Rudy Guernica Painting: Three Boals
News From Our President
Time for Change: Jim Schlett
Meet the Member: Joyce Lee
From the Heart – Valentine show in Hunter Wood
Scholarship Program: LRA $2,500.00 to the students!
WhiteBoard: Call for Art
Reston Photographic Society
“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse
Dear Fellow Artists:
It is a privilege to address you as LRA’s newest president. First I want to thank Jim Schlett for his unselfish dedication and leadership the past five years – we hope to build on the solid foundation he and other volunteers have provided for this organization. I also want to thank all members who came to the annual meeting and participated in the discussions on LRA’s prospects and projects for 2017. LRA is a uniquely inclusive arts group that provides great opportunities to interact with other artists and to exhibit your work. We have over 48 solo, and eight group shows scheduled this year and are always looking into ways to increase the quantity and quality of that number. We are also pursuing the possibility of getting our gallery space. Hope you will get involved in developing League projects and provide feedback to the Board of Directors. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at president.LRA@gmail.com. Matisse said “Creativity takes courage” and this is especially true today – so to all our brave members, keep making art and support LRA!
Rudy Guernica,
President, League of Reston Artists
Jim Schlett
It is hard to believe that several years have passed by since I took on the role of President of the League of Reston Artists. It has been a great experience, and I hope that I have added value to LRA. During that time, we have expanded with a host of new members, workshops, and new venues and have had as many as eight groups shows in a single year. We have re-energized the scholarship program and provided thousands of dollars of scholarships to Fairfax County Art students. We also now manage the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Program that includes 17 buildings in northern Virginia where our members can display their work in solo shows on a quarterly basis. As I have said before and some of our members have told me, no arts organizations in the Metro area offers so many venues for displaying art.
From time-to-time, all organizations need some change, and I believed that I was ready for a change myself. With that in mind, I had told members of the LRA Board late last summer that I would be ready to step down from the President’s position by the time of our Annual Meeting. You will still see me as I will be involved with the photography group and still be coordinating the AIPP program for 2017.
It was a great pleasure to work with the LRA Board and some of our more active volunteers over the past five years. I would especially like to thank Karen Hutchison, Regina Petrecca, Antonella Manganelli, Anne Emerson, Ellis Rosenberg, Todd Schroder, Dawn Murphy, Rudy Guernica, Ginny Moore, and Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz. They have all made my life easier and have stepped up to the plate about LRA in many ways that most members don’t fully realize. All of LRA is lucky to have such members and volunteers.
Below, Joyce and her daughter near the painting ‘My Precious Gift.’
Second Place in the show: From the Heart.
My name is Joyce Lee, and My preferred medium is oil on canvas. I paint in a variety of styles and subject ranges including realistic still life, portraits and detailed landscapes in oil. I was inspired to paint the portrait as Amelia, my daughter, has been an avid reader since she first learned how to read. The image captures Amelia in a moment that speaks to me as her mother and is one that evokes a sense serenity we all need more of in a life filled with “what’s next.”
The “Valentine” Show is in its second years.
Open to painters and photographer the show is
curated by Karen Hutchinson and this year was judged by Gail Pen
Comments from the judge, Gail Pean……..
Best in Show ‘The Hanukkah Party’ by Ruth Sievers
A beautiful oil painting of a holiday scene featuring candle lighting. The face of the mother lighting the candle is the focal point. The repetition of the candelabra design in the window, variety of facial expressions and complimentary jewel tone oil colors makes this a tapestry of emotion.
First Place ‘Amour’ by Helen Goodman
This romantic mixed media beautifully expresses affection from the heart using warm and cool colors and a perfect balance of design elements.
Second Place ‘My Precious Gift’ by Joyce Lee
This beautiful oil portrait of a young girl reading, masters the usage of lights and darks, soft and hard edges while expressing the love by a parent observing their child.
Third Place ‘Heart to Heart’ by Octavia Frazier
This acrylic mixed medial abstract artwork captures great movement and joy expressed with black, white and shades of pink.
