Great January Workshops Planned!

Sometimes it is hard to think about the coming year, when we haven't even made it to the holidays yet, but this year we are excited to have scheduled several great workshops for January and February! As our gift to you, take a look at some of our New Year plans. And who knows... you may even decide to revise that Christmas wish list after you're seen! :)

We're pretty thrilled to have talented artist and AAWS Juried Member Pat Spainhour coming in January to teach an oil painting workshop. This is a topic we've been asked about many times, and we know she will do a great job! With years of painting and teaching experience, you'll leave this class feeling confident and secure and ready to tackle this challenging medium with ease! You can get details, including costs, via the Associated Artists website.

Joyce Teta, fabulous calligraphy artist and master book-binding and paper artist, will be offering a fun workshop on handmade leather books. Date tentatively set for January 12 so check your Weekly Notes for specifics, but these will make great personalized Valentine's Day gifts... Just saying...

Continuing our partnership with Winston-Salem Monthly magazine, professional glass artist Jody Danner Walker will offer a free gallery talk about her work. This event will be Friday January 28th at noon.

Next on our list is a wonderful series of practical presentations by professional artist agent, Lee Mecum! Lee has worked with artists her entire life it seems and has a straight-forward and easy plan to help anyone get their work together, portfolio in order, and everything needed to go out and secure gallery representation. If your goals are more simple, she can walk you through the steps for entering juried shows, creating an artist statement, or just tracking your time and making sure you're on track and headed in the right direction. Lee will begin in late January or early February. Her first talk will be "Your Artistic Portfolio: What's In There?" and from there there will be 3 others, as well as the opportunity to sign up for individual consultations. Stay tuned for more on Lee and this timely series.

Do you have ideas for workshops? Or is there a special skill that you can share? AAWS is always looking for new ideas, and we especially love it when one of our members can offer a presentation that inspires other members. You can send us an email, info@associatedartists.org, or call any of our staff at 336.722.0340. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

And remember - all of our events are posted on the Associated Artists website calendar, which is sortable by event type and your interests. Check back regularly for new show prospectuses, special announcements, and more workshops!

We're Taking a ROAD TRIP!

Have you been thinking about going to see that Norman Rockwell exhibit and continuing to talk yourself out of it? The drive... the traffic... just general wishy-washiness? Well let us take a load of your shoulders and take you there hassle-free!

AAWS is taking a bus trip the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh on Friday January 21st. The museum reopened last spring after months of renovations and the building of a new structure to house the permanent collection. The previous building reopened in fall, with the Norman Rockwell collection the first of many excellent exhibits to come our way.

Your trip cost will include transportation on a charter bus, as well as admission to the special exhibit. Lunch will be on your own, but there are two cafe's to choose from within the museum facilities. (If weather is warm, you may consider packing a lunch and dining al fresco in the extensive park... but if December is any indication of things to come we're not recommending that at the moment! brrrrrrr!)

Here's a sample menu, just to get you salivating...

The best part of a bus trip is being allowed the time to relax, chat with other art enthusiasts, and enjoy the ride. We'll let the drive watch for traffic while we sit back with our coffee and newspapers on the way down. Pop in your ipod, settle in with that book you've not had time to read, and before you know it we'll be unloading and off you go!

The museum has a wonderful permanent collection of artwork and artifacts from all over the world. This collection is now housed in a brand new modern building which is truly a work of art in and of itself! There are massive outdoor sculptures on the grounds, too.

Trip cost:
$45 per person, for AAWS Members or full-time students
$55 per person, non-members

Reserve your spot w/payment by mail:
Check payable to "AAWS"
301 West 4th Street
Winston-Salem NC 27101

336.722.0340 for more info

Fimmaker Julian Semilian speaks at AAWS, Friday 12/10 at noon, FREE

On Friday at noon join us for the latest Artist in Residence!

