BWS Highlights Newsletter • January 2025

President’s Palette

~ Chills ~

In January the weather in Annapolis is a bit chilly. That is to be expected at this time of the year. What surprises me is when I am in a warm museum and I get chills when viewing a beautiful painting, or watching a sunset slowly unfolding a vast array of color, or hearing an exceptional singing voice, or someone giving a passionate speech. These events have been known to trigger goosebumps and a shortness of breath. It comes unexpectedly, making me pause. I need a moment to catch my breath and quiet my heart. It only lasts for seconds; it is a unique experience.

“Frisson” is the term for the sudden rush of goosebumps or chills that some people experience when they listen to music or other aesthetic stimuli.

I experienced frisson during my first visit to the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. In the main gallery I was surrounded by 360 degrees of Monet’s beloved water lily paintings. I had the feeling of being in the middle of his pond at Giverny. I think being that close to his paintings just put me “over the edge.” I was elated... and then came the goosebumps.

Pablo Picasso’s Guernica was on exhibit when I was in Barcelona some time ago. I was overwhelmed with not only the sheer size of the painting but the scale of the images. This time I reacted to the horror that was portrayed. It took my breath away, my heart began to race... and then came the goosebumps.

There are explanations for frisson that have to do with endorphin rushes and other things that can be measured; but in truth there is no definitive explanation for frisson. It is an emotional reaction, not a response to the cooler temperature in your environment. It is a mystery.

Psychologists say that about 50% of people experience frisson. Those who do are often creative, have an aesthetic appreciation of beauty, are in touch with their emotions and look forward to new experiences. Really?!? Baltimore Watercolor Society artists -- this is our tribe. We’ve got this. Other people may not have these attributes, but we certainly do!

This April we are returning to the Salmagundi Club in New York City followed by a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a wonderful 54-passenger coach. Look for the email with the details soon. I suggest that you register right away -- last year the trip sold out in five days. Join me. Let’s “Chill.”

Happy painting!

President
Baltimore Watercolor Society

From Pigment to Pixels, A BWS All-Member Online Exhibition – Congratulations to the Award Winners

The Judge of Awards, Elaine Florimonte, completed her review of 131 paintings entered into our Premier All-Member Online Exhibition. The billboard images will be displayed in the heart of downtown Baltimore from January 12-15, and will run 24 hours a day appearing once every 1 to 2 minutes. The billboard is located at 1700 North Charles Street.

From ledbaltimore.com: “This digital spectacular serves as the entryway to the Baltimore Arts District and leads directly into the business district. This vibrant area is home to theaters, opera houses, restaurants, and many local attractions. It is blocks away from major universities including Johns Hopkins, Loyola University, University of Baltimore and the Maryland Institute of Art. It is just 1.5 miles from the Inner Harbor and sports stadiums and serves as a direct feeder to Interstate 83, a major highway.”

Judge of Awards:

Elaine Florimonte is a contemporary painter most recently working in abstract landscape. She has been creating and exhibiting her work since 1992 and recently received an Acquisition Grant in the 2025 DC Commission for the Arts Art Bank. She is a member of Touchstone Gallery in DC. Elaine has been teaching art in Fairfax County Public Schools for almost 30 years and currently teaches introductory and advanced art at Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia, as well as serving as an Adjunct Professor of Art at Northern Virginia Community College. To learn more, visit Elaine’s website at www.elaineflorimonte.com.

Judges Statement:

“Design became the most important criteria for my selections. With the large number of beautifully crafted and diverse works, the selection process for this jury was difficult. But final selections were made based on the design principles that guide all two-dimensional visual arts; contrast, composition, color and emphasis. The four Billboard Awardees were chosen for their bold use of contrast and color and variety of subject matter as the presentation of those images will need to be accessible at-a-glance by a moving audience. The variety of subject matter is in an attempt to connect with a broad range of consumers. The four Website Awardees were chosen for their masterful use of color to shape space in a way that benefits from a longer gaze.”

Updates coming soon to the BWS website!

From the Archives: Stories from the 1940s - Limericks, British war relief, and the “affair Grant”

Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair

The familiar short version of the 1940s history of the Baltimore Water Color Club (BWCC, the predecessor of BWS) is the one found in BWS’s 1985 Centennial Exhibition Catalog:

“The club experienced a short eclipse from 1942 to 1947, due to World War II. Funds of the treasury were used to buy a mobile kitchen for the Red Cross. A revitalized group incorporated the club in 1947 under the leadership of R. McGill Mackall.”

The BWCC Archives at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) sheds light on this eclipse (so to speak) and reveals other stories along the way. It will take several issues of the newsletter to work through them.

We begin with a story that is relatable to the painting pickup process underway as the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Exhibition draws to a close.

BWCC’s 43rd Annual Exhibition took place Nov 1-28, 1940 at the BMA (all of BWCC’s Annual Exhibitions were at the BMA from 1925 to 1961). In Spring of the following year, we find correspondence relating to the mysterious disappearance of one of the exhibition’s paintings…

John McGrath was an Irish-born Baltimore businessman who retired early from the business world to become an artist. He specialized in etchings and watercolor painting. In 1940 he was 55 years old and was BWCC Treasurer and chairman of BWCC’s Annual Exhibition. I’ve seen several references to John’s love of limericks, although I’m still looking for examples that he wrote. The British War Relief reference in John’s letter is explained in a March 2, 1941 article from the Baltimore Sun. He was a busy guy.

