Making Art Mondays :: November/December Session

Here's your chance to learn a variety of techniques in a variety of different mediums!! Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn something you've always wanted to try, or to learn a different approach to a very familiar medium. The classes are two hour sessions and a truly inexpensive rate.

Making Art Mondays

Please join us for a series of four workshops on Mondays beginning on November 19^th, 2012. Making Art Mondays are a series of workshops presented by the Alliance of Kings Artists with support from the Acadia University Art Gallery. Each session is focused on a specific project and is facilitated by an artist. The workshops are for adults and are structured as completely hands-on and interactive. Collaboration and idea exchange are encouraged.

Fee: 15.00$ per workshop for non-AKA members.

         10.00$ AKA members free.

*Fee covers the cost of workshop and materials.

Time: 7-9pm

Location: Acadia University Art Gallery art education room,

Beveridge Arts Centre RM 131

Registration: Sessions are drop-in. Payment to be submitted at door.

Workshops are limited to 15 participants.

Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before!

Information: web: http://allianceofkingsartists.blogspot.ca or email: allianceofkingsartists@gmail.com

For more information contact:

November 19:  Needle-felting

In this class participants will learn to create pictures using dyed wool fibre on a wool cloth surface.   We will also touch on some sculpting methods for three dimensional figures. Students should bring their own scissors and notebook.   If you have a picture of a scene that you would like to try, bring it along.   Extra felting kits will be available to purchase at $12 and $15.  They are a great natural material Christmas present for your creative friends.

Facilitator: Marilyn Rand is a textile and visual artist.   Marilyn lives in Delhaven and raises Cotswold sheep and, angora goats to provide the raw material for her work.   

November 26: Mono-Printing

In this workshop we'll be creating representational monotype prints from life. From an inked plate we will work by means of reduction; gradually removing ink from the plate to elicit tonality, line and texture. We'll warm up with a few drawing exercises

Facilitator: Rachel Reeve holds an Interdisciplinary BFA from NSCAD, she has been teaching art to all ages in the Annapolis Valley for six years.

December 3: Creating Mood in Landscape

In this workshop we will explore the qualities of watercolour painting that allows us to create moodiness and expression. Demonstrations and exercises will show participants how to create depth in a simple landscape painting.

Facilitator: Twila Robar-DeCoste paints in both watercolour, acrylic and oils. She has been teaching art since 1987 and is a juried and elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA)and an associate member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC). Her work may be seen at Windsong Studio & Gallery in Aylesford and online at www.windsong-nature-gallery.com

December 10:  Clay Throwing and Building

This workshop is designed as an introductory experience to clay.  There will be a demonstration on the potter’s wheel followed by a short time for each participant to experience working or 'throwing' on the wheel.  Some hand-building techniques, such as coil and slab will also be demonstrated to keep us busy in between.  If you can bring a rolling pin that would be helpful!

Facilitator: Denise Aspinall has been a production potter in the Annapolis Valley for over 30 years.  The Aspinall Pottery is a working studio located in Canning and open to the public, specializing in functional porcelain cups , bowls and platters with her distinctive handpainted 'loose leaf' design.  Upon graduating from Acadia she gained experience in clay at the Minas Potters Guild in Wolfville, followed by an apprenticeship at Meat Cove Pottery in Northern Cape Breton, then returning to the valley to open her own studio.  The pottery is available locally every Saturday morning at the Wolfville Farmers Market, Saunder's Tartan's and Gifts, New Minas and Gaspereau Winery .

Upcoming Submissions for AKA Member's Show at Upstairs Gallery

Happy August to all Members and Friends of Alliance of Kings' Artists!!

