Newsletter – May 2025

Buy a RAC Walkway Stone

In this season of celebrating Moms, Dads and Grads, our commemorative stones on RAC’s front patio are a wonderful way to honor these special people in your life, while also donating to RAC. Inscribe a favorite saying, celebrate a special occasion or provide a lasting gift for the person who has everything.

Just fill in and submit the form at the link here. Thank you in advance!

RAC Happenings

Spring Juried Show Opening

Wednesday, April 16

RAC’s annual Spring Juried Show is on view now until May 10! This open theme, all media exhibition features artwork by area artists chosen from almost 400 online submissions. Thanks to all who joined us at the opening reception on Wednesday, April 16. More info, list of award recipients and link to online gallery here.

Photo here of award winners in attendance (left to right): Bill Gore, Barbara Shapiro, Robert Lansden and Ira Hara.

Ira Hara (right) accepts his 1st Place ribbon from RAC Exhibiting/Board Member Pamela Proctor (center) while RAC Executive Director Andrea Letters (left) looks on.

1st Place: Ira Hara “Temple of Remembrance” (Acrylic Gouache + pen + ink). He also has TWO other pieces in the show – “Great Hall of Wisdom” and “Totem.”

2nd Place: Barbara Shapiro “This Was Understood” (India Ink on Dura-Lar)

Honorable Mention: Bill Gore “Landscape No. 23.2” (Photography)

Honorable Mention: Robert Lansden “Orange Composition #1” (Watercolor and graphite on paper)

Crowd in the gallery – this opening reception was moved to a Wednesday evening due to holiday conflict but was still well attended!

SOLD! Nicole Weeldreyer puts a red dot on “Beyond” by Neha Sharma (Pen on Paper). Nicole also has a painting in the show, “Grays Creek.”

At the bar (left to right): RAC Board President/Exhibiting Member Jay Wilson, RAC Board VP Lulu McPhee and Andrea Letters

@ RAC Artists Talk

Thursday, April 24

Thanks also to everyone who joined us for our @ RAC Artists Talk on Thursday, April 24 moderated by RAC Exhibiting Member Mindy Green (shown at right being introduced by Andrea Letters) and featuring some of the award recipients of the Spring Juried Show – Bill Gore, John Gould, Ira Hara and Barbara Shapiro. Each artist allowed insight to their life journey and artistic process.

There will be another @ RAC Artists Talk during our Photography & Sculpture show on Thursday, July 10 at 6 pm – mark your calendar!

RAC Classes and Workshops

The May/June Session starts this week!

We have a wide variety of painting, drawing and mixed media weekly classes for artists of every level. Classes are offered both in the studio and online via Zoom.

Painting here by instructor Dana Goodfellow, who will be teaching “From Realism to Abstraction” on Thursday mornings.

Adult Weekly Classes

We also have a great assortment of evening and weekend short term workshops…

Adult Workshops

Artwork here by instructor, Lenny Moskowitz, who will be teaching a “Large Painting Paint Along” on Saturday, May 3 and a weekly class titled “Seeing the Abstract in the Real” on Wednesdays. 

The Summer Youth 3-Day workshops are open for registration

Summer 3-Day Workshops offered every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday through the months of July and August (2:30-4:40pm).

Youth Classes and Workshops

There are still seats available in the “Intermediate Photography” class

Photograph here by instructor, Thom Williams, who will be teaching “Intermediate Photography” on Wednesday evenings beginning May 7 (online via Zoom)

Photography Classes

Current Exhibition

Now through May 10, 2025 only!

All Media Juried Show, Open to all artists

Link to online gallery and more info here.

Visit the gallery Tuesday through Friday 12-5pm or Saturday from 10am-1pm

Upcoming Exhibitions

May 19 through June 16, 2024

All Media Exhibiting Member Show

RAC encourages Exhibiting Members to submit work with a local focus – from Rowayton to the rest of Fairfield County. While there’s no requirement for this, there’s an award for the best locally themed art, in addition to media-specific awards. These cash awards are generously provided by individuals and businesses in our community! More info here.

The CSA show is in need of sponsors. If you or a business you know would have interest in a sponsorship opportunity, please use this form at the link here by May 9.

