AVA Artist Updates
This page will have all the AVA email updates posted here for easy reference.
6 Feb 2024
Hello all,
A quick Update - shows happening now and in the very near future. Deadlines looming for upcoming shows. Volunteers needed.
Update your membership in PAL and LAA if you have not already done so.
TVAST 2025
TVAST Registration is open NOW and Closes March 15. Last Day for refunds if you change your mind - Feb 28.
Get Involved! Make new friends and help this event happen!
- TVAST volunteer positions are very limited so get your position and discount now.
- But we have options for you to receive the same discount - just help out one to two hours a month with AVA.
- We will provide the video training. For more information reply to this email
DAC - Black history month celebration - Feb 8, 12-5 Dublin
Join us for the celebration of Black History Month in partnership with KEYPOINT credit union experience and inspiring blend of art, music, delicious food from local food trucks, exciting raffles and more. Don't miss this vibrate community event that honors culture, creativity and connection. When: February 8, 12 PM – 5 PM. Where: KeyPoint credit union, 7901 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin, CA.
The next LAA & PAL General Meeting - Monday, February 10th
At the Bothwell Arts Center - at 7:30pm. It is free and open to the public so bring a friend!
Goran Konjevod will be giving a talk about (paper) folding as an approach to creating sculptures and two dimensional work.
About Goran: To learn more
Meet and Greet at the Firehouse
Come meet Jessica Copeman Feb 15, 1-3 PM and see her beautiful artwork upstairs on the Nancy Thompson memorial wall at the Firehouse Art Center. Artwork will be hanging there through March 8.
PAL’s Museum on Main Show
This show is up until March 15 at the Museum on Main in Downtown Pleasanton.
LAA March library show- March 1-31, 2025
Livermore Reads Together Art Show - The Future Is Now - Livermore Library - See the Library Website for Hours March 1-31, 2025
City of Napa - Request for Proposal for a Public Art Program
The City of Napa just released a Request for Qualifications for artist and graphic designers for a design-only public art project. Here is a link to more information about the project: 2nd Street Pavement Art Corridor - Call for Art | Napa, CA Applications to the RFQ are due March 3, 2025. If you have any questions, contact Sarah Winski (she/her) Public Art Coordinator Parks and Recreation Services, City of Napa - Paid if accepted - Deadline 3 March
Lots of Activities Coming Up!
- We are beginning to gear up for a VERY BUSY SPRING - Get Signed up and Take Part!
- Here is a list of shows to sign up for - See more details about each of these shows on the AVA Calls for Art Page
— PAL - Workshop : The Watercolor Painting Workshop with Jeannie Vodden. February 22 and 23
— LAA - Library Show : The Future is Now - Call for art, deadline is February 26. Exhibit runs March 1-31
— City of Napa - Request for Proposal for a Public Art Program - Paid if accepted - Deadline 3 March
— Livermore Valley Arts : UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater seeking works for IDENTITY: Defining Identity Through Visual Expression, Exhibit March 6 - May 4
— LAA Livermore Art Association - The Essential Figure Show - You can preregister NOW and on the day of receiving - 15 March
— LAA Spring Art Show - April 12 & 13, 10am-4pm Registration deadline: Wednesday, April 2nd
— AVA - TVAST - Tri Valley Artist Studio Tour - Deadline to register is 15 March - TVAST happens May 2-4
— Alliance for the Visual Arts - Exhibiting as part of the Downtown Livermore art Stroll - ongoing - see details below
— Regional and National Calls for Art - Various Deadlines - Check Details on the sites provided below.
Show your Work in Downtown Livermore
- There are opportunities to show your work in Downtown Livermore with the "Livermore Art Stroll”.
Our locations and curators and their contact emails:
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services - Curator - Jen Huber - jenhuberette@gmail.comPanama Bay Coffee - Curator - Dennis Baker - info@ava-art.orgRyan Automotive -Curator - Erika Richert - erikarichert@comcast.net
Dennis Baker
President, Alliance for the Visual Arts AVA-art.org
Tri Valley Artist Studio Tour TVASTart.com
eMail: info@ava-art.org Web: dennisbakerart.net
IG: @dennisbakerart Read my blog, What is Art For?
20 Nov 2024
Hello everyone!
