News

PAL featured in Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

PAL is honored as a Longevity Member on page six of the September 2024 Chamber Business Connections Newsletter. PAL has been a Chamber member for 51 years since 1973 – a long time since PAL was only established in 1969. The article describes PAL’s mission, membership and the services to members it provides such as meetings, shows, circuit and workshops. It ends by encouraging Chamber Members to mark their calendars for our 17th Annual Fall Members’ Show at the Firehouse.

 

To read the article, download a copy at Business Connections Newsletter.

 

---

PAL Vice-Presidents Message for September 2024

Artists Quote of the Month—
“What I love about photographs is that they capture a moment that is gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” – Karl Lagerfeld

September not only brings us a welcomed Autumn, but it also brings us PAL’s signature Members’ Show at the Harington Gallery in the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. As of the date of this Portfolio we have only received a few works for the PAL 17th Annual Fall Members’ Art Show. I encourage you get that one outstanding painting, photo, ceramic piece, sculpture, or whatever your medium of choice might be, and fill out your registration form on-line at pal- art.com as soon as possible. Check the Prospectus and remember this show is open to PAL members that are current as of August 1, 2024. The Harrington Gallery can accommodate 85 pieces of art. And remember that your entries must not have received awards in any of PAL’s previous shows. Don’t miss your spot. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, October 1, 2024. You may also sign up to volunteer to help at receiving, which will take place on: Friday, October 10, 2024. See you there.

---

PAL Annual Scholarship Awards

The Las Positas College Spring Art Festival was held in May 2024 with 65 amazing student artworks displayed in the college art gallery and extended to the library. Thanks to Dave Wagner, art professor at the college, who also organizes this fabulous show every year, for inviting PAL.

PAL has encouraged and supported new and emerging artists in the community with its outreach programs. The PAL annual scholarship awards were given to 5 students chosen from this show. I would like to thank Lisa Rigge for judging the show with me and for all the help and guidance she has given.

The winners are:

• Rachel Shih “Summer Day Back from Cherry farm” Oils
• Cameron Le Bow “Hole” Acrylic
• Grace Shaw Smathers “Aquarium” Charcoal
• Mikayla Henry “Sunset Journey” Acrylic
• Kent Schiffer “Right Hand” Ink

Alka Vaidya, PAL Scholarship Chair.

---

TVNPA Art Rotation

It was fun rotating art at the Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance’s (TVNPA)  CommoinPoint Nonprofit Center in Livermore on May 29 along with the Livermore Art Association. The center has 44 PAL artists’ works on display across all the rooms and hallways, many of which are for sale.  Participating PAL artists are Rekha Joshi, Iliana Chirikhanova, Chaity Mukherjee, Shweta Agrawal, Tejal Shah, Judy Rice, Chih Chun Eroles, HoumanPazouki, Chelsea Tikotsky, Lori Larks, Rucha Chattur, Melissa Mandegarian, Tuan Karsevar and Meghana Mitragotri. Just within a couple of days, Iliana sold 2 pieces! The next rotation will take place after four to six months. Thanks so much to everyone who entered stunning works and helped install the exhibit.

To learn more about TVNPA, visit https://tvnpa.org

---

A Memorable PAL Art Day Out 

What a wonderful Art Day Out on May 23, 2024 at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore! It was a gorgeous day to paint at this lovely venue with beautiful blooms under stunning oak trees. Over 20 artists participated in the event. After strolling around the venue and picking their favourite spots, artists painted subjects including trees, pots, flowers, benches, fountains, fun figures and other hidden treasures. These masterpieces were created in oils, watercolor, pastels, colored pencils, and acrylic.

So much love, admiration, warmth and fun, and of course the delicious donuts and other treats provided throughout the day by the Pleasanton Art League! Thanks to Wei-Ting Chuang for the yummy oranges from her yard. Big thanks to Alden Lane Nursery’s owner Jacqueline Williams-Courtright and the wonderful staff for opening up this beautiful venue and making this happen for us. Thanks so much to everyone who came including those who joined us from Modesto. Stay tuned for the next one!

– Meghana Mitragotri, PAL Programs Chair

---

Report on PAL at TVAST

After an exciting and busy preparation for the last two months, TVAST 2024 ended successfully. Here are some of my observations and analyses of the event. The team at the firehouse with the Nine artists, Alana Shoars, Neha Singh. Adriana Dedic, Anuja Goyal, Miles Santos, Alka Vaidya, Malvika Oaks and Deepti Saraswat had excellent communication and coordination among them. It was an enjoyable two days. The set up process went smoothly. Thanks to the help provided by Miles in the slat transportation, Lilly for having the tables arranged for us. Thanks to George for guiding the volunteers in set up and arranging of the slats.

In my opinion there could have been more signs guiding people to the firehouse location. In the future we need to do the necessary so we can place more signs in front of businesses to guide people to the event. Thanks to John and Charon for helping us out with payment processing. In terms of sales Saturday was slow for most of us because of the rains. Sunday there was a good flow of people and for some, sales were as expected. As Malvika suggested maybe we could brainstorm to incorporate some more activities to attract more people to the venues.To summarize, the sales were not as expected but it was good connecting and knowing all the artists.

PAL TVAST 2024 Deepti Saraswat

---

Report on 2024 PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show

High School Winners:

• Best in Show: “Octoband” by Dana Yang
• Merit Award: “Man with the Red Turban” by Oeshi Datta
• Merit Award: “The Dots” by Bavagna Sai Gunti
• Merit Award: “Caulfield” by James Zhang
• Honorable Mention: “A Moment of Reflection” by Riana Das
• Honorable Mention: “The Happiest Place on Earth” by Jiyoon Kim
• Honorable Mention: “Reflection of the Roots” by Aarushi Rajesh
• Stoneridge Award: “Cascade” by Sora Kim

View High School Online Show HERE.

Middle School Winners:

• Best in Show: “Retro Pan-Am Worldport” by Aagam Chhikniwala
• Merit Award: “Archie” by Vasylyna Brechko
• Merit Award: “Afternoon Meadow” by Nicholas Philippe
• Merit Award: “Buster” by Ethan Mosca
• Honorable Mention:  “Silent Worry” by Zoha Eftekhar
• Honorable Mention: “The Tiger’s Bloom” by Rose Moniz
• Honorable Mention: “Cockatiels” by Ria Kamath
• Stoneridge Award: “Archie” by Vasylyna Brechko

View Middle School Online Show HERE.

2024 PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show: 64 entries, 30 schools, 11 cities! We never imagined the magnitude of success of this youth art show and competition for Middle and High School students! Hundreds of visitors to Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Mall were just stunned by the gorgeous artworks created by the youth in our communities and many were interested in buying art! Many people are responsible for the success of this event and creating a huge positive impact in our community.

 

 

A BIG THANK YOU TO:

• Students for participating and showcasing stunning art 
• Parents, for volunteering & encouraging their students to participate
• Management, staff and Security team at Stoneridge Shopping Center 
• Tri Valley Nonprofit Alliance (TVNPA) for supporting this program with a grant, flyers in Spanish and connecting us to Exceptional Needs Network (ENN)
• Kirsten Sprott from ENN to help us reach out to Students with Special Needs
• PAL’s Pals Committee: Reena Babu, Rekha Joshi, Marion Huff, Lorraine Wells, Meghana Mitragotri, George Garbarino
• Judges: PAL Members Karen Barry & Peggy Magovern for their thoughtful comments for every student’s artwork, and Ann Chaney from Stoneridge for choosing two “Stoneridge Awards” sponsored by Stoneridge
• PAL Member Volunteers & their families: George Garbarino, Ron Darcey, Janice Carmo, John DeVilliers, Hope Garay, Jana Lowe, Bill Potter, Ron Rigge, Emelie Rogers, Zelda Kohn, Venkata Mulagada, Renu Chintalapati, May Yin Giang
• George Garbarino for helping students with framing & wiring
• Tejal Shah, Hospitality Chair for refreshments
• PAL Board Members for creating this community program
• Alameda County Arts Commission and California for the Arts, for donating watercolor activity sheets. Kids at the Mall loved them!
• Student Volunteers – Aarushi Rajesh, Adharsh Senthilkumar, Kashyap Bavimane, Jamie Yi, Bavagna Sai Gunti, Cole Gable, Aagam Chhikniwala 
• Pleasanton City Councilmember Valerie Arkin for all the support at the reception
• Livermore Art Association for extra art panels
• All the organizations and community members, for all the help and support
• Our webmaster, Marion Huff has hosted this show on PAL website’s online gallery. Enjoy it here https://www.pal-art.com/online-show-exhibits/

---

PAL’s Vice-President George Garbarino’s Message for April 2024

Artist’s Quote for April: “Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them.” Salvador Dali

Is it time for the Pleasanton Art League and other art associations in the Tr-Valley to look at a policy that addresses the uses of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in our art? Here are a few thoughts that some artists are considering: Make it illegal to copyright work created wholly, largely, or substantially by machines (AI or otherwise). Require all machine-generated art to be labeled something like “Made by Machine” or “Created by AI” and include the platform it was created on. Establish serious legal penalties for trying to pass AI or machine-generated art off as human. Work to do this in the USA and also standard international law, to protect all human artists, everywhere. What are your thoughts? It might be a subject for one of our General Meetings. Let me know what you think. George at: macgarbz@comcast.net.

