Here are the latest notices of current happenings around
the area. Check back here often, as the contents will
change quickly.
Our long time member and supporter, Mary Kelly has passed away. We are all saddened at this loss. Mary has been a part of Reading Art Association as long as I have been in it, which is many years. She will certainly be missed.
Another long time member and good friend Wanda O'Neil has passed away. Wanda enjoyed helping out with the shows, especially taking in paintings for the mini art sale. Wanda will be missed.
Our long time member and good friend Ginger Greenblatt has passed away. Ginger was very much involved in the Reading Art Association. Her paintings were always spectacular, and her infectious smile will be very much missed.
Luke Volpe passed away on March 11. Luke was a long term member of RAA and was our President back in the 1980's. Luke was always a gentleman and a joy to chat with. He was an excellent artist, who painted well into his retirement.
You can read more about Luke at his obiturary,
Luke Volpe Obiturary.
Nathalie Nordstrand was our last remaining charter member. She passed away on December 3. Nathalie was a nationally recognized artist and a good friend. She will be missed.
You can find out more about Nathalie at her obituary,
Nathalie Nordstrand Obituary
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Ruth Camber, a long-time, active member of RAA has passed away.
Ruth was always in attendance at RAA events with a smile on her face. She spent many years on the Board, helping to keep RAA going. She will be very much missed.
You can find out more about Ruth at the Nichols Funeral Home website.
We just found out that Barbara Groom passed way earlier in the year. Barbara was always fun to chat with, and she will be missed.
It has come to our attention that one of our long time, beloved, members, Ingeborg Burggraf, passed away on April 14.
Inge created fanciful collages using all natural materials like seeds and tree bark and grass. Her works displayed her wonderful sense of humor and were well loved. She will be missed.
I just found out that long time member and Mixed Media editor, Elaine Little passed away in November of last year. Elaine was a fixture in the Reading Art Association for as long as I can remember. She was active in the town and active in the RAA until she was nearly 90 years old; a very special person.
We have very sad news to report that Susan Manning O'Briant passed away on December 22, 2019. Susan was an active member in RAA for many years. Her still life paintings were exquisite, and she won many awards for her work. Susan will be very missed.
We have sad news to report that Bud Knox, our good friend and long time member of RAA, has died. Bud was very active in the RAA for many years. He and Evelyn were involved in everything from running the shows to running the business. He will be missed.
You can read Bud's obituary at the following link, Bud Knox Obituary
We have sad news to report that Fred Peters, one of the few remaining Reading Art Association charter members, has died. Fred was active in the RAA to the end. I spent some wonderful time chatting with him at the Fall Show in November. He will be sorely missed.
Evelyn Knox and Fred Peters
Are you tired of hunting for your ancient checkbook, writing a check then finding an envelope and a stamp in order to pay your Reading Art Association dues? This is your lucky day.
You can now pay your Reading Art Association dues using PayPal. Just select which type of membership you
would like using the dropdown menu and click
on the PayPal button,
and it will take you directly to PayPal, where you can pay your dues.
You do not have to have a PayPal account. You can pay via PayPal using your credit card as a one-time payment.
Carolyn Latanision was commissioned to do a video that is included in the galleries along with the J.M.W. turner exhibit. It is also online on their website.
Carolyn says, "It was both a treat and a terror to do!".
You can view the video at:
www.mfa.org/video/painting-a-turner-watercolor
Carolyn has other news to share as well.
"I was accepted into the Copley Society of Art summer members’ exhibition, Borders.
I will have two paintings in the Mad River Valley Watercolor national exhibition in Vermont this summer.
In Fort Worth Texas I am exhibiting one of my Bethlehem Steel paintings Rusting Pinions in the Southern Watercolor Society international exhibit.
And in Bethlehem PA, one of my Bethlehem Steel paintings will be in the National Association of Women Artists national exhibition at the Banana Factory, right next door to the steel plant, which is now a tourist attraction.
I am currently in the Inner Space Fine Art Gallery exhibition, Conversations with Three Artists.
Carolyn"
Reading Art Association Website is |
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Years Old |
As of April 1, 2021, the Reading Art Association website is 20 years old.
Twenty years ago, the Reading Art Association website went live. Very shortly after that, I published our very first entry on our new website. It was a brief photo essay of our Spring Show.
I kept the images small because the uploads were sent over a dialup modem going through our landline telephone. It took forever to upload even the most simple page of photos and news. There was no broadband and there were no cell phones back then, much less smart phones. A few years later, I updated our digital service to DSL (remember that?) and that freed up the telephone to make calls while the lengthy uploads were happening. How the times have changed.
Throughout the 20 years I have photographed the shows and dinners and demonstrations and posted them on this website. There are 20 years of memories out here. Go to the Archives and take a tour down Memory Lane.
archives.htmlThe previous year, 2020 was very quiet here because all of our events were canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. But we are hoping to start up again for the 2021 - 2022 season.
