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by Deb Shaw
Tania Marien’s James White Award
The ASBA announced their annual awards last night at the closing banquet. Tania Marien was presented with the James White Service Award for her dedication to botanical art, in recognition of her distinguished support of botanical art.
Lesley Randall’s ASBA Award for Scientific Botanical Illustration
Lesley Randall was presented with the ASBA Scientific Illustrator Award for Excellence in Scientific Botanical Art, in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a scientific illustrator.
George Olsen was presented with the ASBA Diane Bouchier Artist Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, in recognition of his outstanding acheivements as a botanical artist.
Unfortunately, the three award winners were not present to receive their awards in person. When Tania and Lesley’s names were announced, however, the BAGSC table cheered loud enought to hear back in Southern California. Congratulations to the award winners for richly deserved recognition!!
by Beth Stone, posted by Deb Shaw
The Techniques Showcase featured three artists covering a very broad range of approaches: Hillary Parker, Ann Swan, Kelly Leahy Radding.
Hillary Parker shared her artistic problem-solving approach to very large format botanical watercolors which most of us would surely consider impossible! First was a driftwood commission on 40 x 60 inch, 300 lb cold press paper. The second was a 9 foot long (!) watercolor of a stone wall with a foreground of woodland plant silhouettes worked in masking fluid. Can you imagine fitting such a massive work in your studio? Then consider how you would maneuver yourself and your paints around to work on it!
Ann Swan completed a kiwi botanical in front of our eyes as just a portion of her wonderful segment of the Techniques Showcase. The seemingly magical techniques Ann demonstrated included: colored pencil layering strategies; exploiting colors that resist adhesion of subsequent layers (for example, creating veination); use of alcohol-based solvent or baby oil (actually not oil, but dilute paraffin) to blend and spread color; and embossing to create fine hairs for kiwi and pussy willows.
I’m told Ann’s blog is one to watch. She posted photos of the Chihuly glass sculpture exhibit currently at the Denver Botanic Gardens. http://annswan.wordpress.com
Finally Kelly Leahy Radding demonstrated the technique she used to paint the beautiful water lily she entered in the show’s Small Works exhibit. The water lily is painted with gouache on a dramatic black background. Kelley demonstrated her painting process with gourds. She shared a tip regarding both zinc white and the warmer titanium white. Both dry with a slight blue cast which can be counteracted by mixing in just a touch of yellow.
As a special additional treat to complete the Showcase, John Cogley, founder, President and CEO of Daniel Smith, spoke on the manufacture of pigment. The process involves fracturing/cleaving the crystalline materials rather than grinding them. It was great to see the actual mineral samples John brought including a beautiful, huge, piece of Lapis. John graciously answered audience questions: explaining that his company bought out all the Quinacridone close-out stock, so we will always be able to buy a consistent Quinacridone Gold; that we shouldn’t be concerned if Gum Arabic binder oozes from a newly opened tube, it’s just excess that rose to the top; and we should use distilled water in our painting work rather than introduce tap water impurities. Deb Shaw went to John’s lecture, and will include pictures in the next posting.
posted by Deb Shaw
There were some amazing portfolios on view; always fun to get right up close and personal to the work, and to be able to talk with the artists. (Photo by Beth Stone of a few cards and handouts.)
On the 20th anniversary of the ASBA, founding member Diane Bouchier gave an inspirational speech during the annual meeting luncheon about the importance of what we do: to ourselves, and to the world around us. (Photo by Gayle Uyehara.)
Posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members at the conference are: Beth Stone, Cristina Baltayian, Deborah Friedman, Deborah Shaw, Gayle Uyehara, Lori Vreeke, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Nina Antze, Sally Jacobs, and Terri Munroe. We are going to try to post some photos and updates as we can. I’ll confess, the blog postings aren’t behaving well from my iPad, but we’ll do what we can.
Wednesday evening was the kick-off opening reception for the Small Works exhibition. Gayle Uyehara took a panoramic view of the reception.
Photo by Gayle Uyehara.
The Small Works is one of my favorite exhibitions. It’s wonderful to see the range of art and creativity. This year is no exception. As always, it’s hard to get close to the art at an opening, so I’m glad to get to go back today for a more careful look.
