Prizewinners at the Art Center

October's Theme in the Sebastian (FL) River Art Club's Art Center was "Trees, and What They Give Us," for which John Sammon won first place prize, pictured below, and November's theme was "Lighthouses," for which Jean Dunphey won first place prize, also pictured below.

"Tree" theme by John Sammon, and "Lighthouse" theme by Jeanne Dunphey

 John's tree painting was a knockout, something really different, yet rendered with the skills of an expert.  Long-time member Jeanne Dunphey, who happens to be our patriarch at 86, painted this rather large, impressive lighthouse, so detailed that you could practically pick the rust off the stucco on the lighthouse.  So much good art, so many good artists in this club.  And everybody keeps on a-paintin' and a-learnin'!

Below is the Lighthouse theme entry by our former President Mary Rahmig--great job Mary--hers won 2nd place prize.

Lighthouse theme by Mary Rahmig

 December's theme is "Waves of the Ocean," and my what a wave John Sammon has painted!  Let's see if it wins a prize--there's some good ones now on display in competition with his.  Tuesday members will hopefully cast their 2 votes each to determine who's painting (or sculpture, or photo) earns a ribbon.

Wave by John Sammon

Stay tuned.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the
Sebastian River Art Club's
Art Center

Library Display Installed!

Some adjectives overheard:  "Stunning!" "Beautiful!" "Outstanding!" "Wonderful!"

Sebastian River Art Club's window display for January in the North County Library, SR512, Sebastian

 Actually, I would say the display is a great sampling of the talents residing within the membership of the Sebastian River Art Club.  Approximately 15 artist members volunteered to create a painting of an animal that customarily lives in wintry places.

Below, Kathleen Richter gazes at her handiwork, which is the beautiful mural that is the foundation for the whole scene.  Kathleen headed up the project, gathering artists together to create 8"x10" paintings on canvas to attach to it.

It is with pride that we display the mural and collective works of some of our members at the North County Library for January.  And the people in Sebastian should be proud to have so much talent in their town's Art Club, and hopefully support us by coming to the Art Center to view more of the wonderful works displayed therein.  The Art Center is at 1245 Main Street (in the Sebastian City Hall Complex), and hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and most Saturdays 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Kathleen Richter, Chair of the Library Window Project

Kathleen Richter's mural painting, without artists' canvases attached.

More examples of the Club's fine and diverse art work can be seen This Saturday, January 11th, 10-4:00 at their monthly Art Show in Riverside Park.  Take a leisurely stroll through the park and view some of the finest work in the county.  Artwork of course is for sale, and many of our members accept commissions, so if you don't see something you like just ask one of our artists to paint it for you!

Judy Burgarella
VP, Art Center Chairman, Marketing Chairman
& Blogger for SRAC

December's News!

Holiday Treasures Program a great success!

Before the opening day of "Holiday Treasures" which was November 8th, the Sebastian River Art Club members had completely filled our 7-1/2-foot tree and had to dig another tree out of our storage closet and erect it in the Hume Gallery!  We were ecstatic over the generosity of our members in painting all those little canvases, and after working on these little beauties for a couple of months, the Club officers handed a check for $700 over to representatives from the Ecumenical Council's Food Bank.  We were honored to have the opportunity to contribute such a sum from our humble paintings, and happy to know that our efforts will result in many people having tasty and plentiful meals for Christmas and beyond.

These little "Treasures," suitable for framing, will be available all year long, and can also be seen and purchased during our monthly shows in Riverview Park

L to R, Peni Baker, Mary Rahmig, Claire Tebo,
Food Pantry rep., Ginny Earnshaw of the Food Pantry,
President Judy McNamara, Vice President Judy Burgarella

Earlier that day members celebrated the season with their annual Christmas Party at Captain Butcher's on Indian River Drive.  Wonderful meal and great service.  The turnout was extraordinary, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Christmas party L to R - Lois and Roger Woodrum
Judy & Bob Burgarella

Exhibit Galleries
Theme in the back exhibit galleries for November was "Lighthouses," December is "Waves of the Ocean," and January is "Doorways."

