The Artists Council is over 350 members strong and supports the museum and local art & artists in a number of ways. The workshop program covers a wide variety of classes where adults can learn and enhance their skills in a number of disciplines, from beginning to advanced levels. Art Party provides free art instruction for kids and adults and is co-sponsored by the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery on the Fairgrounds in Indio. The ACE2010 event is an annual juried exhibition and auction of artwork done by AC members. 99 Bucks is a sale of small canvases, created by the famous and the infamous – but artists’ names are not revealed until after the sale. Artists in Action is a live demonstration given by artists from a wide cross-section of disciplines. Fundraising events also include the Pooch Party (canine portraits) and Portrait Party (people portraits), all created by AC members. In addition, there are member events, including demonstrations and lectures, given throughout the year. The Artists Council Center is located on the Lower Level of the museum and is a wonderful site for workshops and meetings.
Artists Council Member benefits include:
Discounted fees for AC Art Workshops
Discount card for purchase of art supplies at The Art Colony, Palm Desert
Priority announcements of all upcoming events
Opportunity to submit original artwork to the annual ACE Exhibition
Artists In Action, a series of art demonstrations
For more information, email AC Coordinator Gary Paterson at or call 760.322.4850.
Artists Council Schedule - at - a - Glance
Listed below are the major events that the AC has in store for 2009 - 2010.
Art Start – The year’s kick-off reception for members and anyone interested in learning about the Artists Council. In the AC Center and Marcuse Sculpture Garden, on Saturday, October 4, 3 to 5 p.m. AC Workshops - Art workshops for adults at all levels of experience, offered November, 2009, to May, 2010, in the AC Center. Open Studio - AC members work together in AC Center on scheduled Sundays
Art Party – Sunday, October 18, in partnership with the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery on the Fairgrounds in Indio, free art instruction and activities for kids and adults
Artists in Action - Live demonstrations by artists working in various disciplines, in the James and Jackie Lee Houston Atrium Small Works. Big Ideas – AC member show of small work, November 7 to 29, Red Dot Gallery. P.S.
Pooch Party – AC artists create unique canine portraits, Spencer’s Restaurant, Sunday, November 15 Holiday Fair Reception – Exhibition of Workshop Fair Instructors’ artwork & member holiday reception, Thursday, December 3 Workshop Fair – Intro to adult workshops - 8 short classes taught by AC members, Sunday, December 6 ACE 2010 – Annual juried Artists Council Exhibition of artwork by AC members, Sunday, February 14 99 Bucks - Anonymous sale of hundreds of 5 x 7 canvases created by the famous and the infamous, on Saturday, March 6, at the Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs. WorkshopWORKS - Two exhibitions of work done in AC Workshops, in Zone 101 in the Hoover Gallery, March 13 to 28, and May 6 to 23
Sunday, February 14 to Sunday, March 28, 2010
James & Jackie Lee Houston Atrium, all Lower Level galleries
This exhibition of artwork by Artists Council members is the valley's premiere art event
of the season, highlighting local talent and artistic trends. The juror for ACE 2010 was
Martin Gammon, from Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco - probably better
known through his appearances on television's Antiques Roadshow. A silent auction of all the works will run in all the galleries on the museum's Lower Level throughput the exhibition.
For 2009-2010, over 50 workshops will be offered. The popular Life Drawing workshops on Saturdays will take place two or three times per month. Many new classes, such as Solarplate Printing, Encaustic Painting, and Illustrated Journal have been added, and many new faculty members have joined us, including Tom Lynch, Debra Ann Mumm, Dan Welden and many others. Of course, our most popular instructors and classes will return.
If you have any questions, please call or email the AC Coordinator at the phone or address listed above.
Workshop reservations must be made through the museum's Box Office, 760.325.4490.
Shown: Saturday Life Drawing Workshop in the AC Center.
Open Studio
Open Studio is an opportunity for AC members to work together in a friendly and collegial atmosphere. The goal is to provide members a great place in which to work, where they can exchange ideas about their works-in-progress. Members bring their supplies and artwork to the museum's AC Center between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on these Sundays:
October 11, 25
November 8, 22
December 13
January 10
February 28
March 14, 28
April 11, 25
May 2, 23
The fee is $5, payable at the door. AC members are encouraged to call the AC Coordinator to reserve a spot, as early as possible, but no later than the Thursday prior. After Thursday, members lose priority, as Open Studio opens for the public to make reservations.
