NEWSLETTERS
MARCH 2025 & APRIL 2025
MEETING DATE: APRIL 17, 2025
Happy spring to the Guild! Our next member meeting of this year will be held in person on April 17 at the Wheeling Township Community Center, 1616 N. Arlington Hts. Road, Arlington Heights. Hope to see you all there!
MEETING FORMAT and THE USUAL REMINDERS
The social part of the meeting starts at 6:45 pm. Every member is welcome to bring a work of art (finished or not, framed or not). These paintings will be on display in our room for all to enjoy prior to the start of the meeting.
Please include your name and medium!
The business part of the evening begins at 7:15pm.
Janet Grochocinski will have a Treasurer’s Report available at the meeting.
OUR 2024/2025 DEMO SCHEDULE
Many thanks to Eileen Fogell for her efforts in lining up all the wonderful demos for this season!
2/20 Kwame Boama, Acrylic
3/20 Cynthia Dybsky, Oil
4/17 Thomas Trausch, Watercolor
5/15 Critique and Silent Auction with Cynthia Dybsky
Artist Statement – Thomas Trausch, Watercolor
"Having been a career artist for the last 45 years has given me the opportunity to paint (en plein air), travel and visit great museums in the United States and in several European countries. My work is driven by the use of both light and color ... driving forces that add energy to the work. I believe that this light can impart a spiritual quality that resonates with the viewer. The design, shapes and the underlying abstract quality behind the
painting are of great interest to me. These elements are what ultimately determine if the painting will succeed."
Our May 15th meeting will be the Grand Finale of our 2024-2025 season-- and not to be missed.
Artist and teacher, Cynthia Dybsky, will be our guest "great eye." Her mediums are oil, watercolor, and pastel. You may remember, she was our demo artist at our March member meeting.
Bring in any painting that you would like expert advice on to find just the right touch to help make a better finished image. The 15th will also be our Silent Auction. Artwork donated by our visiting demo artists will be available for purchase, so bring your wallets and checkbooks because this event benefits our scholarship fund.
See all of you there!
MEETING AGENDA
- General announcements from our President and Board members
- Artist demo
MEMBERSHIP
Membership notes from Patti Jostes, our Membership Chair:
The fiscal year for the Guild is June 1 to May 31.
I collect annual dues in April & May. No meetings in June, July or August. By collecting dues in the spring, I can prepare a Directory to be handed out when we meet again in September.
Dues are $25 per individual or $30 per couple.
Payment: checks payable to AHAG, cash or Zelle to Art Guild ahartguild@gmail.com.
You must fill out a registration form each year. These will be available at the April & May meetings and are available on our website.
If you know someone who’s interested in more information, direct them to our website.
https://arlingtonheightsartguild.com/
New members are welcome to join any time of the year.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT THE GUILD:
The Arlington Heights Art Guild is always looking for volunteers to fill positions and help out. We are a volunteer organization, and we cannot operate without all of us.
Sign-up sheets will be available at each member meeting. Current volunteers will be in attendance; if you are interested in learning more about any position, these members are more than happy to discuss the various opportunities available and how you can help.
An Important Note: This will be Trish Ramsey’s last year as Corresponding Secretary.
I will continue through May 2025. At that time, starting next season, Mickey Mantas will take over as our new Corresponding Secretary.
A huge thank you goes out to Mickey for taking on this responsibility!
Heartfelt thanks to all our current/continuing (and new) volunteers!
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
• Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village - Visit aaegv.org for information.
• Des Plaines Art Guild/Park Ridge Art League – Visit dpag.org for information.
• Colored Pencil Society of America – Visit cpsadc103.org for information.
EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
1) The Arlington Heights Senior Center offers wonderful opportunities for our members to exhibit their work. The Dining Room, Hallway and our usual room at the end of the building (Room 1) are available. Several of our members have sold paintings while exhibiting at this location. Anyone interested needs to contact Paula Rebbeck (847-359-5918). Thank you, Paula!
• Eileen Fogell and Jan Pawlowski are exhibiting their artwork in the Dining Room until the first week of May.