Just a reminder… You are getting this email because you are a member of AVA - Alliance for the Visual Arts - and/or you participated in TVAST… which automatically made you a member of AVA… no worries… We have no membership fees. It is free to belong. However, we understand some of you may not want to get emails from us. If that is the case then please let us know by responding and just say STOP. We will get the message. 😁
We have several updates:
Tri Valley Artist Studio Tour - TVAST - First weekend in May 2025 :
We are hiring!
- We are still in need of a director for TVAST 2025 - please consider taking this role - it pays a generous stipend - ($4k).
- Linda Ryan has agreed to be the part -time Assistant director of TVAST and will write all the grant applications. Dennis will tutor the new director throughout December and be around after that for questions.
- We are creating a comprehensive guide on how to run the event - this will include a calendar based list of to dos and points of contacts.
- We have a fully mapped out budget with one major grant already pledged.
- The entire staff of Committee chairs has already committed and is in place - all are veterans from TVAST 2024.
- We have streamlined the event greatly, simplifying all the leadership and staff duties.
- This is a part-time gig. We have streamline everything down to make this a 15 hour a week job.
TVAST Cost Survey results:
We asked you for your input on cost for TVAST entry fees and so…. we will raise the fees very modestly.
We expect the Volunteer/age70+ rate to be $80 and the full price rate to be $125.
Why participate in an Open Studio Tour?
That is a great question and the simple answer is… To connect with other artists and the public.
A somewhat more textured answered is….
- Having a goal like an art show will motivate you to produce work.
- Volunteering with the event will introduce you to other like-minded artists and broaden your social group.
- Participating in TVAST is exciting, fun and fulfilling in ways that are hard to describe.
- When you share your art with others you complete a creative circle that’s vitally important.
- It helps you find a following of interested people who like your work.
We don't participate in an open studio simply to make money. In fact you may not make back your very modest entry fee. But what you do gain is something that money cannot buy... and that is the richly rewarding experience of interacting with others - artists and potential clients.
TVAST is by far the cheapest open studio event in the Bay Area. AVA was created to support the artists of the Tri-Valley and to create community. It is the only reason we exist. TVAST is essentially the only group activity we perform. We hope you will agree that come rain or shine, participating is a highly worthwhile activity.
Won't you join us?
If you are interested in leading the event whatsoever please respond to this email and let's begin the discussion. If we don't have a Director with the next few weeks we will simply have to cancel TVAST 2025.
Calls for Art:AVA is in charge of showing artwork at three businesses in downtown Livermore. If you are interested in showing at one of these locations respond to this email and I'll put you in touch with their curator.
Panama Bay Coffee – Dennis Baker
Ryan Automotive - Erika Richert
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services – Jennifer Huber
NEW !! -San Ramon Artist Directory - Please Sign up!
The City of San Ramon is excited to develop a local Artist Directory. Whether you're a painter, sculptor, photographer, digital artist, dancer, musician, or work in any other creative medium, our goal is to support and promote your unique vision. Your participation is invaluable in creating a community that serves you and other artists with the most relevant and helpful opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you to San Ramon Artist Directory! Sign up at
Volunteers Needed:
AVA -the parent org. that hosts TVAST - is a tiny organization and only exists to support our local artists and art organizations. We are the only place in the Tri-Valley where artists and the public can go to find out about all of the visual arts happenings and calls for art. Our organization only works if we have folks step forward occasionally to help fill out the these pieces of information on the calendar and page for Calls for Art.
It will only take one hour a month and training for this is entirely web-based and very straightforward. You do not need to be a website guru, whatsoever. The platform is very plug and play.
We currently need someone to replace the wonderful Lisa Rigge who has helped us update the information for Pleasanton Art League – PAL, for a few years now and we thank her very much for her dedication! A big round of applause for the wonderful, talented and gifted Ms Lisa!
We also need someone to help update the Livermore Art League - LAA portion of the website. Same training - same very limited amount of time each month.
There is a bonus! Every artist who volunteers to work with AVA gets to participate in TVAST at the volunteer rate. This is whether you volunteer for TVAST or not.
I look forward to hearing from you!
We have added a lot of new members to AVA this year. Check out their own creative pages via their links.
