Friday, January 19, 2024

Post 424: PWAS Board in Motion

PWAS Board in Motion

I've been able to attend a couple of the new PWAS Board Meetings recently and have been THRILLED with the ideas, new art shows, and progress already in motion. There are already a TON of plans and some fantastic things in the works to benefit all of the PWAS members.

Great Plans, Great Goals for the Future of PWAS

Committees and getting the PWAS membership more involved is a high priority for the Board. A recent email was sent out to the members about committee openings and a signup sheet will be available at the next meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center. A couple of people have already asked for a few of the spots too! 

Another high priority item is the search for a PWAS "home base" - where we have our own art space. Short term and/or long term, a space to show our art, have classes, have meetings and receptions - people are needed to make this goal happen.

I don't want to list everything here but one of the most awesomest of ideas from our new Board was to offer a discount to PWAS members for art supplies from places like Crazy Jerry's, Jerry's Artarama, Dick Blick and Fairfax County's Plaza Art. These art store plans are in progress with the necessary documentation to offer our PWAS members store discounts. 

I have no idea how much the discounts will be as yet, but if you are buying from any of these now...doesn't this sound great?! 

Make more art and Show more art!

Events for PWAS Members

There are a LOT of events that PWAS can be involved in, and some are right in our backyards. Some will be juried while others are open to a first-come, first-served signup sheet. There are even some where a fee may be asked for to help cover the costs incurred to be a part of that particular event. Also, because of limited space, there could be a cap on how many can enter or how many pieces of art can be entered. A few of these are TBD - The actual dates are unknown, unconfirmed as yet, or they could be "Pending" more information. 

We hope to have an Event Committee in place soon where various members can help be the team leaders that help direct each of the activities: from set up, volunteering needs, break down. Typically each artist is responsible for their own art hanging at a popup nonjuried show, but each art opportunity will have its own variations, requirements and needs.

Image by Sandra McClelland Lewin

PWAS Upcoming Events, Shows, Calls, and More. Event Coordinator(s) needed per event

  • Feb - Apr: GoWell Stonebridge (PWAS Members) Juried show
  • Feb: GoWell Warrenton
  • Mar: GoWell Stonebridge
  • Apr 1: Call for Art GoWell Stonebridge, Display May - Jul 2024 Juried show (pending)
  • Apr 6: Spring Artist Inventory Sale Manassas (Raindate Apr 7) Non-juried show, under the Pavilion
  • Apr: The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm (dates TBD)
  • May 11: PWAS Spring Tall Oaks Show, Non-juried show
  • Jun: Stonebridge Taste of Woodbridge (TBD) Non-juried show
  • Jun 1-2: Occoquan Riverfest & Craft Show
  • Sep: Arts Alive - PWAS Art Show (TBD) Non-juried show
  • Sep: Stonebridge Chilifest (TBD) Non-juried show
  • Sep 28-29: Occoquan Arts & Craft Show
  • Oct 5: PWAS Fall Tall Oaks Art Show (TBD) Non-juried show
  • Oct: Fall Artist Inventory Sale Manassas (TBD) Non-juried show, under the Pavilion
  • Oct: Stonebridge Petoberfest (TBD) Non-juried show
  • Nov 1-Dec31: Montclair Library PWAS Art Show (TBD) Juried show
  • Dec: PWAS Member Christmas Celebration (TBD)
  • 2025: ArtFactory PWAS Art Show, Manassas (TBD) Juried show
  • 2025: Crisis Center (proposed)
  • 2025: Manassas City Hall (proposed)
  • 2025: Buchannan Gallery at Hylton Center (proposed)
  • 2025: Bull Run Library (proposed)

In many ways, this is the beauty of being part of a thriving art group as opposed to being that SOLO Artist out there having to do absolutely EVERYTHING on your own, by yourself. The PWAS art group strives to have everyone help, pitch in, share the work and know-how when things need to be done.

And you know what? This list is not complete. There are other libraries, wineries, and opportunities - small and large, that this Board has under development. (If you have pom-poms, start waving and cheering the new Board now!!)

Facebook PWAS Chat Group

PWAS members have their own private group for chatting! Current PWAS members can ask and answer questions, post pictures, find information, get updates and SO MUCH MORE! It is a private group and I hope you will either request to join or let me know your Facebook ID so I can invite you. The group is Prince William Art Society (PWAS) Chat. You must be a current member to chat there - and probably have a Facebook account.

Promote PWAS as a NonProfit

Another great idea was to get PWAS listed on the non-profit websites for MORE visibility. To any PWAS member: Leave a review for the Prince William Art Society here and throw all 5 stars there like a Ninja Warrior!

I've seen a couple of people do it already and the link is available on this post, and in the right-side navigation on this blog. 
 
If you go to the page, you should be able to "like" the review posts too, so click those thumbs up!

Member of PWAS?

This is new as well if you haven't already joined or rejoined PWAS. You can renew or join PWAS online at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/ or more precisely at the PWAS Membership page https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership. This is now so very convenient!
 
Doors open and doors close often in each of our lives. And very often, each door can be seen as a stepping stone to even bigger and better things. I think the Prince William Art Society's future is looking VERY good!

Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
 
Who's Ready for a New PWAS graphic by Sandra McClelland Lewin

Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

9 comments:

  1. Donna, this is a great post! I hope a lot of members will come to the Monday meeting to hear about all the exciting things we're working on. Of course, the more we do, the more help we need! Please contact our Member at Large, Tom Payne, (memberatlarge@princewilliamartsociety.com) to ask about how you can help. Don't be concerned about never having served on a committee before. There will be plenty of people to show you the ropes and help you learn as you help PWAS to grow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sandra, I hope they come too. And that more will get involved so that we can reach the PWAS goals. Our members ALL have talent - not only in their art but they have other ways and gifts to be a part of this art group

      Delete
  2. Great post. Very informative! Sounds exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great update for PWAS members! Thanks Donna. Looks like good things are just around the corner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And honestly more art opportunities popup all the time. We need an event committee in place to gather and organize PWAS members to jump into everything that makes sense to.

      Delete
  4. All of this information is great! I'm excited 😆! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete