Issue Fall 2009

To Our Membership:

In addition to ending the year with several events, we are already planning to get the new year off to a roaring start with two important events which we have not approached in the past.

On the afternoon of 10 October we are presenting a unique film showing along with Northland Pioneer College in the Symposium Room of the Ponderosa Center in Show Low. The film “Lost Garden” is a documentary on early female filmmaker Alice Guy Blanche, grandmother of local resident artist, Adrienne Channing.

On 13 December we will be showing our art in the lobby of the Blue Ridge Auditorium during the afternoon White Mountain Chorale performance.

In February 2010 we will be having an annual meeting for all members. We will have some fun and elect Board Members and bring Committee volunteers into the active organization with a commitment for work to be done in 2010.

On June 26^th 2010 we will be conducting a fun night “Put’n on the Ritz” at the Hon Dah Casino Convention Center as a major fund raiser. This event will be the finest of its kind on the Mountain. The evening will start with socializing and wine. During dinner, guests will be entertained by several short 10 minute plays, dance and musical performances. The event is for you and the art of the region. So we are asking for your help. You can help a little or a lot - it’s up to you. The more help we have, the better the event will be and the more funds we will raise to support you and the arts.

AAWM is entering a period of transition. We are growing and looking into developing a permanent facility to show (and sell) our local art. We have numerous ongoing projects, and are starting new projects. To continue, we need members to step up to the plate to help continue our good work here in the White Mountains. Several of our members who have been running our projects are stepping down from those projects to move on to new efforts. We need replacements for them both on the Board of Directors and in Committee leadership and work.

With the poor economy our art show sales are way down from last year. This is not unique to us as you probably know that multiple galleries here in the White Mountains have closed in the past year. In order to efficiently use our resources, we cancelled our last scheduled weekend show 25-27 September (Fall Festival Weekend) and replaced it with the 26 September show in the lobby of the White Mountain Chorale performance.

We will continue with our one day shows in conjunction with the White Mountain Symphony, White Mountain Chorale and the NPC Foundation (Music in the Pines). These one day events have been good for some of our artists and our charter to promote the arts in the White Mountains encourages us to have art shows whether or not art sales are good.

What has AAWM been doing for the local community over the past year or so? Glad you asked!

- Monthly live model “Open Studio” sessions for artists at the Show Low Senior Center

- Artist of the Month exhibits at the Show Low Senior Center.

- In conjunction with Show Low City 4 Television and the North East Arizona Fine Arts Association, production of monthly “ARTSPACE” cable television programs featuring local artists.

- Michael LaCapa Scholarships to local Art, Dance & Literature students.

- Kids two week Summer Art & Dance Workshops.

- “Most Promising” Awards to NPC Art Students.

- Support the annual White Mountain Symphony Orchestra annual Poster Contest for 4th & 5th Graders with Judging, Awards and Recognition.

- Poetry Nights.

- Film Discussions.

- Highway 260 cleanup twice a year on our “mile of 260” West of Show Low

- Pages Dedicated to promoting Local Artists on our World Wide Website.

- Art Shows for Local Artists.

- Art Exhibits in Conjunction with White, Mountain Symphony, White Mountain Chorale and NPC Music in the Pines Performances.