So, how have you been staying busy? Sane? Or not? Let us know by sharing in our Facebook Group 
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A note from our President!

Finding friends with the same artistic disorder. Priceless!

Dear Glass friends-

We find ourselves at the beginning of month number 6 of a new and crazy world.  

It is hard to believe “we” have remained relatively calm/normal through this challenge, but it is the world that has gone ”crazy”.

Throughout literature, artists are often depicted as having some unusual characteristic or trait that makes them unique or different.  Some people even say crazy.  Right now, crazy feels normal, and I am sorry but no one knows what “normal” will be in the future.    

Normal can’t possibly be a world without; craft shows, gallery openings, concerts, plays, or theatre. It can’t be a world without restaurants, in person sporting events, or travel.  It can’t be about making decisions about whether to send you child or grandchild to school.  But unfortunately, this is the normal we are currently experiencing.  Crazy…yes!  Permanent…I hope and pray it is not.

So much is being debated right now- mask or no mask, school or no school, gatherings, or no gatherings…the list goes on and on.  It appears that some progress has been made, so “hope” is a good word to focus on right now.

I want to challenge my artistic friends.  How are you bringing “hope” to your world?  It may be something small, like making a bead a day, or it may be something large, like creating a new on-line class to share your skills.  Whatever it is, I want you to recognize the “hope” you can offer to yourselves, to others, and to the craziness we are currently facing. 

So many things to talk about as a group:

1. Just want to make sure that you all heard the news about Bead and Button being permanently cancelled.  Such a tragedy, that an event and publication that have been around for 25 years was not able to survive the craziness.

 

2. As of 8-3, The Birmingham Unitarian Church cannot rent the facility to the guild under current COVID restrictions.  There is a limit to size of group- 10 people only, and limitations on social distancing etc.  It is possible this may change, but unfortunately with the preparations for publications, mailings, and costs associated with the show, the SMGBG board determined the risks associated with doing the in-person show at the church this year, outweigh the benefits.  Unfortunately, there will be no in-person, Winter Wonders show in November 2020. 

However, If the membership wanted to try and do an on-line Winter Wonders event through the guild, the board would like to explore options.  In addition, there would need to be support from the guild to create this show.  And volunteers with on-line show experience or skills, or a person who has the willingness to figure out the moving parts would be needed to assist with the show.

 

3. We want to do a virtual happy hour on Friday, August 14 at 7:00pm.  It will be a zoom call and an invite will go out to the group via email.  Please mark it on your calendars-  nothing really formal, just conversation, sharing, and getting to see each other’s faces again!

 

4. We would like to do some Live demos, or featured artists, or even have our own members share what they are doing via video or zoom.      

Who would you like to learn from?  What technique or class might be good to offer virtually? 

Do you want to try a progressive challenge? Where we add a bead to a necklace or bracelet?  Or, a partnership challenge where we pair up and mail each other a bead or kit?   

What are some of your ideas?  Let’s talk during happy hour!

 

5. All refunds have been processed from the various shows we had put deposits on, and currently the bank account is at approximately

$7100.00.  Thank you Susan for your diligence in making sure we received our money back.

 

6. Thanks to the efforts of Miss Cyndy Gohsman, we were able to re-book the retreat space  at Lake Huron for 2021.  The new dates are October 15-17^th.  Let the planning begin!

 

7. We have elections coming up this year for the Treasurer and the Vice-President.  Have you thought about volunteering for a position?  

Please feel free to reach out to any of the board members to discuss.

 

Please feel free to reach out to any of the board members to discuss.

I think we could all benefit from more “hope” in our lives, in our art, and with our families, and especially in the new normal.  Because, in my heart I believe the new normal cannot exist without art, in all its many forms.  At least I “hope” it doesn’t.    

Looking forward to virtually seeing you next week.

Stay safe and healthy!                                                                                             Pam 

Pam Kellett
Drpamkellett@gmail.com or 248-709-3808

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