Autumn is the traditional season of bounty, but it can also be a time to reflect on the coming season of transitional change. As artists and writers, we often find this a golden time for reveling in the beauty of nature’s most dramatic costume change. We welcome a bittersweet harmony to our lives as we note we are coming through the passage of another year.

As I begin what I hope to be a long and wonderful tenure as Executive Director for this very special fine art gallery, I want to thank Anne Brooke. She has been so kind and patient as she mentored me. No question was too stupid, even if she had to answer it three times before I remembered it. We’ve talked, we’ve brainstormed, and, from time to time, we’ve sipped wine. Thank you, Anne, for helping me find the correct fit for my new shoes.

This month we welcome our annual Calligrapher’s Guild show, as they present a focus on the four essential elements. November is the inaugural month for our new Member of the Month show. Each month we will be showcasing one of our members work on the front wall of the gift area. Our first artist is Desmond Serratore, the artist who gave us the haunting cover for this publication in October. Please stop in and see his wonderful art, full of imagination, a bit of whimsy, and eye-catching color.

And speaking of the gift area, it will no longer be known as the Galleria. This space will still be our designated gift shop, and will still carry members and consigners handmade items, but with a new vibe. Just in time for the gift-giving holiday season! We will offer specialized art supplies, artsy journals & sketchbooks, and more surprises to come. This area will now also be utilized for events such as author readings, wine tastings, art demonstrations, music, and additional arts-focused happenings.

November is the final month for Arts & Letters. We thank Ginna BB Gordon for helping to keep the spoken word continuously spoken for the past couple of years amidst the ups and downs of the Great Pause. We wish all the best to you Ginna with all your future conversations.

We are currently in the process of discussing what’s next for us in this realm. As a writer, I intend to keep the wordsmithing part of our arts gallery and am looking toward expanding and collaborating with local writers, writing groups, bookstores, and in my dreams, writing workshops. We’ll see what 2023 brings as we transition through the second decade of Art Presence Art Center. ~Paula Bandy

Our Members Show continues and the Calligraphers Guild exhibit and Member of the Month show open Friday, November 4, and continue through Sunday, November 27. Join us for a reception on Saturday, November 5, from 1-3pm.

Call to Artists! It’s time to start painting your angels for the 2022 Angels Show. Come to the gallery or visit the Calls to Artists page on our website (under Exhibitions) for an entry form.

Featured image is “Lithia Park,” watercolor by Anne Brooke