Just a friendly reminder that the next AKA Member's Show at the Upstairs Gallery at CopperFox in Hall's Harbour will open on August 24th, 2012 (7 - 9pm). Artists may drop off their work for the show on August 23rd from 9am - 6pm. Please fill out the submission form for exhibiting the artwork ahead of time. You may email it to us directly, or print it off and bring it to the gallery when you drop off your art.

http://www.allianceofkingsartists.blogspot.ca/p/exhibitions-submission-forms.html

If you have artwork to pick up from the previous show, you may also do this on August 23rd. Thank you for exhibiting at the Upstairs Gallery. The first show has seen many visitors from the area and beyond. We look forward to seeing your wonderful creations!!!

If you are not a member of AKA, and wish to take part in these exhibits, you CAN! It's very easy and only costs $20. You can leave your fee and membership form at CopperFox when you drop off your artwork, or mail us a cheque along with the form.

http://www.allianceofkingsartists.blogspot.ca/p/membership.html

CopperFox Gallery is a wonderful gallery situated in the heart of Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia with an incredible view and a plethora of Nova Scotian art for you to enjoy. For gallery hours and directions, visit:

http://www.copperfoxgallery.com/

Photo of artwork, artists and guests at the first AKA Members Show June 2012.

The Uncommon Common Art Project 2012 has been launched!!

Welcome to the fifth year of uncommon art in common places.  This project was born out of a simple observation of humans sometimes subtle and beautiful impact in nature.  We are inundated with news and information about man kinds negative impact on our natural surroundings this project promotes and recognizes our creative and beautiful touches in nature.  How a child at the beach may creatively stack a series of rocks and leave them for the next beach comber to find.  A hiker may pick a bouquet of wild flowers and leave them as a beautiful present for the next person on the path.  The installations in this project are gifts from the artists to the observers of nature to find, explore, talk about, and share.

Please enjoy them, respect them, and tell others about them.

Maps to all of the installations can be found at Nova Scotia Visitor Information centres and business in and around Kings County. For further info and to get a

glimpse of the projects online, visit:

http://www.uncommoncommonart.com/UncommonCommonArt/home.html

Kings County Cultural Mapping Project

Public Meeting: Thursday, June 14 7 - 9pm at Studio Z (above the Al Whittle Theatre, Acadia Cinema,
450 Main St., Wolfville. For furthin info contact: kingsculturalmap@gmail.com

Three Great Opportunities for Artists

Hello,

You might ask, "What does an AKA membership do for me?"

This is a fair question to which members and prospective members deserve an answer.

Your AKA Board of Directors has developed a plan to make an AKA membership indispensable to Valley artists, designers and craftspeople. 

To highlight, in the new Alliance of Kings Artists 5 year Vision Document, the recently elected AKA Board has  identified as a key priority: to provide opportunities for artists to show and sell their work at venues in Kings County.

The Alliance of Kings Artists announces three great opportunities for you to showcase your art this summer. Becoming a member of AKA will enable you to participate in shows at a number of venues throughout Kings County. 

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Jacks Gallery: 

Summer will soon be upon us and with this comes an opportunity to submit work for AKA Members Exhibit at Jack’s Gallery. The theme is The Valley. There is limited space and limited time as the deadline is fast approaching (June 1st). You will be notified within the week following June 1st whether your piece(s) was chosen for the exhibit. The show will open June 24th, 2012 and be on display until September 2nd, 2012. You can fill out a submission form. 

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Upstairs Gallery at CopperFox:

