Feature Page

A Note from Shauna Holiman, your President,
about changes and opportunities at the Greenwich Art Society.

“Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

We’ve known for nearly a year that our hard-working board member, Peter Robinson, and his wife, Ann, would eventually sell their house, which has been on the market, and move to the New Haven area to be nearer to their children and grandchildren. This knowledge did not make it any easier when the day finally came. Their house is now sold and they will be moving in June. We are very happy for them but will miss their daily presence as colleagues and friends.

Peter did so much for the society and really brought us into the 21st century in terms of technology. I think a (partial) list of his achievements on our behalf is well warranted. He established our website and helped to build it to what it is today, initiated communication via email and computer assisted bookkeeping and updated all of our office equipment. He established the database, which allows us to communicate easily with all of you, wrote a 161-page user’s manual so that the rest of us could learn how to use it and paid for all of it out of his own pocket. He helped to overhaul the art studio, carried out student surveys and did a ten-term analysis of our school. He is responsible for all the fabulous press coverage we have enjoyed in recent years, having established wonderful relationships with the press, tirelessly sending out press releases and revitalizing our public relations. He designed our school catalogues and annual reports, took photographs at events and supported his fellow artists whole-heartedly, attending openings and classes with enthusiasm. All this and a good painter, too! It is going to take at least three people to take over the work that he did but no one can replace him. Godspeed to you and Ann, Peter. We hope you will be back often to visit.

We are delighted to welcome some new volunteers. Barbara Simonson will be taking over managing our press releases and Rocio Muga will be designing our school catalogues and annual reports. We are very lucky to have Kurt Schaffir, who is on our advisory board, to take over Peter’s work with the database. Lauren Hampton has joined us as historian, Anna Patalano will be heading up the school starting in the fall and Amanda Yin is taking over for me as website coordinator. All of these individuals have expertise in their respective areas and we count ourselves very lucky to have them with us.

Our next big project, creating an overall marketing plan and examining our school offerings, is just getting started and I am delighted to report that Tami Gross-McCarthy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TMG PR, has volunteered to help us with this endeavor. (Her website is amazing: www.tmgpr.com) We are in the planning stages at the moment but will need several dedicated people with good business heads and marketing skills to help. (See Margaret mead quote above.) If this describes you, please email me (hackaho@optonline.net) and volunteer. It will be a great opportunity to work with Tami and I promise it will be fun. You will be joining a wonderful group of artists, many of us rather new to the organization, who are having a blast running the Greenwich Art Society.

Spring is finally upon us and I wish you all a great summer of art activities. We have some fun courses coming up at the Studio School that you might want to keep in mind including a drawing fundamentals course with Anna Patalano, painting with Dimitri Wright, a pastel class with John Conroy and a week-long fashion drawing camp for upper and middle school students with Michele Rudolph. Of course, Enzo Russo, Kathie Milligan, Fred Mason and Carol Dixon will also be teaching. Classes will begin July 7th and we will have the full curriculum up on the website next month.

Have a lovely summer and as usual, remember that each and every one of us, each and every day, create the community in which we want to live and work.

View Past Feature Pages