery and the show runs from April 28-30. This year our Juror is Jim McFarlane, President of the American Watercolor Society. He is looking forward to seeing the art of our members. A prospectus for our show will be included in the March Newsletter and then posted on the website. The Show Committee will be meeting Tuesday evening March 8th and they welcome anyone that wants to help with this show. It was announced that First Fridays will start again in Lansdale on Main Street, April 1st. Please contact me if you are interested in showing or helping out and I will pass your name to Danielle Schaffer.  NPAA artists have sold at these events last year.

 Joyce Shafer has started a "Give & Take" basket. She has filled it with greeting cards and photos that you could use for inspiration or help get ideas started. All that is asked is if you "Take" a card or photo you "Give" one back. This will be on the sign in table at each meeting. Thank you Joyce.  

As usual we are always looking for information where NPAA Artists are showing or will be showing. Please send information about your accomplishments, awards, and shows to info@northpennarts.org    

  

There were 6 Artist Trading Cards presented with the theme "In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb." Mediums from watercolor, pen, colored pencils and fabric were used by the six artists to create these unique miniature masterpieces. April's theme is "April Showers.

The next issue of "The Fine Line" is getting underway, all articles or Photos are needed by Friday, March 11.    

 The members committee is looking for a volunteer to be a secretary to take minutes at the monthly meetings. Karen Celenza is pursuing her studies and will not be able to continue in this capacity. Thank you Karen for doing this task.

For Information & a Prospectus on the Juried show at Meadowoods go to: http://www.meadowood.net/

We hope to see you at the April Meeting on April 6^th. We will have two presenters that night, NPAA traveling Correspondent Mike Darr will discuss an idea for a book and Christine Webb will present her Quilting.

Networking with other artists and those that love the arts is another step on the journey of art. By networking; problems were resolved, designs were applauded and learning experiences were available. Get involved with art and the North Penn Arts Alliance.

North Penn Arts Alliance Monthly Meeting

The North Penn Arts Alliance Meeting is scheduled for March 2nd at the Univest Building located at 521 West Main street in Lansdale. The meeting starts at 7:00. NPAA Member and Instructor Debbi Celenza, will be presenting Silk Screening and anyone interested can take part. Just bring a t-shirt, canvas tote, pillow case or any blank piece of fabric that you would like to silk screen your image on. After this we will provide information about upcoming shows and events.

We will also have our monthly Artist Trading Card Trade-off with this months theme being "In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb."

Please join us as we take another step on the journey of Art. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.