I asked Meta AI, and here is what they said:

1. Co-creation: Artists can guide AI algorithms to generate ideas, shapes, or patterns, which they can then refine and build upon.

2. Artistic input: AI can assist with tedious tasks, like generating repetitive elements or exploring multiple design options, allowing artists to focus on the creative direction.

3. Augmenting skills: AI can analyze vast amounts of art historical data, providing insights and inspiration for human artists.

4. Interactive installations: AI can be integrated into interactive art installations, responding to viewer inputs and creating dynamic, immersive experiences.

5. Generative music: AI can generate musical elements, like melodies or beats, which human composers can then arrange and refine.

6. Art critique and feedback: AI can analyze artworks and provide objective feedback, helping artists identify areas for improvement.

7. Collaborative storytelling: AI can generate narrative elements, like plot twists or character development, which human writers can weave into their stories.

8. Artistic exploration: AI can help artists explore new styles, techniques, or themes, expanding their creative horizons.

9. Accessibility: AI-powered tools can assist artists with disabilities or limitations, enabling them to create in new and innovative ways.

10. Ethical considerations: Artists and AI researchers can work together to address questions around authorship, ownership, and the role of AI in creative fields. By combining their strengths, AI and human artists can push the boundaries of creativity, exploring new forms of expression and innovation.

What do you think? Are there any specific collaborations you’d love to see

George

---

Report on Imagination Expressed 2024

Imagination Expressed 2024, Pal’s 16th Members’ Show at the Museum on Main opened on Wednesday March 13 with over 140 works of amazing, varied art in watercolor, oil, pastel, clay, wood, colored pencil, acrylics, glass and more! We also displayed over 100 pieces of jewelry. Once again we had so many entries the hanging staff stayed late to fit them all in! Our judge Jeff Dunn selected 9 winners who will receive their awards on Saturday, March 16 at our reception.

Best of Show award went to Melissa Mandegarian for Rythym of Water. Merit awards went to Iliana Chirikhanova for Birth of Hamster, Leslie Hoffmeyer for Why, and Jill Vellinger for Into the Glow. Honorable Mention awards went to Amber De silva for Persephone, Anusha Mishra for The Secret Embrace, Zachary Daly for A Friend,  and Eugenia Zobel for Mouse with Umbrella.

I want to thank the following for their invaluable help with various aspects of this 2024 show: Barbara Blissert, Marion Huff, Norma Webb, Lorraine Wells, Meghana Mitragotri, George and Linda Garbarino, Lisa and Ron Rigge, John DeVilliers, and Ken MacLennan, Curator at Museum on Main.

We hope to have an even better show in 2025! Christine Bourg 

---

PAL’s Vice-President George Garbarino’s Message for March 2024

Artist’s Quote for March: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ― Edgar Degas

In 2023 the PAL Executive Board introduced and adopted the following bylaw change. The goal for the Pleasanton Art League was to have members step forward and become active in the leadership of the League as a president-elect. Here is the new language we adopted.

The President serves as the chair of the Board of Directors for two years. The President ensures that the Board of Directors fulfills its responsibilities for the governance of the organization.

The President-Elect is selected in the second year of the President’s term of office and serves for one year and collaborates with the President to learn the role of the President to become familiar with the organization and its governance, and to develop and facilitate officer transition. The President-Elect assists with and supports the President as needed and plans for the Presidential year. The President-Elect shall automatically become President at the end of the term as President-Elect, or in the event that the President becomes unable to fulfill his or her duties during the current term.

During the month of March, the Vice President and a few other executive board members will start interviewing members who have expressed an interest in a leadership role for 2024-2025. If this sounds like something you think you might be interested in taking part in, please email me: macgarbz@comcast.net as soon as possible.

George Garbarino

---

PAL’s Vice-President George Garbarino’s Message for February 2024

Artist’s Quote for February:

“Every day I discover even more beautiful things. It is intoxicating me, and I want to paint it all – my head is bursting . . .”

-Claude Monet

Welcome to February—I know you’re asking “What happened to January?” Me too. The Pleasanton Art League has many great art activities ready to go for the rest of 2024, including our great art shows. Our first show of 2024 is “Imagination Expressed” at the Museum on Main in Pleasanton from March 13th through May 11th 2024. Details HERE. Mark your calendars now and start lining up those great works of art for this show. I’ll be looking forward to seeing your art in March. Also, remember to check the complete PAL Calendar for 2024 HERE.

George Garbarino

---

PAL on Television in February 2024

PAL was thrilled to be invited and featured on a popular local Talk Show on TV30 “Conversations with Mel McKay“. PAL past President and Board Member Meghana Mitragotri represented PAL. The program highlights artworks of PAL Members John DeVilliers, Emelie Rogers, Mike D’Amelio (February PAL Wall artist), and PAL member Lisa Rigge’s workshop in 2023.

This program is being broadcasted all of February on TV28 & TV30  local channels.

Find schedule here https://www.tri-valleytv.org/?q=node/36 .You can click on A-Z and find Conversations with Mel McKay.

 

Or just click here to watch the episode! (PAL is spotlighted in the second segment)

https://www.tri-valleytv.org/?q=node/57 

The program on this link will be available until February 29, 2024.

---

February 2024 – PAL Display at Pleasanton Library 

Working with the City of Pleasanton, PAL secured a display case at the front door entrance to the library for the month of February.  As our membership grows, we continue to invite all community members throughout the Tri-Valley and beyond, to join us.

Many residents new to the area may not be aware of Pleasanton Art League and the wealth of opportunities available to them through our many events throughout the year.  Both artists and art lovers, youth and adults, will find a warm welcome.

 The Pleasanton Library display includes various art mediums, both 2D and 3D.  View porcelain painting, watercolor, oil, pastel, glass, ceramics and photography. 

Pleasanton Art League would like to thank the following artists: Christine Bourg, Lisa and Ron Rigge, Emelie Rogers, Olga Symonenko, Chelsea Tikotsky, Lorraine Wells and Eugenia Zobel.

A special thank you to Meghana Mitragotri and Lorraine Wells for sharing their graphic skills. For further information or interest, please contact: Emelie Rogers, PAL Membership Chair at: emrogers2023@gmail.com

---

Report on 2023 Members’ Show at the Firehouse

Firehouse Committee: John DeVillers, Linda Garbarino, Pat Smith, George Garbarino, Charlotte Severin, Sydney Tang and Wei Ting Chuang

The 16th Annual P AL Members’ Show was another BIG success. The 84 pieces of artwork were amazing and we had many volunteers provide so much help. Our sincere thanks to Sydney Tang, the director of the Gallery, for all her guidance and help. We thank our talented artists for their informative demonstrations throughout the exhibit. We are looking forward to another great show in 2024.

Linda Garbarino

 

 

 

 

PAL Christmas 2023 Art-Day-Out Report

Art-Day-Out was truly a Christmas Special! 

