By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Changes are coming for the Fluvanna Art Association. At the monthly January meeting, Page Gifford stepped down as president and Carol Sorber was nominated to take her place. Gifford, who has been with the association since 2009, served as vice president for ten years and president for six years, will move over to oversee publicity and marketing. Alyce Walcavich will be the new vice president, taking over Sorber’s role.
Sorber, a talented glass artist, who retired from PBS Television, is a champion of change and embraces it.
“I like to blow things up,” she laughed while explaining she aims to support and promote the artistic community in Fluvanna. Sorber and other members agree that it is time to create a different experience for those who create art and those who enjoy it.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the FAA and there are plans for three themed shows. The association has evolved in various ways throughout its history, from when it started with a handful of artists in Harriet Snead’s basement in 1975 to now, incorporating so many tools including tech, mixed media, and welcoming other mediums such as woodworking and glass.
To round out the meeting, collage artist Marcie Stahl shared her tips for collage. Using only sponge brushes, Stahl covers her canvas or board with gesso. Any paper can be used but newspapers and magazines have to be handled differently or they may tear.
She starts with a sketch of her landscape and numbered areas as a guide for color and paper. She uses matte finish ModgePodge for her glue and a brush which she sometimes dips in water during the gluing process for consistency. She uses a plastic scraper from the hardware store to smooth out the paper and puts a little of the Modge Podge on top as a sealer. She says she uses an acrylic sealer for the entire project once it is complete.
Those who tried it discovered its creative and meditative upside and liked the soothing effect of making a collage.
