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PAL Happenings

Covid Brings New Urgency for an On-Line Presence: A few members from LAA, PAL, and the Dublin Arts Collective are coming together to brainstorm, learn, and begin to put into place a strategy for moving many of our events to an on-line format; at least until we can again meet face-to-face, but perhaps long after. Even though there have been many cancellations, we are not short on great ideas and great content! Efforts will be centered around how to make our regular shows and events virtual (Member’s Show at the Firehouse and the MOM show), and how to manifest new ideas in a virtual way (on-line shows, live artist demos, virtual artist studio tours, a virtual artists flea market). It won’t happen all at once, since this will be a learning process. We are definitely in a new era and there’s never been a better time to make this move! As Winston Churchill said, “never let a good crisis go to waste”. If you have knowledge to share, or an interest to learn and be a part of the team, please send an email to Beth Okurowski bokurowski@comcast.net

Other PAL Happenings: Well, we’ve made it to September of this topsy-turvy year. Last Saturday night’s rare August storm fit right in as one of 2020’s weird events! Maybe we’ll have a UFO sighting or find Bigfoot (not much would surprise me, at this point!)! While almost all of our programming has been canceled, the PAL board continues on projects. Some recent developments include:

PAL recently donated $300 in crayons and glue sticks to Valley View Elementary School in Pleasanton, for their at-home art program (See article in this issue of the Portfolio). Meghana, our Scholarship Chairperson has been busy working out the details with Irma Grant, the art teacher there. Two other schools that were on our short list to receive help with supplies have suspended their art programs (Marylin Avenue School in Livermore and Tracy SDA Christian School in Tracy).

East Bay Open Studios update – The PAL group at the Firehouse had done a great job planning their EBOS weekend in June before everything was shut down. Organizers remain hopeful that they will have an event this fall, even though many are doubtful it will happen. The organizers are going forward with their artist catalog as a way of promoting the artists, and giving a discount to participate next year. Many artists would like a refund with the remaining funds, but EBOS is not willing to do that at this point.

Storage – Our storage rent has been increased to $208 per month at Cubesmart. The 8×10 storage locker is primarily used for storing our show flats, signage, banners, and supplies for workshops and meetings. We have talked to the manager to see if a lower rate is possible, but without success. We are looking for other options. If you know of a place with easy access and a low monthly rate, please let me know. It could be on personal property, or at a traditional storage facility.

Extension of terms for PAL officers – We are extending the current PAL board term to minimize disruption during the lockdown. Normally, we would be having elections this fall, but it would be a difficult transition right now. No timeline has been set for the election of new officers.

Beth Okurowski