The 67th MLAA Fall Fine Art Show Is On!

Dates:  October 15-17, 2021*
Venue:  Sonora Opera Hall

*Note change of date.

 It's with real joy that we are able to announce that the 2021 Fine Art Show -- our 67th! -- is going forward!    

 Like so many other events, our 2020 show was cancelled due to the Pandemic.    Our Fine Art Show  is our primary fundraiser.  Proceeds from entry fees, art sales, and raffle tickets go to support art  education  in Tuolumne County schools.

We will be in our usual venue in the Opera Hall on Washington Street, in historic downtown Sonora, a few steps from shops, restaurants and accommodation.

We look forward to bringing a first-rate juried Art Show to our community once again.  This year, in addition to our regular show, we are holding a juried student show, open to participants up to the age of 18 who attend Tuolumne County schools.

For more show information, including the identity of our judges, or to download a prospectus and entry form, go to our Art Show page .

Go here for a message from President John Sharum and more information about the Art Show and the MLAA's future activities

MLAA Artist Featured in AARP bulletin!

Michael Severin and his work

Michael Severin, noted Foothill landscape painter,  appears in the most  recent AARP Bulletin.  He's one of eight featured artists, selected around the nation,  who have achieved a successful second career in art after retiring from a more conventional working life. Michael, pictured above, is a longtime MLAA member, a former president and an occasional  presenter at our art demos.  Here's a link to the article: www.aarp.org/work/working-at-50-plus/info-2021/retired-workers-turned-artists.html

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Business is Great at the New Aloft Gallery

Despite the ongoing pandemic Aloft Gallery has been doing very well in its new location at 105 Washington Street in downtown Sonora.  We have a wonderful collection of work by new artist members as well as old friends.  People who had to cancel vacation plans for 2020 are buying art!  The site itself, in the historic Baers Building, is worth a visit.  Go here for Aloft information or visit the Gallery website at www.aloftartgallery.com

The Aloft Gallery reserves a space for  MLAA members to show their art free of charge.  The space  available to MLAA members who are not also members of Aloft.  Interested?  Go here to our "Contact Us" page to get in touch with Susan Kendall.  Don't miss this opportunity!

2021 Board Positions Open

MLAA still has volunteer opportunities for the following positions on the 2021 Board:  Vice President, Program Chair and Secretary.  We currently have some Board members doing double duty, which works for now, but not when activity picks up (as we hope) later  in 2021.  Interested?  Contact President John Sharum  through the "Contact Us" page for more information.

Sonora Photo Club and MLAA Concurrent Shows!

The Sonora Photo Club is honored to present our Photography Show, featuring work by our members, concurrently with the 2021 MLAA 67th Annual Art Show at the Opera Hall.  Please come to the Opera Hall in downtown Sonora on October 15th -17th and enjoy all of the artwork on display!

The SPC's goal is to explore the entire photographic experience  from equipment to photographic techniques, from shooting to post processing and printing.  Toward that end, we offer an opportunity for members to display and discuss their photos, learn new tips and techniques and seek advice on issues they may have with experienced photographers who are club members.  Most importantly, we provide a friendly forum where we can share our knowledge and learn from each other.

In addition to meetings, members of the club may meet occasionally to head out for a shoot in the local area.  Located in California's Gold Country and close to Yosemite, our club has a wealth of opportunities to explore the old mining towns of the Mother Lode, the many specialized farms, ranches and wineries, the grandeur of Yosemite National Park and the Sonora Pass area.

For more information about the Sonora Photo Club, please visit our website:  sonoraphotoclub.org

The library is currently open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..  Face coverings required, number of patrons at any one time limited; hand sanitizer available.  

Covid Series No. 1 by Steve P

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Art in a time of coronavirus:  go to Members' Gallery for examples of members' current work.  Submit your own work! 

Steve P has been painting a Covid 19 Series in his unmistakable style.  Check out  Members' Gallery for more!

The Mother Lode Art Association  is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 to promote the arts and the appreciation of the arts in our community.

Now that the restrictions imposed by the pandemic are easing, we look forward to getting back to our regular schedule, in which meetings are held  at 1:00 pm on the third Monday of each month except July, August and December, in the Community Room of the Tuolumne County Public Library at 480 Greenley Road, Sonora.  Meetings are announced in the Union Democrat Weekender. Our free artist demos are held after each meeting.  Members receive an electronic newsletter several times a year and have access to venues where we can hang our work free of charge. 

Click here for information on how to join the Mother Lode Art Association.

To contact anyone on the Board or a committee chair, click here.  Your message will be directed to the recipient.

Upcoming Meeting

Date:  Monday, July 19, 2021
Time:  1 p.m.
Place:  Oak Hill Presbyterian Church
14892 Peaceful Valley Rd, Sonora, CA 95370
Demo:  bring a painting for a critique by Judie Cain! Paintings may be finished or unfinished, no more than 16 x 20 inches and limited to one per person. For more information on Judie and her work, go here. 
Note the change of venue. Thanks to Susan Kendall for making this happen.
Not a member but interested in checking us out?  You're welcome to attend the meeting and demo.

June Picnic at Indigeny

After15 months without face to face meetings, the MLAA got together for a picnic at the Indigeny Reserve off Lyons Bald Mountain Road on June 21.  It , 2021. It was great to see each other on a splendid early summer day!  Some members brought their sketching gear and enjoyed a plein air session on this beautiful property with its orchards, woods, buildings and farm machinery offering excellent subjects.

Sonora Photo Club Show in TC Main Library

Work by five members of MMLA's sister club,  Sonora Photo Club, is currently on display  at the Tuolumne County Main Library.  Drop in to see some beautiful photos by Catherine Stanton, Janet Alcalde, Kathleen Severson, Robert Linsse, Melinda Martin and Marie Hetherington.

The Tuolumne County Main Library at 480 Greenley Road, Sonora, is now open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays from  10 am to 6 pm.  Call 209 533 5507 for information.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING

Watercolorist Karen O painted in the foothills. See more of her work in our Members' Gallery!

"High Sierra Lake" by watercolor artist Margaret Bevier. See more of Margaret's pandemic work in the Members' Gallery

In this time of pandemic we urge members to follow all applicable precautions regarding group activities.   But we encourage people to get outside and make art!  Go here for more information on our plein air activities.