Page 11 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2018

CHAPTER PAINTS A MURAL FOR MUSEUM
California Poppy Decorative Artists Chapter
In 2002, the California Poppy Decorative Artists chapter held their monthly meetings at the local Discovery Watershed Education Museum. The museum staff asked the chapter to paint a mural depicting an ecosystem. Several artists put their talents together and painted six floor-to-ceiling panels depicting vibrant scenes of lush greenery, wildlife, water and mountains. Fish tanks were placed in the center of the murals.
In 2005, the Poppies changed their meeting place and the museum dissolved. Fast forward to 2016 to the Salmon Enhancement Museum, a center for education on the local watershed. The Museum had an article in the local paper showing the Poppies’s panels.
Chapter President Charleen Ruffel contacted the
Central Coast Salmon Enhancement Center and spoke
with Executive Director Chris Lim. Chris had no record of who painted the panels. Chris asked if the Poppies could add human elements to the mural to show that we are connected to the environment and not separate from it.
Chapter members Bette Hardy, Janet Hardy, Angie Dana, Sylvia Blake and Charleen Ruffel spent an afternoon in January adding hikers, anglers, divers and a windsurfer
to the wall. Quoting from the article in the Salmon Enhancement Center newsletter, Cecilia Seiter wrote: “They are small and subtle but they are there and make an important point. Since we are a part of nature, our choices make a difference. It is up to us if we want to make a positive or negative difference.”
The California Poppies’s choices made a positive difference in the community! A plaque will be placed on the mural so the community will have a permanent record. SDP is very proud of this chapter’s contribution to their community and their representation of decorative painting in a lasting and meaningful way.
CHAPTER PROVIDES WELCOME HURRICANE RELIEF
Painted Daisy Chapter – Bridge City, Texas
Members of the Painted Daisy chapter of Bridge City, Texas were recently involved in Hurricane Harvey. Eleven of the 24 members lost all or most of their earthly possessions. The ladies of the Rocky Mountain Hi chapter of Denver, Colo., reached out to the Painted Daisies in a beautiful act of compassion, support and generosity. They sent well wishes in the form of kind thoughts and words, as well as gifts of individual checks for the affected members plus a donation of supplies for the whole chapter. Painted Daisy Treasurer Debbie Norris says the chapter has been given a big lesson in what it means to be part of a painting sisterhood
2018 Society of Decorative Painters
and they will always be grateful for the loving actions of the Rocky Mountain Hi chapter, who has contributed so much
to their healing. She added that this demonstrates the importance of being part of the National Society of Decorative Painters because it connects all members on such a personal level.
Painted Daisy chapter annual Christmas luncheon on December 2.
* Cash Prizes!
SDP members, registered attendees, and teachers are invited to participate in the
SDP Art Show at the “Back to the Beach” 2018 Conference,
in Daytona Beach, Florida. For more information
go to page 7 or visit
the SDP website at decorativepainters.org/ artshow.
Send completed forms to: SDP, Attn. Sheryl Born, 1220 E. First St., Wichita, KS 67214-3907
Must be postmarked by April 1, 2018.
* Cash prizes for Best in Show and People’s Choice award. Go to www.decorativepainters.org for more information.
DECORATIVEPAINTERS.ORG
The Decorative Painter • SPRING 2018 9
Art Show
Back to the
Beach