ACGA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes: December 11, 2023
Present: Mari Emori, April Zilber, Emil Yanos, Iver Henning, Chris Johnson, Jan Schachter, Cheryl Costantini, Lee Middleman, Ren Lee, Trudy Chiddix, Julie Taber, Vicky Gunter, Susie Rubenstein, Barbara Prodaniuk, Joe Battiato, Sonja Hinrichsen (recorder) Absent: Sally Jackson
Welcome (Mari)
Mari reported that on December 5th, ACGA hosted a lively evening presentation at the Palo Alto Art Center featuring officials from the 13th International Ceramics Festival in Mino, Japan (www.icfmino.com/english/). This triennial festival includes a juried exhibition of ceramics from all over the world. Application is free and the deadline is January 31, 2024. Exhibition dates are October 18-November 17, 2024.
Treasurer’s Report (April)
As of the end of November, our net profit for the year is $11,413.32. Less than half of the budget estimate for membership dues has come in so far; April expects more income from renewals in December. We spent $75 using social media to promote the spring and fall juries.
Exhibitions Report (Iver, Jan)
Iver has been in conversation with MK Contemporary Gallery in Santa Cruz about the possibility of a two-month clay and glass show. The gallery has recently requested a substantial financial contribution from ACGA. The Board discussed the pros and cons of spending this money, and whether part or all of it might be recovered. Some on the Board felt that losing money is imprudent, and that we need more information to decide if this show would benefit our members. Others felt that we should pursue this exhibition as an opportunity to promote ACGA. All agreed that we need more information about who covers the costs of show-related things like publicity, promotion, etc. Changing from a two-month show to one month would save money. Iver will continue his conversation with the gallery with these points in mind.
Preliminary Budget and Communications Proposal (April)
The Board discussed a proposal to pay a higher monthly stipend to our newsletter editor, and an occasional honorarium for those authoring newsletter articles. We also discussed budgeting a stipend for whomever is posting on social media. Ren pointed out that these added costs would use most or all of our yearly profit, so that other expenses would have to pay for themselves some other way. Due to several undecided expense items (mostly related to Exhibitions and Communications), the Board decided to postpone voting on the budget until our next Board meeting in January.
ACGA Board Nominations Update
As of this meeting there are two nominees for election to ACGA’s Board of Directors: Tamara Danoyan (clay) and Julie Taber (clay). Those eligible for re-election are Trudy Chiddix (clay), Cheryl Costantini (clay), Sally Jackson (clay), Chris Johnson (glass), Ren Lee (clay), Susie Rubenstein (clay), Jan Schachter (clay), April Zilber (glass), and Lee Middleman (clay). The ballot will be sent out in early January.
Longtime Board Member Joe Battiato is stepping down as his term ends. We extend our deep appreciation for Joe’s many contributions over the years, and wish him the best. Thank you, Joe, we’ll see you at the festival!
Membership (Emil)
Our membership year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The Board discussed how to handle membership fees paid as part of the March and October juries, or those paid at some other point during the year. The Board agreed that those paying in October should receive membership status through the following year. The Board also settled on a $20 refund to those joining in June or later.
A glitch in our website has made General Membership renewal unavailable on some browsers. Our website manager Pam Carpenter has tried unsuccessfully to fix this. Emil is thinking about asking members to send checks in the mail.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday, January 8, 2024, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom
Connected
Gallery Route One presents
Connected
How we connect with our outer and inner worlds
Juror: TaVee Lee, Gallery Manager, Transmission Gallery; Exhibitions Director, Gearbox Gallery, Oakland, California
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, January 13 – Sunday, February 11, 2024
Reception and Awards: Saturday, January 13, 3-5 PM
Gallery Route One
11101 Highway One, Ste. 1101
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Including works by ACGA Artists Melissa Woodburn and Emil Yanos
Image:
Emil Yanos’ Super Storm
Ceramic Wall Sculpture
17″ x 17″ x 3″
Potentiality/Actuality – The Greater Bay Area Open at NUMU Los Gatos
The Greater Bay Area Open (GBAO) is a juried fine-art-only competition and exhibition presented by the Los Gatos Art Association (LGAA), designed to promote fine art and artists from the greater Bay Area. Starting in 2015 and held biannually, the GBAO is now in its fifth showing and is presented biennially. This exhibition forges an exciting and dynamic association between the LGAA and NUMU, host to this collaboration.
Spanning twelve Bay Area counties, from Sonoma to Monterey, this juried event draws artists to compete for awards and recognition but also brings exposure to respected jurors, galleries, and art collectors from the region. The GBAO embraces artistic excellence, accepting both two-dimensional and three-dimensional fine art into a premier venue.
In every moment of creativity, there is an option to explore one’s perspective and expression. For this exhibition, LGAA invites artists to push work past usual boundaries to embrace the movement between potentiality and actuality. All artists are encouraged to interpret the theme, “Potentiality / Actuality” in their own way.
Vicki Gunter, Wild Iris (Iris douglasiana) …In Everything Series — clay, underglaze, stains, beeswax – 13 x 17 x 15
“While hiking in East Bay Regional Parks the pizazz of this native Iris captured me and caused a departure from my usual color palette. I also departed from my usual slab built technique to working solid, hollowing out and reassembling. This allowed me to push the clay into the arc of leaves and meeting of earth and sky. It is inscribed with several DNA helixes and is 7x’s natural size in clay.” — Vicki Gunter
A Generous Kingdom
Mother Nature – Canary & Elephant Series – by Vicki Gunter – clay, underglaze, stains, glaze, art wax, carved pine mount, ice cubes – 19 x 17 x 12 in.
Mother Nature, depicted as African, represents our common origins. Her hair is entwined with African flowers & fish, prehistoric gingko leaves, stars, seaweed & a yellow cautionary canary. Earth is cradled in Mother Nature’s arms — the Sanctuary for all known life. Subtly kinetic, tears fall from her eyes into earth, as ice slowly melts.
I create sculpture inspired by our Generous Kingdom’s beauty to enchant people into guardianship.
- A Generous Kingdom is an exhibition of Verum Ultimum (meaning the Ultimate Truth) Juried & curated by Jennifer G Cutshall.
- View on the Exhibition website as well as…
- …Verum Virtual ~ “walk” thru gallery rooms, get up close ~ click for details
Show Dates: December 11, 2023 through January 31, 2024
Surface technique workshop with Kathy Skaggs from AMACO
Take a great hands on workshop with Kathy Skaggs from AMACO in February. In this 2 day workshop everyone will learn and practice a number of wonderful techniques from stencils, silkscreens and much more. Leave the workshop with new skills and samples to further the creative clay journey on your own. And what a bargain as well, only $95. Check it out at: OVCAG.org
Natural Elements Exhibition at Blue Line Arts
“Natural Elements” is an art exhibition that pays homage to the varied forms and forces of nature. This collection
features artists whose work directly reflects natural themes or is inspired by the environment. The art displayed
ranges from literal interpretations to abstract expressions, all rooted in the natural world’s influence. This show includes works by ACGA members Vicki Gunter and Emil Yanos.
Vicki Gunter, Clay Mariposa Lily – 12 x 28 x 14.25
Vicki Gunter, Our Poppy 2 – 21 x 21 x 7
Emil Yanos, Rumble – 1.4 × 14.3 × 7.3
Emil Yanos, Tempest I, 2.8 × 15 × 15, Honorable Mention
Juror: Marianne McGrath
