How did I go from not knowing a paint brush from a toothbrush 3 years ago to President of the Hemet Valley Art Association Gallery? It’s amazing how many of my closest friends joined the gallery all at the same time, got involved, practiced art, learned from watching demo guests at our monthly meeting, and experimented with paint, forms, shades, colors……yup, that’s my road at the gallery, and here I am.
Alison and I will continue doing jobs that we enjoy. We complement each other, support each other, and are each other’s cheerleader. I will continue handling E-Mail Blasts as I have a very simple process in place to keep members’ e-mail information current, thanks to Steve Wilkinson, who is our Database Manager. Got information you’d like
The Palette
Life is like a bowl of cherries... or a box of chocolates…
me to send out? I’m here to serve you and other galleries and non-profits in our area.
I have high expectations from each of our nearly 160 members. Plug into one small place at the gallery to contribute. Each of you has a talent that is needed, from being a member, to entering art at Change of Painting, to teaching an art class to adults or kids, to becoming a platinum or other level member, to gallery hosting, to serving on the board, to attending the monthly member meeting or to renting space in the gallery, at various places and fees. Funds generated by your support help pay our monthly overhead averaging around $3K a month. All of your board members are learning as we go. Most of us are new. Many of the ways things have been done in the past are not documented anywhere. Help educate us. Empower us to do the job. Share your talent and knowledge with others.
Continued on p. 2
2025 HVAA Board
(l-r) Back row: Art Majerus, Beverly Johnson; Middle row: Julie Jernegan, Tracy Anderson, Beverly Squire, Alison Wieman, Jenny Gagnon, Diane Klewenhagen, Sheryl Cooley, Linda Baranek, Anna Ives; Front row: Kathy Schmitt, Jose Pacheco, Patti Greco, Lynn Throckmorton.
President Lynn Throckmorton (left) and member Emily Gascon
Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries - con’t.
It’s my honor to introduce your 2025 Elected and Appointed Board Members! The Executive Board members are Gallery Director and Web Master, Art Majerus; Parliamentarian, Marketing Communication/Newsletter Editor, Grant Writer, Sheryl Cooley; Treasurer, Anna Ives; Secretary, Kathy Schmitt; Vice President, Grants and Activities, Alison Wieman; and Lynn Throckmorton, President and Communications.
We have three (3) elected Board Members. Jenny Gagnon, 3 years; Patti Greco, 2 years; Diane Klewenhagen, 1 year. All three play a critical role at the gallery.
Appointed Board Members are a fabulous team! Fundraising Chairperson, Linda Baranek; Membership Chairperson, Tracy Anderson; Orientation, Esther Feigenbaum; Steve Wilkinson, Database Manager; Member general meeting, Beverly Johnson and Patti Greco; Social Media, Jose Pacheco; Historian, Facebook and Photographer, Julie Jernegan; Social, Beverly Squire; School Liaison/Scholarships, Jenny Gagnon and Alison Wieman; Gallery Hosting Calendar, Diane Klewenhagen; and Dr. Bob Straubinger, Facilities.
You’ll see that many of these volunteers will be wearing multiple hats in 2025. So how can you help? This is your gallery. Your journey as a member will truly depend on where and how you contribute. Together the community will soon know there’s a quaint little “real” art gallery downtown on Harvard Street. I invite you to be part of the magic. Truly, you will get out of the gallery what you contribute. Each of you matters.
One of my favorite quotes: Don’t tell me no, show me how. Folks, let’s talk. Let’s get creative. Let’s decide the future of our gallery, together, as a family….as a TEAM.
Another quote that guides me along in life: Know your audience. The future of our nonprofit represents all of you. Keep it simple…..make it relative to our members, our goals, and to the arts community in our valley.
Change is growth. Diversity is the world we live in today. There are multiple solutions to challenges. This is called dialog and I hope each of you to plug in. I invite each of you to take a seat at the table. Help guide the good ship, Hemet Valley Art Association Gallery, into 2025. Call or text me at 951-282-1731 any time. I am grateful for my new life as a kindergarten kid with a paint brush in hand……thank you.
In the photo on the front page, Lynn is standing arm-in-arm with HVAA member Emily Gascon. Emily, a retired architect, is currently exhibiting her work in oils and photography at the Redlands Art Gallery through January 11th. There will be a reception there Saturday, December 21, at 215 E. State St., 1-4 pm.