This series of monthly gallery talks is an ongoing partnership between Associated Artists of Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem Monthly magazine. Each month writer Diana Greene interviews a local artist: writer, musician, painter, photographer, or this month - filmmaker! That artist then offers a talk at AAWS where you can view work in person, ask questions, and hear "the deeper story" behind their career.

This month's featured artist is filmmaker Julian Semilian, a lover of surrealism, writer, poet, filmmaker, and instructor in editing with the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts Film School.

These events are always FREE and open to the public. We do welcome your donations (suggested amount is $5). Feel free to bring lunch or pick up a great cup of hot chocolate next door at Brew Nerds before coming in! And don't worry if you're late or have to leave early. These lunch-time talks are open and friendly and we understand that you may not be able to stay the whole hour!

Gift Ideas from Associated Artists!

We have loads of wonderful original artwork, jewelry, accessories, pottery, and other great gift items for sale at the gallery. Please stop by, Monday through Friday 9am-5pm or Saturday 10-2, for a wide range of mediums, styles, and prices for all of your gift giving needs - from anniversaries to the holidays!

When you shop at a local gallery, you take the "Buy Local' concept much further. Not only is there the obvious tax revenues to City, County, and State.... but at Associated Artists your purchase supports independent local artists as well as the nonprofit organization dedicated to serving those artists.

You might also consider the gift of AAWS Membership for the artist in your family! Annual dues for students are as little as $20 for a full year, and for the retiree just $45. Artist members can participate in themed gallery exhibits, hang work in one of our 26 Community Exhibits locations, and receive discounts for workshops and other events.

Here are just a few of the items available in this year's Winter Showcase:

Featured Gift Shop Artist: Doris Petersham

Customers and patrons go wild over Doris Petersham's pottery.  "It's her colors!" we've been told.  Whimsical, colorful, and fun would be an accurate description of Doris' pottery.  Her vases, butter trays, bowls, mugs and other pieces are anything but boring.  They grab your attention and make you smile.  Here is a sample:

Above: Orange polka dot & black/white teapot alongside a lime green polka-dot & zebra print butter tray. These items and others are for sale in our gift shop.  Hours are Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, Sat, 10am-2pm.  We hope to see you soon!

Two Trips To Ecuador in Feb & March of 2011

To receive the full itinerary with cost details and optional side trips, please email info@associatedartists.org

Learn more about Hacienda Cusin - http://www.haciendacusin.com/

New Work - Just in Time for the Holidays!

Winter Showcase opens this Friday night with a special holiday Open House, reception, performances by the Winston-Salem Youth Choir, and artists present with demos and tables filled with work for sale! The AAWS Gallery has been quite the buzzing bee-hive this week as volunteers painted and prepped, moved pedestals and art supports, and arranged the beautiful work that was brought in by our Member Artists. Just over 90 pieces are now on display, ranging in price from $45 to $500. Works in the gift shop include funky clay mugs and ornaments for your tree, earrings and notecards, small paintings and bookmarks. Whether purchasing for the adult child who has just bought their first home or just gathering a few teacher gifts, the gallery has loads of gift items large and small!

We hope that you will stop by - perhaps before heading to the DADA First Friday Gallery Hop, or maybe after touring through the annual Deck the Halls sale benefiting the Sawtooth School! On Saturday you can come by to warm up and do some shopping before staking out your spot for the City of Winston-Salem's Holiday Parade! Any day you choose is fine. We'll be here!

In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek of potential purchases:

Featured Gift Shop Artist: Dariel Saunders

AAWS member Dariel Saunders' work is whimsical, bright, and cheerful.  Pottery and paintings are Dariel's mediums of choice.  While they are quite different mediums, Dariel's style certainly remains consistent.  Whirls of color -  yellows, blues, and neutrals- join together to create a harmonious color scheme in her palette.



Above: Platter by Dariel Saunders - available in our gift shop.

