Prince William Art Society New Board of Directors for 2022-23
At the PWAS monthly meeting on November 22, 2021, some big topics were on the agenda along with voting for PWAS Board of Directors. A few positions continue, a few new people are on deck.
Congratulations to the New PWAS Board - Let's Meet Them Here
Let's give a big congratulations to our new BOD!
PWAS President: Ana Quispe
Ana is an artist living in Woodbridge, Virginia working in mixed media, acrylics, and watercolor. She has been a member of the Prince William Art Society since 2015 and has more recently been on of the board members of PWAS serving as Vice President. Ana received a Master's in Special Education and works in her community. She loves learning from a diverse community through work, volunteering, and more.
Her artwork has had many influences over the years, from her love of colors, and her varied background: from academics, a blend of cultures, and experience as well
as from some of her favorite artists. She challenges herself and its shows mostly in works in abstract, landscape, and animals.
PWAS Vice President: Staci Blanchard
Staci Blanchard is a 51 yr old mom, wife, and caretaker when she isn’t painting. Staci is a self-taught artist who first started painting about 3 years ago for therapeutic reasons. She quickly discovered painting and creating was more than a hobby for her. Once she realized others enjoyed her creations, she started looking for ways to put her art out into the world. She joined PWAS in August of this year (2021) and immediately felt at home with all of the new and wonderful people she met.
As Vice President, Staci hopes to contribute in the growth of the PWAS membership, to create opportunities for her fellow PWAS members to display and sell their work, and for increased awareness of the visual arts in Prince William County.
PWAS Secretary: Maria Briganti
Maria was born and raised in Austria and her family moved to the USA in the 1960's - when Maria learned to
speak, read and write English. She was exposed to a lot of art culture
growing up, but it was pushed aside while raising her family, once
marriage and holding a career priorities were in place. Her family moved to Virginia when her youngest was in
his teens, and she took some art classes at NOVA and with private art
instructors. She found PWAS and joined their art group to get back into
art world. By 1987, she joined their board and has been on the Board (nearly) ever since. Maria has been President twice, Vice President twice, and is currently the PWAS Secretary.
During the past 20 years, Maria has been a member of the Fairfax Art League, the
Clifton Art League, exhibited with the Torpedo Factory and at the Lorton Workhouse when it started. She has also served and been a member on the Board of ArtBeat (which was a co-op in Old Town Manassas for 14
years) which sadly no longer exists. Her art training was in Old Master Techniques, which she states that she has strayed from over the years and until she found her
niche. Her favorite mediums are pastel and oils. She also paints miniatures
and has sold them up and down the East Coast. Other memberships include the Manassas
Art Guild and P-Art-ners, both located in Manassas. She loves being
around artist friends and she states that they keep her on her game.
PWAS Treasurer: Ken Meardon
Ken began his “photoart” endeavors while living in North Carolina and had his first art show in Hillsborough, NC, in November 2005. In 2006, Ken received a People’s Choice award for his photoart in Hillsborough, NC, and in 2008, was awarded 2nd Place in Photography at the 2008 Hearts of Virginia Festival in Farmville, VA. In 2011, Ken and his wife and moved to Northern Virginia when he took a new job. In September 2014, he exhibited his multi-level photoart at the Buchanan Partners Arts Gallery at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia. Ken has been an active member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) for about 7 to 8 years.
In the middle of 2021, Ken assumed the duties of Treasurer for PWAS and will be continuing in that role for 2022. In assuming these duties, he reviewed and still continue to review the PWAS finances – how much income the group generates and from where (membership dues, sales, and show fees), and how PWAS spends that income (e.g., insurance, post office box, show fees, supplies). As part of the budget for 2022 that Ken is required (as Treasurer) to prepare, he will put forward recommendations to the PWAS board concerning membership dues, percentage of sales that PWAS keeps, and the amount PWAS charges to participate in shows. The recommendations are intended to generate enough income to meet the financial responsibilities while at the same time encourage all members to participate in PWAS shows and other activities. In sum, Ken believes that that no one in PWAS should feel that they cannot afford to be an active member.
PWAS Member at Large: Linda Keuntje
Linda joined PWAS in 2020, looking to connect with a community of
artists. She's found great support for these early years of exploring
her creativity. Linda enjoys developing her sketching skills, especially
life drawing. She also paints in acrylics when she makes the most
of bright colors. Some of her favorite pieces are the murals decorating
her house. Linda recently experimented with polymer clay and hopes to
use learning from her figure drawings to build that skill. As
Member-at-Large, Linda looks forward to getting to know the Society
members better and bringing their ideas and concerns to the Board. Linda
hopes that as PWAS grows, it reaches artists of all media and stays
accessible and inviting to the creative and the curious in Prince
William County.
PWAS is - the Prince William Art Society
President: Ana Quispe
Vice President: Staci Blanchard
Treasurer: Ken Meardon
Secretary: Maria Briganti
Member at Large: Linda Keuntje
Committee Volunteers. These committees can always use some additional help. Please contact the Committee Chair if you are interested in helping.
Clearbrook Committee:
Chair: Shadow Campbell
Staci Blanchard
Sandra Lewin
Possibly others not on the sign-up sheet
Social Media Committee:
Chair: Donna Liguria
Ana Quispe
Andrea Castaneda
Sandra Lewin
Event/Show Committee:
Chair: Sandra Lewin
Individual show Chair: Ken Meardon
Individual show Chair: Barbara Abel
Programs Committee:
Chair: Emily Hawes
Hospitality Committee:
Chair: Penny Shaw
Phone Tree Committee:
Chair: Jewell Pratt Burns
Linda Keuntje
Possibly others not on the sign-up sheet
Scholarsip Committee:
Chair: Jewell Pratt Burns
Emily Hawes
By the way, I want to thank all who volunteer and get in there to do the work to get the job of PWAS done. In 2021, we celebrated the 50-year mile-marker anniversary of PWAS, and it happened because of its members volunteering. - Donna Liguria About the PWAS Board of Directors
The BOD serves for a period of two years, presiding over member meetings.
The President convenes at least 6 Executive Board Meetings per year, prepares agendas and delegates responsibilities and assigns tasks, while serving as a liaison between public, other organizations, and the Society.
The Vice President is an assistant to the President, and fills those shoes if the President is absent. The VP is the liaison with Committee Chair persons, and Society members.
The Secretary records the Minutes of the Executive Board Meetings and general membership meetings. Duties include correspondence, maintain the By-Laws and Amendments and/or Special Rules.
The Treasurer receives all of the Society's funds, deposits, bill paying, art sales and distribution of those sales, maintaining, reporting, and budgeting of all finances, revenues and expenses. Duties include the membership database, corporate license, insurance, and dues to Prince William County Arts Council (PWCAC)
The Member-At-Large represents the Society members interests at the Executive Board level.
Congratulate the new team in the comments!
Please see our blog post on "Getting Involved in Your Local Art Group"
https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2021/10/post-57-joining-your-local-art-groups.html
Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at Tackett's Mill in Lake Ridge, VA on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!
Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.
