Greater St. Louis Art Association – September 2015 Newsletter

Place:   Concordia Lutheran Church

Time:    6:30 pm – Fellowship and Refreshments

             7:00 pm – Business Meeting and Program

The Blooming Artist Project pairs students K-12 with local Master Artists. The Master Artists create original work inspired by the students’ artwork. After selecting a work of art created by a student, the Master Artist and student meet to interview each other, sharing experiences, backgrounds, and inspirational techniques. After the event, the Master Artists return to their studios to create a companion piece or interpretation piece, inspired by the students’ work. In May we arranged to have both pieces of artwork displayed in a professional venue. The student often see their Masters’ interpretation of their for the for first time at this opening. We are now gearing up for the third year for this event!

Artists presenting at the meeting include:

Place:   Concordia Lutheran Church

505 South Kirkwood Road

Kirkwood, MO 63122

Self-taught and self-produced, Rickermann expanded her art, and effort, from Cherokee St., St. Louis, all the way down to a medical clinic in Guatemala and she has plans with miles to come.

     From even a young age, when a particularly pretty pebble caught a twinkle in her youthful eye, Rickermann knew it can take many, many bits and pieces of rocks, wood and glass to rev up her growing foundation for an audience. In 2001 she began designing, and then selling unique coffee tables shelled with broken ceramic and glass tile, which kept Rickermann occupied for the next couple of years. The liking for incorporating a variety of materials, like the broken tile, sent doors to opportunity flinging open. Kathy gained new perceptions and experience from learning firsthand how art advances. Mirror, pebbles, unique finds, beads, bamboo, wood and ceramic are all examples of  Rickermann’s malleable material.  Her discovery of vibrant stained glass, hand cut glass, and other mosaic tesserae taught her the pleasure of being able to have such control over what is portrayed in her final work. These techniques are used in her contemporary works today.

Kathy Rickermann founded the Gateway Mosaic Artist Association in 2010  to encourage and bring artists together to create a social and educational group, and to represent art culture, for the area.  Along with the education offered, the association plans group charity projects once a year.

    Recent projects of Rickermann mostly pertain to custom mosaics and intricate design, including several large mosaics around the St Louis area.   In 2014 Kathy was invited to be a resident artist at the Green Door Art Gallery in Webster Groves.

    Creating a relation between two foreign pieces is what gives Rickermann the motivation to spread the joy of her art and its opportunities to foreign places that could be in need. Kathy Rickermann believes that mosaic and education could rid poverty and distress, and hopes her efforts will inspire others to learn the creative art of mosaic.

   I have always considered myself to be a “creative” person. During my 30-year career as an educator in the St. Charles School District, I always had some type of artistic hobby.  When I became an elementary counselor, I wrote my own lessons that included stories, songs, activities, raps and rhymes because I wanted to teach life skills to students using lively and entertaining methods,.  As my stories accumulated, I reached out to a publisher, and was very excited to have a first book published in 2000!  I am now the author of nine books of elementary guidance curriculum that are being used by counselors across the U.S.  I am very proud of these books!

   When I retired from teaching, I took my first jewelry class and found my true passion.  That was 13 years ago and since then I have taken dozens of classes and visited bead stores everywhere.  This past July, I was honored and thrilled to be accepted as a Juried Member of Best of Missouri Hands in the jewelry category.  My submission photos and accompanying descriptions showcased several of my beaded pieces. I love combining beads, pearls and Swarovski crystals using a variety of techniques, such as stitching, braiding or weaving.

   I am also very proud to be one of the resident artists at Missouri Artists on Main in St. Charles, MO.  Not only is MAOM the perfect setting to display and sell art, but what makes it even better, is there’s a classroom!  Always an educator at heart, I love teaching my jewelry skills to others.  Currently, I am offering a variety of classes such as Basic Jewelry, Byzantine Chainmaille, Beaded Kumihimo and Beaded Macramé at the gallery. The schedule changes, but if you “Like” MAOM on Facebook, you will see what is on the latest schedule!

I am happy to be a part of GSLAA!

$30 per person.

Contact for more information and to register: Dennis McCarthy at mccarthyart@att.net

This one day workshop is all about the Riverlands and is designed for the experienced watercolor painter.  No need to be an expert, just some experience in the medium is required.  We will work indoors from our own photos or the instructor’s. A bit of walking around and taking cell phone photos will happen, too. The goal is to paint the feeling of the Riverlands and watercolor is the perfect medium to do that. A supply list will be provided upon registration.

 Maggie has been painting for over 30 years and received her BFA from the University of Oklahoma in 1995.  She paints in all media but watercolor is her favorite and her favorite content is the landscape.  She has received many awards in juried shows and competitions and does about 8 art fairs a year.

See her website for a selection of her work: Maggie McCarthy

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AT SUNSET AND AT NIGHT

Taking great sunset photographs and shooting “in the dark” can be fun, exciting, and create incredibly dramatic images. There’s something magical about sunset  and night photographs. If you wanting to add a little drama to your photography and set your photography apart from the crowd, then this half-day workshop, “Photographing the Edges of the Night” is for you.

This is a “hands on” workshop where you will learn techniques to capture dramatic sunsets and take long time-exposures after the sun sets. We’ll also discuss photographing city skylines, busy streets with moving blurs, neon lights, fountains, and a variety of special effects such as zooms and flares. Garry will show you techniques for capturing lightning and taking photographs in the rain and fog.

This is not a “photo gadget workshop” – where we show off fancy equipment you need to purchase. All you will need is a good camera, even a “point and shoot” camera, a sturdy tripod, and a flashlight.

THE WORKSHOP WILL COVER:

This photography workshop is designed for both basic and advanced photography enthusiasts.  DSLR cameras are recommended, but advanced point and shoot digital cameras will be suitable for the workshop provided they are not more than 3 years old. The only other equipment need for the class is a sturdy tripod and a small flashlight. Saturday afternoon we will meet at the Riverlands to learn how to set up and use our cameras. One hour prior to sunset we will travel to a nearby location to take sunset, dusk and night photographs.

WHEN:
Saturday, October 24, 2015 3:00PM – 7:00PM

WHERE:  We will meet at Audubon Center at the Riverlands in West Alton, MO.

Audubon Center at Riverlands
301 Riverlands Way
West Alton, MO 63386

COSTS: $45 – An equipment list will be provided upon registration.

Workshop fee is refundable, less $10, up to October 12th.  After that date it will be refunded only if someone takes your place.

Make sure you include your telephone number and e-mail address. Directions to the Riverlands will be sent to you prior to the workshop.

To register contact Garry McMichael at garry@imaginagrapher.com

To learn more about Garry McMichael and his photography visit his website  Garry McMichael Fine Art and Photography