Sunday, October 18
At the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery
Fairgrounds, Indio
The Artists Council partners with the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery for a day of free art activity and instruction for both kids and adults. AC volunteers will instruct drawing, painting, pastels, and clay, and other activities, such as painting, assemblage and “sidewalk art” will be available for families to enjoy together. The AC is very grateful to the Irvine Foundation for making this event possible.
Second Sunday of each month
James & Jackie Lee Houston Atrium 1 p.m.
The Artists Council sponsors a live demonstration in the museum each month called "Artists in Action." This very popular program features artists working in a wide range of disciplines, showing how they create their work. For 2009-10, Artists in Action presentations will include facecasting for glass, stone carving and sculpture, solarplate printing, watercolor, architectural rendering and more.
Shown: Diane McClary discusses her palette with the audience at Artists in Action.
Pooch Party
Sunday, November 15, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Spencer’s Restaurant, Palm Springs
AC artists gathered at Spencer’s Restaurant in February to perform portraits and pamper puppies. Over 30 lucky pooches had their portraits drawn, painted or photographed in this very successful fundraiser.
The event was such a howling success, that the AC became doggedly determined to roll it over again! And Spencer’s Restaurant was very enthusiastic about a repeat, too. Please reserve now for a portrait on Sunday, November 15. Your pooch's best friend (you, of course!) can request a portrait in many different media and artistic styles, all created by talented AC artists, including matting for all portraits created on paper. When puppies aren’t posing, their companions can enjoy Spencer’s heavenly hospitality. Naturally, water dishes and dog treats will abound, and we wouldn’t think of letting Fido go home without a unique doggie bag!
The cost is $200 per portrait, and each puppy is allowed up to two human companions. For further information or to make reservations (highly recommended) please call the AC Arty Party Chair, Viki Horat, at 206.940.6083.
Shown: AC artist Chris Davis prepares a puppy portrait in February’s Pooch Party.
Hundreds of small, original canvases will be for sale for just $99 each at a very lively event!
In 2009 artwork included donations from Cameron Diaz, Enrique Chagoya, Barry Manilow, JJ Abrams, SHAG, Trina Turk, Trini Lopez, Jonathan Skow, Don Sutton, Kaye Ballard, Steve Maloney, Elaine Stritch, Karen & Tony Barone, Ruta Lee, Gloria Greer, Deniece Williams, Bella da Ball – and even Cheetah the Chimp! Plus many well-known artists donated work, including the talented Artists Council members and those who love them. BUT – the identity of the artist was not revealed until the purchase was complete! The excitement of trying to guess the artist of each piece and the rush to be the first to find a personal favorite made for a unique evening.
For 2010, an expanded selection of artists and celebrities is being planned. (And if you have a “lead” for us, please do let us know!) We anticipate having 400 little gems (5 by 7-inch canvases) available at a lively party. Please plan to join us in the Ballroom at the delightful Hotel Zoso on Saturday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $19.99 and includes your first beverage and the Zoso’s famed hors d’oeuvres.
Twice per year, the AC sponsors WorkshopWORKS, a juried exhibition of work created in the AC workshops. The exhibitions in 2010 will take place March 13 to March 28 and May 6 to May 23, in Zone 101 in the Hoover Gallery. The AC holds an Opening Reception at the start of each exhibition. Please watch for announcements of times and plan to attend and meet the artists.
Shown: Opening of the first WorkshopWORKS exhibition in December, 2008
Artist Council Officers for 2009-2010
President: Lynn Samuel
1st Vice President: Ron Meyers
2nd Vice President: Laurel Goddard Thomas
Treasurer: Sharon Bock
Secretary: William Schinsky
99 Bucks Chairman: Sharon Bock
ACE 2010 Chairman: Ron Meyers
Art Party Chairman: Lynn Samuel
Artists in Action Co-Chairmen: Debra Ann Mumm and Cash Baxter
Arty Party Chairman (Pooch Party and Portrait Party): Viki Horat
Publicity Chairman: Laurel Goddard Thomas
Workshop Co-Chairmen: Michele Jamison and Debra Ann Mumm
