November President’s Message

Hi Members,

Hope this finds you all well.

The November member’s Zoom meeting is canceled. I know our
members like to attend meetings when we have invited guest
speakers who show their work and share their creative process. We
recently reached out to several artists who presented in previous
years to ask if they would consider speaking again. We are offering
them a $100 Honorarium. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure
a speaker for the November Zoom meeting. Hopefully, we will get
someone for a future meeting.
We have a lot of talented artists right here in MAA. Please consider
being a speaker at one of our monthly Zoom meetings, or if you
know of an artist who would like to make Zoom presentation, please
have them email Howard Muscott at hmuscott@seresc.net.
As you know, we recently lost our gallery space at the Rines Center.
I still believe it is essential that we have a members’ gallery in order
for MAA go stay viable. We have contacted the Mayor’s office to
inquire about renting another space. We will keep you updated.
On a happier note, autumn is without a doubt the most beautiful
time of year, especially here in New Hampshire. The countryside is
full of beautiful color, the air is crisp and the best of holidays are
upon us. Great time to get out and paint.
Stay creative, stay safe.
Jim

We may not have a November speaker, but here’s a local artist you might want
to check out.

Marina Forbes
Russian Iconography, Russian Arts, Culture & Fine Crafts

Marina Forbes is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, and an award-winning
teaching artist, historian and lecturer who started painting at the age of 6 at
the Hermitage Museum School of Arts and has written extensively on Russian
traditional arts, history and the rich tapestry of Russian culture. She is licensed
with the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and, each year, she leads
cultural tours to Russia. During her visits to Russia, she regularly updates her
knowledge and artistic skills, gathering unique photos and manuscripts,
participating in icon and fresco restorations in old Russian churches and
monasteries, visiting craft factories, interviewing and working with master
artists and scholars, and documenting traditional painting techniques
(including floral and berry designs and decorative ornamentations from small
villages famous for their unique craft traditions). Marina brings her extensive
knowledge to her individualized icon painting classes and interactive and
illustrated presentations on the Russian Icon Painting tradition.
Marina is an accomplished icon painter, working for more than 20 years with
egg tempera and 23K gold leaf on gessoed wooden boards. Many of her
award-winning icons are on display in churches and in private collections in
Russia, Europe and the United States. Marina teaches “The Art of Icon
Painting” workshops for small groups of one to four students. She also works
with traditional Russian honey-based watercolors known for their brilliance of
colors. Marina has a distinctive ability to generate energy and enthusiasm in
the classroom or a lecture hall and to bring the spirit of traditional Russian art
and folklore to life for children of all ages. She is a unique and valuable
resource for any school or civic organization wishing to introduce their
audience to Russian culture and arts through memorable and thought provoking
interactive presentations and hands-on workshops.
Preferred activities and age groups: Activities include hands-on workshops,
demonstrations, storytelling and master classes for the whole community
(adults, teens and families with children aged 6 and up) focusing on traditional
Russian arts, crafts, and culture. Illustrated presentations, lectures, and
storytelling are available for all age groups in age-appropriate formats. The
preferred audiences for school art residencies and creative after-school
programs on traditional Russian arts, crafts and culture: K-12. Special Master
classes and hands-on workshops designed for teachers and art teachers are
also available.
Fees: School residencies: $350 per day; hands-on workshops, lectures, and
performances (1.5 to 3 hours): $200 (Note: There is an additional charge for
round-trip mileage from Rochester, NH.)
16 Hillside Dr
Rochester, NH 03867
603/332-2255
marina@marinaforbes.com or marina@anylanguage.org
www.marinaforbes.com