Alliance of Kings Artists’ Members are invited to show Original Art in the Upstairs Gallery at CopperFox in Halls Harbour, Nova Scotia. This is a great opportunity for emerging artists and professional artists alike. Let’s all inspire one another!
Submission deadline: June 10, 2012
Exhibit: June 23, 2012 – August 15, 2012.
Opening Reception: Friday, June 22, 2012.
Details:
- Original Artwork only
- No size restrictions for this show.
- All artwork must be gallery ready. (Note: artwork not ready, will not be shown)
- All 3D artwork must have sturdy & steady plinths to showcase the art (up to artist to provide this).
- Artist to provide resume/CV printed on 8 1/2” x 11” paper.
- Artist to determine price (if for sale).
- Artist must be a member of Alliance of Kings Artists’. 
- Gallery will charge 20% commission on sold work.
- *Fill out the online submission form and email it back to us. 
Artwork Drop-Off: Thursday, June 21, 2012 between 10am and 7pm.
You may request another set-up time (before June 21) with gallery owner, Fabienne Leydecker via email or by phone 902.679.7073.
Questions: If you have any questions regarding further details on this show, please contact organizer Eileen Boyd via email or by phone 902-538-1338.
Social Media: Please send images (jpg files) with artist name, title, size, and medium of your artwork in the exhibit via email. Images will be shown on the AKA Facebook page as well as the AKA website. This is available to all artists in the show but not a requirement.
Artwork Pick-up: Artwork not sold during exhibit dates can be picked up on August 16, 2012 (10am – 7pm)
**The next show will take place on August 16, 2012. Stay tuned for further details.

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Art Festival Wolfville:
The Evangeline Artists' Cooperative have kindly invited AKA members to join them for a one day Show and Sale of Wet and Finished Works. 

To express your interest in participating please reply to Tracy Horsman and indicate your interest in any or all of the following by June 29th, 2012: selling/exhibiting finished work, selling/exhibiting wet work, plein air painting, volunteering. Tracy's contact info: email or
phone: 542-1213.

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*AKA Membership:

To participate in the shows please join AKA as a paid member. The fee is $20 for the year and you can send along your form and cheque in the mail. To view a list of membership benefits, click on download a membership form.

Critical Opportunity for Cultural Development in Kings County, Nova Scotia

An important series of discussions will begin March 24 in Kentville, Nova Scotia that could have a significant benefit for the general arts community and the regional arts council of Kings County. It is a critical opportunity to make cultural development an ongoing regional priority, and to push for a modest regional cultural centre in the proposed multi-use library development in Kentville. Please view the exciting designs and related stories.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. at the fire hall, the Rotary Club of Kentville is hosting a meeting of non-profit organizations, municipal governments, and business community to discuss community needs and potential projects for the next 5-10 years. Representatives of the Alliance of Kings Artists, and several other like-minded organizations, have been invited to participate, and will be reminding others at the meeting of the social and economic importance of the art in Kings County.

But the real hard work begins after the March 24 meeting, when community organizations and municipal councils of the region, have to fully realize the long-neglected needs of the arts community, and the significant cost-benefits of supporting cultural projects now. This can only be accomplished by individuals making contact with councilors, business leaders, and members of community organizations like Rotary, Kinsmen or Lions. 

The focus of AKA’s efforts over the next few weeks will be the beautiful multi-use regional library project proposed for the Kentville and area. During the community meetings held to determine design and location of the proposed project, the inclusion of a cultural facility was a frequent request. As a result, the architects produced a design that could include a public art gallery, education rooms and administrative office for AKA. Other possible community needs would include a volunteer centre, heritage centre, or visitor information centre.

The Town of Kentville is responsible for the library space, but the other community services are regional in nature and would require the ongoing partnership of Kings County, as well as construction capital from provincial and federal governments.  The multi-use centre could cost between $2.4million-$4.3million, with municipal, provincial and federal governments picking up 85% of construction costs. Support from community fund raising and non-profit groups like Rotary would be responsible for 15% of cost.

The possibility of a cultural component within the larger project is real, but also a long-shot in terms of competition with other community needs, and past apathy of the arts community to fight for common improvements or cultural policy priorities within government. Jealousy, apathy, and parochial ambition will have to be put aside if we are to take advantage of this rare opportunity to create an additional jewel within the cultural diversity of Kings County.

Get others to take a look at the gorgeous architectural drawings and to give us a hand in shaping a reality.   To view these drawings click on the page link to the left titled Kings County Cultural Centre.

