Lynn Throckmorton (r) and Pamela Flinn Schanuel with her service dog Frankie. Pamela grew up in Hemet, graduating from Hemet High School, but spent most of her working life in the Bay Area and later, Colorado. Before joining HVAA, she attended several of our general meetings, which are open and free to the public.
As an artist, Pamela is a photographer. She’s always looking “at the details of the ordinary,” she says, “like a close up of a flower, leaf, rock, dog’s eye, sand [or] a book binding...”
Frankie, who is specially trained to monitor some health issues Pamela has, is a cross between a Queensland Blue Heeler Cattle Dog and a Border Collie. Who can help but love those eyes! (But please do not touch or pet her while she’s in harness; she’s working!)
The Palette
The Place Where Art Happens!
President’s Message
I would like to share a special time in my life as a volunteer in Assistance League in Hemet. I was a recent transplant from Pleasanton, California, to Hemet, retired as a serious administrator at a weapons research laboratory with a top security clearance. I dedicated 18 years of my life as a TEAM player at a nonprofit benefiting children. I served as president for 3 years, served on the board most of the time, and learned a valuable lesson on what it takes to build a TEAM in an all-volunteer nonprofit. I
Play Ball!
have a B.S. in Organizational Development, which focuses on psychology, sociology and business. Fast forward to 2017, when I joined HVAA.
I’m looking at the gallery members who want to participate as a baseball team, each person finding their place that matches their time, energy and talent. Would you be willing to join for the good of the TEAM?
Folks, everyone on the TEAM counts, regardless of who they are and what slot they fill. Take a look at the gallery. Not one position is more important than another, if you care about the TEAM. What one person contributes is just as important as anyone contributes. We have all ages, all levels of ability with a diverse conception of what art means to each of us. We represent diversity at all levels. Together, we make a TEAM.
As Coach, I see the most critical TEAM position is gallery sitters. It would be wonderful if all of our 132 mem-
Continued on page 2
bers wanted to be part of the team and sit. Every member is dealing with personal issues that may keep them from joining the TEAM right now. Others have served their time, and they deserve a seat on the bleachers. For those of us who can, and who will, and who want to be part of the TEAM, know your personal contributions matter. Regardless of the position you hold on the TEAM, we get job done. Many members who cannot sit serve on the Board, and volunteer in other ways.
If you prefer not to gallery sit, consider other ways you can support the TEAM. Come to the gallery, participate in Change of Painting; serve on a special committee; rent a panel, shelf, or various places around the gallery. It’s your gallery. It’s your TEAM. Many of our members are up in the bleachers cheering for HVAA to win! I invite each of you to consider what you can contribute vs. what you cannot contribute. If we are to keep the gallery open on North Harvard Street, it will take a TEAM of all the members to keep the doors open. 2025 will be a critical year as we determine our future. So regardless of which position you play on the field or in the bleachers, it matters.
Folks, it’s time to play ball. I invite you to find a place on the TEAM that fits your time, talent and dedication. Yup, every player matters and what matters most to me is that each of us cares enough to support the TEAM. It’s a new year, so let’s play ball.
Thanks.
Lynn
A huge welcome to our newest junior member, Illyria, who is 10 years old. Judging from her sketchbook, she likes drawing dinosaurs. Standing with her is member Maddie Alcauter.
Officers, Board Members, Appointed Positions
OFFICERS
President/ Communications V. President/Marketing Relations
Secretary
Treasurer
Parliamentarian/ Marketing Comms. Gallery Director
Lynn Throckmorton throckhemet@earthlink.net
Alison Wieman alison_wieman@yahoo.com
Kathy Schmitt kds5@verizon.net
Anna Ives annaives898@hotmail.com
Sheryl Cooley cooleybates@sbcglobal.net
Art Majerus sawdustman@mac.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Jenny Gagnon
Patti Greco
Diane Klewenhagen
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.