• Mary Hess and Tracey Colagrossi are exhibiting their artwork in the Hallway at the Center until the first week of May.
• Various artists are displaying their works in Program Room 1 until May 22.
On that day, current exhibitors need to pick up their pieces between noon and 1:30pm. Also on the exchange day, all Art Guild members are invited to bring 2 pieces of their artwork for display. Please come to Room 1 between noon and 1:30pm. Contact Paula Rebbeck for questions or confirmation.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:
We can only include local items of interest in this newsletter. However, for information about other events around the country, please visit https://festivalnet.com/
1) Arlington Hts. Art Guild will have an art fair/exhibition at the Arlington Hts. Senior Center during the month of June.
Drop off/set-up day will be May 28, with the opening reception on May 30 from 4:30 – 6pm. Artwork will be on display from May 29 to June 24. Submission sheet and further information was sent to you via separate email.
Contact Tracey Cologrossi or Eileen Fogell with questions. Many thanks to Eileen and Tracey!
2) Philosopher’s Stone Apothecary & Chakra Healing Center will be hosting an exhibition opportunity in downtown Arlington Hts (DTA) early in June. This will be a 2-day event. Details are below. This is being coordinated by Virginia Gullo-Ciaccio of Philosopher’s Stone Apothecary & Chakra Healing Center. Those interested may contact Mary Kay McMahon or Mickey Mantas.
Event: DTA Walking Art Gallery (no official name yet)
Dates: June 6 and 7 Friday and Saturday (Times TBD)
Location: 12 businesses in DTA are interested (Names TBD)
Artwork requested: Paintings on canvas, ceramics, easels required
Artists should submit images of their artwork via email with photo and description by March 31 to info@philosophersstoneapothecary.com with subject line: DTA Walking Art Gallery Submission.
Notification of acceptance will come via email by mid-April.
Artwork will be available for sale during the event, either via QR code or directly to artist who will stay with their piece during the event (preferred).
Event marketing will be managed by DTA participating venues, but artists can also promote. DTA will announce the family-friendly event tickets to the general population via Facebook, Instagram and participating venues' websites.
3) Prince of Peace Church in Palatine is hosting the 5th Annual Community Art Show (and Juried Competition) this spring.
Submission deadline is April 30. Find details and registration info at
http://pop.church/artshow. This year’s theme is “Building Bigger Tables.” Art Walk/Award Night begins at 6:30PM on Friday, May 16, 2025 in the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church gym.
Artwork will be displayed in a virtual gallery and will be viewable in person in the Prince of Peace Lutheran gym on
Saturday, May 17 from 1PM-6PM, Sunday, May 18 from 8AM-noon, or by appointment.
4) The 14th Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show is sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg.
Show: All submitted work will be displayed in the Herb Aigner Gallery inside the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts May 13-June 22, and will coincide with the 36th annual Prairie Arts Festival
Sale: Artists may make their work available for sale - no commission will be taken
Entry Deadline: April 20, 2025, Entry Fee: $40 (non-refundable)
Contact: Roxane Benvenuti, 847-925-360
5) St. Simon’s Episcopal Church is hosting its second annual art exhibition, “Our Creative Spirit” May 9 – 11. Opening reception May 9.
6) Oil painting workshop in Italy
September 10-16. For information, contact Liz Hawari at www.vistaandhue@gmail.com
7) From Kari Johnson, Business Manager, Mainstreet Art Center and Mainstreet Gallery:
Display your artwork at Mainstreet Gallery in Lake Zurich.
Main Street District is a Fine Art Gallery exhibiting work from local and
regional artists. The gallery represents artists in many different media and is always looking for new work to keep the gallery fresh. If you’re interested in filling out an application to jury into the gallery
Please contact Kari Johnson, at kari@mainstreetaartcenter.com
In our Showcase Gallery, we can host 4 artists each month. Some of these artists reserve this space for several months at a time. The walls are rented monthly which gives the artists an opportunity to show 6 to 15 paintings, depending on their size. The larger gallery known as the Artistic Impressions Gallery provides space for many artists who are either invited or juried in as space becomes available.
