Marika Bordes at the 2016 ArtsFest.

City Officials Give SAL the Green Light for Build-Out of Gallery Space

More good news from SAL’s vice president, Joe Saenz. On July 28, Saenz met with City of Seguin officials to give them an update on the first floor asbestos removal. In a surprise move, after Saenz explained the magnitude of funds that will be needed to renovate both floors of SAL’s new facility, city officials granted SAL per-mission to build out a main floor gallery space, while fundraising efforts continue for the overall restoration of the building.

Featured Artist

Roger BetschlerPage 4

Evolving Perspective: The Seguin Art League and The Communityby Marika Bordes, President

There is a time for everything in life and my belief is that we are as connected to the past as we are to the place where we stand today. Nevertheless, our stories evolve and unwittingly, we set off on a new journey with respect for the unknown. Through silence and reflexion I found your voice and the voice of many forged into one, asking with a tender hope that we fulfill our dream of becoming a cultural beacon.

As we journey forth, we broaden our perspective and expand our cultural horizon. The Seguin Art League has three core services: exhibitions and special events, art classes, and demonstrations.

This year, in order to expand our cultural horizon, we applied for grants that will propel our community outreach to a whole new level. By adding veterans, wounded warriors and the elderly on our list of programs, we are injecting constructive possibilities and alternatives to our services while engaging a new sector of the population. By undertaking this new area for community outreach, there are endless possibilities for the organization to grow and become the cultural beacon of the region. Life is anything but a straight line, but we will persevere and succeed for the greater good of the community.

Oct 1 Plein Air Event @ Walnut Springs Park

Oct 18 Open Studio @ Mosaic Community Center

Pecan Fest Heritage DaysOct TBD “Our Best To You” Member Show

November 21-22, 28-292 Point Perspective ClassHome Sweet Home @ Woodman Family Center

Yulefest First weekend in December

Fall 2016

BRUSHSTROKES

Renovation Committee Prepares for the Next Stepby Joe Saenz, Renovation Committee Chair

“What’s the next step?”

This first reaction came from a long-time member just after comple-tion of our asbestos removal project. Like the rest of our member-ship, she is full of anticipation. Aren’t we all eager to commission a new gallery? Can it happen too soon?

“The roof is self-demolishing! I’m so glad the Art League is my neighbor.”

The “self-demolishing” comment came from a new member as he observed the sad condition of our roof. It expresses the harsh reality that funds are needed now to begin solving the problem. Inescap-ably, the work ahead is challenging. We should, however, appreciate the spirit behind the businessman’s good neighbor sentiment. It represents a sincere, important recognition of our accomplishments to date. After all, we’ve become an organization of higher standards bringing our projects to-date under budget.

Moving forward, there is no reason reason why the roof can’t be re-furbished. Design of the new roof system is complete. We must con-tinue to aggressively raise the funds necessary to begin construction as soon as possible, or mother nature will ultimately have her way.

The next step is an exciting public involvement process to define the layout of the building interior. A new team of architects and engineers will be hired to lead this concept design. The team will be selected based on their qualifications to continue with the design of the complete renovation, as funds become available.

Strategic Planningby Carmen Davila

I am a new member to SAL and have enjoyed it very much. I was asked to serve on the publicity committee to help bring awareness to our organization. My background is in graphic design, communi-cations and public relations. I have extensive knowledge and skills in nonprofit work and I thoroughly enjoy supporting our community. I wanted to be able to speak publicly about SAL and serve where needed as we continue to engage with the community. As a new member, I recognized many exciting things happening within the

art league as well as the many ideas and expectations that our members bring forth.

To serve a good purpose for all involved, I began to share the ideas of holding strategic planning sessions so that all members could be on the same page. We have several different committees managing multiple tasks for our nonprofit organization and we needed to streamline these efforts as we are limited on resources and volunteers. In various meetings, we recognized the need to work in tangent on similar goals in order to be more productive. (Cont’d. page 3)

First floor floor before asbestos removal.

Second floor with pools used to catch rain water.

SAL building display.

2

Annual Art Exhibits Showcase Students Workby Roger Betschler, Community Outreach Committee Chair

What a wonderful Elementary and Middle School Art Show we had at the Mosaic Community Center on Valentine’s Day! We had artwork from as far away as San Marcos and Schertz. We were blessed to have Alligator Dental with all their enthusiasm sponsor this show, so our reception table featured “hearts and gators”. The students and parents enjoyed the show, along with the Chihuly project, and the acrostic activity.

And then there was the High School Art Show in May at GRMC’s (Guadalupe Regional Medical Center) Selig Room. The amazing body of art work came from Seguin, Marion, Stockdale, San Marcos, Steele (Cibo-lo) and Floresville. ZDT, El Ranchito, and Schlitterbahn donated door prizes. Along with SAL’s individual artist awards, it made for an exciting reception for the students, parents, and teachers. Prudy Kinsel, watercolorist; Val Cardenas, sketch artist; and Wes Ames Art Studio, comic art; entertained everyone with demonstrations.

This is the 8th year for the Elementary/Middle School Art Show and the 7th year for the High School Art Show. Over the years we have learned that planning early, locating a venue, securing a sponsor, and advertising is critical. As show day approaches, volunteers are critical to help make the event successful. During this entire process, SAL’s Community Outreach Committee is the backbone for our success. Committee members are Roger Betschler, chair; Liz Romero, Lorraine Alto, Donna Maske, Marisol Busskohl, and Dina Scales.

And soon, plans for the 2017 shows need to begin. Will you volunteer or sponsor the show?