Demonstrator: Monica Rue, Fiber Artist Title: “From Fiber to Fashion” Masonic Lodge, 150 Laursen St., Hemet Park in Wells Fargo lot next door after 12:30 pm
Jan 6
Jan 8
Jan 13
Jan 14
Jan 20 Jan 29
Change of Painting (CoP) (contest art drop off) 9:00 am-Noon Theme: Winter
At gallery
Board Meeting (postponed from Dec 25) 1:00-3:00 pm At gallery
Evening of Art Meeting, 1:00 pm Library (Note meeting location this time only)
Honored guests included Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Kevin Saunders, seen here with outgoing Chamber liaison Stepheny Estes (left) and incoming HVAA Vice President Alison Wieman.
One of the highlights of the luncheon was the announcement of Member of the Year (chosen by the membership) and Artist and Photographer of the Year (each selected based on how many ribbons and at what levels each recipient won in competition during the year.)
Logging incredible hours for more than a year, Anna (left) single-handedly brought our books into the digital age. Today, the entire accounting system is online. (Shown here with Membership Chair Tracy Anderson.)
Anna Ives Member of the Year 2024
Betty Pilley Artist of the Year
HVAA Member Since 2009
7 time winner of this award at HVAA
Advanced Watercolor Instructor at Gallery
HVAA member
Since 2023 Landscape, Wildlife Photographer Gallery Director
Art Majerus Photographer of the Year
Luncheon Candids
With all the excitement, a somber note as we bid Sharon Zorn-Katz (2nd from left) good-bye. Our Social/Hospitality Chair this year, she saw to the snacks and drinks at the general meetings and handled setup before and cleanup afterward. Sharon is moving, continuing her art journey in Calabasas. We wish her the best of luck as she sets up her studio and pulls out her brushes in her new home.
Sketch Artists
The Hemet Sketchers have visited Winchester, San Jacinto and, of course, Hemet. We went to the Western Science Center where we sketched dinosaur bones for its new exhibit, “Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes,” we sketched at Winchester Farms, the American Legion, and the Ryan Air Attack Base Fire Department (Cal Fire) and we ended our journey at a Starbucks in San Jacinto.
It’s not too late to join us; come check us out any time. We meet on Tuesdays from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Our locations vary, so be sure to contact me to find out where we will be next. Tracy Anderson (619) 890-8126 or tandyart@yahoo.com
From Fiber to Fashion
Join us at our General Meeting January 6 at 1:00 pm to see Monica Rue demonstrate how to turn plain fiber into yarn. She will also share how spinning fiber works and how that yarn can be used to create one-of-a-kind hand knit, crocheted or woven clothing and fashion. Masonic Lodge, 150 Laursen St., Hemet. Park in the Wells Fargo Bank lot after 12:30 pm.
Presents: The Eighteenth Annual EVENING OF ART
March 22, 2025
6-9 PM
Located at the Hemet Public Library, 300 East Latham, Hemet, CA 92543
Event Highlights
Artist Demonstrations
High School Scholarship Awards
Gourmet Raffle Baskets
Hors d'oeuvres, Desserts, Wine
Live Music
Children's Workshops
Advance Tickets available at the Gallery 144 N Harvard St., Hemet, CA 92543
Also available at the door. $15 donation
For more information contact Alison Wieman (951) 313-6239
Art Majerus Photographer of the Year
Betty Pilley Artist of theYear
Steve Wilkinson, former president and still a member of HVAA, is also a member of The Golden Smoothies. Several HVAA members and their spouses/significant others supported him and his organization for a night of fun and giving.
HVAA Members Participate in Mock Interviews
November 20th, four HVAA members served as interviewers in a mock interview event sponsored by Springs Charter Schools. Sheryl Cooley, Anna Ives, Lynn Throckmorton and Alison Wieman met with “applicants” via Zoom, conducting simulated interviews based on a list of questions they had been given, giving feedback and, at the end, answering students’ questions.
“I loved doing the interviews,” Anna said. “I had eight kids, and they were all so earnest, so sincere. Well prepared, too,” she added. “It was such fun!”
I’m not sure how we got invited to do this,” Sheryl noted. “The interviews are not designed specifically for art students. But Tahquitz High School asked us to role play the part of job interviewers last year, too. Perhaps it’s because so many of us have such diverse work backgrounds. Some are or were small business owners, some independent contractors or freelancers, some came out of large, corporate workplaces. Our work experiences informed the questions we chose and the feedback we gave.”
