Happy New Year!
Another year begins. I welcome this year with great enthusiasm, as for me it brings many exciting personal and professional opportunities. Among them is my upcoming trip to China to facilitate a leadership program, ‘Giving Voice to Women in the Arts’ for the World Academy for the Future of Women. I am honored to be one of 16 facilitators from across the US, with several from Arizona, spending 5 weeks working with 100 students enrolled in the academy.
My enthusiasm for the New Year does not wane when it comes to AAG. I am still riding high on the huge success of the Artstravagana in December. In addition to raising funds for our outreach and scholarship programs, we had just shy of 100 people cross the threshold that evening (guests and volunteers combined) with over 40 non-members participating in the event. Laughter, excitement, and creativity filled the rafters. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and participated in making this event so successful. It was surely a special evening as several participants exclaimed, ‘the best event AAG has ever had’.
Looking forward, AAG has many exciting events coming up from now through May 2018. Check out the website or flyers at AAG with the details on our upcoming workshops, exhibitions and programs.
This month: I will be facilitating a workshop based on over thirty years of Art Sales, called Selling from the H.E.A.R.T. I am in the rare position of having two successful careers in the arts. The first, I owned and operated a successful gallery for 25 years, after which I launched my career as an artist. I share the lessons and techniques I honed in over thirty years. Additionally, don’t miss the closing reception and awards ceremony for the Winter Exhibition, January 14, 2018 from 2:00-4:00pm. On January 16, prepare to be inspired by David Bradley’s presentation on socially engaged art and artists of the Balkans. The war-torn region has fostered artists who are politically and socially engaged with vibrant art practices. Additionally join the sculptor’s group meeting and critique at Dave Knorr’s studio on January 8. Although I am not a sculptor, I always learn something from the meetings and enjoy the interactive and engaging conversations with artists engaged in their practices.
In the spirit of the season, this time of year invites introspection and reflection, so I leave you with the following to consider: Is your artistic practice the same entering January 2018 as it was in January 2017? How has your work changed? What are the lessons gleaned from your studio in 2017? How have you grown as an artist?
Have a wildly creative month.
Tess
Tess Mosko Scherer, president, Arizona Artists Guild
info@ArizonaArtistsGuild.net | 928-300-7185
