Art Guild’s Oct. fair helps grow organization

With the St. Charles Art Guild’s 50th anniversary approaching in 2018, efforts like its October Art Fair are helping grow the membership and recognition that will help it celebrate the achievement. “At the end of the day each person selected a finished work to have matted for our Destrehan Library exhibit, which is designed to share with the public what beginners can accomplish in such a short time,” said Guild spokeswoman Laurie Abadie. “With increased interest, available books are right there. The exhibit will run through November.”

The fair drew 24 people who were divided into four groups and then rotated through four presentations. Abadie said it was designed to introduce different art mediums while also “promoting the confidence needed to start communicating with a ‘visual’ language.’”

Guild members Kerry Allen set up a Halloween still-life and demonstrated charcoal techniques; Madeleine Neske introduced acrylics and explained examples of “functional art;” Ann Clement demonstrated watercolor blending and painted a rainbow of watercolor swatches in the shape of a color wheel with the three primary colors, and then completed a fall foliage design by adding lines drawn with India ink and a stick to their color blends, and Dani Shackelford taught a technique that turns original photographs into ink and watercolor pencil creations.

The Guild’s community outreach began in the 1960s with volunteers providing lessons and supplies to a few element schools, Abadie said.

The Guild “was created by a handful of experienced resident artists to promote community artistic camaraderie for themselves and also to help with the parish’s art awareness needs,” she added. “Assessing those needs has been an ongoing effort. Luckily, our parish is small enough for us to have tentacles all over, and several of our members are retired educators and are involved in other community activities.”

Abadie said they are considering a fall fair for beginners next year, as well as some smaller “paint-outs” possibly for advanced students.

To provide these art programs, the Art Guild receives grants from the Louisiana Division of the Arts Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the State Arts Council as administered by the Houma Regional Arts Council; the River Regions Arts and Humanities Council and the St. Charles Women’s Club.

 

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