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Sandy Lacy accepts her appreciation award for being our Gallery Chairperson. Thanks for doing such a terrific job!

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Pat Herrington receives 1st Place award for "Girl in Thought"... Congratulations to you, Pat!

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John Hart – Honorable Mention for "Solar Flare"

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Allison Miller – Honorable Mention for "Rose Petals"

The Vine

February 2009

From our Director

We’re off to a great start this year! Framing Artistry has agreed to be our first corporate sponsor. They’ve created a special discount program just for us; if you haven’t heard about it yet, be sure to give me a call. I’ve done our first interview of the year with the Gwinnett Daily Post about our first exhibit of the year. And, we have had our first two sales of the year; one for Phyllis ‘Oma’ Ingham, the other for Mikki Root Dillon, within just a few days of the exhibit’s hanging! WOW!

I finally got the chance to catch up on my calendar entries. I am happy to report that we have six workshops scheduled so far! Be sure to mark your calendar for:

  • March 28 – Pictures in Wood-The Art of Marquetry
    Workshop by Jane Burke
  • April 4-5 – Unique Textural Surfaces Workshop
    by Lynn Weisbach
  • April 25 – Direct Painting in Watercolor Workshop
    by Gail Novak
  • May 4-5 – Composition: Create Better Paintings
    by Elsie Dresch
  • June 12-14 – Southeastern Pastel Society Workshop
    with Gregory Biolchini
  • September 14-18 – Watermedia Collage Workshop
    by Carrie Burns Brown

I’ve recently sent out an email about all the ways you might want to get involved. I’ll also create a list that we can pass around at member meetings so you can sign up to volunteer whenever the timing is right for you.

Nancy Nixon has volunteered to help me track volunteer hours. This helps us with our 501c3 status and with gaining corporate donations and grant awards. All you have to do is email me every time you volunteer and I’ll make sure it gets on our volunteer tracking spreadsheet.

Our member meetings are the fourth Monday of each month. Be sure to invite your friends to our upcoming meeting so they can learn more of what we're about...and join in the fun!

  • February 23 – Basics in Marquetry by Jane Burke
  • March 23 – Direct Painting Method in Transparent Watercolor by Gail Novak
  • April 27 – Building Your Brand – Sales and Marketing of Your Artwork by Elsie Porter

NOTE: Our May meeting falls on Memorial Day so we will not be having a meeting in May

I’m beginning to form and re-energize committees and the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. I’m getting a real vision of all we can accomplish this year as we work together. Thanks again for all you support and enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to a GREAT year!

Yours truly, Elsie Porter, Director

In Passing...

Kudzu Art Zone remembers our friend and fellow artist, Ann Palmieri, who passed away January 29, 2009 after an extended illness. For information about memorial donations or to send a personal on-line condolence, please contact www.crowellbrothers.com. A note has been written on behalf of Kudzu Art Zone.

At the Gallery...

“Creative Beginnings” opened on a cold, brisk Friday and it was great to see all the exhibit winners, members and guests in attendance. Ribbons were presented to:

1st Place – Pat Herrington
2nd Place – Neva Spell
3rd Place – Susan Faircloth
Honorable Mentions to John Hart, Allison Miller and Joyce English

KAZ initiated a cash award of $50 for first place and Pat Herrington was the first recipient for his oil painting, “Girl In Thought”.

This exhibit ends on the 21st of February and work not sold can be picked up on that date after 3:45 pm. Speaking of sales, two paintings were sold just before the opening reception– congratulations to Phyllis Ingham and Mikki Root Dillon!

  • Works for the next exhibit, “Expressions of Difference”, can be delivered to the gallery on Friday, February 21 or at the February meeting on the 23rd. The $10 entry fee will be required for 1-3 entries. If you would like to make a statement about your entry please submit at this time. The opening for “Expressions of Difference” will be Friday, March 6 from 7-9 pm.
  • If you haven’t been to the gallery lately, you have missed how great the new gallery hanging system looks. Thanks to John Hart and his helpers–Carol and Tom. Also thanks to Mikki (the drill master) Dillon, Anne Gordon, Joyce English and David Hendrix for their help with the installation. It will make Joyce English’s job much easier as she takes over the job of hanging the shows.
  • The E-postcard advertising the current show is on our Kudzu Art Zone web site. Use it now to send it to your friends and family and let them know what the KAZ Gallery is up to.

On a personal note, thanks to all those members who suggested that I should receive recognition for my gallery volunteer work for KAZ. I really appreciate your support and my plaque that will be proudly displayed. Thank you.

Sandy Lacy, Gallery Chair

Remember the Open Studio at Kudzu –

Please come on Tuesdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm and paint with other members and new friends. Bring your own easels and other supplies. Diana Dice will be available for critique at 12 noon before we go to lunch (or you can bring your own lunch) and again at 3 pm. The cost per session is $5 for members, $10 for non-members (funds go to support Kudzu Art Zone). All levels are welcome. Call Diana Dice for further information.

"I'll paint what I see-
what the flower is to me-
but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into
taking the time to look at it."

– Georgia O'Keeffe