SCHOLARSHIPS UPDATE:
Judging for this year’s scholarship awards was done on February 11 at 4:30 pm at Elk Grove High School. Rita Molepske, Scholarship Chair, thanks all the members who judged artwork submitted by District 214 art students. Winners were chosen but the names will not be announced at this time.
A reception will be held at Forestview Educational Center on April 3, 4-6 pm - in conjunction with the Daily Herald Arts Unlimited Contest. The reception is open to the public.
Many thanks to Rita!
GETTING THE WORD OUT:
Art-related News from and about our Members :
All Arlington Heights Art Guild members are encouraged to share their exciting news about exhibits, contests, and other happenings for inclusion
in this Newsletter. Please contact me, Patricia Prakope Ramsey (Trish Ramsey), via my email address in the Directory if you’d like to be mentioned in this Newsletter.
1) Rita Molepske has a 6 x 8 watercolor painting on display at the “6x8 for $78” exhibit at the Main Street Art Gallery, 16 W. Main Street, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (Wednesday 1-5pm, Saturday 11-3pm).
2) Rita Molepske also has two paintings on display at the “Land, Sky, and Waterscapes” exhibition at the Antioch Art Center from April 2 – April 27. https://antiochfinearts.org/land-sky-waterscape/
3) Alan Seidl sold his “Tree” painting at the AAEGV exhibition at Elk Grove Library in March.
Congratulations to all!
A WALK IN THE PARK:
Our annual Walk in the Park will be held Sunday, August 24, 2025.
Coordinator Laura Butolph announced that many vendors have reserved spots in the art fair and things are running smoothly.
AHAG Newsletter compiled and submitted by Trish Ramsey, Corresponding Secretary
MEETING DATE: MARCH 20, 2025
Our next member meeting of this year will be held in person on March 20 at the Wheeling Township Community Center, 1616 N. Arlington Hts. Road, Arlington Heights. Hope to see you all there!
MEETING FORMAT and THE USUAL REMINDERS
The social part of the meeting starts at 6:45 pm. Every member is welcome to bring a work of art (finished or not, framed or not). These paintings will be on display in our room for all to enjoy prior to the start of the meeting.
The business part of the evening begins at 7:15pm.
Janet Grochocinski will have a Treasurer’s Report available at the meeting.
OUR 2024/2025 DEMO SCHEDULE
Many thanks to Eileen Fogell for her efforts in lining up all the wonderful demos for this season!
2/20 Kwame Boama, Acrylic
3/20 Cynthia Dybsky, Oil
4/17 Thomas Trausch, Watercolor
5/15 Critique
Artist Statement – Cynthia Dybsky – Oil
I am an artist who works predominantly in oil but also in pastel and watercolor. I have always had a desire to be creative, to recreate something that made an impression or inspired me. I enjoy looking at things with a discerning artists eye, studying the shapes, colors, values, how they relate to one another and then rendering these perceptions on canvas. … My painting allows me to discover the world, learn more about myself and helps me to cope with personal and life challenges.
https://www.cynthiadybskyfineart.com/about
MEETING AGENDA
- General announcements from our President and Board members
- Artist demo
MEMBERSHIP
Membership notes from Patti Jostes, our Membership Chair:
When you arrive for the general meetings, please check your name off the Attendance List and make yourself a nametag.
The 2024-2025 Membership Directory will be available to pick up. Please use this directory as a source for contacting other members rather than calling the officers and asking for phone numbers! Keep it handy! I can also send a pdf of the directory.
Guests are welcome to attend our meetings for a fee of $5. If you know someone who’s interested in more information, direct them to our website https://arlingtonheightsartguild.com/
New members are welcome to join any time of the year.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT THE GUILD:
The Arlington Heights Art Guild is always looking for volunteers to fill positions and help out. We are a volunteer organization, and we cannot operate without all of us. Sign-up sheets will be available at each member meeting. Current volunteers will be in attendance; if you are interested in learning more about any position, these members are more than happy to discuss the various opportunities available and how you can help.
