New art guild hosts first event at Gibby's
Calling all artists and art lovers — the newly formed Greater Geneva Art Guild wants you. Learn more about the art guild at its first public event, a meet-and-greet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at Gibby's Wine Den, 1772 S. Randall Road.
In addition to supporting, encouraging and creating opportunities for the arts in Geneva, the guild will act as a cultural forum where artists can participate in arts education, critiques and networking. It is sponsored by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission. Gibby's will donate 10 percent of event proceeds to the cultural arts commission.
The guild was formed in response to an artist's quest to find like-minded people interested in the arts. Lorraine Ochsner, an artist and longtime Geneva resident, was looking for a way to connect artists in Geneva. She floated the idea of a Geneva Art Guild at a public meeting of the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission last year and found support from fellow artists Jan Schmuckal and Mary Ann Diggory.
They invited Theresa Jaeger to join them and got to work crafting goals and bylaws. Ochsner and Jaeger are painters, Schmuckal owns Gallery 28 and Diggory owns Down to Earth Pottery, both in Geneva.
On March 1, they presented their proposed art guild to the cultural arts commission and were formally approved as part of the commission.
The guild's motto is “expanding the creative attitude.” Membership dues are $35 per year and member benefits include monthly meetings and programs, art education and appreciation, interaction with fellow artists, networking and exhibition opportunities. Members also will receive a discount on art supplies purchased at the Art Box in Geneva.
The guild “is something the arts commission always hoped would happen,” said Tim Vetang, chair of the cultural arts commission. “We're excited for the potential.”
“It's an opportunity for the local artists to show or display their work and promote more awareness of the arts in the community,” Diggory said. “We have so much local talent.”
Two other membership events will be from 1 to 3 p.m. April 14 at Gallery 28, 28 N. Fourth St., and 5 to 8 p.m. May 4 at the Art Box, 514 W. State St.
For more information about the guild, visit ggaguild.com or find the Greater Geneva Art Guild on Facebook.