Akron Society of Artists News

2009 Call to Artists

For artists interested in submitting original work only, for review and public display: Work by regional artists, is being reviewed on an ongoing basis for display at a cafe gallery in Aurora. NO commission charged, and no entry fee. 2-dimensional art only. If interested, contact ASA member Melissa Harris via email at mel@cycleportraits.com. Pleases do not include jpegs or digital reproductions of any kind, in initial contact with Melissa.
Thank you!

Links of Note:

AAAA, the Akron Area Arts Alliance:
http://akronareaarts.org

Artists of Rubber City:
http://www.artistsofrubbercity.org

Women's Art League of Akron:
http://www.womensartleague.org

Cuyahoga Valley Art Center:
http://www.cvartcenter.org

Ohio Plein Air Society:
http://www.ohiopleinairsociety.com

Ohio Watercolor Society:
http://www.ohiowatercolorsociety.com

Portrait Society of America:
http://www.portraitsociety.org

All workshops will be held at 140 East Market Street Studio - 3rd Floor Akron OH 44308 with Churski painting locations TBA Download the registration form to mail in with your deposit.

For more workshop information not found on the download, call Dino Massaroni at 330-388-9024

Membership fee for 2010 is $55, and can be paid along with your deposit to gain the member discount to any and all ASA workshops. Long distance membership (if you live more than 50 miles from downtown Akron) is only $25 per year and will also qualify you for the discount.

April 9 - 11, 2010 (Fri - Sun)
Demystifying the Portrayal of Eyes, Ears, Hands & Feet with Judith B. Carducci
$275* (ASA members) $295 (non-members)

Eyes, ears, hands, and feet are intricately designed, and often artists find drawing and painting them a challenge. This workshop will demystify
them by presenting simple ways of understanding and remembering their anatomy. The workshop is intended to banish the dread
of these beautiful and important structures. Check out Judy’s work at www.judithcarducci.com

Deposit to hold a place: $75
FULL TUITION DUE: March 12

June 11 - 13, 2010 (Fri - Sun)
Plein Air Painting with Lawrence Churski
$275* (ASA members) $295 (non-members)

Participants will be painting with Churski in the medium of their choice on location throughout the beautiful countryside of northeast Ohio.
Larry will demo each day producing a finished painting in an hour and a half. The remainder of the day will be devoted to the participants.
Check out Larry’s stunning landscape paintings at www.churskigallery.com

Deposit to hold a place: $75
FULL TUITION DUE: May 14

November 12 - 14, 2010 (Fri - Sun)
Charcoal Portrait Drawing with David Kassan
$295* (ASA members) $325 (non-members

Kassan is an up-and-coming, award-winning young artist from Brooklyn, New York. He’s a master at the art of charcoal portrait drawing.
ASA is fortunate to have David come to the Akron area for this important workshop. Check out David’s work at www.davidkassan.com

Deposit to hold a place: $75
FULL TUITION DUE: October 15

Recent News

On September 6th, October 4th, November 1st and December 6th, Akron Society of Artists hosted the opening of Summit ArtSpace, an ASA artist's demonstration, and an artists' show and reception during the Akron Art Museum "Sunday Sampler" events.

The "What's Up" Studio Exhibiton, consisting of the most recent works of ASA members featured new artwork each month. A drawing for one of ASA member Lynda Rimke's watercolor prints was held each of the Sundays as well.

Kudos to ASA member Debra Thompson for organizing all the volunteers and overseeing each Sunday's activities. Our membership has grown thanks to all her hard work, and the efforts of members to create a great experience for all our visitors. We ranged from 90-120 visitors each Sunday!

Members outdid themselves in providing a rich array of holiday cookies for each of the Sundays along with coffee and lemonade. The group received much positive feedback from visitors, most who did not know of Summit ArtSpace and the ASA Studio until hearing about it from ASA members who were promoting the open studio at the museum.

Artists who demonstrated were Judy Carducci - pastel still life; Ron White - clay sculpture portrait; Jack Liberman - landscape painting in oil; and Dino Massaroni - charcoal portrait of model and ASA member Debra Thompson.