AAWS Accepting Donations for Second Harvest

Associated Artists will be accepting donations for Second Harvest at our gallery from Dec 1 - 10th. Canned and non-perishable items can be dropped off at our gallery during normal gallery hours of Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and Sat, 10am-1pm.  Our gallery is located at 301 W. 4th St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101.


To learn more about Second Harvest, please visit: http://www.hungernwnc.org/

Featured Gift Shop Artist: Jennifer Manuel

Another multi-disciplinary artist, AAWS member Jennifer Manuel creates both jewelry and pottery.  In this post, we'll focus on some delightful items from our gift shop - these adorable little pottery ornaments:

Mushroom or birdhouse? You decide! Either way - they're cute, cute, cute.  Wouldn't you love to have one of these hanging from your tree this year? You can! Just stop by our gallery Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or Saturday from 10am-2pm and they can be yours!

Photos from Laura Lashley Talk

Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine's featured artist in their November issue was painter and illustrator Laura Lashley.  She spoke about her art and inspirations at AAWS on Wednesday, November 17, at noon.

 Laura talked about her inspiration, work habits, and recent projects. 

She brought with her several pieces to share with the group.

above is a photograph of a work in progress

 You can read the article about Laura Lashley in the November 2010 issue of

Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine by clicking here.

 In addition to doing abstract paintings and murals, Laura also specializes in figurative work and animals.  One day, she dreams of creating and illustrating a children's book.

To learn more about upcoming events at AAWS, please visit www.associatedartists.org/calendars

Featured Gift Shop Artist: Hank Allred

One of our newest artists, Hank Allred is a clay artist who creates fantastic coil pottery and small items as well! Whether creating little turtle figurines or large vessels, Hank Allred's craftsmanship and love of clay certainly speaks.

Above: Coil vase by Hank Allred.  This item and others like it are for sale in our gallery.  Stop by and check them out!  Wouldn't this be a lovely vase to use for a holiday centerpiece?

Laura Lashley Gallery Talk TOMORROW, 11/17, at noon

"Gallery Talk with Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine's Featured Artist, Painter & Illustrator Laura Lashley"

When: Wednesday, November 17, 12-1pm (tomorrow!)
Where: Associated Artists of Winston-Salem
301 West 4th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-722-0340
www.associatedartists.org/calendars
Cost: FREE!!

To learn more about Laura Lashley, please visit her online at http://www.lauralashley.com/

To learn more about Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine, please click here.

Image shown by Laura Lashley

Join us This Friday for a special gallery talk!

"Talk About the Art and Craft of Food

with Southern Pies Author Nancy McDermott and Others!"

WHEN Friday, November 19, 12pm - 1pm
WHERE Associated Artists of Winston-Salem
COST Free to attend!

ABOUT THIS EVENT

McDermott and extraordinary local cooks straight from their kitchens will discuss our southern food heritage and the future of art and creativity in cooking.  Dessert tasting and book signing follows.  This event is a part of 6 Days in November, and coincides with the food-themed student show on Thursday, November 18th in the Atrium of the Chatham Building.

Panelists include: Will Kingery of Willows Bistro, chef & restauranteur John Marshall, and Dewey's Bakery Executive Pastry Chef Alison Turner

"Scrambled" Reception - Thursday, 6-8pm

This Thursday night from 6-8pm is the reception for "Scrambled: Food-themed Student Show" 

The reception will take place in the atrium of the Chatham Building - right next to Associated Artists - from 6-8pm. This special event features food-themed student artwork from our community. The night will include an awards presentation and a special performance by the TYJEO youth jazz ensemble!  The judge is artist and art teacher Justine Linville (retired Forsyth Country Day; currently teaching with WSSU).  We hope you can join us and see what some of the up and coming artists in our community have cooked up!

Twin City Diner Benefit Days - Nov 16 & 17

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem benefit days at Twin City Diner are Tuesday & Wednesday, Nov 16 & 17 - please help support our wonderful organization by "dining for AAWS!"

In order for us to be able to track receipts for our patrons, please print and take this flyer with you:

Thanks for all of your support!