Stay tuned for updates.
Brian Kimerer
Your Webmaster
Here is a brief FAQ about the Reading Art Association dues.
Because the RAA exhibits are now both Members Only shows. You must be a member in good standing in order to exhibit. That means that your dues must be paid in full. Also, it helps keep RAA going.
| Student | $10.00 |
| Associate | $15.00 |
| Artist | $30.00 |
| Sponsor/Patron | $35.00 |
Download a form from our Membership page, print it out, fill it in, and mail it along with your check to:
| Reading Art Association |
| P.O. Box 114 |
| Reading, MA 01867 |
Definitely! RAA Dues have not gone up in 35 years. What other institution can say that? Also, Reading Art Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, so your dues are tax deductible.
The dues are used to pay the rent for the space in the church that we use for the demonstrations and the shows. They also go to pay the demonstrators for our monthly demonstrations, the publication and mailing of the Mixed Media newsletter, refreshments at the demos and shows, and countless other small expenses that we incur.... including sending reminders to recalcitrant members who are in arrears for their dues.
Keep scrolling down and read about joining the RAA board. The RAA board runs RAA and is always in need of members to fill positions. It is a lot of fun, and a great organization to be part of.
Check out our writeup about Setting Up the Fall Show in 2016.
To All Members of RAA,
There are some openings on the board that need to be filled. The openings are: Mixed Media, Judging which involves getting judges for the 2 shows, and we can always use more people to help out with hospitality. There also may be some Executive Board positions.
In order to continue with this great organization, we need all the help we can get from our members. We want to continue the traditions that have made Reading Art the prestigious organization that it is and in order to do that we need everyone's help. If you are interested in a board position, speak to a board member at the Spring Show or e-mail Rosemary Palmer, rosiep1@comcast.net, or Rick Corbett, rickycorbett@gmail.com.
You can also contact RAA through your webmaster at webmaster@readingart.org.
I have enhanced the software in the RAA Gallery to show thumbnail photos of the paintings in a scrollable window at the bottom of the screen. You can now find and select a work that you are interested in, click on the thumbnail, and go directly to the image. You can still start at the beginning by clicking on the box with the RAA logo in it. Stepping through the images still works the same way it did, click on the left side of the image to go back, and click on the right side of the image to go forward.
Check it out here --- The Gallery.
Your Webmaster
Ruth has a painting hanging in the bookstore in November 2022
Susan had a painting hanging in the bookstore in October 2022
Cheryl had a painting hanging in the bookstore in September 2022
Brian had a painting hanging in the bookstore in August 2022
Jeannette has a painting hanging in the bookstore in July 2022
Holly had a painting hanging in the bookstore in June 2022
Theresa had a painting hanging in the bookstore in May 2022
Lynne had a painting hanging in the bookstore in April 2022
Ruth has a painting hanging in the bookstore in March 2022
"Summer Memories above Franconia Falls"
Theresa had a painting hanging in the bookstore in February 2022
"Angel of Light"
Cheryl had a painting hanging in the bookstore in January 2022
Holly had a painting hanging in the bookstore in December 2021
Susan had a work hanging in the bookstore in November 2021.
Lynne had a work hanging in the bookstore in October 2021.
Elena had a work hanging in the bookstore in September 2021.
Brian had a work hanging in the bookstore in August 2021.
Liz had a work hanging in the bookstore in July 2021.
Mary has a work hanging in the bookstore in June 2021.
Chris had a work hanging in the bookstore in May 2021.
Danielle has a painting in the bookstore in April 2021.
Holly had a painting in the bookstore in March 2021.
Susan McFarlane had a painting hanging in the Whitelam Bookstore in February, 2021.
Liz Noble had a painting hanging in the Whitelam Bookstore in January, 2021.
Jeannette Corbett had a painting hanging in the Whitelam Bookstore in December
Lynne Cassinari had a painting hanging in the Whitelam Bookstore in November
Maria showed a painting during October 2020.
Holly had a painting in the bookstore in September 2020.
Susan showed a painting at the bookstore in August 2020.
Nancy had a painting in the Whitelam Bookstore for a long time, while the store was closed for the pandemic.
Lynne Cassinari had a painting in the Whitelam Bookstore in February 2020.
Lynne's Painting
Mary Kelly had a painting at the Whitelam Bookstore in January.
House on the Marsh
Brian Kimerer had a painting in the the Whitelam Bookstore through December.
Monochrome in Ochre, Crimson, and Ultramarine
Holly Popeo had a painting on display through the month of November, 2019
Plum Island Sunset
Over the Fireplace
Fishtank #4
Over the Fireplace
Cheryl Flatley was hanging there previously.
Over the Fireplace
We enjoyed Jeannette's painting, "Summer Racing Saratoga", through August.