An Evening of Art: Our Premiere Event of the Year!
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
HVAA Holds Open House Come, We Said, Look At Our Art
Courtesy of Julie Jernegan
Feb. 10th, guests met our best artists, talked to dedicated members, and had a bite to eat and a glass of wine or two.
Celebrating Black History Month Through Art
One of Stepheny Estes’ areas of focus is religious iconography. In her painting, “Jonah’s Promise,” she tells the story of Jonah after he was spit out of the whale.
After coming ashore, Jonah makes a ritual sacrificial offering, thankful to have had his life spared. The sacrifice is represented by the two pigeons in Jonah’s hands. Pigeons were considered “clean” birds in Biblical times and, therefore, acceptable gifts to God.
The rainbow intimated over Jonah’s head by the multicolored dredlocks represents God’s favor with Jonah when he obeys God and goes to Nineveh to deliver God’s message. There, Jonah convinces the king and his city to repent of their sinful ways as he promised God he would do. Thus the title of the piece, “Jonah’s Promise.”
There are many versions of the story of Jonah in the belly of a whale and his subsequent actions, and many interpretations of the same. In this one, Jonah’s three days inside the fish and God’s response presage the story of Christ, who descended into hell for three days, only to emerge unscathed.
HVAA Member and Artist Stepheny Estes
Promise”
HVAA’sHemetOwnSketchers
As I mentioned in my last article, this year I’d like to introduce you to one of my Urban Sketchers each month. This month I will be introducing Vicki Moran.
Vicki has been a member of HVAA for 10 years, studying watercolor. Vicki , “I was excited to join Tracy’s urban sketching group because I like to be outside, I definitely need practice sketching, and being in a group provides the security I wouldn’t have if sketching alone. It’s also a very fun group of artists! Tracy does a great job of finding interesting, local places to go.”
This past month the Hemet Sketchers haven’t done a whole lot. I was sick the first two weeks of January and we had the holidays at the end of December. However, we did visit one of our local Starbucks and we sketched Datillo’s Ristorante Italiano from across the street. Many of the sketchers were unable to attend due to sickness or the complexities that come with a new year, so I only have a couple of sketches to show you this time around.
It’s not too late to join us; come, check us out at any time. What’s better than sketching with friends? We meet on Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00 a.m. Our locations vary so be sure to contact me to find out where we will be next.
Tracy Anderson (619) 890-8126 tandyart@yahoo.com
Helping L.A. Artists/Fire Victims
On behalf of “SoCal Fine Art Sale to Benefit L.A. Artists Affected by Wildfires,” Lisa Kyle of what gallery (a part of our regional Art Alliance), put out a call for donated art for an art show that will be held at Union Hall Gallery in downtown San Diego April 4-6 and April 11-13.
In addition, the organizing committee is looking for volunteers for the event. Duties may include transporting art, hanging art, sitting the gallery, organizing an online sale, marketing the event, and more.
At the moment, they are trying to determine the level of support for donated art. You would set a minimum price; if it does not sell, the artwork will be returned to you. If you are donating 2D art, including an easel (on loan to us) and if it’s a 3D piece, a loaned pedestal or table of some sort will need to come with it as the gallery is providing only the space. If you are willing to donate a piece or two, please contact Sheryl Cooley just to let her know so she can let them know the number of pieces to expect. She can be reached by text at 402-418-8268 (yes, she still has her Nebraska number) or email at cooleybates@sbcglobal.net no later than February 20th.
100% of the proceeds from art sales will go to the L.A. Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, helmed by the Getty Fund with grants to artists of all disciplines administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (which has a 97% rating on Charity Navigator.com).
