We wish you an "Artful New Year!"

As we come to the end of 2011, we at the North Penn Arts Alliance wish you all an Artful New Year.

What this means is that Art should be a part of everyone’s life. After all, you see some form of art every day. In a magazine or newspaper you see photographs and advertisements that draw your attention. In books and even on web pages you see illustrations that define what the author is saying.  Even on the streets you see architecture and design that was incorporated a long time ago.

Art is essential to problem solving, creativity, even the generation of ideas.  Many ideas were brought about by a scribble on a napkin or memo pad. So as we go forward into this New Year, think about the arts and what they mean to you. Art, whether it be as visual as a painting, a mural, a drawing or a sculpture, it draws attention to an area. Performing arts also draw people to the community. A blending of both visual and performing arts within the same community would draw more people to the community. When this happens, local businesses thrive, restaurants, shops and the many storefronts that abide in the community. All enjoy the profits that the arts bring to the community.

Art provides an outlet for children and adults. It allows them to express themselves and socialize with others that they may not have if there were no arts programs. Art also allows them to learn and in some cases teach what they have learned. Performing arts teach interaction and timing skills.

So how does one support the arts in these economic times?  Besides the usual means of support of taxes and collections by art groups, there are other ways of supporting the arts in the community. One is by becoming a member of a local art organization. Most of these organizations are a mix of artists and those that enjoy the arts. Other means of support is a letter writing campaign to the local councils and commissioners in support of community art programs, as suggestions for art based programs, fiscal and expertise contributions, and to generate programs and events such as concerts, contests or anything to expand the art base within the community.  

We at the North Penn Arts Alliance will do what we have done for these many past years and will continue to encourage art within the community. Members will have art shows in the area either solo or collectively as the group. Our teachers are preparing to teach the Community Education Art Classes at the North Penn High School during the Spring Semester. We also hold a monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of each month (except July & August). At these meetings we strive to have an artist or someone in the art community make a presentation. Also, North Penn Arts Alliance Member Amy Rims, is planning the “Lansdale Fun a Day” for January?  Its website is Lansdalefunaday.blogspot.com

So please get involved in the Arts and have an “Artful New Year!”

Childrens' Art depicting Lansdale Borrow and Bill Smith's Stain Glass titled "When Life Gives you Lemons"

Give a Gift of Art for the Holidays.

As we get closer and closer to the big festive days of the holiday season, many of us are still struggling as to what to get for a friend, family member or business acquaintance. Stop for a minute and consider giving a gift of Art. That’s right an artful gift of a painting, drawing, print, photograph, or ceramic and a personal favorite, a piece of handmade jewelry.  How does one acquire a piece of art? Well one may visit a local gallery or contact a friend that is in the arts. Another way is to seek local arts organizations such as the North Penn Arts Alliance and ask for a list of where member artists are displaying their work; from there you may be able to contact the artists directly. At present members of the North Penn Arts Alliance are displaying their art at local businesses like Rapunzel’s Salon, the Lansdale Library, North Penn Community Acupuncture. The Morgan Log House will be hosting their winter program on December 11^th and there will be prints of the Morgan created by a NPAA member suitable for framing.

A gift of art is a gift of consideration and thoughtfulness. It shows that you gave some thought and consideration into the receiver’s appreciation for art and provided them with a unique and in most cases a one of a kind piece that they can admire for many years to come. A purchase of a gift of art also supports the artists and the community. So while you are decorating, baking and shopping please consider a piece of art as a gift for a loved one.

Happy Artful Holidays from all of us at the North Penn Arts Alliance.

24 Years of Art in the North Penn Area

North Penn Arts Alliance is celebrating 24 years of art in the North Penn Community. Artist members will have their works on display at North Penn Art and Custom Framing located at 720 S. Broad Street, Lansdale, PA. The show runs from November 18th to November 26th and is open to the public during the business hours of North Penn Art and Custom Framing. Most of the pieces are available for sale along with unframed pieces. The North Penn Arts Alliance started 24 years ago at North Penn Art when it was the local artist supply store. The founders are all local artists and art enthusiast that saw the need to encourage art inte North Penn Area.
The North Penn Arts Alliance continue to take pride in providing an outlet for preserving and promoting artistic growth and culture in our community. As members of the North Penn Arts Alliance we continue to draw on 24 Years of Education, Participation, and Appreciation of the Arts.
From encouraging art shows in public spaces to teaching popular local art classes to arranging trips and other special events, the North Penn Art Alliance (NPAA) offers artists and art enthusiasts’ opportunities to create, learn, network, and grow in a supportive environment.
Help us celebrate 24 years by attending the show and support the arts by supporting local artists, designers and crafters when you purchase and display their works. Proceed go towards the mission of the North Penn Arts Alliance.

What you missed at the September meeting.

Summer has ended with the celebration of Labor Day and with that the North Penn Arts Alliance has started the fall with their first monthly meeting. As is tradition, the members attending are the Gallery Presentors as they share with others what we did over our summer vacation.

Several of us brought in paintings, photos, and drawings, there were new jewelry pieces, a presentation of bringing a 19th Century portrait to life and a magnificent wood sculpture.

