Meeting Minutes

NJMAG Meeting Summary 1/31/10
Hosted by NJCVA
 
Members present:  Gayle Mahoney, Jennifer Park, Cathy Dean, Sue Sloan, Susan Berry, Thea Clark, Ken MacBain, Cyndi Lieberman, Rachel Lieberman, Joan Cummings, Amy Lyons, Wwill Kmec, Patricia Meidel
 
Thea Clark recaps achievements of NJMAG’s first year:  held chasing workshop, mounted juried show of member work.  Ken MacBain gives details of juried show, various problems and challenges overcome, final success.
 
Thea Clark discussed possible goals for the future:  hosting a symposium, at Newark Museum, which could become a bif source of support for NJMAG.  Newark Museum already hosts an enamel conference.  Need to firm up groundwork that we have been laying.
 
Thea reports that NJMAG hosted trips last year, to SNAG conference in Philadelphia, PA, and to the Museum of arts and Design in NYC.  Patti from Gallery Loupe and Thea organized a presentation for NJMAG  at Newark Museum of artists from the gallery’s Dutch Jewelers Show.  Thea suggests a trip to the Crafts Library of the ACC before they move from NYC to Minneapolis, MN. Sue Sloan announces Gallery Loupe presentation of Israeli jewelers from current show, might be of interest
 
Committees are discussed.  These haven’t yet got off the ground, even though we have had people sign-up at a previous meeting. 
 
>>Marketing Committee: led by Gayle Mahoney.  She can outline what is needed.  Wants people to contribute content
 
Gayle reports on progress on the website.  Gayle will build a new website in Dreamweaver, and will upload when ready, in 2-3 weeks.  Gayle gives out her email, asks for people to submit images for the website. gayle.mahoney@mac.com
 
Gayle has started a blog called make a living making art, on how to make money from your art.  Exploring fun ways to market your work.  Would love for that to be a resource for the group.
 
Thea suggests having links on the website that are useful to people, such as  Suppliers, Tips (for example, list of firing temps of solders and color match to silver).  Jenifer Crupi  did a presentation of studio photography techniques, this sort of thing could be added to the website for those who missed the meeting. 
 
Ken suggests other content: videotaping demos to put on website, or photos taken at workshops and demos, video of  the NJMAG exhibition (Ken or Thea will get a copy).
 
Thea asks members to contribute their own news to website. 
 
>>Exhibitions Committee:  we need to decide if we want to do one this year or wait and do one every other year.
 
Group discussed lack of display cases in many exhibit venues is a impediment to finding exhibit space.  Amy Lyons suggested building our own cases, but others brought up the problem of where to store.  Ken suggested advantage of using New Jersey City University’s cases, or other school’s, Rowan and Kean, for example.  Rowan is putting out a call for proposals for exhibitions.  Someone suggested Rutgers as another possible site.  Ken mentioned being careful about insurance, some venues don’t have insurance to cover precious metals.  NJMAG member Jen Crupi may be somewhat receptive to hosting at Kean University, where she is a professor. Member Jill Baker Gower could help to arrange a exhibit at Rowan.  Thea agreed ask Jill, Ken agreed ask Jen. 
Gayle suggests that it would be better to plan for 1 ½  years for now (spring 2011), so that we have enough time to do it right, have time for publicity.  Can look for space for 2012 also at same time, and move toward the goal of a yearly show this way.  Thea suggests joint show with other guilds, that would be exhibited in both locations.  Gayle wants to put energy into NJ, building membership.  Thea envisions national exhibitions and beyond.  Show that travels is a plus, will attract new members.
 
Vote taken and passed that annual show is desired
 
Jennifer Park suggests monthly newsletter.  Newsletter first of month, person in charge could email heads of committees to get info from them to put into newsletter.  Gayle reports that we have a Facebook group, it’s a way to communicate. Anyone can post comments, messages, events.
 
>>Membership committee:  Discussion of problems with membership committee.  Thea has list of people whose info is incomplete, Thea asks for people to fill in missing info.  Thea asks for volunteers, Joan volunteers
 
Non-profit status: has bogged down, committee will restart now.  To use free web-hosting, need to send them the application form
 
Gayle brings up lack of fundraising committee, Thea believes we need non-profit status before we can raise money.
 
Symposium:  thea needs to speak to Newark Museum about availability.  Coordinate with NJ Arts Annual for crafts.  Beneficial to connect it to the timing of this show.
 
Suggestion of going into the schools to educate about crafts, do demos.  Thea says this is tricky and must tie into curriculum. 
Thea will talk to Trenton Museum
 
Ken will talk to Jersey City Museum
Gayle will talk to Montclair Art Museum, perhaps could organize to have speakers at same time as exhibit.
 
In terms of the symposium, partner w Newark Museum.  Thea would like Ursala von Neumann as speaker, will contact her, see what she would charge. Sue Berry volunteers to be on the symposium Planning Committee.
 
>>Workshops and meetings Committee :  looking for speakers, Sue Sloan volunteers to speak at meeting.
 
Discussed locations, floating meeting is agreed to be fair.  Robin Hepburn has offered to have a meeting, Sue Berry will contact her about next meeting.  Thea suggests date of Mar 20th Sat. 
 
Sue Berry will talk to Cynthia eid about workshop availability.
 
Gayle suggests Susan Berry to speak about gemstones at a meeting-she has an FGA, fellowship of the British Gemological Association, it is a scientific-based certificate, to do with stone compostion and identification, helpful because gemstone treatments are not always disclosed.  Thea asks her to speak at next meeting.  People could send her questions that they would like to know about gemstones. She will check dates and possibly host next meeting.
 
Thea requests volunteers for Vice President, our VP has stepped down.  No volunteers. Thea will speak to people privately.
 
Amy Lyons gives a demo on the fold forming technique.