Outgoing PAL President’s December 2023 Message

Retiring PAL President Meghana Mitragotri and Past PAL President Beth Okurowski

Reflecting on my two-year term as the President of PAL which comes to an end on December 31, 2023, I feel an immense sense of gratitude for the role I have been entrusted with as an opportunity to serve you all. I have learned to extend my sense of responsibility towards the art community, being a voice for all, and keeping the needs of our organization with a firm sense of integrity in everything we have undertaken.

It has been an incredible honor to represent PAL across various platforms and I am so proud of all that we have accomplished in the last couple of years. The growth in our membership to over 200 is a testament to our successful efforts in making the scope of art abundant and accessible, in turn enhancing our diversity. This has only been possible with the support of our strong and committed team at PAL. My heartfelt thanks to the PAL Board, PAL’s past Presidents, Committee Chairs, Show Chairs, volunteers of all ages, business partners, City of Pleasanton officials & staff, art organizations including LAA, DAC, AVA, my mentors, and everyone who has supported us. Thank you to all the members for your loyalty and participation, you mean the world to PAL!

As I return to being a fulltime artist and resume parental responsibilities towards my high schooler, I am deeply appreciative for the many meaningful relationships within the art community. I hope to continue and advance my artistic journey and will also remain a dedicated volunteer at PAL. This has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life and I hope everyone can reap benefits through this wonderful organization.

Please feel free to stay in touch with me at meghana.ms@gmail.com and share your experiences, ideas, and feedback to enable mutual learning and growth. Kindly renew your membership with PAL and invite fellow enthusiasts to join us. Wishing everyone a joyous and festive holiday season!

With gratitude, Meghana Mitragotri, PAL President 2022 & 2023

Compose, Color, Create!

PAL Gallery Wall at TVNPA’s Facility

We’re very grateful to the TriValley Nonprofit Alliance (TVNPA) for giving us an opportunity to create a gallery wall in the new Coworkers’ space at their CommoinPoint Nonprofit Center in Livermore. Eleven pieces of artwork were installed on October 24.

PAL President’s November 2023 Message: 200 and still counting!

One of PAL’s goals is to make scope for art abundant and accessible to everyone in our community. After many years, and after a big struggle during the pandemic, we are now an organization with over 200 members and still counting! My heartfelt thanks to all the members, Board members, partners and volunteers for your loyalty, participation, support and for all the help in making our organization accessible to so many people in the Tri-Valley & beyond.

 

I want to thank our Membership Chair Emelie Rogers for making outstanding efforts to lead our Outreach & Awareness Programs to educate the public about our wonderful organization. Also big thanks to John & Charron DeVilliers, Marion Huff, Wei-Ting Chuang, George Garbarino and everyone else who supported our membership efforts.

 

Looking ahead to November, visit our gorgeous Fall Members’ Show at the Firehouse Arts Center with an opening reception on Saturday, November 4. You can also enjoy six inspiring PAL Art Demonstrations during the course of the show. While you are there, make sure to visit Lisa Rigge’s solo show upstairs on the PAL Wall.  Our Art Day Out series has been a smashing hit! Big thanks to PAL member Nataliya Gavrilova for coming up with the Food Art idea; it was so much fun! By popular demand, we’re organizing one more Art Day Out in my backyard, this time it’s a Christmas special! Make sure to join in!

 

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Meghana Mitragotri, President, Pleasanton Art League

---

Report on PAL at the Livermore Art Walk 2023, a good learning and fellowship of artists were had at the PAL Booth.

Seasoned artist Claudette McDermott assisted Newcomers to Tent Shows; Zelda Kohn, Shalaka Mulherkar and Olga Symonenko. While sales were meager, the joy of sharing your work, your process and meeting with prospective clients was priceless. “I chatted with a lot of young budding artists, gave advice on safety while using Resin, and see a bright and exciting future for our next generation of artists,” shared Encaustic / Resin Artist Claudette McDermott

September 23, 2023 – PALS Art Day Out 

Food Art/Illustration brought some very adventurous artists to Orloff Park on Saturday, September 23^rd.  Having to choose among the four yummy vignettes of decadent desserts, or the deliciously inviting apples and pears, was a challenge our artists met brilliantly.  As a bonus, and to ensure our displays were left intact for painting, donuts were awaiting our participants as they arrived. Having spent the afternoon painting we couldn’t resist playing a game called “Which foods are real, and which foods are fake”. It was hard to stump this group as they all have sharp eyes for detail, but we finally awarded a winner. Congratulations May Yin Giang.  As the day ended, each artist shared their work, which was beyond impressive. With such remarkable results we knew more prizes were needed.  The competition was stiff, but

Jen Hubr and Zelda Kohn caught the judge’s eye.  We hope you enjoy your dessert cookbooks.  Jan Loomis & Meg Mitragotri, PAL Programs Co-chairs, wish to thank everyone who participated in another Art Day Out.

---

PAL President’s October 2023 Message

September was awesome! I want to thank all the PAL and High School volunteers, and our partners at the Firehouse Arts Center, Museum on Main and Charles.R.Winery for helping us succeed at the Firehouse Art & Music Fest on September 8, Paint Pleasanton on September 9 & 10, and the Annual Potluck on September 11 respectively.

 

Georgia Jacobs, Tejal Shah, Lorraine Wells, Rebecca Davies and Alka Vaidya

Big thanks to organizers Lorraine Wells, Alka Vaidya and Rebecca Davies for the meticulous planning and execution at the wonderful Paint Pleasanton event. We had a big bump in new members joining us that weekend and I’d like to welcome everyone!

 

Thanks so much to PAL and LAA Hospitality Chairs Tejal Shah and Georgia Jacobs for planning a fun Potluck and I am so glad that several new members could join in. 

 

Moving on to October, have you visited the PAL Wall upstairs to see Tuan Karsevar’s creations? You may find a portrait of yourself there! Come and learn all about Sugar Flowers during the General Meeting hosted by PAL on October 9 with the talented Jan Loomis. Meet our wonderful PAL artists at the PAL booth during ArtWalk in Livermore on October 14. The Art Circuit teams will be rotating art at local businesses in Pleasanton and our new partnership with the Tri Valley Nonprofit Alliance (TVNPA) has opened up opportunities for PAL artists to showcase and sell art at the CommonPoint Nonprofit Center in Livermore. Please consider applying.

 

PAL Members, are you ready to be a part of our last big show of the year? It’s our 16th Annual Fall Members’ Show at the Firehouse Arts Center. The Harrington Gallery can only accommodate 85 pieces, so be sure not to miss your spot – entry deadline October 14!

 

Good luck, Everyone!

Cheers,

Meghana Mitragotri, President Pleasanton Art League

---

PAL at Firehouse Art & Music Fest September 8, 2023

The Firehouse Art & Music Fest on September 8 was a wonderful community event.

 

Thanks to the staff at the Firehouse for inviting partners including PAL, Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council (PCAC), and Museum on Main (MOM). It was great hanging out with our partners! PAL volunteers got to display artwork and it was fun spreading awareness about our organization.

 

Big thanks to Wei-Ting Chuang for helping kids with beautiful origami art and to four wonderful High School students from Livermore’s Granada High School for volunteering at the PAL booth and helping kids with scratch art, fall leaf colouring & origami. It was heartwarming when one of the students said, “We’re like the official High School PAL volunteering Team!”  PAL has signed-off on four community service hours for each of these students. Some tiny tots refused to leave our booth and wanted to continue with activities at closing after dark, and parents willingly turned on flashlights on their phones to help kids finish what they started!  

 

Thank you Pat Smith, George Garbarino, Emelie Rogers & Claudette McDermott for joining me in educating visitors about PAL and our initiatives.
Artists & local art teachers including PAL members Claudette & Charlotte Severin performed engaging art demos. Live music encouraged the public to shake-a-leg on the patio that transformed into a lively dance floor! It was a great way of engaging & entertaining the community together with our partners.

 

– Meghana Mitragotri

---

PAL President’s July 2023 Message

I had the privilege of representing PAL at the Pleasanton Civic Arts Commission meeting on August 7 where I was able to meet all the staff and introduce PAL during a public comment. I could see and hear myself beaming with pride as I listed PAL’s wonderful initiatives that are made possible by our hard working Board members and volunteers.

