DIRECTOR’S CORNER

September 2023

Welcome back! I hope that you enjoyed your summer and that you are looking forward to our new slate of classes this fall, including some wonderful new workshops on Wednesdays. That’s right – we are opening on a fifth day of the week beginning September 13th. Check out the full fall schedule here.

As we begin to plan for our year end appeal, I want to take a moment to introduce you to one of our young artists, Leo H., who epitomizes the reason why ALLI existsas a place where artists, teachers, designers and dreamers come for inspiration. I always say the Art League is the home to visual arts education classes for anyone ages 3-103, Leo is the perfect example of how we make an impact on tomorrow’s artists!

Leo has taken Creative Cartooning at ALLI for 3 sessions under Instructor Lori Hochberg.  Leo loves his classes, where he says he made new friends while he expresses himself, and “figures out my art style.”  When he first started, he said he did not fully understand how to draw a face for his characters.  Now, “I am really able to get focused on the eyes,” he says as he shows me his most recent character, Ancient Blaze.  Says Mom, Alina, “It’s so important to have a class where children are working alongside other children, without competition.”  Leo’s developed more confidence, not only in his drawing skills but also outside of the classroom, as he has developed a new sense of community with like-minded peers.

Developing community with peers, gaining new skills, and learning how to express oneself, starting at a young age.  Help support the Art League for years to come, so future artists like Leo have a place to begin their artistic development.  Donate now. Push the button.

Thank you.

Marianne Della Croce

Executive Director

August 2023

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our Annual Summer Open House, which will be held on August 19th from 11am-2pm.  Save the date, stop by, and see 15 demonstrations throughout the afternoon and visit the Instructors Exhibition Opening at the same time!  This is really your time to explore the Art League and see that instructor in action whose class you’ve always wanted to take, or to stroll among their best pieces in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery.  Curious about what happens at Raku?  It’ll be there!  Wondering how to begin your journey in pastels?  Curious about what classes we offer for your youth artist?  Needing to know what Atelier drawing entails?  Interested in how to pose your subjects for the perfect photograph?  Learn how and more.

Join us in our Return of Jazz to the Art League fundraiser on August 26th.  Listen to a trio of musicians in our beautiful Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery and then join us for cocktails under the tent.  You can purchase your tickets here.

Join us for our fall schedule of classes!  Starting on September 13th, look for morning, afternoon and evening classes for everyone, including regular times on Wednesdays.  See our complete list of fall classes here.

And finally, make sure to keep your membership current and donate to the Art League today.  As we continue to rebound from the pandemic and look towards refinancing our mortgage next spring, we are halfway to our goal of raising $100,000.  We are halfway there!  We can’t do it without your support.  Push the button.

Sincerely,

Marianne Della Croce

Executive Director

P.S.  Remember that we close for two weeks beginning August 28th, returning on September 11th.  We look forward to seeing you in September!