There was food and refreshment during our break. During the business session, we were brought up to date with the outcome of our summer exhibit at the Montgomery County Community College and an inquiry about the organization restoring a historic 3 story mural. Discussions about upcoming shows and events also took place. We also  were informed about a member starting a Fun A Day site which can be viewed at http://lansdalefunaday.blogspot.com/

You will also note that there are signs around the community promoting art classes. The North Penn Arts Alliance works with the North Penn School District for the Community Education program. Several members will be providing instruction to young and old alike with almost anything that has to do with art. For more information on the art classes, visit our website at http://www.northpennarts.org/ and click on the Classes page, or visit
 http://www.npenn.org/5577992912550/lib/5577992912550/2011/COMED%20FINAL.pdf?5577Nav=|&NodeID=6707

North Penn Arts Alliance starting up for a new and vibrant season.

We at the North Penn Arts Alliance are gearing up for the 2011-2012 season of Art and the journey that it will take us on. After our last meeting in June we formed together for a fabulous show called “Mixed Media” at the Montgomery County Community College in the Fine Arts Center of the Blue Bell Campus.

The comments in the guest book were as follows:

“Good Show”, “Great Show-Thanx”, “Great Job”, “Wonderful Variety”, “Fantastic”, “Good Talent”, “Awesome Art”, “Beautiful Artwork” and the list of compliments and comments continued. Fifty Four artists presented a total of 103 pieces of art. Many were new pieces while some had been displayed before. The fact is that a collective body of works was on display for the community for a full month. This was a collection of art that showed “Mixed Media” in a unique way. Each piece was unique in the talent of the artist, its presentation, technique and use of the medium or mediums that the individual artist chose.

Now that the summer is coming to a close, we at the North Penn Arts Alliance are looking forward to the next steps on this Art Journey that we travel. Several of us sat in on the Lansdale Borough Meeting of August 2^nd and listened with interest on the fate of 311 W. Main Street. Happily they plan to go forward but it will take some time and money. Code violations need to be addressed and corrected, re-organization of the space has been considered to correct some of the obvious problems and a task force will be looking into how to make this property viable and profitable for the community, with consideration of the arts as a proponent. All we can do now is wait and see.

In the meantime we will participate in First Friday on September 2nd and have our first members meeting on September 7^th at 521 W. Main Street. At this meeting we will individually present a piece that we did over the summer along with our Artist Trading Cards with the theme of “what I did on summer vacation” and we will announce the “Peoples’ Choice Award” from the show at the Montgomery County Community College.   

Come join us on this wonderful journey of Art.

Summertime and Art

So it is now summer, schools are out, pools are open and the heat index rises. During this time, you ponder what to do during the week to occupy your self and the youngsters, and at the same time stay cool. Why not visit an art gallery or museum. If you look around, there are several that are free and they abound with some rather unigue collections. There are also others that may have a "Free Day" or "Reduced Admission Day". Also look at the many colleges that are in the area, several have galleries that are open to the public. One is the Montgomery County Community College Fine Arts Center at the Blue Bell Campus. Presently they are hosting a collection of 103 pieces created by 54 artists of the North Penn Arts Alliance. The show is titled "Mixed Media" because of the many medium that these artists have employed in creating their art. The show runs from June 29 to July 29.

The North Penn Arts Alliance offers opportunities for all artists and art enthusiasts, and its exhibit will include professional, semi-professional and amateur pieces of artwork. Styles will vary from traditional landscapes and still life paintings to contemporary and exclusive pieces created with mixed media or with modern computer and digital methods.

“The unique aspect of the North Penn Arts Alliance is that we have a great mix of traditional and non-traditional artists, who respect each other’s creativity and are interested in learning from each other.” 

For more than 20 years, the NPAA provides programs for artists and art enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to “create, learn, network and grow in a supportive environment.”

NPAA participates in local art shows, hosts art classes and arranges trips and other special events to encourage and foster a passion for art in its members and the community. For more information about the North Penn Arts Alliance, visit http://northpennarts.org.

For more information about the exhibition, contact MCCC Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

So this summer stay cool and enjoy the arts.

Flowers and Art in Lansdale

Members of the North Penn Arts Alliance had a wonderful display at the International Spring Festival recently held at the North Penn High School. Three of our members hung their artworks for display amongst the students works. We also had several members demonstrate throughoutthe day. One member painted the visitors as they passed the hallway of the Art Pod, another was drawing using a goose quill to draw with and there were others that demonstrated digital imaging and pottery techniques. It was most interesting to see our works blended with the works of the high school studeents. It was  a pleasure to see that there are others willing to take the journey of art.

The North Penn Arts Alliance is gearing up for their 17th Annual Spring Members' Art Exhibition. This is in conjunction with the Elm Terrace Gardens Flower Show. This is a three day show that will open on April 28th at the Elm Terrace Gardens and will close the evening of April 30th. This show will showcase hundreds of North Penn Arts Alliance's members artworks, from paintings, drawings, prints, and three dimensional works. We will also have a special exhibit highlighting our student members and those attending our "Just for Kids" Art programs.  Most of the works on display will be available for purchase. In addition several artists and businesses have donated original art, prints, gift baskets, and gift certificates for a raffle drawing that will take place on Saturday evenining at 7:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the raffle ticket sales and the consignment from the art sales go towards the mission of the North Penn Arts Alliance, to offer artists and art enthusiasts' opportunities to create, learn, network, and grow in a supportive environment.

There will be free refreshments and entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Admission to the show is free.

So join us on this fantastic journey of art. Come supports the arts and buy an original.