Hume Gallery
Hanging in the Hume gallery for October and November was "Wildlife."  December is "Still LIfe," however many of the wildlife paintings will remain on exhibit through December.

"Pelican" Acrylic by Beve Bruffy

Art 'Round Town
SRAC members showcase their work and beautify the premises in the following public places:  Sebastian City Hall, North End Library and Inlet Wines - all in Sebastian.  COMING SOON: An ongoing exhibit in Compass Therapeutic, on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach's Historic Downtown Arts District!  See many works of our members during the Arts District's monthly Gallery stroll, January 3rd 5-8 pm.  Works will be on view throughout the month, with changeover every two months.  

Courthouse Show
SRAC members will be exhibiting works, compliments of the Cultural Council of Indian River County, in the Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach, 2000 16th Avenue, from January 10th through April 10th.  This show will be juried by radio personality and Arts writer Willi Miller.  (Members: deadline for entry is December 26th, delivery is Friday January 10th).


Frits Van Eeden Workshop
On December 17th and 18th, internationally-renowned artist Frits Van Eeden of Melbourne gave a two-day workshop which was a smashing success!  The meeting room was full of painters with big easels and humungus canvases, and stunning paintings were created from those two days.  They are too wonderful to keep under wraps, so an exhibit is in the planning stages so the public can view these exciting works.  Below is just a sampling of what's in store!

Many of these huge beauties can be seen on the Sebastian River Art Club walls at 1245 Main Street, and upcoming at our monthly show in Riverview Park on the corner of US Route 1 and SR 520 East, Saturday January 11th, 10-4:00.  If it happens to rain, the show will be postponed until that Sunday.

Stop by the Clubhouse any Tuesday, Thursday or most Saturdays, 11-3:00 and see what we're about.  If you want to learn how to paint, we have classes.  If you want to help out, we could use you.  If you want to get rid of the blahs or the blues, this could be it.  Someone (usually Suze) puts the coffee on, so stop in and have a cup.  

Judy Burgarella, blogger for
The Sebastian River Art Club
VP & Art Center Chairman

Holiday Treasures Opening - A Great Success!

The Sebastian River art Club welcomed many visitors during the Opening Reception for "Holiday Treasures - Ornaments d'Art," and many of the beautiful original mini paintings went home with new owners, with all proceeds to benefit the Ecumenical Council's Food Pantry in Roseland.

Artists will continue to paint works right up until Christmas, so there will always be new works on display and available, with all proceeds to benefit the Food Pantry.

After the Opening, many from the Club moseyed over to Inlet Wines to celebrate Kristen Beck's Opening of her show there.  Another good time was had by all, and we all enjoyed hearing about Kristen's adventurous treks across the wilderness, and what her art represents.

November's theme for members of the gallery spaces is "Lighthouses" - a popular subject for painters.  Be sure to visit the spaces and vote for your favorite ones - ribbons will be awarded for the three most popular.

COMING SOON ~
December will bring Still Life works to the Hume Gallery space, open to all Art Club members.  This blogger has seen some wonderful still life works created by our members, and so it should be a wonderful show.  A preview is shown below.

Judy Burgarella
VP, and Blogger for the
Sebastian River Art Club
Sebastian, Florida

The Tree is Up!

The Sebastian River Art Club's "Holiday Treasures" Christmas tree is up and lit and decorated in the Picasso Gallery where we have an ongoing small works exhibit decorating the gallery walls.  On the Christmas tree are dozens of lovely little paintings, all to benefit the Ecumenical Council's Food Pantry, to help feed the needy for the holiday season.

Below is a pic of the lovely tree, adorned by beautiful works of fine art--original each one!

Works are available for viewing and purchasing as of November 1st, although we hope our members can hold off buying any more until the public gets a gander of them.  $10 each, and 100% to benefit the above-named charity.  Opening reception will be Friday, November 8th, 3-6 pm.  Stop by and immerse yourself in color and beauty, enjoy refreshments, and chat with all the artists. 