A huge welcome to:
Rebecca Alarcon
Mark Angel
May Yin Giang
Jenna Hobbs
Shyamalima Karan
Zelda K
Kristin Kuipers
Rashmi Rao
Alexandra Saunders
Thanks for reading this far!
11 March 2024
Event Tonight ! March General Meeting
A great chance to learn about having prints/giclee made of your work by a professional. Tony Molatore of Berkeley Giclee - I and several other local artists have used him for photographing and making reproductions of our artwork. He is truly a wonderful and unique craftsman who is meticulous and whose pricing is extremely reasonable. He does great work. This event will be hosted by the Pleasanton Art League Venue: Cultural Arts Building, 4477 Black Avenue, PleasantonDate & Time: Monday, March 11, 2024 at 7:30pm
Exciting new “early” TVAST event (Remember - TVAST signups close 31 March - We have 65 artists enrolled and a few volunteer positions available)
Announcing a brand early showing event for TVAST2024 - we have six venues and 10 artists signed up to show on Friday evening, May 3 from 5-8PM, the night before the TVAST weekend. If you are interested in showing at your home please consider signing up now and letting us know if you wish to participate in this early preview event for small venues only. Each small venue will be giving away an art product of their choosing at the end of the event to help entice the public to come out. The same sign-up process at all venues will be used to give away a large original painting after the event closes.
Remember to sign up for TVAST soon to get your space or list your own home studio.
We have a new TVAST policy for teachers and students:
Check it out athttps://www.allianceforthevisualarts.org/tvast-signup-information
TVAST artists: Pleasanton Farmers Market reserved for March 23 and April 27 - would like to encourage TVAST artists to demonstrate or paint plein air during the market -to help spread the word, with flyers, postcards etc. Yes, you may sell your artwork at the booth! We are looking into Livermore’s Thursday market as well as the rest of the cities involved.
Call for Artists - deadlines soon
AVA Member Call for Artists -
Berkshire Hathaway - Livermore Art Stroll needs artists: Calling all Visual Artists! The theme for the next show at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Offices on Second Street is PATTERNS. Abstract or representational, the focus is on any repeating organizational arrangement.
Must be an AVA member and complete required forms to participate.
Send 2-3 photos of your art to Jen Huber (Jen@JenHuberArtist.com) by, Friday, March 15th. Hanging will commence on Monday, March 18th. The art show will be up for three months.
LAA’s The Essential Figure show
Receiving - Saturday, March 16th 1:00 - 4:00
Show Dates - Friday to Sunday, March 22-24, 11am-4pm daily
Reception & Awards - Saturday March 23, 12-3:30pm.
Artists can Pre-Register by March 14
Pre-registration is optional. You must bring your work to the Bothwell on March 16th from 1:00-4:00. Details here
New Permanent Artist Studio Map
Our permanent Studio Map is live and looking great. Add your studio with a photo and description of your work and your contact information. See how it looks here. If you wish to have your studio placed on this map email Marc Casad today.
ARTFUL OPPORTUNITIES
The City of Dublin continues to look for contract instructors for the Dublin Cultural Arts Center.
Instructors can work with adults, teens, or youth in a number of arts fields, including visual and performing arts. Anyone interested can fill out an application.
The new $11.8 million center will be located on 13,000 square feet on the first floor of the Dublin Civic Center. It will offer an art gallery, black box theater, art and music classrooms, an indoor/outdoor art yard, a dance studio, and more. See here for more information.
Job Opportunity - Paid Part time work - Artists wanted —
Opportunity for very part-time work! Engage As You Age (www.engageasyouage.com) provides homebound and isolated seniors with social interaction, conversation and education in an effort to slow the progression of dementia and improve quality of life. They're looking to hire smart and compassionate individuals to work with several new clients in the Tri-Valley area and across the Bay Area. Visits are typically in-person and occur 1-2 times per week for 2-3 hours at a time. Engage clients and employees must both be vaccinated.
Engage carefully pairs seniors with individuals who share their passions and interests, making for great conversation, connection and true friendship. Over the last 14 years in business, they have hired many artists to work with their elderly clients. The work is paid, not to mention meaningful, and the schedule is flexible. If interested or know someone who is, applications are online at: https://www.engageasyouage.com/work-for-us, or you can contact Engage directly by emailing Ben at blewis@engageasyouage.com.
