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05/09/2023 01:36 PMGuilford Art League (GAL) president Sheila Kaczmarek is offering an open invitation to local artists to join her at the art league’s upcoming Carry-In Supper and to consider joining this remarkable group.
The Carry-In Supper, a potluck event, is set for Thursday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the Gallery at Guilford Art Center. The evening can serve as an introduction to the art league for those who would like to learn more from the night’s gathering of members among the league’s current roster of 150 prolific artists. The broad membership extends well beyond the borders of Guilford to include artists from many area towns as well as from other areas around the state.
In conjunction with the supper, Sheila will head up a brief business meeting, which she hopes will provide the spark to inspire others to consider taking on some open leadership roles within this all-volunteer organization.
Founded in Guilford in 1947, “...the art league used to show art on a clothesline they strung up on the green,” says Sheila.
For her part, Sheila has been involved with the league for at least 25 years, with over 20 years (and counting) serving as president.
A native of England, Sheila is an accomplished artist and art instructor. She signed on as a league member not long after she and her husband, Leonard Kaczmarek, moved to Guilford from California. The couple arrived in Connecticut due to Leonard’s professorship at Yale University’s School of Medicine.
“I first got involved with an amazing group of eight or nine women artists in North Guilford who worked collaboratively. That’s how I got into the art scene in Guilford,” Sheila recalls. “I put a painting in a [GAL] juried show, and it got in. And from then on, I was involved in the art league.”
Sheila also joined area artists’ groups, including the New Haven Paint and Clay Club, for which she served as a board member for several years.
Sheila hopes the May 18 Carry-In Supper’s brief business meeting may help to fill some open board positions and other organizational functions and leadership roles for the art league. At present, the board includes Sheila and treasurer Denise Casey, who also oversees membership.
Volunteer and leadership role needs they’re hoping to see filled would help in supporting areas, including exhibitions, programs, membership, treasury, and communications with members.
“We’re looking to get people involved. The more people we can get involved, the less each person will have to do,” says Sheila.
That being said, Sheila is very grateful to those current members comprising a hearty group of core volunteers assisting with GAL events, exhibits, and programs.
“We rely on them!” says Sheila. “We have such wonderful people, such as Sandy Kensler and Joan McPherson, who organize the art show in the Community Center. That is a great job and a great opportunity for members to show their work.”
The art league has presented seasonal exhibits of members’ work at the Guilford Community Center for many years, mainly in its second-floor Menunkatuck Room. Due to appreciative community response, beginning with the 2023 winter exhibit (February through mid-April), GAL was asked to extend the exhibits into the stairwell and downstairs hallway, where even more people can enjoy them.
Now in its 73rd year of operation, the art league continues its efforts to promote and stimulate interest in the visual arts. GAL members and associates also learn and benefit from their association with one another. The art league encourages member artists of all ages, abilities, mediums, and styles to participate in events such as its summer Expo and the Annual Juried Show and Sale.
The league uses the north side of the green to show summer Expo works. The event coincides with Guilford Art Center’s Expo in July, although the two programs are entirely independent of one another. Upcoming GAL exhibitions, events, membership information, news, images of work from recent exhibits, and more can be found at www.guilfordartleague.org
One event Sheila and her fellow league members are certainly looking forward to is this month’s return of the in-person Carry-In Supper. A league tradition for many years, the last took place in 2019 before it was paused for three years due to the pandemic.
“We’ve had this supper for as long as I’ve been involved and in different places,” says Sheila. “The last few years before we stopped, it worked out really well in the Gallery at the Guilford Art Center. It’s also nice for us to have a look at whatever is being exhibited in the Gallery at the time.”
As a noted area artist, Sheila accepted an invitation to exhibit some of her paintings and sculptures within Guilford Art Center’s current “Light in Line” exhibit, which opened April 28 and runs through May 21.
Sheila creates her artwork at her home studio in Guilford, where she also provides art instruction to a group of 8 to 10 artists.
“They’re a great group of people, and I learn as much from them as they do from me!” she says.
Guilford Art League’s Carry-In Supper will take place Thursday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m., in the Gallery at Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street. Guests are asked to bring “potluck” appetizers, main dishes, or desserts that can be shared. Wine and soft drinks provided. Please RSVP in advance at 203-645-8827 or by email Sheila.f.kaczmarek@gmail.com.