HVAA Member and Artist
Teddie Oatey
(Image goes with story on next page)
“The Rodeo Cowboy” Watercolor 16” x 12” (unframed)
The MightyStetson
Designer: Denise Pulvino
I was born in North Platte, Nebraska, home to Buffalo Bill Cody, Nebraskaland Days (which hosts one of the largest rodeos in the U.S.), and less stunningly, acres and acres of ranch land. For a long time, I thought all men (except maybe the local bankers and priests) and a lot of women, for that matter, wore cowboy hats. Not to be fancy, not to stand out, but just the normal way you kept the sun off your neck and out of your eyes. I thought that the permanent crease of hair above the nape of the neck where the hat sat was part of the landscape. Men, in particular, without cowboy hats looked sort of naked, the way a woman in a grocery store looks without a list of some kind. It was part of the culture. Even my great grandmother, widowed young and having to make a living, was a milliner.
When I was little, we laughed at stylish Stetsons, at those hats all gussied up or made of light-colored felt - in short, those that were not practical. You can love Bonanza to death, but we scoffed at the costume designers; the real Hoss would never have worn a white hat. Officially, the color was known as Silver Belly, but it would have shown the dust and sweat just as badly. Today the only acceptable white cowboy hat is the one associated with the Calgary Stampede, Canada’s big rodeo.
Cowboy hats gained popularity as more than part of someone’s work attire with the advent of Hollywod Westerns, a film genre that started in the early 1900s and peaked with the Western movies in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, where it comprised about a quarter of studio output, according to Wikipedia. I worked for the actor Hugh O’Brian (who played Wyatt Earpp in the TV series of the same name) for a couple of years, and he had more cowboy hats than I had shoes, which was saying something. It was not uncommon for a fan to present him with one. A number of them had phone numbers scrawled into the sweatbands. Today, Stetsons are still sported by working ranchers, rodeo riders, city slickers, and a number of famous entertainers. Think about Beyonce’s half-time show on Christmas Day.
HVAA cashed in on the current Stetson craze, purchasing a bunch of cowboy hats, asking members to decorate them and putting them up for sale. They’re going like wildfire. I chose one that makes me stand proud – a fawn brown with pink roses painted on it. Redheads aren’t supposed to wear red or pink or orange, at least not according to the old-time fashionistas in North Platte; they would not approve. My mother, also born in there, is no doubt turning over in her grave, but too bad.
I’d look like an idiot in my hometown wearing my oh-so-fancy cowboy hat, but boy howdy, here, I know, as I strut about, I look nothing short of cool!
Sheryl Cooley
Designer Cris Hinsley
Designer Beverly Johnson
Designer Kathy Woolery
Designer Patti Greco
Two Events, Same Great Artist!
Come join us at the next
HVAA General Meeting
On Saturday, March 1, 2025 12:30 pm at the Masonic Lodge 150 Laursen St. in Hemet.
Our Demo Artist is Joe A. Oakes!!
Raffles! Snacks! All are Welcome!
My landscapes of the West and Southwest are about the joy of nature and the colors it o ers us. I paint with colors that evoke feelings of the Þrst brilliant seconds of sunrise and the last Þery moments of sunset. Expressing those feelings through the use of bold, vibrant highlights and shadows of violet hues is my signature.
General Meeting
Demonstrator
Special Workshop Instructor
(next page)
Don’t confuse the two events! The demonstration is March 1, at the Masonic Hall. The workshop is March 7, at the art center. You must register for the workshop!
HVAA Member & Artist
Eve Khattab
“Little Nova” Beading 20” x 16” (unframed)
HVAA - Part of the Larger Community
Mike Yaeger Takes Home Ribbons at Annual Quilt Show
Mike Yaeger took home several ribbons from the 45th Annual Quilt Show sponsored by the Valley Quilters Guild held here in Hemet, February 7 & 8, 2025. He took 1st in Machine Applique, 3rd in Custom Quilting, and won 2 Past Presidents Awards for two different quilts.
Cris Hinsley Places 2nd in Loma Linda Competition
Cris Hinsley took second place at the recent Loma Linda Art Association’s annual competition. Her piece, which is untitled, is 9” x 12” (unframed).