The hotel is within walking distance of the 16th Street Mall, with lots of shops and restaurants, and easy access to the Denver Art Museum. A free shuttle runs the length of the mall. Gayle, Sally, Anita Walsmit Sachs and more friends from the Netherlands, Esmee Winkel and Marianne van der Stee-Kuiper went to dinner at the Tilted Kilt, and reported the people-watching was excellent.
Left to right: Gayle Uyehara, Esmee Winkel, Marianne van der Stee-Kuiper, Sally Jacobs and Anita Walsmit Sachs-Jansen.
Sign for the Tilted Kilt. Photo by Gayle Uyehara.
The 16th Street Mall in Denver at Sunset, photo by Gayle Uyehara, © 2014.
by Deb Shaw
The American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) and The Huntington Botanical Gardens present:
A Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium
July 23 (Thursday) – 26 (Sunday), 2015
in conjunction with
Weird, Wild & Wonderful
The Second New York Botanical Garden Triennial Exhibition of 46 captivating paintings and illustrations of exotic specimens by invited members of the American Society of Botanical Artists at
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Garden
San Marino, California
Solanum lycopersicum, Heirloom Tomato, Watercolor on paper, © Asuka Hishiki
Information about the Symposium is available on the ASBA website, and registration opens in May, 2015. Save the dates and watch this blog for exciting learning and volunteering opportunities.
About Weird, Wild & Wonderful:
Botanical art has traditionally depicted conventionally beautiful plants, such as sunflowers, irises, and roses. Weird, Wild, & Wonderful features plants not always thought of as beautiful but rather strange, eccentric, intriguing, and mysterious. Join us in Southern California as we explore the plants and their depictions during a special Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium on July 23 – 26, 2015, with additional classes, workshops, displays and lectures throughout the summer.
Only 46 works were selected from nearly 240 entries, hailing from the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The selection jury consisted of Lugene Bruno, Curator of Art at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation; Jean Emmons, award-winning botanical artist; and Marc Hachadourian, Manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections at The NewYork Botanical Garden.
About The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Garden:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington. Henry Huntington was a man of vision—with a special interest in books, art, and gardens. During his lifetime, he amassed the core of one of the finest research libraries in the world, established a splendid art collection, and created an array of botanical gardens with plants from a geographic range spanning the globe.These three distinct facets ofThe Huntington are linked by a devotion to research, education, and beauty. For more information, visit: http://www.huntington.org
About American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA):
ASBA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting public awareness of contemporary botanical art, to honoring its traditions and to furthering its development. In its 20th year, ASBA has 1,300 members from more than 20 countries around the world. For more information, visit: ASBA-art.org.
About The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC):
A chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists, BAGSC members actively promote development and awareness of this artistic tradition. Guild members are committed to improving their artistry and technical abilities.The Guild supports and sponsors workshops with local experts and visiting lecturers in areas such as drawing and painting botanical subjects, botany, resources, and botanical art history. For more information, visit: bagscblog.com.
by Deb Shaw
Tired of spending endless time and paint trying to find the right color? Learn to mix colors through color theory. This fun, no-stress overview workshop is for beginners through advanced participants and goes beyond what is typically taught in botanical color mixing classes. Although this watercolor workshop will focus on botanical subjects, the theory and exercises apply to all art forms and media, including: plein air, still life, and portraits; whether they’re created in watercolor, oil, acrylic, colored pencil, or pastel. Learn about:
- The hidden values in color, and color mixing basics.
- Where colors fall on the color wheel, and how that affects mixing.
- Transparency, lightfastness, granulation.
- Basic color theories and changing color through the ages (how did Van Gogh get those sad violets?).
- Color mixing and painting methods.
- How to avoid mixing mud, AND how to (purposefully) mix the appropriate mud, shadows and other nasty colors.
- Mixing beyond the basics, including a handout containing the ultimate color mixing exercise.
Monday, October 27, 2014, and Tuesday, October 28, 2104, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $225 for Virginia Robinson Gardens members and Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) members; $275 for non-members.
$50 deposit is non-refundable.
Tea, coffee and water provided. Bring your own lunch. A materials list will be supplied. Paint samples will be supplied.
Suz Landay and Kerstin Royce look over Deb Shaw’s shoulder during a demonstration.