Summer Racing Saratoga
Over the Fireplace
We have taken down, but not forgotten the watercolor floral by Susan McFarlane. The title of the painting is "Bloomers". The painting was on display through the month of July, 2019
Bloomers
Over the Fireplace
Maeve Bradley had a painting on display through the month of June. The title of the painting is "Graves Lighthouse".
Over the Fireplace
The painting at the Whitelam Bookstore through the month of May was a watercolor by Mary Kelly.
Over the Fireplace
Over the Fireplace
The painting at the Whitelam Bookstore has been swapped out. Look for a new painting each month at the book store.
Some photos of Louise's painting:
Monhegan Island, ME.
Over the Fireplace
Carol's painting "Morning Solitude" was on display through the month of February, 2019. Thank you to Carol for sharing her art with us.
Some photos of the painting:
Morning Solitude.
Over the Fireplace
Grace's painting, "Breaking Wave" has been taken down, but not forgotten. The painting was on display through the month of January, 2019.
Some photos of the painting:
Breaking Wave.
Over the Fireplace
Previously at the bookstore was "Secretary" Bird by Ruth Kelloway
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"Secretary" Bird by Ruth Kelloway Sagittarius serpentarius, a native of the African Savanna, has a hooked beak that is all raptor. He was dubbed the secretary bird because his feathers resemble a quill pen. |
Here's looking at you.
Over the fireplace.
Jeannette Corbett had a painting on display at the new book store as well. The title of the painting is "Red Hot Tango Dancer". The painting was on display through the months of September and October. See the bookstore on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/whitelambooks
Are you curious about the painting? Here it is.
Red Hot Tango Dancer
Over the Fireplace
Nancy Smethurst had a painting on display at the new book store in Reading, Whitelam Books through the months of July and August.
Are you curious about the painting? Here it is.
If the Shoe Fits...
Over the Fireplace
The Albion Cultural Exchange and the Wakefield Farmers Market would like to announce a Call To Artists to support our show, Art & edibles 2022. The event is a celebration of the love of food and will feature visual art, sculptures and food related information sessions. We will not only celebrate food but Wakefield restaurants, food stores, chefs, the Wakefield Farmers Market and anything else food or fun related. Lastly, we will be collecting donations for the Wakefield Food Pantry.
Art must be food related. You might be inspired by:
Exhibit dates will be from Thursday March 17, 2022 until Friday April 29th 2022.
Please complete an Intent To Exhibit registration by using the following form: https://forms.gle/UVzx8e8UsWb9RX7CA
The Albion Cultural Exchange is located in the heart of Downtown Wakefield at 9 Albion Street. The building was originally constructed as a Post Office in 1910 and also used for many years as administrative offices for the Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department(WMGLD). For the past 7 years, the building has been known as the Albion Cultural Exchange and the facility supports Art, Culture and Community by integrating the Creative Economy into the community for the benefit of all. For more information please email AlbionCulturalExchange @ wakefield.ma.us or visit https://www.albionculturalexchange.org/.
There is a new cultural umbrella organization in Reading, Arts Reading. This is a group of concerned Reading citizens who represent various cultural groups in Reading. The goal of the group is to carry out the recommendations from the Cultural District Exploratory Study from Fine Point Associates, dated November 2014. In 2014, a study was completed that did a survey of the cultural resources in Reading with an eye to the possibility of creating a Cultural District in our town. The study presents some ideas about how to enhance the cultural aspects of Reading, and in response, we have created the steering committee called "Arts Reading" to implement some of those ideas. You can view the complete study by clicking on the link below:
Reading Culture Report FinePoint.pdf
Arts Reading has its own web site, www.ArtsReadingInc.org. Take a look to see what other cultural events are happening in Reading.
Sometimes there is news in the arts that might be relevant to our membership, but it is of a very short term nature. Here today; gone tomorrow. I thought it would be good to post some of those now and then. Since they will be brief entries, I have called the spot "Snippets".
I needed a place to put the dynamic news in a way that is more timely than the events that are posted in the Latest News box on the front page. So I have created a news feed space of sorts next to the Latest News box. In the new space I hope to put more dynamic news from Reading and her surrounding communities. It will come and go more frequently than the event links, so check back often.
The Latest News box that you are familiar with will still be there. Simply click on the links in that box to see the event photos, download show information, etc. This is an experiment to keep the RAA membership better informed of what is going on in a more timely fashion.
Same great information; new format. Let me know
what you think.
Brian
webmaster@readingart.org
Workshops are held in the hall behind the church (FCC) on Bradford Common are held 9-12 on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays, with a still life set-up and a posed model. Mark Hayden mentors all participants. All mediums, all levels, all ages welcome! No registration necessary - drop in anytime. A $5 donation is requested and always appreciated. Want a bit of immortality (and a $25 stipend) by serving as a portrait model? Volunteer for a sitting here! Always check the website and/or Facebook page for last-minute changes!