Prospectus

Receiving:  Monday, May 12 (5-7pm) and Tuesday, May 13 (12-2pm)

Opening Reception:  Sunday, May 18 (4-6 pm)

June 22 through July 20, 2025

Juried Show, Open to All Artists (Photography and Sculpture only!)

This exhibition features artwork by area artists chosen from online submissions – more info here.

Cash Award: $250 for Best in Show

Prospectus

Online Submissions –– DEADLINE is May 16 at MIDNIGHT

Receiving: Monday, June 16 (5-7pm) and Tuesday, July 17 (12-2pm)

Opening Reception: Sunday, June 22 (4-6pm)

Other News

“Be Your Own Publicist” and

“Exhibition Submission Tips and Tricks”

Wednesday, May 28 at 6 pm/7 pm

RAC will host a double bill for the first Pro Skills Workshop of the year with our own Marketing Director Jane Seymour and Executive Director Andrea Letters!

Jane will explain how to think of yourself as a brand. She will discuss all the promotional tools available to get the word out about your artwork – from social media and email blasts to printed materials.

Andrea will address common roadblocks that artists often encounter while applying to online submissions. Instead of getting yourself into a pickle, she will help artists understand some basic tools to keep it simple! Topics include: photographing your art, sizing your file for submission, customizing the name of your jpeg, plus basic image editing and file organization. Please bring your laptop and/or smartphone to the session. Focus will be on using MacOS and iPhone software/apps.

Workshops are made possible by a grant from the Rowayton Civic Association. Preregistration is required (max attendance is 30 for each in person session). Click here for more info and to register for one or both workshops!

RAC will review artwork by local artists interested in becoming exhibiting members on Friday, May 30, 2025. Artists should bring items for consideration to the gallery on Thursday, May 29 from 12 to 5 pm. The artist selection will take place on the morning of Friday, May 30 with notifications sent to accepted artists the following week. Artists should plan on picking up their artwork on Friday, May 30 from 12 to 5 pm or Saturday, May 31 from 10 am to 1 pm.

There is a form online to complete before bringing in artwork to RAC at this link and see the full Exhibiting Member Prospectus here for more information!

THE RAC 5 – Ronnie Gold

After graduating college with a BFA, Ronnie Gold began a long career as a textile designer and Design Director of Home Furnishings fabrics. After retiring eight years ago and moving to North Stamford, she took up painting and joined several local art associations.

Ronnie has been showcased in many local exhibitions since 2020 and is renown for her work in pastel. She was admitted to the Pastel Society of America in 2023 and is a Signature Member of the Connecticut Pastel Society. Ronnie recently won the Marks of Distinction Award from the Central Massachusetts Pastel Society as well as the Award of Excellence in the Connecticut Pastel Society 2025 Member Exhibition.

She has been an Exhibiting Member of RAC since 2019.

What started you on your creative path?

As a young child I loved to draw and paint. My mother was a great influence, giving me art lessons and encouraging me to have an appreciation for art and design. Living in NYC gave me the opportunity to visit museums and delight in their treasures and fine exhibitions.

What medium do you work in and why?

I paint in acrylic, oils and pastels. Pastels are my favorite medium to work in because of the spontaneity, and immediacy of the process. Color is the driving force of my creativity and having a multitude of pastel sticks at my fingertips makes the process of creativity very fluid and organic.

Do you work on multiple pieces at once?

I find working on a few pieces at the same time helps me stay focused and to experiment with a theme, style and technique. As I work, I learn something from each painting working back and forth and learning as I go along.

Who are a few of your favorite artists?

Wolf Khan – for brilliant use of a limited color palette.

Brian Ruttenburg – intense use and play of color.

Giorgio Morandi – simplistic use of composition and quirky approach to still lifes.

Pierre Bonnard – use of color and pattern in traditional settings

Matisse – color and use of patterns and shapes moving from classic to modern.

What inspires your artwork?

Anything and everything! By that I mean I am constantly observing my surroundings. If I am outside I see the beauty in nature; its colors and shapes.

Current exhibits in galleries, museums, fashion trends and travel all play a part consciously or unconsciously.

Follow Ronnie on Instagram: @ronniebgold

Happy Spring!