“The school must have thought HVAA did a good job,” Lynn added. “We’ve already been invited to participate again next year. We’re looking forward to it.”
“Hidden Gems”
Alison Wieman was invited to join a video session at San Jacinto JC in Menifee on November 27th to share information about our gallery and what we offer to members and our community. Part of a trio of entrepreneurs, Alison had an opportunity to talk a bit about the gallery and what it has to offer.
The video, titled “Hidden Gems,” is part of a series sponsored by Temecula Valley Real Estate that features small, relatively unknown businesses that truly are “hidden gems.”
“So many visitors to our gallery tell us, ‘We didn’t even know Hemet had an art gallery.’ We are working to change that.”
Alison said.
To see the video, go to https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4AyDvoQ9Q40. Our segment starts at about eight minutes in.
The mission of the HVAA is to encourage and develop the appreciation, study and practice of the fine arts and to further educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of others through our programs, exhibits and activities.
From the Gallery Director
By the time you read this we will already know the winners of the 2024 Change of Painting points contest, and I will have taken over the last part of the contest from Earl McNeese. I appreciated the fact that he continued to do the work after he resigned as Director, and I know he will still be around to help hang.
As we look forward to 2025, I will be making some minor changes to the contest, mainly in briefing the judges to pay closer attention to what is submitted in the Special category so that entries actually reflect that month’s theme.
I have published a written set of guidelines for everybody, one for fine art and a more comprehensive one for photography which by its very design has more variables. I will be distributing copies for all.
Everyone is reminded to contact me directly if you need a rental or have problems/questions about the gallery.
Classes
Advanced Watercolor Painting
Instructor: Betty Pilley Class Full—Waiting List at Gallery
Mixed Media/Watercolor
Instructor: Miyoko Whittelsey
1st & 3rd Thursdays, 10:00 am-12:30 pm $25 per class
Drawing
Instructor: Miyoko Whittelsey 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 10:00 am-12:30 pm $20 per class
Hemet Sketchers
Instructor: Tracy Anderson Tuesdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Locations vary Contact Tracy for details - tandyart@yahoo.com Free
Children’s Clay Class: Ages 8-12
Instructors: Patti Greco and Jose Pacheco Saturdays*, 1:00-3:00 pm
$10 per class
(All supplies provided, including clay)
Children’s Draw and Paint Class
Instructor: Alison Wieman 3rd & 4th Saturdays of the month, 10:00 am-Noon $10 per class
(All supplies provided)
*No afternoon class the first Saturday of each month, as that’s the day of the general meeting, and the gallery is closed in the afternoon.
In the Gallery
Art Majerus
Betty Pilley’s Advanced Watercolor Class
Children’s Clay Class
From the Membership Chair
As of December 3, we have 157 members. I’d like to welcome our three new members for the month of November.
Thank you to our Platinum Life and our Bronze Members. We appreciate your support!
Orientation is scheduled for the second Tuesday of even numbered months. Contact me at tandyart@yahoo.com for information regarding orientation.
Tracy Anderson
Membership Dues
Basic Memberships
Student, 18 or younger
$15/yr
Single adult
$50/yr
Couple in same household
$75/yr
Advanced Memberships
Bronze Member
$100 to $299
Silver Member
$300 to $499
Gold Member
$500 to $999
Platinum Life Member
$1,000 and up
Platinum life Members
Teddie Oatey
Chuck Schoenknecht
Rose Thomas
James Watters
Kathy Schmitt
Lynn & Bob Throckmorton
Sue Jordan & Keith Johnson
Guy Salts
Sheryl Cooley
Bronze Members
Jimmy DePasse
Richie Locasso
Featured Artist: Sherri Domenigoni
Fine Artist, Author, & Photographer
Sherri was born in Vallejo, CA, and moved to Hemet in 1972. She lives in Hemet with her husband, Don. They frequently retreat to their family Idylwild cabin. There, she has taught Jr. Naturalist programs at the Nature Center and led National Audobon Society bird tours and Christmas Bird Counts for decades.
She raised two children while earning an A.S. degree in Biology from Mt. San Jacinto Collete; a B.S. in Bilology from UC Riverside, and a teaching credential from CSU San Bernardino. Sherri has taught preschool through college, but most of her career for 25 years was in teaching middle school Science for San Jacinto Unified School District as a mentor teacher. She earned a Master’s in Education from LaVerne University, and is past President of the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation. She served as scholarship chair for several community groups and was honored by Who’s Who of American Women for Lifetime Achievement.
