University Art - Newsletter

The Community Artist

University Art Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 5, May 2004

ART ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHT

Our May spotlight falls upon The Menlo Art League of Menlo Park California. This club was originally founded in 1973 as the Menlo Atherton Art League. A short year later the organization became affiliated with the Menlo Park Recreation Department and changed to its present day name, the Menlo Art League.

The club has a modest -sized membership and boasts several very talented artists. Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. and are held at the Menlo Park Recreation Center. For more details on membership, programs or meetings, please write the Menlo Art League at P.O. Box 519 Menlo Park, California.

COMING SOON

Pastels USA 2004
Exhibit of the Pastel Society of the West Coast
2/26/04 - 5/23/04
Triton Museum Of Art
1505 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara (408)347-3754

Saratoga Rotary Club Art Show
May 2nd
On the grounds of West Valley College
14000 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga

Berryessa Art and Wine Festival
Fine Arts, Crafts, Music and food. Admission is free.
5/8/04 10a.m.- 5p.m.
On the grounds of Penetencia Creek Park
near the Berryessa Community Center, San Jose, CA

Reflections
Paintings by Judy Johnson-Williams, Kayami Harai & Lucy Liew.
Through May 20th 8:30 a.m.- 5:30p.m. M-F
Stanford University (650) 725-3622 Stanford Art Spaces.

If you have exhibit info that you want to have posted please e-mail at snjbram@aol.com

TRIVIA AND STUFF JUST FOR FUN

May Day (the name traditionally given to the first day of May) has been celebrated as holiday in Europe for centuries. Though scholars disagree, its origins as a celebration date back to when Europe was chiefly a pastoral civilization. May Day (or Beltane as it was called back then) marked the time of the year when animals could be safely put out to pasture, the arrival of spring. It was a joyous occasion with much merriment, and ritual. As Europe became Romanized these festivities mingled with the Roman Flora festivals and became May Day. Customs included dancing around a garland wrapped "Maypole", the mass consumption of sweets (particularly fruit) and public nudity among the peasantry!

ASK BRAMSCHANDOZ

Q: Just what is paper mache' and is it something I can do myself?

A: 'Paper mache' is, as you might guess, a paper craft that involves any number of absorbent papers that have been soaked in a water/ glue solution. Usually some sort of a support like a balloon, plate, bottle, or rolled up paper is covered with torn or cut strips of the glue soaked paper. Once the object dries it can be painted, decorated and sealed. The simplest glue solution is flour and water mixed to a soupy and slightly lumpy consistency. Then dip in your paper strips and you are off and running: simple! There are also a few pre-packaged paper mache' mixes (celluclay) that you just add water to.

JEFF'S TIPS

When using photos for artistic reference here are some tips to follow:

Don't directly copy a published photo without permission.
Remember that cameras can distort both field of view and color. Be aware of these things so your art does not look like a "lift" from a photo.
Take your own photo's whenever possible, they are yours to do with as you please.
Use pieces of different photos to form your own "original" compositions.
Keep a source file of photos from magazines newspapers and books.

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