Members will continue to create these little "jewels" for the public to purchase and enjoy ... our gift to the needy, the City, and our townfolk.  When have you ever heard of being able to buy an original work of art for $10?  It is a labor of love, and we are proud to use this opportunity to give back to the community, in the spirit of Christmas.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club
(& VP of the Club)

Coming Soon--"Holiday Treasures"

MARK THE DATE!

NOVEMBER 8TH, 3-6 PM

 OPENING RECEPTION FOR HOLIDAY TREASURES

Well, October's Fall Colors Art Show was a smashing success, with great attendance, lots of beautiful artwork, and we hung it all very elegantly on covered standing racks in the big meeting room adjoining the Sebastian River Art Club's exhibit space.  Our shows just keep getting better and better.  Many of our members spent the day there, helping out one way or another, chatting with visitors and just enjoying each others' company.

Helping Hands for the Food Pantry Fundraiser

This blogger set up the dozens of little "Holiday Treasures," small paintings suitable for ornaments or as framed paintings which were created by our members, and we all sat around a big table and glued the backs, hangers and labels on them.  As we lined them up assembly-line style, we all remarked at how beautiful they were-in between jokes and jabs.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of these beauties will be donated to the Ecumenical Council Food Pantry to help feed those in need over the Holidays.  Hopefully all will sell and we'll have a big fat check to give them.  It's a great feeling to know that our artistic "gifts" can help make a difference in people's lives.

We at the Sebastian River Art Club are always looking for ways in which we can make a difference in the community, aside from our joy of painting and our camaraderie at the Club space.  We have a long list of charitable accomplishments over the years that have made a difference in our community.  Our Rosalee Hume Scholarship Fund is one of the ways in which we are always looking for a means to raise funds.  Of little note, for many years we have collected canned goods from our members at our monthly meetings for the Ecumenical Council's Food Pantry, and so it seemed a fitting and needy organization to receive any funds derived from our "Holiday Treasures" efforts.

Below is just a sampling of some of the wonderful paintings that will be available after November 1st.  However, as of now none will be able to be removed until after the opening reception which is November  8th, 3-6 pm.  Members will continue to paint new and beautiful original works all through November and December, so visitors may want to revisit periodically to see what's new!

We plan to put the tree up this Thursday or Saturday, and can't wait to put all those beautifully hand-painted works of art on it.  And hopefully we'll have enough donations of white lights to make the tree sparkle.

Please do stop in a visit us any Tuesday, Thursday and most Saturdays between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Lots to see in our little club, and lots to do on open studio days which are Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00-3:00 ... coffee is always on, thanks to Suze Lavender!

Judy Burgarella, VP and
Blogger for the
Sebastian River Art Club
1245 Main Street
Sebastian, Florida

FALL SHOW & LITTLE TREASURES!

Coming this Saturday - Sebastian River Art Club's Fall Art Show, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, in the Art Center Meeting Room.  This show is for all SRAC members, and is their opportunity to showcase a few of their finest works.

Approximately 30 artists will be displaying works in a myriad of subjects and mediums, and many of the artists will be on hand all day to greet visitors and chat about their art.  Punch and finger foods will be available, and visitors may also view works in the Club's gallery spaces.  On view right now in the Art Center gallery spaces is a show entitled "Wildlife," in celebration of October being National Wildlife Month.

Visitors may notice a small stand with some very small paintings hung from its hooks ... this "teaser" is a small sampling of the "Little Treasures" which will be on display hanging on our Christmas tree through November and December in the Picasso Gallery.  SRAC member artists have been doing their finest miniature work on these little beauties, which will be on sale for $10 and will benefit the Ecumenical Food Pantry, helping to feed those in need over the holidays. Below is one of this blogger's contributions.

"White Cat" Acrylic by Judy Burgarella

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club