From our Director

I recently heard an NPR report about a young couple trying to revitalize a Detroit neighborhood by buying a house and refurbishing it with power source alternatives. They plan to convert the house into an art gallery and hope to attract other artists to the neighborhood.

My favorite example of this kind of revitalization is in Paducah, KY. Several people took a similar kind of neighborhood and created the Paducah Artist Relocation Program. At a time when funding for the arts is constantly being cut, Paducah has established an environment where artists and the arts are flourishing. This program is so successful it is now a national model for using the arts for economic development and has received many local and national awards for excellence. http://www.paducaharts.com

I also read an article about the healing quality of art. A wife was nurturing her husband through a difficult illness and brought his favorite piece of art to display it in his hospital room. In measurable ways, it helped him feel better.

As we continue to move forward at KAZ, I am ever mindful of the positive power of art in our hearts, in our minds and in our community. As I’ve shared before, I believe art is the foundation of any well-developed community and I continue to be committed to the social, educational and economic impact of art in the areas we serve. Clearly the more of us that are involved, the greater impact we will have on each other, our members, our visitors and our community. I hope you’ll revisit the email I sent recently and find a place you feel comfortable plugging in and getting involved. If you’re not quite sure how you’d like to help, give me a call and we’ll talk about it. You can do as much or as little as you choose. It is by coming together that we will grow as artists and as an organization.

I’m excited about everything that is happening at KAZ. As a board member of the Norcross Arts Alliance and a member of the Norcross Merchant’s Association, I am pleased with the dedication to both art and artists as a way to support our continued growth and economic strength.

Let’s work together to continue to build an organization where artists and the arts flourish. These are exciting times and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Remember our upcoming workshops...mark your calendars and sign up via our website now!

• 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
• May 30 – Outdoor Sketching Workshop by Lucy Brady
• September 14-18 – Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown

The details for each of these workshops and the ability to register for them is posted on our website.

Exciting news!! Renowned landscape artist Bill Davidson will present at our April 27th KAZ Member Meeting. "What Really Makes a Painting Better" will be the topic of his presentation. Bill will cover simplified accelerated growth methods that will REALLY make your paintings better. As a nationally exhibited artist and sought after teacher, he has many private and corporate collectors, including the finest collection of French Impressionism in the Southeast where his works are hanging in the same room with a Claude Monet, Gauguin, and other historical works. His work is also displayed at the Sacred Heart Convent, Georgia Municipal Association, by the founder of Applebee's Restaurants, United States Congressman Nathan Deal, law firms, bank offices, and at the exclusive Roaring Fork Club in Aspen, Colorado. During the last 5 years, 20 of his pieces have been put in print. Art Business News selected his first submitted image as one of “..the latest, most exciting, most innovative releases... worldwide.” Visit Bill’s website at www.billdavidson.biz and mark your calendar for April 27!!!

Yours truly, Elsie Porter

Director

At the Gallery

CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS’ OPENING…the crowd was small in number but high in spirit. Hopefully this is not a trend but bad timing for attendance on an opening night. All members are encouraged to invite family, friends and art enthusiasts to celebrate the colorful art shows presented, congratulate the winners and enjoy a social hour. Don’t forget to send our colorful E-postcard invitations to the gallery shows found on the KAZ web site.

The following artists received awards from the judge Margaret Dyer. First Place - Kathy Kitz, Second Place - Christopher Sherry, Third Place - Joyce English and Honorable Mentions to Anne Labaire, Cyndi Marble and Daina Romney.

The next gallery show is titled TRAVELERS’ TALES. Your work can be submitted Saturday, April 25th or at the Monday meeting April 27th. The fee is $10 for 1-3 entries. A brief explanation of your “Tale” can be submitted with your entry on a separate piece of paper.

Opening night will be Friday, May 8th, 7:00, light refreshments will be available. Judge in attendance to be announced.

DOMINICK’S RESTAURANT entries can be submitted on the 25th or 27th, the fee is a flat $5. The work will be hung on May 1 and old work will be returned to the gallery storeroom on that day.

Suggestions, comments and raising your hand to volunteer on the Exhibition Team can be directed to me using the contact form on the website.

Thanks, Sandy Lacy

Gallery Chair

Open Studio

Remember the Open Studio at Kudzu –Tuesdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm. 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. KAZ members attend for free; non-member are asked to pay a $5 fee per session (funds go to support Kudzu Art Zone). All levels are welcome. Call Diana Dice for further information.