Featured Artist: Bill Gramley

Many of you saw Bill Gramley's pastels in one of the booths during Fall for Art, or perhaps you have taken one of his workshops or admired his work on our walls at the gallery.  This week, we're featuring the pastel drawings of AAWS artist Bill Gramley.  These delightful drawings are perfect for gift giving - many of his small ones are only a few inches in diameter and would make fantastic stocking stuffers!

Above: a trio of small pastel drawings by Bill Gramley

Sharon Nelson interviewed on 90.5 WSNC

AAWS Executive Director, Sharon Nelson, was interviewed by Calvin Patterson, host of “Empowering You” – a program on 90.5 WSNC, Winston-State University’s public radio station.    The program will air on Monday evening, November 8th, at 7pm.

http://www.wssu.edu/wssu/undergraduatestudies/college+of+arts+and+sciences/90.5+wsnc/

Recent Happenings at AAWS -

The Wake Forest University Community Law & Business Clinic did an excellent presentation, "Basic Legal Info for Artists," on Nov 3, 2010 at Associated Artists of Winston-Salem. 

This presentation covered the complex issues that arise for many artists - topics such as trademarks, copyrights, and setting up your business (differences between sole proprietorship, LLC, INC, etc) were covered.  To learn about other upcoming presentations and events, please visit http://www.associatedartists.org/

Also - we had some recent press in the Winston-Salem Journal about the winners of this year's Kathryn Leinbach Brown Memorial Scholarship.  To read the article, please click here

The following students have been awarded the KLB Award for 2010-2011:


Latasha Love - Atkins High School (Teacher Janet Blakely)
Georgia Hertz - Forsyth Country Day School (Teacher Mary Bailey Thomas)
Tori Lancaster – Career Center (Teacher Shawn Beard)
Rachel Pendergrass – North Forsyth High School (Teacher Beverly Steele)
Ross Pollock – Forsyth Country Day School (Teacher Rebecca Stone-Danahy)
Elizabeth Rosales - Parkland High School (Teacher Melissa Moore)

Congratulations to these students!

Fall For Art THIS SUNDAY!

This Sunday, Nov 7th, from 6-9, is Fall for Art.  This festive fall celebration is held annually at Flow BMW.


Fall for Art is an appreciation event for customers and patrons of Flow BMW, Windsor Jewelers, and Associated Artists. Yes, that's right! An entire evening dedicated to our biggest supporters with food and wine, great music, artwork and cars. From historic BMW classics to a preview of the newest series - this is a beautiful event that has become a staff favorite in the AAWS annual calendar.  This year's flower arrangements are generously provided by Bo-Ty Florists.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Drawing Circle - Every Saturday

Are you an artist interested in practicing your drawing skills in an informal group?  If so, you should join us at "Drawing Circle."  Every Saturday, from 10am-12pm, a group of artists gathers at Associated Artists to practice drawing.  Frequently, they use each other as models.  Bring whatever materials you would like to work in - pencils, ink, charcoal - and your sketch pad or drawing paper.  Drawing Circle is free to AAWS members and the public alike, so if you have a friend who might be interested, feel free to bring them along. 

Upcoming Dates for Drawing Circle:

11/6/10
11/13/10
11/20/10
12/11/10
12/18/10

Cultural Crossroads Winners

The winners of this year's Cultural Crossroads National Juried Competition (Oct 14 - Nov 23) are:

FIRST PLACE

Immigrants: Limboland

by Duat H Vu

SECOND PLACE

Caballeros

by George Schober

THIRD PLACE

Free to Be

by MM Dupay

HONORABLE MENTION

Remembering Mr. Potato Head

by Brian Haverlock

HONORABLE MENTION

American Farm Splendor

by Charles Hildebrandt

HONORABLE MENTION

Faith Healing

by Kathryn Cook

HONORABLE MENTION

La Vieja

by Antuco Chicaiza

This exhibition is on display at Associated Artists through November 23, 2010.  Associated Artists of Winston-Salem is located at 301 W. 4th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and Saturday 10am-2pm.