AVA is seeking volunteers
to be a Website Assistant to help us keep our website’s event calendar Up To Date - to help you only need to be a tiny bit computer savvy - please contact: Dennis Baker
Thanks to our current volunteers :
Linda Ryan for being our TVAST Director
Wei-Ting Chuang for being our AVA Treasurer
Tuan Karsevar, for being our AVA Secretary
Anne Giancola and Shweta Agrawal for being on our BOD
Lisa Rigge for updating PAL and Firehouse events
Wei-Ting Chuang for updating DAC events
Doug Sandelin for updating LAA events
Malavika Oak for creating our AVA Newsletter
Marc Casad for Creating our AVA Artist Studio Map
Wei-Ting Chuang for Revamping the entire AVA website
Permanent Artist Map
Artist Map of the Tri Valley is LiveWe are building a map of Tri Valley artists’ studios. The link is here. If you want your studio space on this map let us know. You can include a description of your artwork and any contact info you wish and one photo to represent your work.
TVAST sign up Closes March 31. But please do not delay. If you’re going to join TVAST this year… Then why not sign up now? By doing so your entry fee will help us to use those funds now toward marketing. We have spent several thousand dollars this year on marketing and could really use your funds to help with our efforts.
Small Venue Friday for TVAST. We want to shine the light on small venues and get the public out on the Friday night prior to the weekend… May 3… From 6 to 9 PM. If you are thinking of opening your private studio or joining someone who is opening their home then please consider participating in this new and exciting way of attracting the public. We think it could be a really fun event. But we need at least a handful of studios to join us before we think it will be worth putting money into marketing this. Right now we have about three studios signed up and would love to have 3 to 5 more.
NEW TVAST Venue - Dougherty Station Community Arts Center This site is free to participate - no fees or commissions and active for signup now. This site will hold approximately 15 artists - Contact Ranjini Venkatachari: ranjinivenkatachari@gmail.com - she will be the coordinator for this site and will provide you a code for this venue. The necessary info for signup is on the entry form. If you have questions Ranjini will be able to provide you with more information. You can read more about the site and see photos on the TVAST Large Venue Locations page HERE.
TVAST Street Signs from 2023
If you participated in TVAST in 2023 and know that you will not be participating this year but still have yard signs from last year that are in good condition please consider donating them back to us so we can provide those to another artist. That will help us keep our costs down. We have the exact same pricing we had last year and we want to make this event continue to be accessible to everyone.
Photos from TVAST 2023. If you have some photos of last year’s event showing people enjoying the event, or crowd shots, please forward them. These may be used in Social Media or sent to newspapers, etc. Please help us by naming your photo file with: your name_photo_studio venue
Calling artists to show their work:
Art Under the Oaks signup deadline - February 29 read more on the AVA Calls for Art page
— March 7 Jury Notifications E-mailed - Signup Link HERE
Event Dates: Saturday, July 20th from 10am to 4pm Sunday, July 21st from 10am to 4pm
Showing artwork at TVNPA - one of our Downtown Livermore art stroll locations is Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance. We share the space and coordinate the hanging with LAA, DAC and PAL. It won't be long, perhaps as early as March or April when we rotate the artwork out of that location - it houses about 30 pieces of 2D work - sales are made there and we split the 20% commission with TVNPA to help them with their work. If you wish to be considered for this please email us. We are also looking for someone to coordinate that space for AVA. For more details send us an email. Artwork is kept up in that location for approximately six months at a time.
Showing at Ryan Automotive - this is one of our Livermore art stroll locations and artwork is up there for approximately three months at a time. The curator is Erica Richert. If you are interested in showing there sometime this year contact her: mailto:erikarichert@comcast.net
Showing at Berkshire Hathaway Calling all Visual Artists! Deadline - Friday, March 15th. The theme for the next show at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Offices on Second Street is PATTERNS. Abstract or representational, the focus is on any repeating organizational arrangement.
Must be an AVA member and complete required forms to participate.
Send 2-3 photos of your art to Jen Huber (Jen@JenHuberArtist.com) by, Friday, March 15th. Hanging will commence on Monday, March 18th. The art show will be up for three months.