Classes will be held in the Pool Pavilion, Virginia Robinson Gardens, 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills. To make reservations, visit Virginia Robinson Gardens; call (310) 550-2068; or mail a check, made payable to: FRIENDS OF ROBINSON GARDENS.
Instructor biography:
Deborah Shaw has a degree in fine art from Pomona College, The Claremont Colleges, where she also studied botany and native California flora. Ms. Shaw is an active member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. She has taught art and botanical art at numerous venues, including The Getty; The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens; Virginia Robinson Gardens; and Bowers Museum. She taught illustration, digital design and information design at the University of California, Irvine, Extension where she was the recipient of the “Distinguished Instructor” award.
Deborah’s work has been displayed in juried and non-juried exhibitions, and is in private collections. Her work is in the permanent collection at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University. She has received numerous awards for art, illustration, design, product design and advertising. Her preferred media include graphite, watercolor, colored pencil, scratchboard, Illustrator and Photoshop.
by Deb Shaw
Fullerton Arboretum, CSU Fullerton, © CSU Fullerton, all rights reserved.
Tania Marien, ArtPlantae, has scheduled a series of workshops at the Fullerton Arboretum, called “InterpretPlants.” These workshops are scheduled for October 2014 through May 2015, and highlight the Arboretum’s 26-acre oasis and vast plant collections and community programs on the sprawling campus of California State University, Fullerton.
The first two workshops will be a Farmer’s Market Guide to Plants, at the
Fullerton Arboretum at CSU Fullerton, Wednesday, October 29, 2014 (1-4 pm) and Saturday, November 1, 2014 (10 am – 1 pm)
$28 members, $35 non-members (fee includes most of the required art supplies)
Limit: 12
Participants will create their own, personalized farmer’s market guide to locally grown food. Sketch the harvest, create printed images reminiscent of woodcut images in old herbals and learn about the botany of food while documenting the Fall harvest at the Arboretum’s Farm Stand. Create your own artwork to use on recipe cards, notecards, food labels or wherever you like!
Future workshops include:
- Pollination Ecology for Young Naturalists
- History of Botanical Illustration
- Discover the Arboretum Potting Shed
- A Vistor’s Guide to the Cactus Garden
- Farmer’s Market Guide to Plants
- A Visitor’s Guide to the Palm Garden
Online registration can be accessed by clicking the “InterpretPlants” link above, or on the Fullerton Arboretum site.
The Fullerton Arboretum is located at 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, CA. Information about BAGSC member Tania Marien’s background can be found on her “About” page at ArtPlantae.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
Cristina Baltayian will be teaching “Botanical Art & Illustration” at the Los Angeles Arboretum, four Tuesdays in November:
November 4, 11, 18, 25
10 am–2 pm; Oak Room
$275 members; $295 non-members (includes admission)
Explore colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. Class emphasis will include: plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques. All levels are welcome. Participants will enjoy personalized attention.
In conjunction with a project by BAGSC members, students may focus on portrayal of many of the last 50 years of LA Arboretum plant introductions in order to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California.
Pre-registration is required. To register, call the Registration Line at 626.821.4623.
Garden admission is included when you register for a class.
Class participation is limited to a minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 12.
by Deb Shaw
A wonderful, talented crew of BAGSC members arrived with hammers in hand to hang the exhibition “Artists’ Favorites” at The San Diego Botanic Garden on Sunday, September 21, 2014. Lesley Randall had prepared labels in advance, with each artist’s statement about why their selected piece was their “favorite.” True to form, members brought healthy (and not so healthy) snacks, music and hammers, and the show went up in no time.
