Highlights Newsletter April 2021

President's Palette

Do You Zoom????

What a loaded question that is! For many of us it has been a life-line during the past year. Did you know that your BWS Board has been conducting business, as usual, continuously on Zoom since March 2020? The program has become such a vital part of our lives that we may continue to do the majority of our meetings utilizing it, even after the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Since many of our Board members are from far-flung areas, residing from Western MD to the Eastern Shore and from Southern PA to the DC area, it just makes good sense to eliminate a long and hazardous rush hour beltway commute.

All organizations and corporations now realize that the pandemic has changed how business is conducted and that digital/online programs and “tele-commuting” are here to stay, so we should make the most of them. Artists are no different and we believe that online workshops and programs will be permanent tools in the paintbox of many, allowing them to reach more students, not just by impersonal YouTube videos, but by online workshops and demos for small groups with personal interaction, and without the travel involved. We fully intend to take advantage of all these new possibilities.

In the Upcoming Events, Workshops and Exhibits listings you will note that there are many program choices but only one style of presentation noted – “online”:

• The 4 new Art Critique Sessions, (dates TBD) via Zoom
• Brienne Brown “Dynamic Watercolors,” April 12-16 via Zoom
• April Rimpo, “Watercolor on Aquaboard,” May 3-7 via Zoom
• Stacy Lund Levy, “Painting Animals” #2, May 12 via Zoom
• Member Meeting with lecture and demo about Whistler, May 27 via Zoom
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibit, June 12 – Aug 31 online with submission of painting images via CAFE
• Mid-Atlantic Workshop with Anne Abgott, “Daring Color,” June 21-24 via Zoom
• BWS Fall 2021 Signature Jurying, October, with image submission online
• Board Jurying meeting via Zoom

We are currently scheduling Fall workshops as “in person” but that may be TBD

So – Do You Zoom?

Actually – Do You Know How to Zoom?

I certainly hope so, as May 27th is our big Annual Members Meeting and this year it is by Zoom.  The 100 spots are filling in record time since it promises to be an amazing program. Art Historian and BWS artist Dr. Leigh Culver, who has worked and taught at the Smithsonian, Corcoran Gallery, the Art League School and University of Notre Dame, will be presenting an enlightening lecture on James McNeil Whistler. She is teamed up with artist Peter Ulrich (BWS, NWS, PVW) who will demonstrate and discuss painting watercolor in the technique of Whistler. What an exciting evening! This was to have been our 2020 BWS Dinner/Meeting, which was cancelled, but now we can share the adventure together on Zoom.

Recently we advertised for “Zoom Manager” volunteers, who would help our members attending programs to negotiate the technology needed for seamlessly linking their computers/tablets with our programs (phones are not sufficient). They would be our “problem fixers” who would work directly with the attendees while the instructors taught. We were overjoyed when 20 members responded to the ad. The Zoom Committee members are collecting a “skills list” and will be contacting the volunteers to ascertain their experience and skills, and to determine any needed training. We have such a wealth of talent here at BWS upon which to draw, and our members are always happy to pitch in when and where it’s needed.

One member who has been especially helpful is Nishita Jain, a BWS Signature Artist, who is also the Web- and Zoom-Master at Philadelphia Watercolor Society. She has shared her expertise and experience in organizing and leading their Zoom events, both large demos and smaller workshops, giving us tips, guidance and encouragement to make our upcoming events successful. Thank you, Nishita –We are so grateful for your generous spirit.

Up until now, much of the instruction for using Zoom has been included on the “Confirmation and Reminder” emails that April Rimpo, Membership Chair, sends out for each event.

Spoiler Alert: If you are an accomplished Zoom user –you can ignore the next three paragraphs. Otherwise, stick with me. 😊

Now our Webmaster, Bob Coe, has created a section with Zoom Instructions on the BWS Website. Look directly under our BWS Logo at the top left of this page and you will see a list of topics. Topic #5 is Zoom Instructions. Just a click on that link takes you to a set of instructions on how to download the Zoom Web Browser Client or obtain the Zoom App for Apple and Android devices, and how to use the described “app controls” like the “mute” and “chat” to participate in a program. There is also a Test Link so you can try your skills before a meeting and best of all, there is a link to an excellent video that walks you slowly through the installation of Zoom and all those controls you will be using.

Personal note from your non-techie President: I have gone through these instructions and found them to be very clear, plus the cited video on “Zoom Basics” is excellent and the most helpful one that many of us have seen. Remember to follow the instructions and download the Zoom Web Browser Client or the iPad/tablet App as they produce a very stable internet connection. I didn’t know about it at first and just used my regular browser – big difference in performance.

We are willing to run Test Sessions prior to events so that registrants are assured they are able to connect, chat, and have any digital issues resolved prior to logging into the real event, if we receive requests for those Test Sessions no less than 1 week prior to the event. We want you to be able to participate in the program and focus on your painting and listening – not on the technology.

Zoom has been amazing over the past year –it has been our lifesaver. Yes, we have had Zoom meetings and gatherings and done workshops but it’s still not the same as “in person.” On Thursday, March 11th, 2 weeks after our 2nd vaccination, my husband Tom and I got to hug our daughter for the first time in a year and then one of our grandsons, visiting from Florida (we had missed his college graduation, his wedding, his illness with Covid), and also a granddaughter whose graduation as a BS-RN for Hopkins we missed too– a whole year of shut down. The tears flowed.

We all need one another and that goes for needing our BWS Family, too. Eventually, with widespread immunization in place and regulations somewhat loosened, not only will our venues be opened up for indoor events, but the instructors and registrants will feel safe enough to attend them. Then most demos, workshops, and all the exhibits will be in “real life” once again. We might still have to take some masking precautions but we will be able to talk and laugh and meet together at HCCA and Hawthorne to share tips, tools and paint together, side by side. We can also give comforting hugs and cry at what has been lost – family and friends, and a whole year of our lives together.

We miss you all, and look forward to the time when we will see you again, face to face; so 'till then, stay safe and stay healthy.

Sherry

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