An Important Note: This will be Trish Ramsey’s last year as Corresponding Secretary.
I will continue through May 2025. At that time, starting next season, Mickey Mantas will take over as our new Corresponding Secretary. A huge thank you goes out to Mickey for taking on this responsibility!
Heartfelt thanks to all our current/continuing (and new) volunteers!
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
• Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village - Visit aaegv.org for information.
• Des Plaines Art Guild/Park Ridge Art League – Visit dpag.org for information.
• Colored Pencil Society of America – Visit cpsadc103.org for information.
EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
1) The Arlington Heights Senior Center offers wonderful opportunities for our members to exhibit their work. The Dining Room, Hallway and our usual room at the end of the building (Room 1) are available. Several of our members have sold paintings while exhibiting at this location. Anyone interested needs to contact Paula Rebbeck (847-359-5918). Thank you, Paula!
• Eileen Fogell and Jan Pawlowski are exhibiting their artwork in the Dining Room until the first week of May.
• Mary Hess and Tracey Colagrossi are exhibiting their artwork in the Hallway at the Center until the first week of May.
• Various artists are displaying their works in Program Room 1 until March 27. On that day, current exhibitors need to pick up their pieces between noon and 1:30pm. Also on the exchange day, all Art Guild members are invited to bring 2 pieces of their artwork for display. Please come to Room 1 between noon and 1:30pm. Contact Paula Rebbeck for questions or confirmation.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:
We can only include local items of interest in this newsletter. However, for information about other events around the country, please visit https://festivalnet.com/
1)Arlington Hts. Art Guild will have an art fair/exhibition at the Arlington Hts. Senior Center during the month of June. Set-up day will be May 28, with the opening reception on either May 29th or 30th. Details to come. Contact Eileen Fogell with questions. Thanks, Eileen!
2) Philosopher’s Stone Apothecary & Chakra Healing Center will be hosting an exhibition opportunity in downtown Arlington Hts (DTA) early in June. This will be a 2-day event. Details are below.
This is being coordinated by Virginia Gullo-Ciaccio of Philosopher’s Stone Apothecary & Chakra Healing Center. Those interested may contact Mary Kay McMahon or Mickey Mantas.
Event: DTA Walking Art Gallery (no official name yet)
Dates: June 6 and 7 Friday and Saturday (Times TBD)
Location: 12 businesses in DTA are interested (Names TBD)
Artwork requested: Paintings on canvas, ceramics, easels required
Artists should submit images of their artwork via email with photo and description by March 31 to info@philosophersstoneapothecary.com with subject line: DTA Walking Art Gallery Submission.
Notification of acceptance will come via email by mid-April.
Artwork will be available for sale during the event, either via QR code or directly to artist who will stay with their piece during the event (preferred).
Event marketing will be managed by DTA participating venues, but artists can also promote. DTA will announce the family-friendly event tickets to the general population via Facebook, Instagram and participating venues' websites.
3) The Suburban Sketchers of Long Grove are “a vibrant collective of local artists who are deeply committed to honing our craft, inspiring one another, and sharing our diverse techniques… We meet every Monday morning at 10am at The Long Grove Coffee Company in downtown historic Long
Grove.”
The Suburban Sketchers are showcasing their dynamic works in their exhibition "Drawn Together!" Experience the energy of sketching in all its forms—raw, expressive, and full of life.
Sketching Activities All Month Long!
Grab your sketchbook and join us for interactive sessions, live demos, and community sketch events
throughout March. Whether you're an avid sketcher or just curious, there's something for everyone!
Stay tuned for details and get ready to see the world through an artist’s eyes!
The opening reception will be Thursday, March 6, 2025, 7-9 pm at The Empty Corner, 214 E. Grove Street, Arlington Heights.
4) Prince of Peace Church in Palatine is hosting the 5th Annual Community Art Show (and Juried Competition) this spring. Find details and registration info at http://pop.church/artshow.
This year’s theme is “building bigger tables.”