Gordon Grant (1875-1962), whose painting disappeared from the BMA, was a California and New York-based artist known for lithographs and watercolors of maritime subjects, including well-know images of the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides). He was one of the jurors for BWCC’s 42nd Annual Exhibition in 1939. The catalog of BWCC’s 43rd Annual Exhibition shows that Grant had three works in the 1940 exhibition, including the watercolor Fog Over Gloucester. Although the BMA correspondence does not name the missing watercolor, it must have been this one.

Entries from the catalog of the BWCC 43rd Annual Exhibition.
(Note that Grant’s entry in the 1940 catalog appears below that of BWCC charter member Lillian Giffen (1873-1950).)

Google searches for Fog over Gloucester do not reveal anything about the missing watercolor, but do reveal lithographs of the same title at the same time, likely part of the same series of works.

Image of 1941 lithograph Fog over Gloucester by Gordon Grant, which is likely the same subject as the missing watercolor. oldprintshop.com

The correspondence between McGrath and the BMA continues, as everyone tries to figure out the right thing to do within the framework of the standard waiver included on the entry form which stipulated that BWCC and BMA were not responsible for loss or damage. The subtext of McGrath’s limericks also continues.

I get tired just thinking about typing and mailing all these letters.

The first page of the BMA’s response to John McGrath’s inquiry.

It is not clear whether the $75 payment was ever offered or accepted. I’ve found no reference to the incident in the newspaper archives—apparently it was never made public, surely to the great relief of the BMA. In the end, Grant backed away from his claims and I’ve found no evidence that the missing painting was ever recovered. In Grant’s immortal words, “Forget it, I’ll paint another.”

McGrath’s reply to the BMA, closing the “affair Grant.”

Keep John McGrath’s name in mind, because he is going emerge as a key figure in BWCC’s 1940s history. His story will be continued in newsletter issues to follow.

Receive American Frame Discounts Through Our Artist Alliance Program

American Frame is a second-generation, woman-owned, family-run company, dedicated to serving artists like yourself since 1973. Our mission is to provide excellence in custom framing products, fine art printing and related services while advancing a socially responsible company that gives back to the arts. As such, we are proud to be counted among the list of donors to the BWS Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition. If you need design assistance or have questions about the website, we are here to help. We offer free samples, phone support as well as face-to-face ‘zoom style’ consultations via our Virtual Showroom. Our goal is to serve you in the way that makes you most comfortable.

Apply your American Frame account to the Baltimore Watercolor Society through this link: https://www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org/Member-Discount-Codes/12652400 (you must be logged in to BWS Wild Apricot to see the link). Click on the link and sign-up or login to the American Frame Alliance Program and you will receive a reusable discount code as well as earn credit for your purchases for BWS. Be sure to check ‘Agree to Terms and Conditions.’ Once your American Frame account is linked to the Alliance Program, all of your orders will benefit BWS, even if you choose another discount to use for that order (e.g., free shipping).

Jurying for Signature Membership Status

The next opportunity is approaching for artists interested in applying for signature membership status. Information about this can be found on the membership section of the website. 

Important Dates:

Applications accepted between 1/10/25 and 3/7/25 

Jurying held 3/22/25

Artists to receive notification within two weeks of Jurying

Information about the application process can be found under the membership section of the website.
Questions can be directed to the BWS jury chair by emailing jurying@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org.

Membership

Welcome New Signature Members

David Gardner, Pittsford, NY
Lela King, Mechanicsburg, PA

Welcome New Associate Members

Stephanie House, White Hall, MD
Kermis Jason, Columbia, MD
Norma Kaminsky, Towson, MD
Victoria Kraus, Ellicott City, MD
Jill Thompson, Severna Park, MD
Dina Weavers, Severna Park, MD
Marti Wensel, Arnold, MD

Congratulations to New Signature Life Members

Barbara Bell
Donna Berk Barlup
Giny Crawford
Tanya Davis
Constance Fisher
Nancy Hannans
Gayle Havens
Kristin Herzog
Sandra Holler
Anni Matsick
Etsuko Matsuo
Elaine Nunnally
Karen Schuster
Linda Staulcup
Kate Tufts
Patton Wilson
Bruce Woodward
Linda Young
Gail Zinar
Rosa Ines Vera
Deborah Conn
Jeannine Swartz

Membership Dues and Donations

Thanks to all who paid their dues between October 1st and now.

Thank you, also, to those who have provided donations to BWS. There are several categories/funds to which donations can be designated and instructions for making a Donation can be found here (https://www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org/Donate).

For those who have not yet paid your dues, please remember dues should be paid by January 31st to be considered on time.

We highly recommended that you pay your dues online. Follow the link in the invoice emailed to you in December or sign in here (https://www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org/Sys/Login) to pay your dues online.

If need be, you can pay your dues by mailing a check made out to BWS to:
Janice Hendra - Membership
103 Avondale Circle
Severna Park, MD 21106

                                                                     We very much appreciate your continued interest in BWS.