A few comments from BAGSC helpers:
“First and foremost, a great big thank you to Lesley for organizing a wonderful exhibition. And then a big thank you to the huge BAGSC crowd who came to hang the show, the family and friends who came with them and the lovely snacks. A beautiful exhibition and a great group to hang with!” —Deb Shaw
“I want to add my THANKS!!!; first, to everyone for coming down to help set up, but also for sharing your special works and your thoughts about them. It really adds a lot to the exhibit and helps visitors understand what motivates us to do what we do. I am certainly inspired to go out and find more plants to draw. I am so pleased to be able to bring this exhibit to SDBG! Thanks again for all your support and participation. Happy drawing and painting!” —Lesley Randall
“Yesterday was such a great example of what BAGSC is all about…working together to encourage one another and sharing our passion for all things botanical…it definitely is a team effort! Each time we have an opportunity to get together it is always so interesting to get to know one another better, and to learn from one another. A true blessing! Thank you!!” —Kirsten Rindall
“It sure looks fantastic! Great hanging job!” —Sue Kuuskmae
The exhibit will run from:
September 21, 2014 – November 16, 2014
at the San Diego Botanic Garden
in the Ecke Building
The exhibition is open for viewing daily, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free with paid admission or membership
Artists include: Cristina Baltayian, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Linda Ericksen, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Lesley Randall, Kirsten Rindal, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Deb Shaw, Janice Sharp, Gayle Uyehara, and Leslie Walker.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, California 92024. The phone number is 760.436.3036.
If you have some photos you would like to add to the slideshow gallery below, please email them to Deb Shaw. If we didn’t get images of your work on the wall, our apologies. If we got any of the captions wrong, well, that’s Deb Shaw’s fault — please email her with corrections.
by Tania Norris, posted by Deb Shaw
‘Tania Norris’ roses in full bloom. © Tania Norris, 2014.
A rose named for Tania Norris, won the highest award, “The Golden Rose of Rose Hills,” given by the international judges at the Annual International Rose Trials on Saturday, October 4, 2015.
The rose, a sport of “Gentle Giant,” was discovered by local rosarian Luis Desamero, and was installed in the Pageant of Roses Garden, Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, in 2013.
Each year, international rose hybridizers give six of their bushes for judging. The first year, the bushes are judged by a local panel of official rose judges. The second year, a panel of international, national and local judges, judge the bushes on foliage, growth, fragrance, bloom and all phases of the flower as to attractiveness. There are awards given for the best hybrid tea, most fragrant, best floribunda, the best miniature and the best shrub. The bush with the highest points wins “The Golden Rose of Rose Hills.”
The Pageant of Roses Garden is located at 3888 South Workman Mill Road in Whittier, California. The garden was established more than 50 years ago, and today grows approximately 10,000 plants and 300 cultivars. There also are designated garden areas for growing and testing future varieties, under the watchful eyes of the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) and the American Rose Society Award of Excellence Miniature program (AOE). Previous winners of these prestigious awards are displayed throughout the garden.
The garden began the International Rose Trials in 2000, and has gained international recognition for the quality and maintenance of the entries among breeders and introducers alike.
Rosarian Luis Desamero (left) and Tania Norris (right) with the award-winning rose. © Tania Norris, 2014.
BAGSC member and past president Tania Norris has been Patron of the International Rose Trials for the past twelve years. She is founder and Past President of the Beverly Hills Rose Society.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Deb Shaw will be teaching a two-part class on drawing gourds at the Bowers Museum:
Wednesday, November 5 and 12
1 pm – 4 pm
in the John M. Lee Court
Fall gourds, covered with bumps, ridges, nooks and crannies, are wonderful subjects for exploring how to create the illusion of three-dimensions on a flat piece of paper. Learn how lighting, shadows, highlights and reflected light create three-dimensional form. This two-part workshop will use graphite, graphite powder, charcoal, charcoal powder and instant coffee as drawing and painting media.
Session I: Graphite (pencil) and graphite powder, Wednesday, November 5
Session II: Charcoal, charcoal powder, and instant coffee, Wednesday, November 12
Fee: Individual class: Bowers Museum members: $15; General public: $25
Series: Bowers Museum members: $25; General public: $35
One-time materials fee payable to instructor: $15
Advance reservations required to enable the accurate purchase of supplies.
Minimum 8 students or class will cancel.
Tickets may be purchased online; onsite at the Visitor Services Desk, or by calling Bowers Museum Reservations at 714.567.3677.
Questions? Email programs@bowers.org
Tickets are non-refundable. All proceeds benefit Bowers Museum Educational Programming.
Deborah B. Shaw, Cucurbita maxima, Buttercup Squashes and Section, watercolor on paper. © 2013, all rights reserved.
About the instructor:
Deborah Shaw has a degree in fine art from Pomona College, The Claremont Colleges, where she also studied botany and native California flora. Ms. Shaw is an active member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and has taught art and botanical art at numerous venues, including The Getty, The Huntington, Virginia Robinson Gardens and Bowers Museum.