Honorable Mention ‘Sweet Grass Baskets’ by Patricia Deege
This photograph is an excellent composition capturing the joy of work and creating designs by a woman weaving baskets in the sunlight. The colors are cool and warm creating a beautiful contrast in the sweet spot. The lines and textures of the brick baskets and clothing guide the viewers’ eyes around the portrait.
Honorable Mention ‘Romancing the Stone’ by Pat Coates
The heart shaped stone necklace, reflections, shadows, color usage and excellent composition ooze warmth.
On the night of February 22nd, members of the League of Reston Artists Scholarship Committee attended this year’s Fairfax County Public Schools Regional Art Awards Ceremony at the Ernst Center of NOVA Annandale. During the festivities, LRA presented four $500 Scholarships for ‘Outstanding Creativity and Achievement in the Arts’ to Joanne Ahn of Westfield HS, Abigail Brown of Chantilly HS, Sydney Evans of South County HS, and Damion Sanchez of South County HS. We also awarded two $250 Scholarships to Johanna Luttazi of Herndon HS, and Klara Vertes of Thomas Jefferson HS – both residents of Reston. LRA’s $2,500 total Scholarships represented the most by any group at the ceremony. Many thanks to those who helped to make this year’s LRA Scholarship program possible through their generosity and time. LRA is proud to continue to support and encourage the next generation of local artists.
Art Show Opportunities with LRA click the link:
https://sites.google.com/site/restonarts/shows
A Respite from Chaos April 3 – May 1, 2017
Paintings, Mixed Media and 2-D
Never as today we are in need to take a break from the madness that surrounds us! Take a big breath…close your eye…and open yourself to the colorful word of your imagination…
This exhibition includes the publication of a book with the artists’ artwork and a writing reflection. Artists can write a little poem, or a couple of sentences to deepen the understanding of their art piece, or something to express their feeling toward the painting in the show.
To have the book ready for the opening reception we will need pictures and text from the artists no later than March 15.
Please chose your painting accordingly with the theme, be considered that your painting and your statement will be in an exhibition and a book titled: A Respite from the Chaos. Thank you!
Deadline for registering on the LRA website is March 31st.
The Opening RECEPTION:
Meet the Artists is Sunday, April 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
A light refreshment will be served, and Awards will be presented during the reception party. LRA will provide $1,000 for awards for this exhibition!
LRA website is ready to accept entries, here is the link:
https://sites.google.com/site/restonarts/shows/2017-apr-founders-show-a-respite-from-chaos
With more than 17 public locations where our artists can exhibit their artwork, LRA continues to colorfully spread art around town accomplishing its mission to make art accessible to all.
Solo Shows are available in all Art in Public Places locations.
Contact Jim Schlett legalmanager@hotmail.com
if you are ready for your solo show!
Jim Schlett: Spring Time
Wednesday, March 8th, 3-5 pm USGS Reston Exhibit Hallway: Reception for Photographic Exhibit at USGS. If attending, park in Visitor Parking, enter through Visitor Entrance. You will need to show ID and submit to the security check. Contact Anne Emerson 703-471-8449
Monday, March 20th, 7:30 pm RCC Hunters Woods: Members’ Showcase. Share your work or come to see what others are working on. Contact Ellis Rosenberg (ellisrosenberg2@gmail.com)
Monday, April 17th, 7:30 pm RCC Hunters Woods: Jim Schlett will talk about his experience as an Artist in Residence for the National Park Service. Contact Anne Emerson 703-471-8449.
Monday, May 15th, 7:30 pm RCC Hunters Woods: Club Competition. Submit images for judging and small prizes. Judge: Roy Sewall. Contact Anne Emerson 703-471-8449
The month of June: Photography Show at RCC Lake Anne; reception June 11, 2-4 pm. Contact Anne Emerson 703-471-8449
RPS is starting to plan next year’s programs. Please forward suggestions for speakers or events to Anne Emerson with “RPS Speakers” in the subject line, caemerson6@verizon.net