This is more art than craft. I'm all excited, this is sooo neat!
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
November 11, 2012 6:25pm CST
I joined an art association. They have many benefits for members. One is that you can put three items out for the Christmas show. It runs all thru December. One of the items must be for sale. I need to finsih up what I have for my family and get started.
Oh what will I create? I have sooo many ideas, but not sure how I will do them. I really need to finish two items, one I have started for a friend and one I started for one of my brothers.
I want to do one recycled and one fiber art. I'm not sure what the third one would be or if I could even get three done. We have to bring them between Novemeber 26 thru Decemeber 1. They'll be on display Dec 7, 2012, thru January 7 2013.
Then I have to decide if some will be NFS (not for sale) and some will be for sale. At least one must be for sale. It's a members only art show and sale.
They also have a gift shop. I can have them put some things for sale there, too. But the gift shop isn't open very many hours compared to the art galery.
It's not cheap to join. $50 for a family. But you can get your money back so many ways. Like taking classes. If I take classes and I'm not a member, it costs more than if I am a member. Then there are two times a year member only art shows and the gift shop. I'm hoping my husband will take a pottery wheel class that he's interested in. I wanted to take a class in making tiles and decorating them, but they needed 4 more people. So I'll try again when it's offered.
If I was a celebrated artist or had a degree in it, I could write proposals and get grants. I could partner with a school and they could have a free art teacher once a week. With art teachers being cut, that could help some out of work teachers say at their school.
So have you ever joined an artists' group or council? Our council for the arts takes up three counties. If you joined what benefits did they have for members? If you have never joined one, are you aware of one in your area and what they have to offer? If there is none in your area, do you wish there was one and what would you like it to have to benefit its members?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
12 Nov 12
That sounds very exciting. There's nothing similar around here that I'm aware of. Although I'm not blessed with art and craft skills particularly, I would like to spend some time just learning, even if it turns out I'm not very good at anything!
I hope you'll share what you decide to show.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I was always terrible at art stuff until I found fiber art. I'm not great at it, but I don't care. I love it; I enjoy it. It's wonderful!
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
12 Nov 12
Wow that is cool, but sorry I can't help you. I know I had a friend who was probably a member of the art center, but truthfully, though I made a couple banner and flags, my creativity is mostly in writing than in that kind of art. I have tried, my work in that area is so weak, some of it is even embarrassing, so I don't know much about it. But keeps us informed, would love to hear what three items you choose and which one(s) you put up for sale....:)
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
12 Nov 12
Yes, writing, like dancing, is a form of art, but I first heard about NaNo from my librarian, but couldn't be sure I could make it to the 1-2 meetings, so a fellow mylotter shared with me the online version and that is what I am doing. :)My library probably has some kind of writing group, but without a car, that doesn't do me any good..:(
Anyway, we are both going to be pretty busy in the next few weeks, I hope we are both successful with our "art" 
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Me, too. I hope I complette the two i have and not have to drop them both and sstart another project. They all take room I don't have.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Nov 12
Well this art center is the place where I learned about that November writing challenge with the two letter per word title. They consider writing to be an art form and they hae a class like what you're doing. Which surprises me that the libary isn't doing that. Our library used to have a reading club and a writing club.
Anyway, if I don't get going on the two I have to finish for family and friend, I might have one or none to submit. Thanks and take care.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Nov 12
I belonged to our local art center for a while. But I wanted to do alot more then they really let newbies do. I belonged for a couple of years and was never invited to do much of anything....so I dropped out. The same people did everything...there was really no room for someone who just started. I have written three books....own my own craft business....so I decided just to let them have their center and for me to concentrate on my own thing.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
26 Nov 12
Sorry that didn't work out for you. Ours is run by volunteers except for the classes and a couple of the head ones. So theyt're more open to getting things done, I think. I'll know more when I get into it more. Take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
30 Nov 12
Writing your own craft books sounds exciting. What are the titles?