Deborah’s work has been displayed in juried and non-juried exhibitions, and is in private collections. Her work also is in the permanent collection at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University. She has received numerous awards for art, illustration, design, product design and advertising. Her preferred media include graphite, watercolor, colored pencil, scratchboard, Illustrator and Photoshop.
by Diane Daly, posted by Deb Shaw
Treasurers’ student working on a beautiful watercolor of a sunflower. Photo courtesy of Bowers Museum/Council on Aging Orange County © 2014.
The James Irvine Foundation generously provides grants to the Bowers Museum Treasures Program. Bowers, in turn, uses the grants to reach out to the senior community. One way to engage older adults who may be feeling isolated is through art. The Treasures program reaches out to senior centers, community centers, libraries, social service agencies and residential communities by offering lectures, films, classes and tours.
The Council on Aging of Orange County is one of those agencies that works with the Bowers Treasures program. Since 1973, their mission has been to promote independence, health and dignity of older adults through compassion, education and advocacy. I have had the most rewarding experience and opportunity to teach a botanical drawing and painting class to the seniors at the Council on Aging. They provide translators since some of the seniors speak minimal English. I went home after the first class and brushed up on my Spanish and learned a greeting in Korean. The language differences seem to disappear when we are all involved in the art process of observing and drawing a fruit or plant. For eight sessions, we had a variety of specimens, starting with an apple and pear, a single tulip, a zinnia, a variety of peppers and chilis, a rose and finishing with a sunflower. It was pure joy to see the delight on their faces as they walked in and saw what the subject would be for the day.
Students who are completely blind (but formerly sighted) were able to produce beautiful drawings. Photo courtesy of Bowers Museum/Council on Aging Orange County © 2014.
At first, when I was briefed on what the class should entail, I was told that there would be a few adults who were totally blind or had some sight impairment. Now, after all these years of trying to get as much detail in a botanical painting, I was truly baffled on how a blind person would be able to draw and how would I be able to teach them anything about drawing a flower. But, I was the one to learn a few things about drawing. They were able to feel the fruit or flower with their hands, emboss the paper with firm pressure on the pencil, use circle templates for guidance, and feel where to fill in the shape with color, with the aid of an assistant. I was amazed at the results. It is not botanical art as we know it, but is art that helps bring people together and give them pleasure and satisfaction. I made simple portfolios for them to take their drawings and paintings home on the last day.
Treasures’ student drawing a radish in graphite. Photo courtesy of Bowers Museum/Council on Aging Orange County © 2014.
I had another opportunity through the Treasures program to teach a class on painting Asian flowers on parasols. Since there were 90 adults coming to this program, we used markers instead of paint. With 90 parasols opened and everyone drawing flowers on them, it was quite a challenge to move around to all the tables. Once again, I was delighted at the results; beautiful, original designs on all the parasols. The parasols were used for a display in the museum that weekend for a cultural event. They were able to take home the parasols, as well as all the other art projects that they created.
Diane Daly giving feedback to Treasures’ student. Photo courtesy of Bowers Museum/Council on Aging Orange County © 2014.
by Deb Shaw
Astragalus trichopodus with Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis, Common names: Locoweed with Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. Estelle De Ridder, © 2014, all rights reserved.
In 2012, BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder was awarded an education grant from the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) to assist with creating sets of reusable plant identification cards featuring native plant illustrations from the Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrence, California.
The Madrona Marsh Preserve, in collaboration with the ASBA has announced the opening of an exhibition of Estelle’s completed artwork, “The Flora of the Madrona Marsh” on Sunday, December 7, 2014, from 2 pm to 5 pm.
The exhibition will run from November 19, 2014 – January 9, 2015. Estelle also will make two presentations at the Madrona Marsh Preserve, one on Saturday, December 6, 2014 and another on Sunday, December 14, 2014, discussing botanical illustration and its importance in our world.
Information about Estelle’s project will be presented at the ASBA Annual Meeting and Conference in Denver, Colorado during the ASBA Grant Presentations on Friday evening, October 17, 2014 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The exhibition will then travel to the La Crescenta Public Library in La Crescenta, California from January 24 – February 28, 2015.
