Click April Newsletter to see the pdf version of this issue.

Dear Members and Friends:

Thank you all for your support and participation at Venice Art Center. I love this place as I know you all do too! If you have extra time and want to be part of our volunteer team, please contact Linda Larisch or myself. We now have new judging guidelines. One award per person and we are limiting entries to two per person. The first entry at $15 and the second for $10. We have so many entries that limiting entries to two per person will mean we will have less rejected work. I might add that with limited wall space we have had to reject some really nice pieces. These new guidelines will go into effect at the opening of next season (September). The grounds around VAC are looking overgrown and shabby. There is more sand and weeds than grass. I am working on a beautification program for us. If you would like to financially be a part of this project, please contact met. We are planning a Venice Art Center Family Day! Saturday, June 21st from 11:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m. Come celebrate our 50th anniversary with fun, food and art. We will have sidewalk chalk drawings, coloring contest and introduction to pottery, painting, pastels and print making! Bring the whole family. We will miss our snowbird friends and look forward to your return. For those of us who live here year round our summer classes for adults and children are now available at VAC or at www.veniceartcenter.com.
Good Health,
Tonya Sauppe

April News at the Venice Art Center

April showers brought sunshine to the Art Center this spring with a fantastic exhibit from our family of artists for the "Members Spring Exhibition", sponsored by Merrill Lynch of Venice.
Everything from an acrylic of purple hydrangeas to an oil painting of Casperson Beach was on view for all to admire in the main gallery. For the first time ever the solo gallery had a photography exhibit sponsored by the Venice Camera Club. The exhibit was a success bringing many new artists through our doors that will become part of the Art Center's talented community.
Awards for the Members Spring Exhibition were as follows: Best in Show, "Pond Reflections," by Julee Docking; first place, "Feeding Koi" by Pat Busscher, second place, "Casperson Looking North" by Jay Aiello; third place, "Transition Iris," by Wayman E. Brown. Merit awards went to Walter Yovaish, ceramic, "Stoneware Vase", John Barends, oil pastel, "Dogwood," Joanne Smith, acrylic, "Bella Vista," Katie Dobson Cundiff, oil, "Sweet Dreams," John Russo, clay, "Ping's Tea," Kathleen Winder, conte', "Baltic Parchment," Jeff Cornell was the juror for the show.

American Pen Women

The nation's oldest organization for creative women, (writers, artists and composers) are exhibiting at the Venice Art Center, April 7-24. This exhibit is comprised of work from the 57 members of the Sarasota Branch of the American Pen Women.

An exhibition of fused glass works and paintings of Andree Schroeder are on display in the Solo Gallery. Her jewelry, clocks and fused art pieces make up a beautiful exhibit that serves to showcase a talented member of our family of artists.

VAC Family Day

A family day to celebrate our 50th anniversary will be held at the Venice Art Center on Saturday, June 21st, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sidewalk chalk drawings, art show, print making, pottery, painting, with pastels for the children will be featured.
Have your children enter a coloring and sidewalk chalk contest and win recognition and awards.

Free Golden Demo

Coming up on May 19 at 10 a.m. A demonstration by Golden on Golden mediums and paints will be presented. Reservations are required - contact the front desk.

New Feature

Want to become the "Artist of the Month" - the Venice Art Center is going to feature work from a talented member each month on its website. We will start with our own teachers to kick it off. After that time, we will open up the monthly feature to our membership.
To be eligible we will need a photo of your work and a biography. All entries will be drawn at random from those submitted to be showcased each month. We are looking forward to boasting about our local talent and will use this feature to make the community aware of the high-caliber talents of our membership.

Volunteers Needed

Summer is coming and that means the snowbirds are leaving the area. The Venice Art Center needs volunteers to work the front desk, one 1/2 day per week. This position requires you to greet the public; assist in sales from the gift shop and register students for summers classes.

Do you like to scrapbook? The Venice Art Center needs historians who will carefully look through the newspapers and archive all information about the Art Center. We want to protect our history for the future.

Need a pig? Rod Hog is still in a pen at the Venice Art Center and before it is put on e-bay, everyone has a chance to buy this pig before it goes to auction. Contact Marilyn LaBallister or Tonya Sauppe if you have an interest.
For an additional charge, it can be painted to suit your decor or business.

Reminders

Here are the rules for exhibition in the sales gallery - the number of pieces are as follows: framed paintings, 2 matted works (must be in clear bags or shrink wrapped), 3; jewelry, 6 large pieces and/or 12 small pieces; pottery/ceramics, 6-12 small and/or 3-4 large pieces; sculpture 1 or 2 larges pieces. No saw tooth hangers.

Renew your membership - ask at the front desk when you membership year is up. Tell your friends about the Venice Art Center and the benefits of membership - discounts, parties, and exhibits.

Do you belong to a community group - we have speakers who will give a presentation at luncheons or meetings. Leave a messgae for Debbie Campbell at the desk and she will accommodate your requests.

Ceramic students, please pick up all work before going up north or make arrangements with your instructor.

Coming up:

Ethan Hill Dudley, 19, baritone, will give a free recital on Saturday, April 26 in the main gallery. Kristen Conn, will accompany him on the piano.
Dudley's recital will include a program in Italian, French, German and English. During 2004-2005, he was accepted at Lawrence University as a double degree student in vocal performance and French. A resident of Sarasota he has participated as a super in the Sarasota Opera production of "Alvaro."
Kristen Conn is a native of Florida and has worked as a vocal coach and pianist for Sarasota Opera, as well as eight other opera companies in the United States. She also has performed for the opera Theatre of Lucia, Italy.
During the 2003-2004 season at Sarasota Opera, she was the director of Youth Opera Choruses and music disgracer.

Notes from the pallet of the president:

Wouldn't you love to see the Venice Art Center participate in the Christmas parade with a beautiful float? Do you think you could use your creative skills to come up with a design that will best typify what the VAC is all about.
We are looking for a team of volunteers to build a float, provide a trailer, provide a truck - we even want you to ride on the float for all your work during the parade. Your efforts will further promote the Art Center to the community.