12 Feb 2024
Hello AVA Artists!
Here’s the latest -
PAL & LAA General Meeting is Tonight, Feb 12, 2024 07:30 PM!
Hosted by LAA, Demo by Qiuwen Li
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82551160520
Meeting ID: 825 5116 0520
This event is free and open to the public.
Demo of Typography by Qiuwen Li
Demo
Qiuwen Li will showcase various series of work that merges typography, form, color, and language into abstract compositions presented as posters. Across all of her pieces, there is a notable exploration of the interplay between linguistic and visual communication. The demonstration will provide you with deeper insights into her artistic practice by employing an AR tool called Artivive, using tangible examples as illustrations. Artivive (https://artivive.com/), an augmented reality platform for art in her work.
In the artist's own words, "My experimental typography work, I am interested in the space between linguistic and pictorial communication. My work explores the relationships between legibility and illegibility: typographic shape as image. As a designer, I understand the need for legibility, but I am more concerned with communicating something more visceral, expressive, and imaginative. I am influenced by the Global Style in contemporary graphic design, which includes transforming the simple 2D space of the printed graphic into an abstract deep space that seems to extend from the poster to the wall and worlds beyond".
NEW TVAST Venue now open - This site is free to participate - no fees or commissions and active for signup now.
Dougherty Station Community Arts Center - (donated by City of San Ramon) This site will hold approximately 10 - 12 artists - Contact Ranjini Venkatachari: ranjinivenkatachari@gmail.com - she will be the coordinator for this site and will provide you a code for this venue. The necessary info for signup is on the entry form. If you have questions Ranjini will be able to provide you with more information. You can read more about the site and see photos on the TVAST Large Venue Locations page HERE.
TVAST 2024 is still open for entry until March 31 and some volunteer positions are still available. Click here to go to the info page on AVA.
Other TVAST News:
- We have a hotel package for folks coming from out of town. That link is Here.
- We also have a picnic and e-bike tour of some of the studios through our agreement with Pedego of Livermore. Read more details Here.
Art Under the Oaks sign up is live - read more on the AVA Calls for Art page
February 29 Postmarked Application Deadline — March 7 Jury Notifications E-mailed - Signup Link HERE
Alden Lane Nursery has been hosting Art Under the Oaks each July for more than 30 years. The event attracts approximately 3,000 people from Livermore, Pleasanton and beyond. The 2-day event (which is FREE for attendees) includes art vendors, wineries pouring tastes, food, music and activities for the whole family.
Event Dates: Saturday, July 20th from 10am to 4pm Sunday, July 21st from 10am to 4pm
Location: Alden Lane Nursery – 981 Alden Lane – Livermore, CA 94550
Artist Map of the Tri Valley is Live
We are building a map of Tri Valley artists who are interested in letting the public know where their studios are. The link is here;
The public has said in surveys that they want a map of its Tri Valley artists’ studios. If you want your studio space on this map let us know.? It’s still in its infancy but thanks to our very own AVA artist, Marc Casad, who has volunteered to build and maintain this project, we are on our way!
You can include a description of your mediums and any contact info you wish and one photo to represent your work. You can check out my location - in southern Livermore by the lake…. to see an example. Reply to this email with your interest.
As always, if you do not wish to receive any emails from AVA simply let me know and I will take you off the list. Occasionally, we will send emails from this, my personal mailbox because we are limited on the number of email campaigns we can send out each month from our website.
If you have not already, please include info@AVA-art.org in your contact list so any mails from that address will not go to your spam folder.
18 January 2024
Subject: New TVAST Offer for Teachers - New AVA page for buy/sell/giveaway - Help with our Newsletter - Permanent Studio Map - These Updates now on the AVA site
Hello Everyone,
Some things you should know:
First, these words from our new TVAST Director, Linda Ryan:
TVAST - Our Open Studio event - first Weekend in May (4&5)
The signup is live now and we already have over 30 artists signed up - almost half of our total in 2023. Please join us! Signup closes Mar 31.
- Spots for volunteers are still available. The registration price has remained the same – $115, or $65 if you volunteer or are over 70 years old.
(Also - from Dennis - If you volunteer to help with the AVA website - you will get the volunteer discount for TVAST - see details below)
- Plan to help spread the word with social media, your newsletters and passing out flyers!