Now retired, she is enjoying a Renaissance in art with award-winning photography, watercolor, acrylics, and murals. Recently, she created “Birdie,” a life-sized painted deer for Idyllwild’s famous deer herd. Next, she painted a large heartshaped sculpture for the Loma Linda Children’s Center transplant “Harts of Hope.” She belongs to many local art, teaching, and nature associations. She has written and illustrated four children’s books: The Lemon Lily Fairy, The Creature Teacher, Birdie’s Deer Tales, and now The Firebird of the Forest
December Member Competition Winners - Fine Art
Special Theme (Holiday Season)
1st Susan Baker, “Painting a Scene”
2nd Alison Wieman, “1st Snow”
3rd Vicki Moran, “Winter Wonderland”
HM Betty Pilley, “Family Gathering” Water Media
1st Vicki Moran, “Shelter Island Fisherman”
2nd Opal Larkin, “The End”
3rd Susan Baker, “Sunrise/Sunset”
HM Betty Pilley, “Fresh Peppers”
Acrylic/Oil
1st Beverly Squire, “Holiday Ribbon”
2nd Alison Wieman, “Maggie”
3rd Carla MacPherson, “Abundance”
HM Stephen Packard, “Deer Creek”
Mixed Media
1st Alison Wieman, “No More Calls”
2nd Julie Jernegan, “Redwoods”
3rd Lynn Throckmorton, “Taylor Swift Tribute”
HM Luz Carakeo Obmina, “Bursts of Gold”
Miniatures
1st Stephen Packard, “Passages” 2nd Cathy Wollery, “de Luz” 3rd Beverly Squire, “Jolly Old Soul”
HM Alison Wieman, “Rose” Modernism
1st Alison Wieman, “Fall” 2nd Trenton Yanez, “The Touch of the Electric Phantom”
3rd Stephen Packard, “Aspens”
HM Steve Wilkinson, “Abstract of a Christmas Tree” Pastel/Drawing
1st Beverly Squire, “A Christmas Belle” 2nd Kathy Schmitt, “Red Ginger” 3rd Miyoko Whittelsey, “His Name Is Big Dog”
Best In Show - Fine Art: Alison Wieman, “Sunset at 5:45”
FINE ART WINNERS
December Member Competition Winners - Photography
Best In Show - Photography: Earl McNeese, “It’s a Ford!”
PHOTOGRAPHY WINNERS
Special Theme (Holiday Season)
1st Earl McNeese, “Abby”
2nd Art Majerus, “Elf”
3rd Sherri Domenigoni, “Peace” Anytime/Anyplace
1st Art Majerus, “Big Bee”
2nd Sherri Domenigoni, “She Almost Made the Top of Sharkfin” Living Things
1st Art Majerus, “Flight Time”
2nd Chris Taylor, “Mr. Majestic”
3rd Earl McNeese, “Flower Power”
HM Sherri Domenigoni, “Last Sunbath Before Winter” Black & White
1st Sherri Domenigoni, “Please Rain!”
2nd Earl McNeese, “Pond at Kylemore Abby”
3rd Art Majerus, “Glacier National Park” Digitally Altered
1st Art Majerus, “Bodie Night”
2nd Earl McNeese, “Looking Around”
3rd Sherri Domenigoni, “Baby Barn Swallows”
Sunrise/Sunset
Old Structures
Rainy Days
Reflections
Community Partners
HEMET CONCERT ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 2241
HEMET, CA 92544
WWW.HEMETCONCERTS.ORG
951-927-2449
Hemet Valley Art Association
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Address: Phone:
Hours: Website: 144 N. Harvard St., Hemet, CA 92543 951-652-4592
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-4 pm www.hemetvalleyart.com Find us on
Please Note
You must be a member to display your art in the gallery, and it must be art that you personally created. The Gallery Director manages the rental of panels/ pedestals/cases. To exhibit your art, you must work through him.
Non-Discrimination, Diversity, Inclusiveness
All people are recognized as unique individuals, and HVAA welcomes the variety of experiences they bring to the Hemet Valley Art Association (HVAA). As such, HVAA requires members and outside instructors and contractors to treat equally all members, class participants, students, visitors, and others who participate in the life of the organization without regard to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. HVAA strives toward diversity and inclusiveness within and without the organization, recognizing and supporting those who are under-represented in our community and beyond.