We began the strategic planning process by taking a survey from all members. Survey responses showed that our membership wanted our funding and building to take priority over all other projects. With this input in mind, we began to meet and go over strategic processes that need to take place. We had two sessions and were able to set some initial goals for our organizations. The first goal is to develop work plans for each standing committee. This will serve as a guide for all members to see what plans are in place for 2017. The second goal is to double our traditional revenue resources in 2017. To do this we must focus on what is working and build on improving our events to make them more marketable and successful. The third goal is focused soley on captial grants. Each of these goals will have a set of objectives and details to support our direction towards success. For completed details, visit with the committee chairs.

We began our workshop planning in September. We look forward to all members’ support and encourage you to continue to offer your volunteered time in your respective areas of expertise.

Strategic Planning Cont’d.

Seguin Art League (SAL) 2016 High School Art Show

Left to Right: 2nd Place Winner, Elizabeth Pollock, Steele High School; Honorable Mention, Logan Daniel, Marion High School;Marika Bordes, SAL; 1st Place Winner, Melody Richards, Steele

High School; Honorable Mention, Charlie Hernandez, Seguin High School; Lorraine Alto and Liz Romano, SAL.

SAL GOALS Goal 1: Complete subcommitee work plans for 2017.

Goal 2: Increase SAL traditional revenue.

Goal 3: Increase SAL capital grant revenue.

3

Featured Artist, Roger Betschlerby Douglas Manger

Who could have guessed, a Wisconsin farm boy drawn to the “geometrics” of the landscape. One wonders, did his ability to imprint the rolling contours before him, awash in rich hues of green, foretell his future as an artist? Certainly the leap from dairy barn to art studio was formidable, but Roger Betschler did just that.

Entering college, Roger’s interests led him away from the agricultural studies his parents hoped he would pursue, to the one discipline he felt would offer him the most joy. Once enrolled in the art de-partment, landscapes became the centerpiece of his work. “I liked playing with the surface [of the canvas] a lot and then applying the shapes and colors,” Rog-er explained. His early minimalistic, shaped-canvas paintings conveyed the feel of the landscape he grew up with. For the first time, Roger offered, “I was really working to [my] internal parts…pulling them out to be judged.”

After graduate school Roger and his wife, Laurie, eventually found teaching jobs in Seguin. Over the next 22 years Roger taught art at Briesemeister Middle School. Challenged to make art relevant to his stu-dents, Roger stressed its practical value; for one, the choices students made in drawing, rather than being a burden, would help them make better choices in their lives ahead – truly a universal concept for all ages.

Since his retirement from teaching Roger’s personal work has blossomed. Life castings, landscape paint-ings (including a large “Market Day” collaborative painting with Terri Leyton portraying a Coahuiltecan trade fair encampment along the Guadalupe River, circa 1680s), merge now with his latest work, an ongoing series of raku-fired “Little Saints” inspired by Oaxaca artist, Alejandro Santiago’s seminal piece, ‘2501 Migrantes’.

As SAL’s community outreach committee chair, Roger is eager to see the Art League’s new downtown loca-tion up and running. Although he agrees exhibitions and visiting artists’ programs would be very positive, the new facility in his opinion should be viewed first and foremost as a teaching and learning center for all to ex-press themselves. After all, he concluded, “When you have people coming in, you’re getting the feeling of their soul, what they’re thinking.”

All photos by Douglas Manger.

“Market Day” collaborative painting.

“Little Saints” before firing.

“Crucifixion” painted plaster with metal spike.

“Brazened Topographical Planes” Acrylic on canvas

Betschler with “Little Saints”.

4

The Art League Reaps Benefits from The Big Give S.A.by Terri Leyton, Grants Committee Member

It took a team.

As you all know, not knowing what to expect, this past May we participated in THE BIG GIVE S.A. fundraiser for our first time. As it turned out, we raised $965.00. Beyond that we received an additional $1,500 in prize money. After fees, that brought us a check for a little under $2,500! We just found out that the prize money was a donation from GVTC for the most unique individual single donations between the hours of 7-8 pm on May 4th (the second day).

It took a team effort, though, to get those donations. A terrific video was created and posted on the SAL’s web-site and Facebook page to advertise the day to give to your favorite nonprofit— the Sequin Art League! Each member of SAL was asked to tell their doctor, dentist, coworkers, banker, and friends about the Art League and this great day of giving, this past May 3rd (and 4th, as it turned out).

It took all of us to bring in that money and it will take all of us again next May when we participate in THE BIG GIVE S.A. for the second time. This next time we’re going to have a big party to celebrate the giving day to-gether. The Art League is a terrific cause. Art inspires the imagination and creativity; it soothes, provokes, and connects people; it helps us think outside the box; it heals the troubled, instills confidence, and benefits both communities and individuals. Cities and towns revitalized through the arts and creative start-ups, attract even more like-minded businesses along with tourists, creating a powerful economic impact on these communities. We can do the same with our own creativity right here in Seguin.

Let’s start talking about next year’s THE BIG GIVE S.A., now!

Special thanks to our presenters

Donna Maske shared her color knowledge with members during her Color Theory presentation.

Myra Knapp in-trigued members as she informed artist on useful equipment when plein air painting.

2016 SAL Elected Officers:President: Marika BordesVice President: Joe SaenzSecretary: Nancy Kissiar Treasurer: Brenda MontagueParliamentarian: Liz Romero

Member Support Continue to tell your friends and family how they can become involved with SAL.

• Become a Seguin Art League member.• Donate to the building renovation. • Join an art class.• Become a volunteer.• Visit SeguinArtLeague.com

Contact:Seguin Art LeagueP. O. Box 445 Seguin TX 78156Email: seguinartleague@yahoo.com

Connecting the arts and our community.

5