5) The 14th Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show is sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg. Show: All submitted work will be displayed in the Herb Aigner Gallery inside the Al Larson Prairie
Center for the Arts May 13-June 22, and will coincide with the 36th annual Prairie Arts Festival
Sale: Artists may make their work available for sale - no commission will be taken
Entry Deadline: April 20, 2025, Entry Fee: $40 (non-refundable)
Contact: Roxane Benvenuti, 847-925-3605, rbenvenuti@schaumburg.com
6) St. Simon’s Episcopal Church is hosting its second annual art exhibition, “Our Creative Spirit” May 9 – 11. Opening reception May 9.
7) District 214 is calling for submissions to the annual Daily Herald and District 214 Arts Unlimited Art and Writing Contest. Submissions will be accepted through March 3. Judges will review artwork,
poetry and prose — any genre, style or theme — from entrants residing in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.
Winners will be published in the Daily Herald and honored at the Arts Unlimited Reception in April.
All entries must be submitted electronically via email to herald.contest@d214.org. Winners will be contacted by email by March 17.
8) Oil painting workshop in Italy
September 10-16. For information, contact Liz Hawari at www.vistaandhue@gmail.com
9) From Kari Johnson, Business Manager, Mainstreet Art Center and Mainstreet Gallery:
Display your artwork at Mainstreet Gallery in Lake Zurich.
Main Street District is a Fine Art Gallery exhibiting work from local and
regional artists. The gallery represents artists in many different media and is always looking for new work to keep the gallery fresh. If you’re interested in filling out an application to jury into the gallery
Please contact Kari Johnson, at kari@mainstreetaartcenter.com
In our Showcase Gallery, we can host 4 artists each month. Some of these artists reserve this space for several months at a time. The walls are rented monthly which gives the artists an opportunity to show 6 to 15 paintings, depending on their size. The larger gallery known as the Artistic Impressions Gallery provides space for many artists who are either invited or juried in as space becomes available.
SCHOLARSHIPS UPDATE:
Judging for this year’s scholarship awards was done on February 11 at 4:30 pm at Elk Grove High School. Rita Molepske, Scholarship Chair, thanks all the members who judged artwork submitted by District 214 art students. Winners were chosen but the names will not be announced at this time.
A reception will be held at Forestview Educational Center on April 3 at 4pm - in conjunction with the Daily Herald Arts Unlimited Contest.
The reception is open to the public.
GETTING THE WORD OUT:
Art-related News from and about our Members:
All Arlington Heights Art Guild members are encouraged to share their exciting news about exhibits, contests, and other happenings for inclusion in this Newsletter.
Please contact me, Patricia Prakope Ramsey (Trish Ramsey), via my email address in the Directory if you’d like to be mentioned in this Newsletter.
1) The AAEGV is having their annual Trees Exhibition, March 1 - 29. Stop by the Elk Grove Library and take a look! I don’t know which of our members are in the exhibition, but I’m sure that several are.
2) Rita Molepske has a 6 x 8 watercolor painting on display at the “6x8 for $78” exhibit at the Main Street Art Gallery, 16 W. Main Street, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (Wednesday 1-5pm, Saturday 11-3pm).
Congratulations to all!
IN MEMORIAM
A leaf has been added to the Memorial Tree at the Arlington Hts. Senior Center for long-time Art Guild member, Jim Aquirre. Many thanks to Tracey Colagrossi and Paula Rebbeck.
For questions and/or to donate, please contact Tracey or Paula.
SAVE THE DATE!
Ann Musolf is hosting an all-member celebration of (upcoming) spring, scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 1-4pm at Ann Musolf’s house. Non-alcoholic beverages will be supplied. Members should bring a dish to share at this casual event to mingle. See you all then!
A WALK IN THE PARK:
Our annual Walk in the Park will be held Sunday, August 24, 2025. Coordinator Laura Butolph announced that many vendors have reserved spots in the art fair and things are running smoothly.
Bea Ulfig, volunteer coordinator of the Fair, said that clipboards with signup sheets are available with various volunteer opportunities - please commit to help for the success of this event.
AHAG Newsletter compiled and submitted by Trish Ramsey, Corresponding Secretary