The Sunday Sampler event is still being held on the first Sunday of the month throughout 2010, and ASA is still opening the studio with a fresh selection of members' works of art, although without refreshments and demonstrations. The Artists' of Rubber City is hosting and demonstrating in Summit ArtSpace in January, February, March and April.

left: ASA member Ron White demonstrating clay sculpture in November 2009 while three budding artists look on.

The exhibition was hosted by the Columbus Cultural Arts Center from Nov 15-Dec 18, 2009

The show had 49 entries from 27 Ohio PSA artists, from which 27 pieces were selected. The Juror of Selection and Awards was ASA member Judith Carducci. Co-chair persons were the two Ohio Ambassadors: ASA members Tricia Kaman and Carolyn Lewis.

Opening reception was Nov 15 which included Judith Carducci doing a portrait demonstration of Anastasia Horowitz.

We were told it was one of the best shows they had at the Center.

Esther Antler won First Place. ASA member Debra Thompson took Second Place. Pat Joyce-Deegan won Third Place

Honorable Mentions included: ASA member Jack Liberman; ASA member Dino Massaroni; Jeff Morrow and Daryl Urig

left to right: ASA members Carolyn Lewis, Judith Carducci and Trish Kamen pose with Judy's portrait demo of Anastasia.

Ongoing Events

Every Friday morning from 9:00 - 12:00 ASA members have the excellent opportunity to draw and paint a live model. Cost is $5 per session for members and $8 for non-members. Models generally work the same pose for three sessions.

Be sure to arrive BEFORE 9:00 to take the elevator up the the third floor and set up in time. Late arrivers will have to wait until the first model break around 9:30.

Contact ASA Friday Session Coordinator Judy Gaiser ggaiser@nls.net to receive e-mail alerts about who will be posing, cancellations, etc. or model opportunities.

Many thanks Judy, for all your hard work!

Check out ASA artists drawing and painting from the live model, or come draw and paint with us every first Saturday during the ArtWalk from 5-9:00pm. Model fee for those participating (not spectators) is $5 per session for members and $8 for non-members.

Check out the ASA studio and visit with members during the Akron Art Museum's Sunday Sampler event every first Sunday from 11am-5pm. The Summit ArtSpace gallery and Artist's of Rubber City gallery "The Box" will also be open, so it's worth the walk: one block east on E. Market Street from the Akron Art Museum.

Every Wednesday evening ASA members meet to expand their artistic horizons. On the first Wednesday of any month, artists draw and paint a live model for only $3. On the second and third Wednesdays, we may bring paintings or drawings that address a common challenge, or watch an artist's video. On the last Wednesday, we usually have a critique, hosted by one of our Signature or Emeritus Members.

Go to our ASA schedule page to see what's happening.

Past Events

ASA Student Artist News: Rebecca Williams wins 2009 ASA scholarship —by Frank Dale

Akron Society of Artists awarded a six hundred dollar scholarship to Rebecca Williams of Aurora High School, Aurora, Ohio. The scholarship presentation took place January 24th, 2009 at the Kent State Stark County campus as part of the 55th annual Northeast Central Ohio Divison Scholastic Achievement Award ceremony. In addition to the six hundred dollar scholarship, three Honorable Mention awards were given to David Shonk of Stow-Munroe Falls High School; Adele Waite of Crestwood High School and Leah Fulton of Firestone High School for their artistic excellence. In addition to the monetary award each student was given a golden ASA lapel pin and a one year $55.00 membership to the Society. This grants them the opportunity to attend and participate in all the programs of the Society and use of the art studio located on the third floor of Summit Artspace, 140. East Market Street, Akron.

This ongoing scholarship award program is an integral part of ASA's purpose and is mandated by its bylaws. ASA, which began 76 years ago in Akron, believes that its future is in the young and our own self interest lies in encouraging them to carry on what we have started.

In January and February of 2009, ASA hosted a show of portrait and figurative works commenced during its Open Model Fridays and Wednesdays, when the model featured was another member. The show offered the unique perspective of each artist's perspective and interpretation, as these portraits were lined up to reflect the semi-circle of positions the artists took around the model. Classic portraiture in oils, modern and impressionistic portraiture in pastels and portraiture in watercolor were featured. Judith Carducci's "Tom holding Cue" won Best of Show out of votes cast during the artists' reception. Many thanks to Dino Massaroni and Carrie Lewis for organizing the show, and all members who participated.

Thanks in part to a grant from the
Akron Community Foundation