The Villages - August 2019 - 7

ELLEN
H E L LW E G E

D IA N E
WEEKLEY

ROBERT
R IV K IN

BETTY
E IC H

In

1986, 12 local artists created something not made with
canvas or clay: The Villages Art League (VAL), a club
that has since grown to around 250 members. Their
objective: to encourage all forms of fine art and its appreciation
throughout the area.
Fine art may be two dimensional or three dimensional, notes VAL
co-president Diane Weekley.
"2D art is created on paper, canvas or flat surfaces with
watercolor, acrylics, oils, pastels, pen and ink or charcoal," she said.
The term 3D art refers to pieces with volume, mass and texture,
which are visible from more than two sides.
"It's art that is not made on a flat surface - sculptures, stained
glass, porcelain or metal hangings, for example," Weekley said.
A melting pot of creative painters, photographers, sculptors
and more, the club meets monthly and also gathers for workshops,
demonstrations, exhibits and shows. Each member brings a
sprinkling of talent and a measure of inspiration to the collective pot.
"The VAL has two Fine Art shows during the year in which the
artists can display and sell their work," said Weekley. "The 'Inspired
by the Masters' show is held at La Hacienda (Pool and Recreation
Center) from September through December. We also have exhibits
at the Eisenhower Recreation Center that rotate every month.
Each month an artist is selected to display a work of art at one of
three Citizen's banks. We also promote art workshops at Mulberry,
Paradise and Saddlebrook recreation centers, where artists can work
on their art."
Community outreach is important to the VAL, which collects
art supplies and donates money to local schools to help fund art
programs.
Established in 1995, the Visual Arts Association (VAA) is a club
with the same objectives, boasting many of the same members on
its roster. The club meets monthly, hosts art shows and exhibits
throughout the year and raises money for college art scholarships
benefiting high school art majors in the tri-county area. The
club has awarded 54 winners to date, and has given more than
$106,000 in scholarships.
For Villages artists, membership to these organizations has many
perks - socializing, honing your skills and selling your work at
annual shows.

F OR IN F OR M ATION , VISIT THE C LU B S ONLI NE :

SHARON
W IL S O N

www.thevillagesartleague.org | www.visualartsassociation.com

MAGAZINE

7
http://www.thevillagesartleague.org http://www.visualartsassociation.com
The Villages - August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - August 2019
