Big Bend Arts Council

 

   Several items were reviewed and planned at the November 2020 BBAC Board Meeting held on November 8th. Though the covid restrictions continue to curtail some of our gallery hours, the arts council is as lively as ever with an increase in online presence and outdoor events. 

   Gallery on the Square, our council's retail outlet in Alpine, will continue it's scaled back days and hours of operation, now Thursdays through Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. However, the hours may be extended for special events and holidays as approved by the gallery steering committee. 

   Member artists can still get a good deal for their annual membership fee of $25, which is due now for the upcoming year through October, 2021. You can see a posting of upcoming shows through next spring, plus any special events will be posted here in our News Blog. 

   Briefly, here is the schedule for the upcoming shows through the spring. Calls and exhibit dates for specific shows, prospectus links and entry forms will be posted as they come up and accessible from the BBAC Home page: 

• Oct 8- Dec 1, Annual Membership show, current exhibit
• Dec 3- Jan. 10 2021 Holiday Miniature show
• January 14- Feb 21, 2021 - Dark Skies/Night Skies Show
• February 25 – March 14, 2021New Year/New Work
• March 18-April 18, 2021 - 2021 Sculptured Figures Invitational

    Monthly and ongoing events open to all members are as follows: 

• On the first and third Tuesdays of each month, Lori Griffin hosts a live video feed through our Facebook page. Look for upcoming info about the December Ornament live feed. 
• Critique Group: This helpful group meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Alpine Visitors’ Center, 106 N. 3rd St., Alpine
• Plein Air Paintouts are held on the third Saturday of each month, subject to change due to weather and holidays. Occasional fourth Sundays will also be announced as planned. Emails are sent out to the membership to confirm these sessions; however, you may also contact Judith Brueske at ocoent895@gmail.com or Richard Curtin at rdcurtin@aol.com with questions about any of the sessions.
• Two monthly events are currently on hold: 
• The Bank/Hospital rotational exhibits are on hold beginning the week of Thanksgiving, after Richard Curtin's exhibit ends, as the indoor bank lobby is currently not open for business. However, members may still sign up for these exhibits at the gallery, or by contacting Shelly Rogers through text at 432-294-1538 or email agshelly78@aol.com.
• The Museum of the Big Bend Gift Shop artist display is on hold pending reopening of the museum, which has not been determined. All artists scheduled to begin showing in April 2020 will be rescheduled when that occurs. 

      Gallery On the Square has made these organizational enhancements: 

• In recognition of our increasing role in online environments, the following assignments have been made:
• Facebook Administrator: Amanda Calhoun
• Instagram Administrator: Sally Hickerson
• The gallery Display Committee now consists of the following members:
• Shelly Rogers (Committee Chair)
• Jean Northington
• Gregory Tegarden

    Other happenings in town!

• The Alley Mural art project in Alpine is progressing. 
• BBAC President Jan Moeller is doing radio announcements.
• The Hispanic Heritage Mural at Sul Ross State University has begun its underpainting. The SRSU Gallery hosts artwork by Esequiel Hernandez November 9th through November 20th. 
• The Alpine Library Auction which usually takes place during Artwalk will take place online this year, with a possibility of a walk-in display to be determined.
• The Quarentini Painters group in Alpine posts two hour challenges on its Facebook group page: www.facebook.com/groups/1375602392640947. 

BBAC has about a dozen smallish satellite dishes available for artists to repurpose and exhibit for sale in a special weekend show.

This show is slated for Spring of 2021 when the weather may permit an outdoor sidewalk sale. A suggested theme for the dishes will be Dark Skies,  but is not strictly limited to that theme. Prospectus coming soon!

If you are interested in adopting (more like a Catch and release!) one of these dishes, please contact BBAC for pickup. 

There will also be a People's Choice award via FB and in-person voting when images of the work are available.

   Shout out and Thanks to Gallery on the Square members who kept the sales going during the recent shutdown. Lori Griffin, curator of the R3: Recycle, Reuse & Re-purpose Show, and Assistant Director Amanda Calhoun made sure artwork was visible in the front windows and available for viewing and purchase by appointment only.