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
12 Nov 12
Hi writers
The definitely sounds great despite the hefty 50 USD membership fee, but then as you say, it is still economical as there are so many ways to benefit for the 50 USD. I am sure you would have some stuff ready for the Show and sales. The teaching classes can wait. And personally even if luck isnt that favorable and the sales arent that bright, still, I would have been happy with the kind of interactions this opportunity offers
Though personally I have never been associated with anything of this kind or even the Artists, my brother used to learn handicrafts years ago and he did participate in some fests in other towns and states. As that is all I have any idea about, I can suggest you something - why not buy some handkerchiefs, and do some paining on them or use some glass pieces to decorate them. Though this sounds simpler and not much attractive, but the sales proposition may include glass framing them and offering them for sale. And if you can make the paints dry faster, you can also put up something like - custom names and messages handwritten (maybe via paints or embroidered) on Handkerchiefs.
India is celebrating Diwali from 11th - 15th of Nov. So let me wish you and family a Happy Diwali. (Diwali is a festival of lights)
The definitely sounds great despite the hefty 50 USD membership fee, but then as you say, it is still economical as there are so many ways to benefit for the 50 USD. I am sure you would have some stuff ready for the Show and sales. The teaching classes can wait. And personally even if luck isnt that favorable and the sales arent that bright, still, I would have been happy with the kind of interactions this opportunity offers
Though personally I have never been associated with anything of this kind or even the Artists, my brother used to learn handicrafts years ago and he did participate in some fests in other towns and states. As that is all I have any idea about, I can suggest you something - why not buy some handkerchiefs, and do some paining on them or use some glass pieces to decorate them. Though this sounds simpler and not much attractive, but the sales proposition may include glass framing them and offering them for sale. And if you can make the paints dry faster, you can also put up something like - custom names and messages handwritten (maybe via paints or embroidered) on Handkerchiefs.
India is celebrating Diwali from 11th - 15th of Nov. So let me wish you and family a Happy Diwali. (Diwali is a festival of lights)@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I was just thinking of the festival of lights the other day! How wonderful! Can you start a discussion about them and tell us more. It sounds wonderful! It's soooo dark here this time of year, if it wasn't for Christmas lights, it would be downright dangerous around here. Thanks and take care.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
12 Nov 12
Wow, that's nice. I wish we have tht kind of group/association here in my area. It really is more than an art group. There are so many crafters here. There are potters, women who do crochet and some do beading. But I wish they make a group like yours there so that I can join too. But no one inititates it. I know many will join if that would be possible.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Nov 12
Are you sure there isn't one? When I told some artists that I know, they didn't know there was one here.
In the gift shop, I've seen crocheted hats, beaded ear rings, and lots of pottery.
In the main gallery lots of photos, pottery, and paintings so far. I can't wait until I go to see the members' only event. I bet there will be lots of neat things December 7th.
Maybe you could look into it with some people and apply for a grant to get a non profit going for all the arts people in your area.
Thanks for responding and take care.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
12 Nov 12
There is really none here. I just live beside the public market where most businesses are done. Besides, I always get town updates for activities because I always wish for something like you have there. :)
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Well maybe you should talk to your town and see what they can do. But art is a hard thing to get started in difficult economic times unless you can find ways to help it pay for itself.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
12 Nov 12
hello writersedge,
I am not a very visual person, so I have never been that good at art, though I do like a nice picture or two on the wall.
but it sounds very interesting.
i i did join a sort of music group, that was similar, in that it ran classes, but it seems to be dying now, to me, as the whole purpose of it now, seems to be to keep the jobs of the tutors and the admin staff, rather than running it for the members, but maybe that's me being mean.
but the art association you joined sounds quite flexible in its approach to running classes, and events it sounds really interesting, i shall have a search on the internet to see if i can find one, and see how they work, just out of interest. as i often feel there is something missing in the music group i joined, it was like the separation between the professional, who got paid, and the member was too great, and in the end the group was run for the benefit of the professionals not the members.
interesting.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 12
They're very flexible. They consider music art and do what they can to help musicians. They will post musical members' gigs and they'll feature their cds in the gift shop. They are quite interested in all kinds of art.
Unfortunately all places need $ to keep going. We had a wonderful after school place for teens, but it had to close. Take care