 

Marlene Cody with Meghana

I was also delighted to recently meet PAL’s past president in the early 1990s and a beautiful watercolorist, Marlene Cody who has generously donated her painting supplies to PAL. She has fond memories of working with our Portfolio Editor Norma Webb. 

 

Are You Ready for an Art Marathon? September is going to be awesome! 

We start the month by participating in the Firehouse Art & Music Fest, Firehouse Arts Center’s open house event on September 8 where PAL will have an activity table. This will be immediately followed by our Plein Air event Paint Pleasanton on September 9 & 10. Last year you made it happen rain or shine, and it was the best ever! Let’s do it again! Show Chairs Lorraine Wells, Alka Vaidya and Becky Davies are working hard in getting everything organized for this event along with the staff at Museum on Main! 

The next day, Monday, September 11 is the Annual Potluck. Every year PAL and LAA organize a fun joint potluck dinner in September in place of a General Meeting. Everyone brings something to share.This is a great opportunity for all members to connect over a delicious meal, engage in interesting conversations, meet our Board members and get to know about anything & everything!

Don’t forget to check out Amy Greenberg’s awesome works on the PAL Wall upstairs at the Firehouse Center, followed by stunning portrait paintings by Tuan Karsevar starting September 16 with his Meet & Greet.

Another fun PAL-Art-Day-Out has been planned for September 23 where we can all indulge in some food art. PAL is presenting another unique workshop, this time with the talented Eugenia.W.Zobel who will teach us all about Porcelain Painting. She is turning 90 this year!

Registration is now open for our last show of the year “PAL’s 16th Annual Fall Members’ Show.”

SAVE THE DATES!

 

Best,

Meghana Mitragotri, President, Pleasanton Art League

---

PAL President’s July 2023 Message

Lisa Rigge & workshop participants

Heartfelt thanks to PAL-JMH Show “Healing Spaces” Show Chair John DeVilliers and committee members for putting up a great show, Jan Loomis for organizing a superb PAL-Art-Day-Out at Alden Lane, and Linda & George Garbarino for arranging fabulous workshops with Lisa Rigge and Wei-Ting Chuang.

I hope everyone has planned some fun activities for this summer including visiting the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Several PAL artists have entered the fine art competition!

 

Apart from enjoying Bryan Adams and Maroon 5 concerts, I have planned my yearly pilgrimage to visit my inspiration in Utah, Roland Lee (https://rolandlee.com), and take his watercolor masterclass! I also plan to use the summer to practice some plein air painting at Paint Pleasanton on September 9 & 10 and create some new art for our PAL Members’ Show at the Firehouse Arts Center this fall. 

 

I encourage everyone to keep a lookout and sign up for these upcoming events. First, Tejal Shah and Georgia Jacobs, PAL & LAA Hospitality Chairs, are planning a fun PAL-LAA Potluck event at Charles R Winery on September 11. We also have some awesome workshops and programs coming up, including a really fun Art-Day-Out on September 23 involving food! Artist Jan Loomis will be demonstrating Sugar Flowers at the PAL-hosted General Meeting on October 9. On the PAL Wall upstairs at the Firehouse, please enjoy Melissa Mandegarian’s artworks until July 22, followed by Amy Greenberg, Tuan Karsevar and Lisa Rigge. PAL artists will also be performing art demonstrations at the Harrington Gallery as part of the Members’ Show! There’s just so much to look forward to!

But first……Have a great summer! Meghana Mitragotri

 

---

PAL President’s June 2023 Message

Way to go Dennis Baker, President – Alliance for the Visual Arts and the whole TVAST Crew! What a great weekend of the 2nd Annual Studio Tours in the Tri-Valley! Thanks to Dennis and everyone who contributed to the success of this event.

 

TVAST Firehouse Team

PAL was glad to partner with AVA on this project to sponsor the Firehouse Arts Center as a venue for nine PAL artists. Big thanks to Pleasanton City Staff Rachel Prater for working with PAL to support this event and Firehouse Staff Lily Caridis for coordinating details with the team’s Lead Rhonda Chase. The Firehouse was also generous with sponsoring 500 postcards and posters for publicity.

Other participating artists were Jill Vellinger, Deepti Saraswat, Jan Loomis, Mike D’Amelio, Malavika Oak, Anuja Goyal, Claudette McDermott, Miles Santos.

“Veteran” artists that participated in TVAST 2021 and now again in 2023 at the Firehouse shared these thoughtful comments:

Deepti Saraswat – “The nine artists at the firehouse were very comfortably housed in that space. The endearing thing was that there was great comradeship among the artists.”

Rhonda Chase – “It was truly a pleasure to lead such an amazing group of artists. We had an incredible diversity of presentation, media, and styles. Our guests had so much to look at and plenty to interact with, including almost continuous artist demonstrations.”

 

We were happy to have some new members join the Firehouse Team!

Anjuja Goyal – “It was a pleasure to be part of TVAST and the PAL team. The best part of this event for me was to connect with people and this added ten more new artist friends in my life.”

Malavika Oak – “It was a first of its kind experience for me participating in TVAST.  I enjoyed meeting and getting to know our team—especially getting to know all the different mediums each of them worked with. The maps and leaflets helped too.”

Jill Vellinger – “I was truly amazed at how well organized and promoted the event was! And as a new PAL member, it was wonderful for me to be at the Firehouse and get to know some other artists. It was also a gift to get to meet and talk with so many people who visited and are interested in art, from small children on up. All I can say is, “Wow, wow, wow!”

Claudette McDermott – “I liked the intimacy that the Firehouse Open Studio gave to the artists. The timing for me was extra special because my work was also on the PAL Memorial Wall, so prospective clients were able to “Meet the Artist” exhibiting. As well as enjoy the demo and learn about my Encaustic process.”

These nine artists made a terrific team and put in their heart & soul in making TVAST not just a good event, but a great experience at the Firehouse! I can’t thank them enough for choosing to showcase with PAL and the Firehouse this year. Heartfelt thanks to PAL Treasurers John & Charron DeVilliers for processing payments both days, and to Marty Loomis for helping with transport of art panels.

We hope everyone at other collectives and home studios had a fantastic experience too. Can’t wait for next year!

 

Up next, read all about the PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show, sign up for Wei-Ting’s workshop, enjoy our “Healing Spaces” show in Walnut Creek and Melissa Mandegarian’s gorgeous works on the PAL Wall at the Firehouse, and more in June. Stay tuned!

 

Cheers

Meghana Mitragotri 

---

Report: Art-Day-Out at the Chateau

When a group of talented artists come together you know it’s going to be a good day. PAL’s Art-Day-Out at the Chateau on May 18th proved to be not only fun but inspiring and challenging. Hosted by Alden Lane Nursery, and with an abundance of sunshine, the conditions were ideal for creating little masterpieces. Before heading off to explore the nursery, each artist received a goodie bag with donations from Dick Blick Art Supplies, Windsor & Newton Paints, and Country Time Lemonade. Our artists were challenged to paint something beyond their typical style and comfort zone. The winner, Pat Smith, created a delightful painting of cartoon-like pink flamingos. We knew we had selected the perfect winner when we noticed the immediate chorus of smiles in reaction to her creation. Throughout the day PAL provided snacks and water, as our artists worked in oils, acrylics, pastel, watercolors, colored pencils and sparkling papers. There were paintings of flowers, fountains, buildings, birds, people, and dragons (yes, I did say dragons).

As our time together ended, we shared our art and experiences. Thank you to Alden Lane Nursery and our generous contributors for this memorable experience.

---

Report on PAL-John Muir Health Show “Healing Spaces”

“Tender Loving Care” by Amy D Leung

By the time you read this our wonderful John Muir Hospital (JMH) show “Healing Spaces” will be wrapping up over at the Aspen Surgery Center in Walnut Creek. If you hurry, however, you can still enjoy our beautiful display until July 13th or online at https://www.pal-art.com/pal-jmh-2023-online-exhibit/. I feel confident in saying it was an unqualified success for everyone involved. We had 54 pieces by 27 artists entered into this Juried and Judged show. A big thank you to all who entered. A show is only as good as the artists who enter it and this one is great!