Close-up of beading
Advanced Watercolor Painting
Instructor: Betty Pilley Class Full—Waiting List at Gallery
Hemet Sketchers Instructor: Tracy Anderson Tuesdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Locations vary Contact Tracy for details - tandyart@yahoo.com Free
Classes
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.
From the Gallery Director From the Membership Chair
Moving forward slowly, I have learned that some of the gallery sitters feel unsure when taking artists’ payments for panels or boutique rentals. Per their request, and despite my not needing more phone calls, I have added instructions at the desk to call me to confirm reservations when taking these payments. If I don’t answer, directions are to take payment and text me details. I hope this fulfills the requests.
New to the gallery are some rotating greeting card display racks for rent. Contact me for pricing and reservations.
We are also trying to figure out if members are interested in having the walls in the gallery painted a lighter color to reflect more light. If the board hears from you we will determine how to pay for it and get it done. Lots more coming soon.
Some of our regular sources of income are COP and panel/boutique rentals. I encourage you to participate. Additionally, we are looking for more variety in what we sell, so if you make things other than wall art let us know.
Art Majerus
Fun Fact: Did you know that Virginia Melton holds HVAA’s second longest continuous membership? She came to us on September 11, 2002. She has always been involved and actively attends our monthly membership meetings. She has taught classes at HVAA and attends classes and workshops regularly. She has a loose bold style that you are sure to love. She is another artist who consistently enters her artwork in our monthly competitions. Stop by the gallery and check out her work.
As of January 29th, we have 147 members. I’d like to welcome a new student member for the month of January.
Thank you to our Platinum Life and our Bronze Members. We appreciate your support!
Orientation is scheduled for the second Tuesday of odd months. Contact Diane Klewenhagen at 951-926-3856 for information regarding orientation.
If you have any questions about membership, feel free to contact me at 619-890-8126 or tandyart@yahoo.com
In the Gallery
Featured Artist: Surre alist Abraham Acosta
Abraham Acosta is an artist whose paintings in acrylic overwhelm. A newer member of HVAA, he brings his own journey in life into much of his work. Abraham suffered a brain tumor some 20 years ago; the resulting illness and treatment have left their residue on his body and mind and in his soul. Most of his paintings, he says, are self portraits.
C’estOurFantastic,Boutique!
There’s a part of our art center that seldom gets mention, and that’s our boutique. All those glass cases and the items in the northeast corner of the gallery - dubbed the boutique nookare, for the most part, one-ofa-kind hand-crafted pieces for sale by gallery members. The next time you’re looking for a unique gift, think of the art center. Stop by sometime and have a look!
Left: Diane Klewenhagan, Ceramics Below: The boutique nook, where you can find greeting cards and fine art prints and art-related books, as well as other unique gifts.
Top: Susan Baker, Jewelry Center: Art Majerus, Woodturnings
Bottom Left: Eve Khattab, Jewelry
Bottom Right: Beverly Johnson, Resin-poured pots
Hidden Gems: Quiet Artists In Our Ranks
We are introducing a new series designed to highlight the work of some of our member artists who, for various reasons, seldom display their work. You know who they are - those quiet ones who may no longer be able to schlep their art to the gallery, ones who don’t think they have a body of work worthy of a panel, those for whom the creative process is enough; they don’t need to put it out there, or those just too shy to display their art. Or maybe they’re just new to the gallery. It’s these folks we hope to reach. They have their own gifts to give.
So once a month you’ll find a photo or two of a piece of art from someone whose work you probably won’t recognize. It’s a chance to be delighted!
Pamela Flinn Schanuel
“Frankie” Photograph 12” x 9” (unframed)
Pat Stocking “Two Fish” Watercolor 13.5” x 9.25” (unframed)
January Member Competition Winners - Fine Art
Best In Show - Fine Art: Teddie Oatey, “At the Rose Bowl Parade”
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.
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
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.