Recap of "Culture, Identity, and Communication in Contemporary Mural Art"

Bamidele Demerson, Executive Director of the International Civil Rights Museum, led a gallery talk on October 29th, at Associated Artists, titled "Culture, Identity, and Communication in Contemporary Mural Art"

This event coincided with the Cultural Crossroads exhibition, juried by prominent artist and muralist Colin Quashie. 

During his gallery talk, Mr. Demerson discussed work by several artists in the exhibition including the work "Faith Healing" by Kathryn Cook (shown above).  Other artists whose work he mentioned included Shawn Beard,  Diane Nations, and Lisa Travis.

Above: Mr. Demerson discusses the musical themes in a mural by Aaron Douglas.  This mural, titled "An Idyll of the Deep South" is located in Harlem in NYC.  He went into detail descriptions about several murals by african american artists and artists from all over the world.  Each mural's themes, symbolism, interpretations, and meanings were discussed.

Mr. Demerson made the statement that "every time you look at a painting or a mural, you stand at a cultural crossroads between the artist's intention and your own perception." 

To learn more about gallery talks and upcoming events at Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, please visit us online at www.associatedartists.org/calendars.

Free Gallery Talk on Nov 3:

"Basic Legal Info for Artists" with WFU Community Law & Business Clinic
Wednesday, November 3, 3pm at AAWS

Join us for a robust Q&A session with the WFU Community Law & Business Center about legal issues that arise for artists


This presentation and Q&A session will cover the often-times confusing legal principles that an artist working in any medium needs to know. We will discuss basic copyright law, explaining what rights you really give up when you sell your work, and how best to protect those rights in future deals. In addition, we will cover basic trademark issues and business entity selection and formation. Protecting work online, contracts, copies, and other common questions.

The Wake Forest Community Law and Business Clinic provides legal assistance to small local businesses and non-profit corporations. Headed by Steve Virgil, the Clinic is staffed by third-year law students, all of whom are certified to practice in the state of North Carolina under his supervision.

Even if you have attended a session in the past, info covered will be based on your questions, so bring a specific topic. All areas of art (literature, music, visual art, etc) are open to discussion.

COST A $5 donation to AAWS is suggested. This event is open to the public.

Watercolor Workshop with Sharon Hardin on Nov 5

"The Watercolor Experience"
A Watercolor Workshop with Sharon Hardin
Friday, November 5, 1-4pm at AAWS

Experience the special power of water and pigment; how they combine to create an amazing array of beautiful, emotive color mixtures. We'll experiment with wild water as well as a more controlled approach.

Join us for this fun workshop about watercolors with artist and AAWS member Sharon Hardin.

COST: $45 AAWS members / $55 non-members.  RSVP with payment to reserve your spot! Email membership@associatedartists.org or call 336-722-0340

Image at right: "Chymification" by Sharon Hardin, watercolor

Photos from Bookbinding Workshop with Joyce Teta

Participants in Joyce Teta's Bookbinding Workshop, "Bonding and Binding," on October 26th at Associated Artists learned all about the lost art of making hand-made books. 

Joyce Teta, the workshop instructor,  is an AAWS member and owner of The Calligraphy Centre.  You can visit the Calligraphy Centre's link to learn more about her work, and stop by Associated Artists to purchase her art!  Our gallery is open Mon-Fri, 9am -5pm, and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.

An array of different materials were provided for participants to experiment with, and Joyce provided guidance and insight into her own process.

As the description of her workshop said "Your story, your voice, your mark and remark.  With a variety of tools, we will build and bind our story.  Bring your joy" 

Above: The finished books - don't they look fabulous?  Joyce Teta said that the class did a wonderful job and created some amazing stories.


To learn more about upcoming workshops and events at Associated Artists, please visit our website and check out our calendar.  Here is a link: http://www.associatedartists.org/calendars