On behalf of PAL, I want to thank Rosemary and Peter Therkelsen, our John Muir contacts, for inviting us back to the John Muir Hospital Aspen Surgery Center. Their tireless efforts in bringing a string of art exhibits into the Aspen center is an inspiration to us all. Because of them and the entire Auxiliary board, everyday hundreds of patients, their families, and staff members can come to work and be greeted by a touch of beauty to start their often-challenging day. I also want to send a big shout out to our committee members, Marion Huff, Linda and George Garbarino and Lorraine Wells. I couldn’t ask for a more patient, creative, and helpful team!

Many thanks to our nationally known and respected Artist/judge, Randall Sexton. His final selections created a varied tapestry of styles and mediums that really show off the talents of our Art League members. Randall’s comments about the winning pieces at our Zoom reception on May 25th were truly insightful!

On to the winners! Best in Show: Amy D Leung “Tender Loving Care;” (Photo of paint at right.) Merit Award: Usha Shukla “Sunrose 02;” Merit Award: John DeVilliers “Diving Bird;” HM: Linda Garbarino “Rodeo Girl;” HM: Meghana Mitragotri “Snow Canyon, Utah;” HM: Kathleen Hill “Family Outing;” HM: Shalaka Mulherkar “Glacial Serenity 1.” Congratulations to all our winning artists and to all the PAL members who made this show such a success!

John DeVilliers, JMH Show Chair

---

Community Outreach

Loraine & Emily

We have had such a good response to our Community Outreach at both the PAL’s Pals show at Stoneridge Mall and again at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Pleasanton.  I enthusiastically reach out again and ask members to sign up to sit our PAL table in front of Studio Seven on Saturday July 1^st and again on July 15^th , from 10 am to 12.  Although we have a “no sale” agreement with Studio Seven, we invite you to bring your art to show and bring awareness of PAL and the benefits of PAL membership.

Emelie Rogers, PAL Membership Chair  

Emrogers2023@gmail.com

 

 

---

A Successful 2023 PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show

Click on thumbnail to view in Gallery mode:

Bill Potter & Lisa Rigge

Best in Show Winner Rachel Zhou

Rekha Joshi & Reena Babu

Rekha Joshi and Stoneridge Award Winner Angela Qian

PAL has made history with our first in-person PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show and Competition on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30 at Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center! We received 59 entries, from 9 cities, 15 Middle Schools and 10 High Schools. These young artists came with an abundance of talent which we were excited to display. The exhibits were not only beautiful, but inspirational.

The reception took place on April 30, and we were honored to have Pleasanton Council member Jeff Nibert in attendance. Stoneridge Mall sponsored a special “Stoneridge Award” for which they selected a Middle School and High School winner.Executive Marketing Director Jessica Carberry presented the awards with each recipient receiving a $20 gift card from their new vendor, Boba Nation!

We want to thank our Show Chair Rekha Joshi for leading this program and putting in an incredible amount of effort and time. She did a great job! We also want to thank our following committee members for their time and dedication:

• Reena Babu who helped with reviewing entries, artist statements, judges’ comments, hanging and staffing the show.
• Marion Huff for the online entry process, maintaining student data, judging files, and creating beautiful online galleries of the show.
• Galina Volkova for juggling between files and working through the nights to arrange for 59 individual student certificates and letters with judges’ comments.
• Lorraine Wells for giving this show such a memorable name, designing brand logo, posters, flyers, and art show labels.
• Usha Shukla, Jen Huber, Ranjini Venkatachari and George Garbarino for their insightful comments on every artwork.
• Emelie Rogers for organizing our Outreach station and to Marie Pascal and Wei-Ting Chuang, for accompanying her in this effort.
• Lynda Briggs, Thomas See and Tejal Shah for arranging the refreshments.
• Lisa and Ron Rigge, Bill Potter, Tuan Karsevar for helping with transport of art panels.
• Treasurers John and Charron DeVilliers for handling donations and volunteering.
• Vanessa Thomas for capturing beautiful moments and broadcasting the reception on Instagram Live.
• We are also grateful to all the parent & student volunteers for making this show a tremendous success.

Though this was a youth art show, many of you came to see the show and to the reception, that just shows our strength and unity. PAL is working hard towards making our organization more and more accessible to our communities. Our heartfelt thank you all! It was the perfect way to celebrate April 2023 as Arts, Culture and Creativity Month!

Check out Middle School gallery HERE and High School gallery HERE.

With gratitude, The PAL Board

---

PAL President’s May 2023 Message

May 2023 is going to be a lot of fun! We first kick-off with the Tri- Valley Artist Studio Tour (TVAST) on May 6 & 7, organized by Dennis Baker and his very creative team at Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA), PAL is extremely pleased to partner with AVA on this project and to sponsor the Firehouse Arts Center as a venue for nine superb PAL artists. Be sure to visit their “studios”, located upstairs, and all of the other artists in the Tri-Valley. And while you’re at the Firehouse, don’t miss PAL artist Claudette McDermott’s encaustic works on the Nancy Thompson Memorial PAL Wall!

The very next day, on May 8th, PAL will host the General Meeting in Pleasanton with Wei-Ting Chuang, followed on May 13 with a workshop by Lisa Rigge. It doesn’t stop here! Our first PAL-Art-Day- Out, on May 18 is going to be loads of fun with painting together outdoors.

Art shows are always the heartbeat of any art organization. Up next is “Healing Spaces” which begins on May 22. Have you met our Treasurer & PAL John Muir Health Show Chair John DeVilliers? A dedicated PAL volunteer, and an exceptionally talented artist! John is heading the show again this year and I would highly encourage PAL artists to be a part of a show that’s all about community healing. John says, “Last year I experienced the joy and trepidation of running my first art show. Luckily, it was for a very worthy organization, the John Muir Health’s Auxiliary group. The goal of this art show is to help bring a sense of well-being and peace into the sometimes hectic and stressful lives of the patients and staff of John Muir Hospital and, more widely, to the entire surrounding community. Even though I had a sharp learning curve, the challenge and fulfillment of running such a unique and successful show was well worth it.”

Everyone is invited to a Zoom reception on May 25 at 7:00 pm in which judge Randall Sexton will share comments about the winning pieces. Keep a lookout on Constant Contact communications with more details including a Zoom link.

Join in on all the fun and merriment!

Best Wishes, Meghana Mitragotri

---

A Triumphant Week for Lynda Briggs!

March 31 through April 2 was eventful for our member artist.
Friday, March 31-The City of Pleasanton held a Mural Unveiling Ceremony for Lynda’s 4′ x 6′ artwork “Gentle Beauty”. The mural is the product of a two year collaboration between the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, Civic Arts and Parks and Recreation, and city staff.

Saturday, April 1- At the Firehouse Arts Center’s, Harrington Gallery “Fresh Works XI” opening reception, she was the recipient of the prestigious ‘Gary and Nancy Harrington Award”. Show runs through June 10.

Sunday, April 2 – At the Livermore Art Association Spring Show, Lynda received 1st place in Acrylics and also a City of Livermore Award. Hearty congratulations, Lynda! You are a very deserving community contributor!

---

PAL President’s April 2023 Message

I am truly grateful to PAL MoM Show “Imagination Expressed 2023” Chair Christine Bourg, for all her work and enthusiasm in running one of the best PAL shows at the Museum with 60 participating PAL artists! She was accompanied by Lorraine Wells, PAL webmaster Marion Huff, Lynda Briggs, over 20 volunteers and 10 talented demo artists who engaged visitors – thanks to everyone involved. David Savellano did a great job at judging the show. A huge thanks to Museum curator Ken MacLennan and the staff for all their help including publicity. Over thirty 2D & 3D pieces were sold . We hope artists enjoyed being a part of the show as much as we enjoyed organizing it. 

Up next is PAL’s Pals Youth Art Show & Competition at Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center. We are really excited to have Rekha Joshi leading this project as our Show Chair. Rekha has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, and enjoys working in a variety of mediums. Teaching art is her passion, so she founded Nirmitee Arts, to conduct classes for kids and adults. She has been teaching for over 20 years and volunteers with various art groups. She exhibits on both local and international levels. Rekha says, “I always like to encourage young artists to showcase their talent and creativity! The PAL’s Pals program has the same objective and so I decided to lead the show. This is a great opportunity for Middle and High school students to showcase work, receive judges’ feedback and recognition that will add merit for college applications.” Joining her on the Committee are PAL members Reena Babu, Galina Volkova, Marion Huff and Lorraine Wells. Please spread the word and let’s give our budding artists a wonderful opportunity to participate in an art show like a Pro! 

