Council seeking laptop donation

A message from Rich DiCarlo:

The Valley Arts Council is asking if anyone has a new or used laptop computer to donate to our organization. 

The laptop will be used to fulfill our obligation towards making our administrative office accessible for our administrative personnel with disabilities.
We are a 501(c)3 organization and your donation is tax deductible.

Please contact Rich at: studiochid@sbcglobal.net

Next art show to feature mystical theme

Valley Arts Council gallery manager BillieJo Scharfenberg today issued a Call to Artists.

She said in a post on Facebook: "Gallery@37 is pleased to announce the theme for the next show. The theme will be Magic & Mysticicsm. The opening will be Oct. 13, 2012. More details to follow."

Scharfenberg also said:

"Magic may refer to: Magic (illusion), the art of appearing to perform supernatural feats using sleight of hand or other methods;

Magic (paranormal), the use of paranormal methods to manipulate natural forces, such as witchcraft;

Ceremonial magic, a ritual system of esoteric spiritual development using occult techniques;
Magick, a specific system of ritual magic deriving from the religious philosophy of Thelema;
Magic and religion, which may involve the intercession of deities or other spirits, such as prayer;
Magic in fiction, the treatment of magic in fictional works.

"Magic (sometimes referred to as stage magic to distinguish it from paranormal or ritual magic) is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible[1] or supernatural[2] feats using natural means. These feats are called magic tricks, effects, or illusions.

"Mysticism ( pronunciation (help·info); from the Greek μυστικός, mystikos, meaning 'an initiate') is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, or levels of being, or aspects of reality, beyond normal human perception, including experience of and even communion with a supreme being."

Arts council president on the mend after close call

For those of you who aren't Facebook Friends with our fearless leader, arts council President Rich DiCarlo, he asked me to write a brief post letting folks know that he's doing OK. 

He's in Florida with his family, but he's not having much of a vacation. He has been in the hospital for several days because of an irregular heart beat. 

I thought he sounded like his old self, given the circumstances.

Rich's Facebook post follows:

Hi everybody, I will be o.k...I have been in the hospital down here. In Florida ,while vacationing with my family. No heart attack ...tachycardia ...that explains my sluggish feeling and inability to walk or run ... It's a wake up call. good news is I will lose massive weight with a lifestyle change. I will eventually reverse the diabetes etc... Plus...I'll be around to make the changes.
This was a close call.

 

 

Thanks to all who participated in our 'Circles' event

DERBY - Winners of the Valley Arts Council’s “A Celebration of the Circle” art contest, held at the Gallery@37, were selected from a wide array of submissions by show judge John Saccu.

Criteria for the judging, which took place at the show’s opening on Aug. 11, was set by Valley Arts Council officers and Gallery@37 manager, BillieJo Scharfenberg.

1st Place was awarded to Lauren Tatta’s oil and acrylic on canvas painting, titled “Zoom in Life.”

2nd Place went to Melissa Gill, for her acrylic on canvas painting titled, “Anger.”

Drawing the line against a competitive remaining field at 3rd Place was Greg Karas’ acrylic on canvas painting, titled “Quadras.”

On behalf of the Valley Arts Council, its presidents and board of directors, I offer up a tremendous thank you to everyone who entered artwork and helped make this yet another fantastic event for the Valley Arts Council, Gallery@37, and our ever-expanding base of patrons!

The above was posted today on Facebook by BillieJo Scharfenberg, Gallery@37 Manager & Events Coordinator, and reposted here.

C'mon down to celebrate circles

Photo by Patricia Villers

This painting by Valley Arts Council member Elizabeth DeLucia is one of many interpretations of the circle theme in the current Celebration of the Circle exhibit at Gallery@37. The exhibit runs through Sept. 1.

Photo by Steve DiRienzo

This oil painting on canvas, "Cycles of Circular Motion," is by Valley Arts Council Vice President Steve DiRienzo of Derby.

The gallery is at 37 Elizabeth St., Derby.

Gallery hours, which are subject to change, are:

Tuesday 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday  2-8 p.m.
Thursday  1-6 p.m.
Friday 4-6 p.m.
Saturday 4-9 p.m.
Sunday 2-6 p.m.

Stop by and check out all the interesting artwork!

Hulley Arts Foundation to host gala fund-raiser

10th anniversary event slated Sept. 8

This event featuring Broadway tunes, a reception, and more promises to be a fun night out.

Circle celebration set at Gallery@37

"Once In a Blue Moon"

Whoooo is going to be at the Celebration of the Circle opening reception today?

This eclectic piece graces the window of the Gallery@37. It's the creation of Valley Arts Council member BillieJo Scharfenberg, who is a talented stained glass artist.

Come see lots more pieces that pay homage to the lowly circle at 6 p.m. today at Gallery@37, 37 Elizabeth St., Derby.

Art exhibit to open Saturday

Colorful circles abound 

These vibrant colors jumped out at me today at the Gallery@37.

Betsy's Brain

The 24 x 36-inch acrylic painting is the creation of artist Elizabeth DeLucia and is one of many interesting pieces that arts council members are sharing for the Celebration of the Circle show.

The exhibit will open with a public reception at 6 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 37 Elizabeth St., in downtown Derby.

Be there or be square.

Celebration of the Circle opens tomorrow

At Gallery@37 in Derby

You could say the members of the Valley Arts Council have been going in circles lately, in a good way.

That's because they have been putting last-minute touches on their circle creations for Saturday's opening reception of the circle show.

The free event starts at 6 p.m. and all are welcome. The arts council gets 15 percent of all sales to support its many programs in the Valley community.

Below you see President Rich DiCarlo's entry for the show.

Barnstorming

Healthy harvest

I wasn't thinking about our circles celebration when I snapped this photo at the opening of the new Ansonia Farmer's Market last month, but it seems to fit the theme.


Hope to see you Saturday at the Gallery!

Going in circles for art's sake

By Rich DiCarlo
President
Valley Arts Council


I'd like to congratulate George Pudimat of Derby and Patti Villers of Ansonia on their recent sales of artwork. The work was on display at the Gallery@37.


It marked the first time either one of them has sold a piece of art, and I'm proud of both of them.


George sold a wall-mounted sculpture called "Iron Daisy," and Patti sold an impressionistic photo printed on canvas.


Both have some pretty interesting pieces for the Celebration of the Circle exhibit, which is just around the corner. The show opens with a reception at 6 p.m. Aug. 11. 


Attention artists: There is still time to submit work for the circle show.


For information or to make an appointment to meet at the gallery, call me at 203-906-4343.