PleinAireCottageArtists

http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/belleair_bee/content_articles/051210_bee-02.txt This pair of osprey choose Indian Rocks Beach as their home. We are thrilled to have them as our residents and want them to stay and we want their off spring to be with us too. We will anxiously look forward to new babies each Spring. The triptych pictured was painted by left to Right Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta (Shtumeyzen-Chandler) and Helen Tilston.

Each year, the Plein Aire Cottage Artists (Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Shtumeyzen-Chandler and Helen Tilston) present four awards, two for businesses and two for cottages. The awards are presented to the owners who have maintained and restored and made major improvements to their properties. 2010 winners are: Amy Steinkeller for restoring her two bedroom cottage on Gulf Blvd. John Gold and Gary Day for restoring their three cottages at Gulf Blvd and Walsingham. T.J's Italian Restaurant and Chic a Si Cottages owned by Hal and Marion Flowers

History is being made in the State of Florida Governor Crist is resigning as Governor and will run for a Senate Seat in the Federal elections. What is interesting for the Plein Aire Cottage Artist is that each time Governor Crist is interviewed one of our paintings is behind him. So far, Mary Rose's "Sunset of IRB" and "Koral House" has been shown. Helen Tilston's paintig of "boat waiting to sail" and "Shrimp Boat unloading" has also been featured. Violetta's "wedding chapel? and "Mansion on Snell Island". Also our polytych which is a 5 panel painting of the Bridge That Takes People Home has had several shots. If only these paintings could talk? hmmmm.

The Exhibition is beautifully hung at the Cabinet Meeting Room in beautiful Tallahassee The show will remain until July 1 2010 Please visit the show should your travels take you to the State Capitol

It was with great anticipation and joy that Mary Rose Holmes an I drove north on Monday March 29 with a jeep full of paintings. (Due to space restrictions i.e 50 paintings Violetta would have had to sit on the roof of the jeep and she graciously declined) Destination: The Cabinet Meeting Room, State Capital Building, Tallahassee, Florida. The State Capital extended the invitation to the Plein Aire Cottage Artists approximately two years ago. We have been creating works which define our area, Indian Rocks Beach, the Gulf beaches and St. Petersburg. Our show was to be for one month. The organizers in Tallahassee when unloading our art pleaded that we extend our exhibition until July 4, 2010. The Cabinet Meeting Room is where the Governor (Mr. Charlie Crist) meets and passes bills, releases media statements. It is a spectacular venue. It was my first visit to Tallahassee.(Mary Rose had been many times previously) The city is quite hilly and as one approaches the capital there is a...

If you have not been to the Leepa Rattner Museum in Tarpon Springs you must go. It has the collecton of Abe Rattner's work. This is one of the finest collections and accounts of one man's life. Rattner lived through two wars and his later works certainly portray how he feels about war and "man's injustice to man". The Plein Aire Cottage Artists have been very privileged to exhibit several of their triptychs at this fine museum and to rub shoulders with the giant Rattner's masterpieces. The Leepa Rattner Museum adjoins St. Pete's College which offers a very fine art programme. The students wrote us and said how much they appreciated seeing the present day work of Plein Aire Painters. The Plein Aire Cottage Artists have one trip tych on exhibition at the Leepa Rattner Museum's gift store.

City Hall at IRB was transposed into a magical ballroom. Hearts fluttered and candles flickered as the dancers waltzed to the sound of De Leon. A delicious dinner was followed by a Live Art Auction. The donated painting by Plein Aire Cottage artist Mary Rose Holmes called: "Love will Keep us Together" was promptly changed to "The Love Shack" by Auctioneer and A2K Director Jim Labadie. Bidding was brisk and the lucky winner is Steve and Gail Miller who promised to give this original oil painting a good home. Plein Aire Cottage Artist, Helen Tilston presented Mr. & Mrs Miller with the painting. This poem was composed by Plein Aire Cottage Artist Helen Tilston as a tribute to the beautiful painting Today will be a day like none other, because Love will keep us together (All I ask is for one day with you at Indian Rocks Beach) The morning sun caresses her fronds The mourning dove chirps to awaken the day Loving hands have baptized the sleepy roses The blue her...