In the new few pages of this Portfolio, read all about our John Muir Health Show in Walnut Creek, the PAL Art Day Out at Alden Lane in Livermore, PAL Member Wall at the Firehouse and PAL Workshop with Lisa Rigge at the Amador Recreation Center in Pleasanton. Oh what fun!

Best Wishes,

Meghana Mitragotri

---

Thank you MOM/PAL Demo Artists

 

PAL is very grateful to the ten members who performed 20 sessions of wonderful art demonstration at Pleasanton’s Museum on Main, as part of our show “Imagination Expressed 2023”. Some of these artists also sold art during their demos! When asked about their experiences, this what some had to say:

Tuan Karsevar – “I really enjoyed sharing my painting process and hopefully it can add some value to other artists. On top of that, I learned a lot from the audience who shared their knowledge during the demo.”

Peggy Magovern – “I think the demos are a fantastic way for people to see just how possible it is to learn a new skill, especially a creative skill that allows for personal growth and discovery. Any questions a visitor might have about art becoming a new activity can be answered, but the personal encouragement that comes from this meeting can perhaps make the difference between a dream and reality.”

Nancy Roberts – “I enjoyed my “faux plein air” demos at the PAL show! I was really inspired by the great questions, suggestions and encouragement from the small, friendly group of fellow artists. We all learned from each other! Just a day before my demo, I’d been painting at the Lafayette Reservoir and the whole sparkling scene was still fresh in my memory — and my brush!” 

Deepti Saraswat – “Doing a demo is wonderful to bring awareness and appreciation of the arts. In addition to my love and gravitation towards watercolors, I enjoy representing Art Originating from different parts of India in different media like acrylics, oils and charcoal pencils. In the future I would love to bring these beautiful and enjoyable art styles to the attention of more people here.” 

Eugenia Zobel – “I have been performing art demonstrations at the Museum since PAL’s very first show here and I have loved every minute of it. I think demos are important for the community and also help the art association.”

Meghana Mitragotri – “One of my favourite things to do is perform art demos for the public. The sheer joy of sharing with each other what we discover in our artistic journeys, is just amazing. This also gives me an opportunity to let people know ‘Don’t be afraid of watercolors, we can fix things!’ I was thrilled that my demo painting found a loving home!”

---

Report on MOM/PAL Show, Imagination Expressed

The MoM/PAL Show, Imagination Expressed, at the Museum on Main has been a great success! Thank you to those who helped with the show and those who demonstrated their skills and those who posted photos of the art online. There were many visitors – especially on days when we had our artists demonstrating. Despite the nasty weather on many days we should be very proud that our community came out to support our efforts and the Museum. It’s a positive experience for both organizations. A special thanks goes to Ken MacLennan, the Museum’s curator, who has worked with us and the public on sales, set up for demos and more, all to make sure the show has run smoothly! I look forward with the support of all of you wonderful artists, to making the show even more successful in 2024!

Christine Bourg, Show Chair

---

PAL President’s March 2023 Message plus New PAL Board Members. Welcome!

I am happy to share that all PAL Board positions are filled, and we now have a full PAL Board of Directors for 2023! Every Board Member brings in unique skills and experience that contribute towards making operations smooth, and of course, we all learn immensely as we grow into these roles.

Our newest Board Members are PAL Secretary Alana Shoars, Hospitality Chair Tejal Shah and Co-Chairing Programs with me is Jan Loomis. 

PAL Secretary: Alana Shoars

Alana Shoars was born in Oakland but grew up in the Mid-West.  She spent 30+ years in corporate American holding a variety of Information technology management roles.  She is a self-taught artist who has been painting with a variety of mediums since she was 13 years old.   She now works with acrylics.  Alana has a weakness, she cannot go into an art supply store and come out without buying a new paint brush.   She jokes about starting the Pleasanton Chapter of “Paint Brush Buyers Anonymous”.

PAL Hospitality Chair: Tejal Shah 

Tejal Shah is a mixed media artist from San Francisco, CA. She paints from her soul and dances like no one is watching. She is an art educator & artist. She enjoys using various mediums and colors in her artwork. Nature’s colors are her source of inspiration. She learned various forms of art from her since childhood. Her love for art stays within her, and she finally decided to turn her passion into a profession. Her paintings are a collection of realism, impressionism, and abstract art. She makes epoxy art that includes Geode artwork and functional art pieces.

Along with pursuing her artistic journey, she received a Master’s Degree in Home Economics from M.S. University in India and a Master’s from California State East Bay Hayward, CA, in healthcare administration. She has always been passionate about art, creativity, painting, etc. She finds art to be meditative, divine, inspiring, peaceful, and a happy place for her to be in.

Please check out her work on her website (www.colorurimagination.com)

PAL Programs Co-Chair: Jan Loomis

Having the need for perpetual learning, Jan Loomis’s life has been spent pursuing art classes that have allowed her to explore the making of pottery, jewelry, assemblages, fiber arts and painting in various mediums. Her work is based on nature, which is abstract to reflect the mood of time and place. She is a lover of the art of Wabi Sabi and values salvaging old objects that speak for the past. Her hope is that her art will elicit a sense of calm and peace. 

Jan says, “As an artist my goal is to continue developing the skills and techniques needed to bring my work from mind to hand. As PAL Programs Co-Chair, I hope to help introduce new mediums to our members, while continuing to explore the areas that will further our goals as artists.”

Thanks so much to these wonderful members for accepting these roles and all the very best. Your contributions to PAL will be invaluable.

Big thanks to our Officer for Nominations, Lisa Rigge, for recruiting these talented individuals. 

A list of PAL Board Members and partners is available here https://www.pal-art.com/home/about-us/

Best wishes,
Meghana Mitragotri, PAL President

---

PAL President’s February 2023 Message

It’s been a great start to the year, and I want to convey my gratitude to PAL’s member volunteers who work diligently to create excitement for our artists and the Tri-Valley community. From PAL Wall, Art Circuit, shows, art demos, workshops, and TVAST to general meetings — our volunteers are getting ready for it all!

Please find online and printable versions of the PAL 2023 Calendar of Events on our website https://www.pal-art.com/pal-2023-calendar-of-events/, This calendar will be updated periodically.

One of our goals is to build partnerships and engage artists of all ages in our community. We are very thrilled to build a new partnership with Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center this year. The center has invited us and generously offered space to host various art activities. We’re looking forward to hosting the PAL’s Pals youth art show at this wonderful venue in April.

Here are some kind words from Andres Ripa, General Manager, Stoneridge Shopping Center:

“Stoneridge is a Regional family shopping center with plenty to offer. We have over 160 stores including name brands, regional and local shops. We strive on partnering with the local community in order to see our community thrive. Our partnership with PAL is a step in the right direction and something we hope to continue to execute on a yearly basis. When we first met the PAL Board, we fell in love with the story of helping young art students bring out their creativity and share a location where they can demonstrate these skills. On top of an art display project, the opportunity for students in our community to win scholarships as part of PAL’s initiatives, is something Stoneridge Shopping Center is fond of.”

Cheers to good times ahead! Meghana Mitragotri President, Pleasanton Art League

---

Report on Reception and Judging at MOM Show

The reception for the Museum on Main/PAL show held on January 21st was a huge success! There were over 200 visitors to the Museum including artists, their friends and families and members of the community who came in to see the art. There were over 150 pieces created and displayed by 60 artists. Our judge David Savellano presented 10 awards and made insightful comments in a delightfully animated way about each winning piece. Many people commented on the beautiful and varied art on display. PAL members should be proud of the quality and diversity of the art we produce. Special thanks go to the show helpers, Ron Rigge, Brian Bourg, Bill Potter, John DeVilliers, Barbara Blissert, Lisa Rigge, Annette Mack, George and Linda Garbarino, Lorraine Wells, and Peggy Magovern.