The Nature Center at the Madrona Marsh Preserve is located at: 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90505. Phone: (310) 32-MARSH. The Madrona March is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm.
Congratulations Estelle!
Quercus Agrifolia, Coast Live Oak, by Estelle De Ridder, © 2014, all rights reserved.
Invitation to “The Flora of the Madrona Marsh,” original artwork by Estelle De Ridder.
by Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
Watercolor by Clara Josephs, © 2014, all rights reserved.
The San Diego Botanic Garden and the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) will be holding an exhibition titled, Artists’ Favorites. These beautiful and unbelievably detailed works of art depict different plant species—several of which are found in the San Diego Botanic Garden. Forty-three works representing 18 different artists were carefully selected for this juried show. Each of the plants and paintings hold a special place in each artist’s heart.
Artists include: Cristina Baltayian, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Linda Ericksen, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Lesley Randall, Kirsten Rindal, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Deb Shaw, Janice Sharp, Gayle Uyehara, and Leslie Walker.
The exhibit will run from:
September 21, 2014 – November 16, 2014
at the San Diego Botanic Garden
in the Ecke Building
The exhibition is open for viewing daily, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free with paid admission or membership
An Artists’ Reception will be held
Sunday, September 21, 2014
San Diego Botanic Garden, Ecke Building
4:30 pm – 7 pm
The Artists’ Reception is free, and is open to the public. Members, friends and family are welcome. Come and meet some of the BAGSC artists at the reception.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, California 92024. The phone number is 760.436.3036.
by Deb Shaw
The Greenhouse Complex at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Photography © Scott Dressel-Martin
If you haven’t registered for the 2014 ASBA Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado yet, there’s still time. The last day of registration is September 12, 2014. After the 12th, registration will be closed, and no registrations will be accepted.
The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists is hosting the ASBA’s 20th Annual Meeting and Conference this year. The Conference will be held at the Westin Denver Downtown. Book your room directly with the Westin (information is on the “Lodging” page). If you would like a roommate, email Marilyn Garber.
The Westin is located one block from the famous 16th Street Mall, and within walking distance of the Denver Art Museum, the American Museum of Western Art – The Anschutz Collection, the Clyfford Still Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Molly Brown House Museum, Denver Public Library’s Western History and Genealogy Department, the historic Brown Palace Hotel and shopping destination Larimer Square.
In addition to the three-day core conference, there are pre- and post-conference workshops. Conference activities will be held at the Westin Hotel and the Denver Botanic Garden.
The ASBA Silent Auction
If you would like to support the ASBA’s “Artist & Education Grants,” publication of The Botanical Artist journal, and ASBA exhibitions, consider donating to the Silent Auction/Market Place to be held the last night of the conference. Money raised during the Silent Auction directly supports these efforts.
The volunteers for the Silent Auction are always on the lookout for unique items with some sort of botanical theme. You can find donation ideas listed in the Request for Donations in the June issue of The Botanical Artist journal. Bidding starts at 50 percent of the value of the item in
the Silent Auction. This year the ASBA is adding a Market Place component for less expensive items. No bidding is required in the Market Place. You want it? Just simply purchase it.
Donation information is required by September 27. Shipped items must be received by October 13. If you’re going to the conference, you may bring your Silent Auction/Market Place items with you.
Donation information may be submitted on the ASBA Web Site Annual Meeting – Denver 2014, or emailed to Lynne Railsback.
If you’re going to Denver…
Please let other BAGSC members know so we can try to coordinate transportation, shuttles, and other activities. Email Deb Shaw, and let her know when you’ll be arriving and leaving.
Need supplies?
If you need to buy supplies before you go, consider going to the ASBA’s “Shop > Sponsors” page first, and clicking on the link to Dick Blick from there. The ASBA will receive a portion of your purchase price.
Some more important information
Denver’s altitude is 5,280 feet, one mile above sea level. While in Denver, drinking plenty of water is the number one way to adjust to the higher altitude. October temperatures average 37 to 65 degrees F.
If you’re planning to leave the conference on Sunday, October 19, please note that there will be a marathon run in the morning and it may be more difficult to get from the hotel to the airport. Various streets will be closed for the run, and you may need to allow extra time.
See information about the conference, instructors, pre- and post-conference workshops, lodging and more on the ASBA website!
BAGSC News 