January 2020 Newsletter
Happy New Year!!!
Please note that the gallery is closed in order to prepare for the next exhibition. Classes begin Monday, January 6 for the Winter Session.
Upcoming Exhibitions
From the RAC Studio/Instructors and Students Show
January 12 – February 1, 2020
Open to RAC students and instructors who participated in any weekly class during 2019.
Receiving:   Monday January 6 (4-7pm)  and Tuesday, January 7 (11-2pm)
Opening Reception:   Sunday, January 12 (4-6pm)
Upcoming Workshops & Events
FREE Art Demonstration with Rick Daskam, “How to Creatively Approach a Still Life Painting”
Sunday, January 5
2 to 3:30 pm
Rick will discuss values, color and form – everything that is important in composing a successful still life painting. Attendees will see artwork emerge from a blank canvas to a nearly finished painting. He currently teaches “Still Life and the Modern Masters” at RAC on Thursday evenings.
Chantey Sing
 with Sean and Deirdre Murtha
Sunday, January 12
4 to 7pm
Fee: $5 (suggested donation)
Everyone is welcome when RAC hosts the monthly Open Chantey Sing. Lead, sing along and/or listen to chanteys, works songs, and other maritime songs. Bring your voices, instruments, friends and enthusiasm for sea music! Questions? Email sdmurtha@sbcglobal.net .
FREE Art Demonstration with Susan Fehlinger, “How the Palette Knife Can Enrich Your Paintings”
Sunday, January 12
2 to 4pm
Susan will show how a palette knife can be used as an addition or even as a replacement for brushes in the creation of strong, compelling paintings. She will also discuss the various blades and techniques, explaining how she uses the knife to create extraordinary paintings.
Susan currently teaches “Painting with the Palette Knife” at RAC on Monday afternoons.
Open Sketch
Sunday, January 19 and Sunday, January 26
Noon to 3pm
Fee $15
Sunday afternoons in the studio with live model, open to all artists (no need for RAC membership!)  Check the website for updates:
Last chance for RAC’s Winter Session registration!!!
This session begins Monday, January 6 .
Check out our class listings at rowaytonarts.org/education
RAC Happenings
Holiday Art Workshop for Children
December 7
This year’s Holiday Art Workshop for Children was a total blast with twelve incredibly creative students, oodles of supplies and project ideas plus a trip down to the Rowayton Historical Society to see the train show and holiday decor!
Holiday Gift Show 2019
Over 50 artists contributed to RAC’s Holiday Gift Show (HGS) with a 60s theme to recognize RAC’s upcoming 60th anniversary. Weekly events kept the gallery active with our annual Santa visit, an elegant Sip & Shop party and a Junior Members Fundraiser wrapping service called It’s a Wrap! RAC also hosted a Holiday Song Sing Along on closing day Christmas Eve.
Julia Gottsegen with her daughter Edie (a student in RAC’s Art Exploration class) came by to shop and visit Santa.
Santa gives RAC artist Brian Kammerer some advice (and thanks to Brian for creating the Peanuts characters!)
RAC artist and board member Amy Schott is all smiles with the big guy!
Local musician Christian Rottner providing tunes during the Sip & Shop event.
Left to Right: RAC artist Dana Laird, RAC Executive Director Andrea Letters and RAC Education Director Suzy Aubrey enjoying the back porch on the balmy winter’s day.
Shoppers admiring Jim Flora Rowayton map print with RAC Gallery Manager Leo Gonzalez by the holiday apps provided by Absolutely Fabulous catering.
Cameron Letters hoisting a hot toddy with HGS Chair/RAC President Steve Mernick – thanks also to Rowayton Wine Shop for suggesting the featured wines!
The RAC classroom became a busy place for It’s a Wrap! $400 was raised for the Junior Members Program and a Santa sack of toys was delivered to the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Many were on hand to get the job done – RAC artists Peter Saverine along with Ilana Appleby and her grandson David (pictured here) were a huge help. Just check out happy customer Jake Hendrickson (!)
Oh what fun we had singing carols and holiday standards at the Holiday Song Sing Along as a very fluid group of singers (and listeners!) Thanks to Paul Seymour for leading things and to Dawn Dahl for cookies to go with the hot apple cider. It was very merry indeed…
The 6″ x 6″ panels fundraiser was another highlight at this year’s HGS. Placed at the entrance of the gallery, visitors were welcomed with the diverse talent of RAC artists (a sampling shown here). Thanks to ALL who contributed one or even more, it was truly appreciated. #RACHolidayGiftShow
Open Doors Outreach
When RAC heard a call for a mini art gallery for kids at Open Doors via social media, we sprung into action to make it happen! RAC Marketing Director Jane Seymour, Paul Seymour and RAC Executive Director Andrea Letters (a.k.a. Handy Andy) brought the materials needed and installed a cork board that was quickly put to use in time for a sweet holiday display.
Open Doors Executive Director Michele Conderino stops by to thank RAC Executive Director Andrea Letters
RAC Marketing Director Jane Seymour using her own skill set with the decorations in the Children’s Resource Center
Member News
***REMINDER TO SEND NEWS TO NEWSLETTER@rowaytonarts.org
Now through January 6, 2020
“Fresh Air, Fresh Ideas”
Work by Britt Bair and Lisa Thorén
Darien Nature Center
120 Brookside Road
Darien, CT 06820 (203) 655-7459
Now through January 8, 2020
Work by Jennifer Moné Hill
Brendan’s 101
101 Rowayton Avenue
Rowayton, CT 06853 (203) 853-1050
Now through January 12, 2020
“HeART & Mind”
Work by Janine Brown
Silvermine Gallery
107 Silvermine Road
New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-9700
Now through January 30, 2020
“Faces and Figures”
Opening Reception: Sunday, January 5, from 4 to 6pm
Work by Ilana Appleby, Maria Friscia, Kristi Holton, Carolyn Lyngholm, Judy Peknik, Richard Tedeschi, Ann Marie Tetelman, Pam Tucker, Richard Ventre
Stamford Art Association Townhouse Gallery
39 Franklin Street
Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 325-1139
Now through February 28, 2020
“Seeds of Peace”
Work by Charmaine Rawsthorne and Heidi Lewis Coleman
Maritime Garage Gallery
11 North Water Street
Norwalk, CT 06853 (203) 853-1050
January 16 through March 31, 2020
Work by Doris Mady
Upper Crust Bagel Company (UCBC)
980 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820 (203) 655-7566
Member Alert
RAC has learned about a scam that is targeting artists with websites. An email similar to the one below was sent through a website email address and then another one appeared saying the same thing almost word for word. The subject line used a title of the first image on the website. BE CAREFUL!!!
Hello There,
     My name is Meagan Sardana from California. I actually observed my husband has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess he likes your piece of work. I’m also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too, You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your ” ON THE WATER  ”as a surprise to my husband on our anniversary. Also, let me know if you accept CHECK as mode of Payment.
Thanks and best regards
Meagan
Remember that when you shop   smile.amazon.com/ch/06-6070045 , AmazonSmile donates to RAC!!!