[ MESSENGER ]

FALL/WINTER 2006
Although headquartered in Richmond, Va., the Folk Art Society of America owns no bricks and mortar that require us to meet in the same place. As most of you know, the conference is held at various sites around the country for several reasons – but mainly because it’s interesting and educational to visit different places, to experience different types of art and culture, to meet new people and to see other styles of living. For nearly 20 years, to make the conference work, your society has relied on dedicated groups of local volunteers, as well as on the kindness of individuals and museums that have generously opened their homes and collections to our group. Attended by more than 110 people from 24 states, the 19th annual conference in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., was truly exceptional.

Co-chairmen Caralee Allsworth of Phoenix and Annie Andre of Tucson enthusiastically and creatively worked for an entire year to make this conference super-successful, and the results spoke louder than words. It was indeed heartwarming to see the large number of people they were able to draw into the folk art circle, and we acquired many new friends and members as a result.

The Phoenix committee included Patty Kulberg, Carole Weiss, Margie Stanley, Chet Hanson and Ron and Nancy Gasowski. Those opening their homes included Jim Bialac, Pat Black, Gretchen Freeman and Alan Silverman, John Hill and Linda Sheppard, Skip and Camille Holt, David and Sara Lieberman, Emily and Jim Long, Dennis and Janis Lyon, Carol Ann and Harvey MacKay, Bets Nenad, Craig Pearson, Bruce and Betsy Stodola, Kathleen and Richard Vanesian, the Gasowskis and Chairman Allsworth (mermaid art collector). Many thanks to all who were involved.

From the beginning, Janet Barker assisted Annie Andre in planning and organizing the Tucson part of the conference. The Tucson committee also included Bill Andre, Ginny Graves, Judy Schumann, Jill Provan, Anne Webb, Barbara Moylan, Nancy Gardner, Rebekah Chapman and Heidi Baldwin. Homes were opened by the Andres, Fran and Wally Kniaz and Francisco Franklin. We are grateful to each of you!

We are also appreciative of the museums and galleries that opened their doors with receptions, lunches and exhibitions – two honoring longtime FASA member Peter Cecere, who won the FASA 2006 Award of Distinction. The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona State University Museum in Tempe, Cline Fine Art Gallery in Scottsdale, Tohono Chul Park in Tucson, and the Tucson Museum of Art welcomed our group with exciting and stimulating displays of Native, Latin American and Hispanic Art.

Symposium speakers Tricia Loscher, Ron Gasowski and Stephen Vollmer enriched the educational portion of our meeting at The Heard Museum’s magnificent facilities.

FASA stalwarts Randall Lott, Nancy McCall, Jim and Lynne Browne, William Oppenhimer, Bill Glennon and Tony Rajer assisted with the auction (among many other duties), both before and after the big event. We are grateful to all those who contributed artwork to the auction and of course to the bidders as well.

Wilk and Jane Peery and Chuck and Judy Goodstein and Mitch Mitchell assisted with registration, and our faithful assistant to the president, Johnnie Hubbel, was everywhere at once, meeting and greeting. We thank the more than 75 people who worked behind the scenes to make the Arizona conference one of the most successful ever!.

Lastly, our thanks go to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for a Technical Assistance Grant for the 2006 conference. We appreciate the commission’s continuing support and validation.

Read all about Arizona conference in the pages of this Folk Art Messenger, and don’t miss next year’s 20th Anniversary Conference in Louisville, Ky., scheduled for October 4-7, 2007, with Bill Glennon (Chicago’s indefatigable chairman) heading it up!
 

Folk Art Society of America
800-527-FOLK (3655)
For more info: folkart@rmond.mindspring.com
http://www.folkart.org/