The judge for the show was Bay Area artist David Savellano. David worked as an architect for 40 years and then became a full time artist. His specialty is plein air watercolor paintings that capture random moments – on the street, in nature, and wherever else his portable easel takes him. David is also an accomplished teacher. His expert instruction enables students to improve their artistic skills and knowledge.

Enjoy the show at Museum on Main, 603 Main Street, Pleasanton until March 25 and online HERE. 

MOM Show Chair Christine Bourg, Merit Award Winner Nataliya Gavrilova and Judge David Savellano.

MoM/PAL Show Winners:

Best in Show:

• Peggy Magovern  for “Carol w/ Blue Sweater”

Merit Awards:

• Ron Rigge for “Washing”
• Nataliya Gavrilova for “Apples”
• Helene Roylance for “Large Blue Plate”

Honorable Mentions;

• Reena Babu for “Palms”
• Janine Heath for “Koi Fish Guitar”
• Meghana Mitragotri for “Bundle of Joy 2”
• Jill Vellinger for “Transforming Light”
• Elena Morris for “Livermore Vineyard”
• Ranjini Venkatachari for “Artist’s Block”

 

Photos (Award Winners & Candids) from the PAL/MOM Show “Imagination Expressed 2023” Reception. Winning Artist not shown in photos—Merit Award: Helene Roylance. Click on thumbnail to view the images full size.

David Savellano, MoM Show Judge

Happy Artist awaiting their awards

Best of Show, Peggy Magovern

Merit 1 Natalyia Gavrilova

Merit Award, Ron Rigge

HM no. 1 Reena Babu

HM no. 2 Janine Heath

HM no. 3 Meghana Mitragotri

HM no. 4 Elena Morris

HM no. 5 Jill Vellinger

HM no. 6 Ranjini Venkatacchari

Artists listening to the Awards Ceremony

Charlotte Severin

---

PAL President’s January 2023 Message

PAL President’s Message The year 2022 began with uncertainty as we were emerging from the shadows of the pandemic, but as a team we have shown great resilience and spirit across this year, for which I am forever indebted to everyone involved! Our PAL Board members have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in streamlining processes and operations efficiently.

Here are some of the highlights of 2022.

• Created and documented formal job descriptions for every Board position 
• Standardized & built consistency around art show formats including guidelines, prospectuses, entry forms, awards 
• New & improved online registration process with volunteer, demo options & easy Sign ups 
• Revamped, stabilized and automated membership process • Hassle-free & secure customer payment options 
• Robust budget & accounts reporting system • Refined the Constant Contact communications process in collaboration with LAA 
• Resumed Art Circuit, Workshop, PAL Wall, and Scholarship programs. 
• Increased Publicity & Social Media efforts have resulted in significant follow ship
• 18 fun & interactive art demonstrations by members showcasing a variety of artistic talents at Museum on Main & Firehouse Arts Center 
• A great website with 35 beautiful individual and three group show online galleries 
• PAL awareness and outreach programs led to a significant growth in membership (Thanks, Studio Seven Art Gallery, Downtown Pleasanton) 
• Launched our first juried show “Healing Spaces” in association with John Muir Health, Walnut Creek 
• First time participation in Livermore’s premier ArtWalk (Thanks, Anne Giancola) PAL was recognized to receive two City Art Proclamations from the Pleasanton Mayor and Council members (Thanks, Alameda County Arts Commission) 
• Partnered with nonprofit organization, Cantabella Children’s Chorus to create one of the best art opening receptions.

 

Now looking forward into 2023, we hope to continue to measure and improve all above achievements while building new partnerships. We look forward to providing increased engagements to artists of all ages with many new surprises including four fantastic General Meeting speakers (2D & 3D) and bringing back PAL’s Pals (in-person) Youth Art Show for Middle and High Schoolers. We stand alongside LAA and DAC, collectively promoting and bringing creativity and positivity into our communities. For these partnerships, we are eternally grateful! Jan Loomis, we will dearly miss your invaluable and meticulous work as our 2022 PAL Secretary! Thank you all for your continued support and participation in PAL and all its efforts, and giving me the opportunity in this role again! Kindly renew your memberships with PAL and continue to help our family grow.

My best wishes to you all for happy & healthy 2023!

Meghana Mitragotri, 2023 President, Pleasanton Art League

---

PAL’s 15th Annual Fall Members’ Show

From top left: Entries from Alan Frank, Linda Geniesse, Claudette McDermott From bottom left: Entries from Mike D’Amelio, Melissa Mandegarian, Susan Helmer

PAL’s 15th Annual Fall Members’ Show

October 29 to December 17, 2022

PAL’s Fifteenth Annual Fall Members’ Show featured 75 2D and 3D works – oils, acrylics, watercolor, linocut, pen & colored pencil, pastels, encaustic hot wax, fused glass, and porcelain art – all by PAL artists. During the show, multiple live artist demonstrations were scheduled. See Demo section below. Read about the show in Pleasanton Weekly HERE. View online show HERE.

Reception Report 

Seema Mahboob judged the show and awarded a Best in Show, three Merit Awards and four Honorable Mentions. Seema did her Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Punjab University. She has extensive experience in teaching both drawing and painting. Her paintings are with numerous private collectors. She is currently teaching at Center for Community Arts and Mount Diablo Adult Education. Her area of focus is in human figure and portraits. Examples of her work are on Instagram:@seemamahboob.art0

Visitors voted for for two additional People’s Choice Awards between October 29 and November 11. PAL is fortunate that the People’s Choice Award this year is sponsored by Livermore’s Way Up Art & Frame, a favorite resource for all Tri-Valley artists.

Awards were presented at a reception on Saturday, November 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. PAL was honored that the Best in Show was awarded by Pleasanton’s Mayor, Karla Brown.

The reception started with a performance by the award-winning Cantabella Children’s Chorus.   Awards immediately followed the performance.  The Cantabella’s Honors Choir and Chamber Choir were featured. The Honors Choir is composed of selected treble voices who have demonstrated the highest quality of musicianship and vocal abilities. Its ensemble is composed of 7^th to 12^th grade students dedicated to intensive past and present rehearsals. In addition, the Chamber Choir is comprised of advanced singers in the 7^th through 12^th grades.

Cantabella Children’s Chorus and Mayor Brown

PAL Firehouse Show Chairs Linda Garbarino, Pat Smith, and George Garbarino

Mayor Karla Brown speaking at PAL’s 2022 Members’ Show Reception

Peggy Magovern receiving her Best in Show Award from Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown for her Color Pencil / Paste piece entitled “Wakened Dream”

Best in Show; “Wakened Dream” by Peggy Magovern; Color Pencil / Pastel

Linda Garbarino receiving her Merit Award for her Mixed Media piece “Afternoon of the Geishas”

Merit Award; “Afternoon of the Geishas” by Linda Garbarino; mixed media

Christine Bourg receiving a Merit Award for her Mixed Media piece entitled “Cat Nap”

Merit Award; “Cat Nap” by Christine Bourg; Mixed Media

Merit Award; “Grist Mill” by Ron Darcey; Oil

Tuan Karsevar receives an Honorable Mention Award for his Oil painting “Joy And Reminisce”

Honorable Mention; “Joy And Reminisce” by Tuan Karsevar; Oil on Canvas

Alan Frank receiving an Honorable Mention Award for his Chromogenic Print entitled “Lone Pine, Spring Gulch”

Honorable Mention; “Lone Pine, Spring Gulch” by Alan Frank; Chromogenic Print

Honorable Mention, “In the Wings” by John DeVilliers; Pan Pastel

Honorable Mention; “Sunshine Blue 02” by Usha Shukla; Oil

Charlotte Severin receiving the People’s Choice Award for her watercolor on Yupo entitled “Filoli Gardens”

Janice Carmo receiving a People’s Choice Award for her Colored Pencil piece entitled “Camera Shy”

---

Ten Wonderful PAL Art Demonstrations at the Firehouse during PAL’s 15th Annual Fall Members’ Show

