We are in our NEW STUDIO!! The first two official events in the Grant County Art Guild Studio at the Blue Dome are this Thursday, Jan 8. Next week (Jan 13, 2pm) we will hold our January Membership Meeting in the space.
Those who have trouble with steps should access the Texas sidewalk from the corner of Market & Texas, where there is a wheelchair cut out at the curb, or mid block on Texas at the driveway. There are two doors to enter the Studio. One does not have a step.
Open Studios are free, drop-in events, so you can come and go as you please, and don’t need to register in advance. Bring your own art or craft project and work on it in the company of local creatives. No current project, or you drop in at the spur of the moment? Use our basic art supplies for free! Open Studios are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.
Thanks to everyone who came to the New Year’s Day Open House. This is the 3rd year we have held this casual event, and it is fun to hang out with you all. Apologies to Marsha Banas for making her paint the New Year Baby cutout when Gay got sick and couldn’t do it. You did a great job, Marsha, even if it was under duress. I owe you one.
New Gallery Artist: Judith van Naerssen
Following a long, creative career as an Occupational Therapist, with specialties in pediatrics and visual impairment, Judith made a significant geographic change in 2014. At that time she left the Philadelphia Pa area where she had raised her sons and moved to Tucson AZ. There she immersed herself and began to pursue her lifelong dream of studying art and painting. In late 2024, enticed by the artistic and welcoming vibes of Silver City, she relocated to this local, exciting community.
As an artist, Judith strives to convey the complexity, beauty and dynamics of light while sharing snippets of life that capture unique moments in time and speak to the heart. She primarily works with oils and enjoys painting still life, animals, florals, architecture, and landscapes. In addition to subjects of her own and universal interest, she also offers custom commission work.
Local and nationally known artists she is or has studied with include Brenda Semanick, Linda Ahern, Louise Sackett, Matt Smith, Al Gury, Mitch Baird, Phil Stark, Derek Penix, Qiang Huang, Jessica Garrett, Ken Backhaus, Rick Wheeler, Joshua Bean, Sarah Sedwick, Bill Cramer, Greg Wallace, & George Stickland. Judith is a member of Oil Painters of America.
Shows and gallery exhibitions include the Tubac School of Fine Arts, and Tucson galleries including: Untitled Gallery, Toscana Gallery, De La Vega Gallery, Raices Taller 222 Gallery, Brenda Semantic Studio, Woman Kraft, the Sonoran Plein Air Off to the Races and SAWG Share our Walls Shows.
Awards received include 2020 Sonoran Plein Air Painters Off to the Rillito Races Show, 2019 Tubac School of Fine Arts Student Show, SAWG 2019 Share Our Walls show, Toscana Gallery 2018 Holiday Show.
Figure Drawing
Mark Richard will be teaching Figure Drawing every Thursday 6-8pm in our new studio.
$20 dollars per class, drop-ins are welcome and there is no need for pre-regerstration.
Val Weston moved into the space recently vacated by photographers Tom Vaughan and Sandy Feutz. Sandy and Tom are still VERY much in the area—you will see them at Guild meetings and events. Luanne Brooten will be concentrating on substitute teaching. Her recently vacated space is totally GONE, as we removed that back screen in order physically and visually open up the gallery. Lizzie Slegeir moved from the front of that screen to the back wall. We LOVE the openness of the area.
Misc news: Area exhibits with member work:
Judy Menefee is showing work in the cases at the Silver City Public Library through this month. Sandy and Tom have a photography exhibition there in the big conference room. Please let me know of any other exhibitions that include our member work and I will announce them at the meeting.
