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77TH ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION

LYME ART ASSOCIATION GALLERY

2008 CALENDAR 2008

Show Dates: June 27 through August 2, 2008

Lyme Art Association Gallery

90 Lyme Street

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Artist in Special Tribute: David A. Leffel

JUDGES

                                  Oil: Andrew Lattimore

       Watercolor/Graphics: Paul McCormack

                              Pastel: Christina Debarry

                        Sculpture: Karen Worth

Reception

Friday, June 27 - 4-8 PM

Calendar

Friday, April 4 - Entry Slides Due

Wednesday, April 16 - Jury of Selection - Pastel and Oil

Thursday, April 17 - Jury of Selection - Watercolor, Graphics, Sculpture

Thursday, April 17 - Member photos for catalog, due

Monday, June 23 - Receiving Day

     For all hand-delivered and Shipped Work to Gallery

Friday, June 27 - Opening Reception 4-8 PM

Friday, June 27 - 1:00 - 3:30 PM Lecture-Demonstration - by David A. Laffel

Friday, June 27 - 3:45 PM Annual Member's Meeting

Exhibit Hours

Lyme Art Association and Gallery

Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sunday: 1:-0- PM - 5:00 PM

Phone: (860) 434-7802

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2007 SHOW PIX AND AWARD WINNERS

2007 AWARD WINNERS

HVAA CATALOG

Video June Reception, National Arts Club

2006 Award Winners - HVAA Catalog

Jury of Selection - Pastel and Oil; alternate - Wednesday, April 23
Thursday, April 17 - Jury of Selection - Watercolor, Graphics and Sculpture - Alternate - Thursday, April 24

Thursday, April 17

JASPER CROPSEY (1823-1900)

         INSPIRATION FOR HVAA



Jasper Cropsey was born on his father’s farm in Rossville, Staten Island, February 18, 1823. As a young boy, Cropsey had recurring periods of poor health. During these periods, while absent from school, Cropsey taught himself to draw. His early drawings were architectural sketches and landscapes drawn on notepads and in the margins of his schoolbooks. His artistic skills improved rapidly as Jasper mimicked whatever paintings, drawings, and architectural renderings he could find. At the age of fourteen, Cropsey entered an architectural model in a contest and won a diploma from the 1837 Mechanics Institute of New York fair. Soon Jasper Cropsey began a five-year apprenticeship for Joseph Trench, architect. Trench realized young Jasper’s artistic ability and provided him with studio space and art supplies in order to develop his artistic skills. Jasper took advantage of Trench’s encouragement and sketched and painted whenever he could. Cropsey mostly painted landscapes, copied from engravings of Claude Lorrain and other landscape artists.

1842-1849 1850-1862 1863-1900

HUDSON VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION THEN AND NOW

Purpose -The Hudson Valley Art Association preserves and encourages the character, knowledge, craftsmanship and respect for traditional form, color and design which distinguishes fine painting and sculpture. HVAA accepts no forms of distorted painting. The Board of Directors serve as Jury of Selection; artists with a national reputation comprise the Jury of Awards.

Each spring HVAA holds an annual exhibition of oils, aqua media, pastels, graphics and sculpture in the Exhibition Galleries of the National Arts Club, Gramercy Park South, New York City. This exhibit is open to non-members and members. Each year awards totaling approximately $10,000 are given for meritorious works.

History - Steeped in the history of the Hudson River School of Painting, a small group of local artists came together in the Victorian drawing room-studio of the late Jasper Cropsey (1823-1900) at Ever Rest in 1928. As they continued meeting at each other’s studies, their shared dreams and plans gradually evolved. During the winter months these sessions gathered around the warmth of an old pot-bellied stove.

Through the support of Mayor and Mrs. Isabel Steinschneider, Cropsey’s grand-daughter, open HVAA exhibitions were held annually at the county Center in White Plains, New York in 1934. An early catalog—1931 listed 756 painters and 12 sculptors.

The club was incorporated April, 1934 to promote sales of work by the membership. In 1935 the constitution was reorganized and dues were reduced to $1. In 1954, an amendment changed the purpose of HVAA to a commitment to charitable and educational functions, including art exhibitions free to the public, accompanied by demonstrations by leading artists. Commissions on sales to fund art scholarships. A resurgence in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s characterized a golden era for HVAA.

During the early years, the Association functioned as a local art society. It soon began attracting regional artists and exhibitors from New England, New York,New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Over the years, HVAA grew in strength and importance until it is now a national organization with tax exempt statues.

HVAA celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 1974 by honoring Henry Ballinger, NA. Recognition of service was also presented to Barbara Newington (a sculpture member) from Greenwich for her generous support of HVAA throughout the years. The center closed in 1987 for renovations and reopened in 1988. In 1992, HVAA temporarily suspended operations. In keeping with its heritage, HVAA was honored when Cropsey’s great-granddaughter, Mrs. John Newington. Invited the association to exhibit at the Newington-Cropsey Foundation Gallery. When the exhibitions reopened May 29, 1994, HVAA enjoyed 11 years, exhibiting the annual show in the Foundation Gallery at Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Mid– summer O. Aldon James, President, National Arts Club, invited Hudson Valley to celebrate the 75th Anniversary Exhibition in the Grand Gallery and sculpture in the Gregg Gallery of the National Arts Club. in the Tilden Mansion across from the only private park in the city next to Players’ Club.

Exhibition — The Board of Directors select exhibition pieces from slides. Nationally-known artist judges select the award winners.

Membership — Artist members of the Board of Directors select from non-member exhibitors whose work is outstanding and extends an invitation for membership. Original work in the current show is judged. Prize money, donated by patrons and sustaining lay members, exceed $10,000.

Patrons — For ever 70 years, the HVAA has been actively engaged in advancing the fine arts through exhibiting work of the highest quality and demonstrations by fine artists are featured. Over 1,000 visitors attend the HVAA opening. Throughout the week, demonstrations are open to the public to promote better understanding and appreciation of the museum quality standards of art. Our scholarship program emphasizes good craftsmanship and appreciation of true beauty.

Gold Medal — Pietro Montano designed our coveted Gold Medal. Awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Gold Medal was first given in 1952.

At age 88 Anna Hyatt Huntington was sculpting on her latest Torchbearers. The sculpture was first used as the HVAA logo by Fred Stadelman in 1972. The Torchbearers continues to exemplify the high ideals of Hudson Valley Art Association.

Artist in Special Tribute — In 1956 the first artist in special tribute, Anna Hyatt Huntington, was presented a medal and scroll at the annual exhibition at the age of 80. HVAA recognizes a nationally-recognized Artist in Special Tribute each year.

Logo and Pin - Design of initial emblem is attributed to Vincent Walker, a graphic designer from Poughkeepsie, New York. He later moved to Albany, New York.