Workshops

2012 Life Drawing Sessions:


Acadia University Art Gallery & Alliance of Kings Artists

This is a series of life drawing sessions, in which participants have the opportunity to sketch/draw from a live model. The sessions are structured where a model will move between timed poses, no instruction provided. Please bring your own drawing supplies.

Time: 1 – 3pm/ Sundays, February 26 – April 1 (6 weeks)
Location: Acadia University Art Gallery,
Art Education Studio, Beveridge Arts Centre, RM 131
Cost: $50 for all six sessions or $10 per session.
Limit of 15 participants per class (priority given to prepaid after that first come basis)
Registration: You can pre-register for all 6 sessions in advance.
For drop in, please pay fee in the art gallery on the day
of the session.

For more information contact Acadia University Art Gallery
artgallery@acadiau.ca




Thirsty Thursdays

Our next Thirsty Thursday art lovers get together will be Thursday, March 22nd.

It will be held at Paddy's Pub in Kentville at 7:00pm.

Come join us for a beverage and some great conversation! Hope to see you there!! :)

We're Looking for You!

Have you always wanted to play a role in a local arts organization but have no idea where to start? 

The Alliance of Kings Artists is currently looking for members who would like to help move the organization forward in a very exciting way. If you have an idea or suggestion that you think you would like to introduce or work on with other like-minded folks - creative or business inclined or other - then send us a message.


As the Regional Arts Council voice for Kings County, Nova Scotia we're hoping to make our voice heard. It is through collaboration with individuals, organizations and those with a passion to keep our cultural community alive that we can share in the energy, creativity and excitement of living in such a wonderful place that offers so many wonderful opportunities.


You can reach us at: allianceofkingsartists@gmail.com with suggestions and questions.

Making Art Mondays Collage Workshop

Due to the inclement weather, the collage Workshop with Ron Hayes at ArtCan Gallery is cancelled
this evening. Stay tuned for further info on new workshops being added to the list (updates should appear tomorrow).

Thank you for your understanding and continued support with the Making Art Monday Workshops.
Stay warm and inspired! :)

Making Art Mondays 2012

Interested in signing up for some fun art workshops during the short, dark days of winter? This may be the very thing to inspire you to get your "Resolution List" kick-started. 


To check out the info on the workshops being offered, facilitators and dates/times of each creative session, go to the Making Art Mondays page. To get there click on Making Art Mondays just to the right of this post. -------->


*Thanks to all who came out to the first workshop in the series on January 16th with Bob Hainstock's wood-block printmaking class!!

Workshop #2 - another fun eve of potatoes, paint and smiles! Thanks to all who came out to play!! :)

A New Year...a new opportunity....

Alliance of Kings Artists (AKA), the regional arts council for the Kings County region is looking for new volunteer board members to help build and implement a long-term development strategy for the 13-year old cultural organization. We are currently looking for both artists and non-artists who have a passion for culture and the arts. A focus moving forward will be to strengthen the Alliance of Kings Artists abilities to work with other cultural organizations and with local governments, and to develop programs to promote creativity in the area.

The arts council is part of several important initiatives at a time when all governments are recognizing the substantial economic impact of local cultural policies. Along with the Kings Regional Development Agency, AKA is co-sponsoring theKings Cultural Mapping Project as a means of identifying and promoting cultural assets to visitors and local communities. AKA is also responsible for the Uncommon Common Art project, an annual celebration of public art projects throughout the region as well as the Annual Pumpkin Mosaic project. AKA also works with the Acadia University Art Gallery on several cultural projects, including Making Art Mondays, a series of artist-facilitated workshops.

The Alliance of Kings Artists will hold its annual general meeting on January 19^th, 7pm, Acadia University, Beveridge Arts Centre Rm 132. A special search committee is looking to recruit new board members. For more information about the exciting opportunities available as a board member of AKA please contact:

Bob Hainstock & Angela Melanson

Nominating committee

Email: allianceofkingsartists@gmail.com