We have a larger budget this year for advertising, and we are getting the word out to the Tri Valley and beyond, but word of mouth is of a huge benefit to the entire event.
TVAST flyers are available to hand out if you are at a public art function or painting en plein air. The file is attached - print and cut in half. We will soon have pre-printed copies available at Way Up Art & Frame and The Framing Company in Dublin.
- We have a new offer for Teachers who wish to show with their students:
- A teacher (with paid entry fee) can allow their students under the age of 18 to show for free. Reply to this Email for details.
- A teacher (with paid entry fee) can show with their students above the age of 18 for a very small fee for the students - $15/ student. Email me for details to include a permission slip needed for each student under 18.
- Incentives for small venues:
We are working on ways to increase public turnout for small venues to include giveaways of artwork and an "Enter to Win" for a grand prize. Essentially, visiting small venues would allow you to enter a giveaway specific to that venue. Going to any venue would allow you to enter a giveaway for a grand prize - a very nice original painting by a professional artist. More details to come. Feedback welcome.
-Bike Tour Happening Again!
Jen Huber is creating another bike tour that will be better than ever and nicely publicized. Let your cycling friends know.
In other AVA news:
We have an exciting new AVA resource page for artists - Buy/Exchange/Sell/Give away art supplies.
You can find it under RESOURCES on the AVA site
https://www.allianceforthevisualarts.org/art-supplies-buysellgiveaway
This page will require you to enter a password which is, “AVA”.
Once there - You must click the COMMENT button to see items posted.
If you wish to post an item - Simply click the comment window and describe the item that you wish others to know about - you'll be asked to leave your name and email so no anonymous posts. You'll receive an email when someone else posts to the thread. You can unsubscribe at any time. This will be a continuing thread. There is one post already for a plein air easel and tripod for sale. This is only for selling and buying, etc. not for social comments. More details on the site.
Permanent Tri Valley Studio Map
Want your Studio Listed on a permanent Map online for the Public to be able to contact you?
This is a resource that the public has asked for in surveys. It would be a simple Google map showing the location of the studio of any artist who wishes to. It would then provide your contact information for the public to reach out and schedule a private studio visit.
Email me with your interest and if you wish to help with maintaining this page please let me know - should be very minimal work. - anyone who volunteers on a regular basis with the AVA website will get the volunteer rate for TVAST – $65.
AVA Updates now posted to the AVA site
This email and all future AVA updates will be posted to a non-public page on the AVA site.
Find it with the following link. We will add this link to every update we create.
Help with our AVA Newsletter
We need help creating a newsletter every month to let all our subscribers (currently 243) know what is available to them re visual arts in the Tri-Valley.
This would only require two hours of work during the last week of the month. It is especially important now that we are trying to get the word out about TVAST and all the spring shows that are coming up. It is an easy job and we will train you. You simply assemble the events that are listed on the events page and any others you know about and copy them into the template. There's no real "writing" that needs to be done.
Volunteers and Resources - TWO for AVA
As always, we could some more volunteers to assist with a few tasks on the website.
AVA will only continue if folks like you offer to donate two hours a month of your time. Training will be provided. None of the tasks are complicated. Contact me for details. - anyone who volunteers on a regular basis with the AVA website will get the volunteer rate for TVAST – $65.
Current needs:
- Someone to help update the website calendar with activities happening in the San Ramon/ Danville area to include events happening with ADAS and the new Visual Art Society of San Ramon, VASS.
- Someone to help get the Artist Studio Map on the website and help maintain it - (add artists as they wish)
- Someone to help run the new page for "Buy/Sell/Giveaway"
A huge shout of thanks for our Current AVA Website volunteers:
- Wei-Ting Chuang - website development and updating of DAC events
- Lisa Rigge - updating of PAL and Firehouse events
- Doug Sandelin - updating of LAA events
- Christine Watters - Our TVAST entry JotForm
- Anne Giancola - Updating of the Bankhead events
Don’t forget to look at the resources page on the site to read about some great opportunities to enrich your art eperience.
Take a class, listen to a podcast, join a group of online artists. Take the next step!
Big hugs and happy creating!
Dennis Baker