   Meanwhile, our BBAC director Jan Moeller, GOTS director Jim Senneff and gallery member artist and schedule manager Diane Baylor kept the ship afloat and the keel even during transitions in gallery hours during the reopening phases.

   Special thanks also to all the members who have stepped up ready to work again and to ensure the safety for hosts and visitors as well.

The BBAC Plein Air events are planned for the third Saturday of each month, weather permitting and when there are no other event conflicts. The group meets at 9:00 at locations to be determined. 

Please inquire about the specific date and location prior to the dates listed below to confirm the event and learn of any changes. 

PLANNED PLEIN AIR DATES:

January 15, February 15, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16 and December 21. 

CONTACTS (text preferred):

Richard Curtin 214-450-765

Judith Brueske 432-244-9503

In the schedule below, you can see all the shows planned for the year at once. Receptions which are not yet scheduled will be posted with show announcements on the website. Members will be notified by email as well.

Please note: Entries are due on the Sunday through Tuesday before the show starts, and pickup dates are the last day of the show. This allows a full day for setting up the next show. You can greatly help the curator by adhering to these guidelines. 

BBAC members, mark your calendars and enter as many shows as you like. Not a member yet? It's easy to join. Use our membership form online or stop in at Gallery on the Square for an application.

January 10 - February 26  New Year/New Works Show

February 28 - April 23 Print Show

April 25 - June 18 R3 Show: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse Show

June 20 - August 13 ClayWorks Show

August 15 - October 8 Plein Air Show

October 10 - December 3 Annual Membership Show

December 5 - January 9 Holiday Miniature Show

Calls For Art for 2018

Now you can see all the shows planned for the year at once. Receptions which are not yet scheduled will be posted with show announcements on the website. Members will be notified by email as well.

BBAC members, mark your calendars and enter as many shows as you like. Not a member yet? It's easy to join. Use our membership form online or stop in at Gallery on the Square for an application.

March 1 April 24, 2018 Way Out West

• Open to all BBAC members and those who join
• Artwork due: February 25-27, 2018. The show is installed on February 28
• Reception: March 1-Thursday, Evening prior to Cowboy Poetry weekend
• Pickup Artwork: April 24

April 26 June 19, 2018 R3: Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose

• Open to all BBAC members and those who join
• Artwork due: April 22-24. The show is installed on April 25
• Reception: TBA --
• Pick up Artwork: June 19

June 21 August 14, 2018-Clayworks--Invitational Show

• Artwork due: June 17-19. The show is installed on June 20
• Reception: TBA
• Pick up Artwork: August 14

August 16 – October 9, 2018 Plein Air Show

• Open to all BBAC members and those who join
• Artwork due: August 12-14. The show is installed on August 15
• Reception: Friday, August 31 Labor Day Weekend (with CatchLight)
• Pick up Artwork: October 9

October 11 December 4, 2018 BBAC Membership Drive and Show

• Open to all BBAC members and those who join
• Artwork due: October 7-9. The show is installed on October 10
• Reception: Artwalk weekend
• Pick up Artwork: December 4

December 6, 2018 January 8, 2019 Holiday Miniature Show

• Open to all BBAC members and those who join
• Artwork due: December 2-4. The show is installed on December 5
• Reception: -TBA
• Pick up Artwork: January 8

BBAC would like to acknowledge Judith Loya for her work as show coordinator in the past, and welcome Aaron Brooks as her replacement. Aaron will be assisting the shows' curators, logging entries and creating ID labels for the works in the shows. Thank you both for your service!

Now you can access and print a standard entry form for any BBAC show! Just be sure to enter the title of the show at the top. Another way we are streamlining our processes. Hope to see your work in the next show!

BBAC SHOW ENTRY FORM

The critique group meets every other month at Gallery On The Square - 115 W. Holland Ave. 

Come and join us for "show and tell" of your most recent work or work in progress. Participants are asked to explain their process and ideas, what works well and areas giving them headaches! A round table discussion of ideas and solutions is offered.

A fun way to show your proces and discuss your work!

For more information, Please call Anne Eckeley at 432-837-3583.