Sincere thanks to all ten PAL Demo Artists who performed wonderful art demonstrations at the Harrington Gallery as part of PAL’s 15th Members’ Show. The audience was just in awe of the creative techniques with encaustic hot wax, acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, east asian brush painting, enamel painting on fused glass and soft pastels. Participating demo artists: Claudette McDermott, Peggy Magovern, Emelie Rogers, Ranjini Venkatachari, Meghana Mitragotri, Rhonda Chase, Leta Eydelberg, Wei-Ting Chuang, Nancy Roberts, and Olga Symonenko. Art demonstrations are always a wonderful way of sharing the love of what one loves doing the most, and PAL is happy to create these opportunities for members who are open to share art styles with the public. These are great ways of promoting self, the ongoing show, the organization, and the venues we partner with. Many artists also use these platforms to brush up public speaking skills and overcome stage fear. So let’s embrace and welcome these exciting opportunities as we bring the demo series once again in our next show in January “Imagination Expressed 2023” – Your PAL Board. T

 

---

PAL President’s December 2022 Message

PAL Firehouse Show Chairs Linda Garbarino, Pat Smith, and George Garbarino

What a perfect way to wrap up 2022! PAL’s 15th Annual Fall Members’ Show reception at the Firehouse was very successful with a huge turnout, and we’re thankful to everyone who could attend. The performance by the Cantabella Children’s Chorus’ Honors Choir and Chamber Choir was truly wonderful. A big thank you to Show Chairs Pat Smith, Linda & George Garbarino for all their dedication & hard work. Heartfelt thanks to Lynda Briggs for arranging all the refreshments. Thanks to PAL webmaster Marion Huff for her work on the website and beautiful online gallery of the show https://www.pal- art.com/fifteenth-annual-members-show-gallery/ , and our graphic designer Lorraine Wells for creating the flyer. This show would not have been possible without the incredible support from Program Assistant, Harrington Gallery Curator Sydney Tang, Recreation Supervisor Mark Duncanson and all the staff at the Firehouse. Thanks to Way Up Art & Frame for sponsoring one of the Merit Awards and to Seema Mahboob for judging the show. We’re very grateful to Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown & Vice Mayor Valerie Arkin for gracing the occasion! To all 75 participants including 11 demo artists & volunteers- You are amazing! A huge team effort indeed!

2022 has truly been a year to remember with remarkable achievements. My heartfelt thanks to all the Board Members including officers & Show Chairs, partners, members and volunteers for all their time and effort in making PAL reachable and accessible to community members of all ages. Up next in
January, PAL’s 15th Members’ Show at Museum on Main,

“Imagination Expressed 2023” – I hope PAL members will enter this first show of 2023! I wish you all the happiest of holidays

PAL President’s November 2022 Message

2022 Paint Pleasanton Committee.
Alka Vaidya, Rebecca Davies, Lorraine Wells, Ritu Ahluwalia, Marion Huff

RAIN or SHINE, everything turned out super fine at 2022 Paint Pleasanton! The last thing we needed was rain, and it just had to happen that one Sunday! An easy way out could have been just to cancel the event altogether. But committee members Lorraine Wells, Alka Vaidya, Rebecca Davies, Marion Huff and Ritu Ahluwalia, along with the staff at Pleasanton’s Museum on Main were determined to go ahead with this event against all odds. Big thanks to this incredible team! Thanks to Arnie Heller for taking photographs during the art show. Heartfelt thanks to all the artists who not only came out in support of this event, but also for constantly sharing painting progress and vlogs over social media. We’re grateful to the Pleasanton Weekly for publishing a great article that includes comments from a couple of new artists. Read it here https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/2022/10/02/city-in-the-spotlight-for-paint-pleasanton-2022

Thanks to all the artists that have entered PAL’s 15th Annual Fall Members’ Show at the Firehouse. Everyone is invited to the reception and awards on Saturday, November 12 at 1:00. The reception will include a special performance by the Cantabella Children’s Chorus, an award-winning group that we are thrilled to partner with. The group’s Honors Choir and Chamber Choir will be in attendance for the event. The Honors Choir is composed of selected treble voices who have demonstrated the highest quality of musicianship and vocal abilities. Its ensemble is composed of 7th to 12th grade students dedicated to intensive past and present rehearsals. In addition, the Chamber Choir is comprised of advanced singers in the 7th through 12th grades.

Best Wishes, Meghana Mitragotri

PAL Recognized and Received Art Proclamation

PAL Recognized and Received Art Proclamation at City Council Meeting for the second time in 2022! It was an honor to represent the Pleasanton Art League and accept an Art Proclamation to recognize October 2022 as National Arts and Humanities Month at the Pleasanton City Council meeting with Mayor Karla Brown and City Council members on October 18; this Proclamation was shared with the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council (PCAC) . A big THANK YOU to the PAL Board, members, volunteers, and partners for all the support. Heartfelt thanks to the Alameda County Arts Commission for initiating art advocacy at all City Levels. The meeting was broadcast live on Channel 29 and YouTube. Watch PAL President Meghana Mitragotri’s acceptance speech (49 minutes 52 seconds into the meeting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOBErZMkse4&t=2996s

Photo credit: Chuck Deckert. From the left: Councilmember Kathy Narum, Vice Mayor Valerie Arkin, Councilmember Julie Testa, PAL President Meghana Mitragotri, PCAC President Kelly Cousins, Mayor Karla Brown, and Councilmember Jack Balch.

PAL Booth at ArtWalk:

Sandra Myers, John DeVilliers, 2022 PAL Scholarship winner Elani Scott, Ashley Chase, Rhonda Chase

Sandra Myers, 2022 PAL Scholarship winner Elani Scott, Rhonda Chase, Ashley Chase

This year, four PAL member artists shared a booth at ArtWalk with PAL liaison, Treasurer & artist John DeVilliers. We had quite the varied group in experience, artistic styles and even media, which demonstrated the breadth and variety of PAL’s membership. While John spoke to attendees about the advantages of joining PAL, Elani Scott (one of the recipients of the 2022 PAL Scholarship Award), Ashley Chase (3-D artist) Sandra Myers (painter) and I, Rhonda Chase (jewelry artist and painter) showed recent works. The five artists got to know each other over the course of the day; learning about Ashley’s origami and sculpture, Elani’s impassioned drawings, my path through art media, and enjoying Sandra’s painting demonstrations.

The PAL booth was located at the new Livermorium Plaza, where visitors could find other art organizations as well, making for a fun day filled with many artists, and a vast sea of amazing artwork.

A big thank you to PAL Vice president George Garbarino for arranging the art panels.

– Rhonda Chase

Paint Pleasanton 2022

Twenty nine artists from far and wide gathered again this year to paint plein air the many historic and beautiful locations in and around the City of Pleasanton during Paint Pleasanton 2022. Starting at the Museum on Main (MOM), 603 Main Street, Pleasanton, on Saturday, Sept. 17 for sign in and ending back inside MOM (due to rain) on Sunday afternoon Sept. 18 for judging, awards and the viewing and purchasing of art. PAL is especially grateful to MOM not only for hosting the event but especially for opening up to the public on Sunday and allowing judging, viewing and awards to proceed inside. The open museum was greeted enthusiastically by everyone.  Many attendees had not been inside the museum before. 

Inklings Coffee donated a Peoples Choice Award and Primrose Bakery wonderful cookies to add to the festivities.  Let’s show our appreciation for their contribution by shopping at their businesses.

Many persons helped make this event memorable.The artists themselves; Sarah Schaefer and Ken MacLennan of the Museum on Main; Paint Pleasanton committee members Lorraine Wells, Alka Vaidya, Rebecca Davies, and Marion Huff; PAL president Meghana Mitragotri and family; PAL hospitality chair Ritu Ahluwalia; Linda and George Garbarino and Arnie Heller for taking photos; many of those already mentioned for publicizing the event before and after.

View many of the beautiful paintings created HERE.

Read about the event in Pleasanton Weekly HERE.

Thanks especially to our judge Georganne Zaro who shared insights from her long career regarding plein air painting. Georganne presented the following awards:

• Best of  Show: Rolando Barrero – “Firehouse”
• Merit Awards:
• Birgit Spaulding – “Sycamore Sky”
• Malavika Oak – “Coffee at Inklings”
• Honorable Mentions:
• Tuan Karsevar – “Red Chairs”
• Shrey Purohit – “Bernal Landscape”
• Jenna Hobbs – “Arroyo del Valle”
• Alka Vaidya presented the People’s Choice Award to: Rolando Barrero – “Firehouse”