MARCH 2001 NEWSLETTER

HERE AND NOW

ART EXHIBIT

The second art exhibit presented by TOM-E-TOES Restaurant and the Wilton Arts Council will feature works by Martha Payne for the month of March 2001.  Martha paints in watercolor, oil, monotype and pastel and says that her paintings reflect her enthusiasm for color and light.  An opening reception will be held at TOM-E-TOES Pizza & Restaurant in Wilton Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2001 from 6 PM to 8 PM.  The public is welcome.  If you can’t make the reception, please be sure to visit the exhibit.

MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NOW DUE

Please refer to the Membership Renewal section later in this newsletter for important information about renewing your membership.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NUDES AND FOODS

The Council’s Annual Art Exhibition and Sale is slated for April 2001.  Artists’ fundamentals begin with studies of still life and life drawing.  In recognition of such studies, this year’s theme is “Nudes and Foods.”  Artists whose membership dues are paid by April 1, 2001 are eligible to exhibit two works that fit the theme.

NOTHING BUT TREBLE

The Wilton Women’s Community Chorus, “Treblemakers,” will entertain the community with their first concert of the spring semester at Sunrise Assisted Living Center (located on Route 7) on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, beginning at 6:30 PM.  The chorus is directed by Wilton’s own Mary Bozzutti Higgins.  Kyle Noble is the accompanist (and has been cited as “the best around”). 

BICENTENNIAL LOGO CONTEST

The Bicentennial Committee is calling all artists to design a logo for the Town of Wilton’s Bicentennial in 2002.  The logo will be used throughout the Bicentennial celebration.  The logo design must include the “Town of Wilton” and the years “1802—2002.”  It may be as large as 12” by 12” (round or square), and should be sufficiently clear for the image to be reproduced on mugs, shirts and banners.  Entries must be submitted to the Wilton Arts Council between March 1, 2001 and May 4, 2001.  The winner of the contest, which is sponsored by The Bulletin, will receive an award of $500.00.

POTTERY & SMALL SCULPTURE SHOW

Last year’s show was very successful and we look forward to another successful one in 2001; however, we need your help.  This year’s show is set for the weekend before Mother’s Day (making it the perfect place to look for that very special gift for mom) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 4, 5, and 6, 2001, at the Old Town Hall. 

The following committees are being formed to work on various aspects of the show—take your pick:

   Publicity                             General coordination
   Moving of pedestals        Set up and clear up
   Manning the show           Food donations
   Soliciting donations
   Coordination with Wilton High School

If you wish to participate as an artist or on a committee, please contact Sarah Koster at 762-8763.

WALL SPACE FOR WAC ARTISTS

The following artists will be participating in “The Arts in Our Community” monthly exhibits sponsored by TOM-E-TOES Pizza & Restaurant and the Wilton Arts Council:  April—Maya Boreen; May—Sally Wiseman; June—Florence Price; July—Dale Murena.  Be sure to mark your calendars and look for notices in the Wilton newspapers regarding the opening reception for each show, which will most likely be the first Tuesday following the first day of each month. 

Exhibits in the tearoom are open to Council members with small drawings, paintings (acrylic, oils and watercolors) and photographs.  Artists may also team up with other artists for the month.  Artwork available for sale is to be handled directly by the artist; no commissions will be required.  Space is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  For further information or to sign up for a spot, please call Shirley Lewis at 762-5727.

PAST EVENTS

A SWINGING GOOD TIME

Many, many thanks to Dol Christison for her excellent dance instruction at our February “Sweetheart Dance” event.  She really had us swinging away in no time.  Everyone was having so much fun; we hated to leave when it was time for the Comstock Community Center to be closed for the evening. We said that this would be a special, one-time event; and extremely special it was indeed—but we will hopefully be able to get Dol and the Comstock Community Center let us do it again.

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

MEETING AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Board meetings are open to all members; monthly programs are open to the general public.  The meeting and program schedule is as follows:

      March 13, 2001—Board Meeting

      April 10, 2001—Nothing But Treble

                      [Sunrise Assisted Living Center]

      May 8, 2001—Board Meeting
      June 12, 2001—Annual Membership Meeting

Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Wilton Library (unless otherwise noted in the newsletter), beginning at 7:30 PM.

PLANNING FOR THE WILTON BICENTENNIAL

A portion of the March 13, 2001 Council meeting will be spent on discussing the Council’s plans for the Wilton Bicentennial.  Among the possibilities are writing a book on Wilton artists and constructing a float for the 2002 Memorial Day parade.  Please attend the meeting or contact Anne Richards at 762-0033 if you are interested in participating in one of these activities or have other ideas.

WEBSITE & E-Mail address

Let us hear from you!  For our “connected” members and other organizations, we have recently established an e-mail address.  The address is INFO@WILTONARTS.ORG.   Please feel free to send us your ideas for future events, comments on past events, material for the web site, and last, but not least, information for our newsletter.

Have you seen our website yet?  If not, you absolutely must check it out (www.wiltonarts.org) .  It is periodically updated with information on the Council, its activities and other events.  The photo journal essays created by our Webmaster, Phil Richards, of some of the Council’s events in 2000 are fantastic. 

We are still interested in listing Council members who have CDs that are available for sale or who would otherwise like to advertise their “artistic wares” by links to their own web sites.  However, we need your help to accumulate the information.  Please contact Phil Richards at 762-0033 (or using the website or e-mail address) for further information.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Attention all members, past and present—2001 membership dues are now DUE.  Please remit your check TODAY and help us keep postage expenses down.  We are trying to avoid having to do a separate mailing each year for renewing membership dues.  This new strategy would not only help us to reduce our administrative costs but would allow us to devote the time required for a separate mailing to developing arts programs in Wilton instead. 

If you are not already a member, please join the Council today.  And by all means, please invite a friend to join, too.  Your support provides needed funding for the many Council activities.  Help keep the arts alive in Wilton!! 

General Membership:
Family (including members under 18)               $35.00

Individual Membership                                       $25.00

Students (under 18) and Seniors                       $10.00

Benefactors                                                           $100.00

Business Memberships:
Basic Membership                                               $50.00

Business Patron                             $100.00 to $200.00

Business Benefactors                                         $500.00

Checks should be made payable to the Wilton Arts Council, and mailed to the Wilton Arts Council,
P.O. Box 7161, Wilton, CT   06897.  Please include your name, address, and membership category.  A membership application may also be obtained from the Council’s website.

WAC MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT

PUBLISHED POET

One of Karen Weissman’s poems will be published in the Spring 2001 issue of  “American Tanka.”  The Tanka form pre-dates haiku and is written in 5 lines.  Karen also recently attended an artist’s retreat at Wisdom House in Litchfield, CT—the home of Marie Louise Trichet Art Gallery.

KUDOS

 

NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome our newest members to the Council,.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS

President               Anne Richards           762-0033

Vice President       Terry Scarborough     563-9445

Treasurer               Liz Moretti                   762-0881

Secretary               John Koster                762-8763

Pam Pooley (762-8771) serves as Immediate Past President.  The following serve as Directors at Large:

Community

   Liaison                Sharrie Alechman     847-7968

Finance                  Phil Richards              762-0033

Membership          Karen Strickland        544-1019

Public Relations   Beth Schneider          834-9986

Performing Arts    Magdalen Livesey    762-8943