Mount Dora Art League
Mount Dora Center for the Arts is proud to lift up and partner with the Mount Dora Art League, the oldest organized group of artists in Central Florida.
The Mount Dora Art League is comprised of artists who pay an annual $25 membership fee to cover monthly art demonstrations and workshops. They meet once a month and have a member only exhibition each year in the MDCA gallery.
Today, all forms of artistic expression are encouraged. Members need not be artists, just have an interest in art and are welcome to come to learn about art through demos and discussions.
Demos and workshops are planned for each of their meetings which are held in the Mount Dora Center for the Arts gallery at 135 E. 5th Ave Mount Dora, FL on the third Saturday of the month from 10am to 12pm.
The annual Mount Dora Art League Artist Exhibition was held May 26 – June 16, 2023 in the MDCA Gallery.
2023 MDAL Member Exhibition Awards
BEST IN SHOW
“Gator Reflections” Sandi Hanlon-Breuer
WATERCOLOR-
1st Place “Nani” Susan Grogan / 2nd Place “Tonight’s the Night” Carolyn Smith / 3rd Place “Sunflower” Cathy Caine
OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTING-
OIL: 1st Place “Portrait of Chuck” Lydia Alfrey / Awards of Honor: “Path to Lake Prevatt” Elisabeth Ferber / “Three Roses in Bloom” Aphrodite / “Grove Tractor” Dodi Truenow
ACRYLIC: 2nd Place “Mindset” Dea Davis / 3rd Place “The Wise One” Cheryl Lynn Looker / Awards of Honor: “Marsh Memories” Rebecca Owen / “Light Speed” Stephen Fritz
PHOTOGRAPHY : 1st Place “Nautilus Glow” Laura Howell / 2nd Place “Moonrise in Utah” Marie Hammerling
MIXED MEDIA : 1st Place- Mixed Collage “Redefining the Ordinary- Series 7” Patricia E. Nelson /2nd Place Color Pencil and Ink “Shaker Village” Robert Pearson / 3rd Place Mixed Media “Blue Surf” Susan Grogan
3D : 1st Place- Sculpture “Fun & Games” Sheila Hedenean / 2nd Place- “Sally Sunshine” Phyllis Levee / 3rd Place “Leaving In” Susan Jones
Join the Mount Dora Art League community
Mount Dora Art League is an artist support community. Sign up to get the MDCA monthly newsletter and you'll discover monthly workshops and demonstrations offered to MDAL members. Get involved and sign up to be a volunteer at MDCA!
MDAL Meeting Minutes
MOUNT DORA ART LEAGUE MEMBERS MEETING, JUNE 17TH 2023
The meeting commenced at 10.15am. Morna Strenghold (Acting president ) welcomed everyone and introduced herself. There were 16 members in attendance.
Everyone agreed the show was a resounding success and she thanked all those people who had helped to make it so.
Special thanks went to Esther Dirlam (Treasurer), Sheila Hedeman (Chair), Carolyn Smith (membership), Suzi Harr (Facebook, Art Under Arbor), and Louise Gardella (Hospitality)
In addition, Morna gave special thanks to Janet Gamache (MDCA Executive Director), Keri (her assistant), Dea Davis (Helper) and Paul Morris (who hung the show).
As a result of the show, the Art League welcomed 20 new members.
420 people attended the show and Susan Grogan won the People’s Choice award for her painting.
The end of the show has been extended until June 25th and artists may pick up their artworks between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
In view of our developing close working relationship, Morna encouraged all our members to join the Mount Dora Center for the Arts.
NEW BOARD
The following members were nominated to take the new Board positions and were duly elected by a unanimous vote.
President Morna Strengholt
Vice President Carolyn Smith
Treasurer Esther Dirlam
Recording Secretary Claire Fairclough
Publicity/Facebook Suzi Harr and Carolyn Smith
Shows and Rotating Displays Dea Davis
Hospitality Jane Moody and Louise Gardella
Membership Carolyn Smith
Photographer Suzi Harr and Carolyn Smith
Directory Esther Dirlam
Programs Morna Strengholt, Suzi Harr and Dea Davis
Corresponding Secretary Position Open
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Viva La Frida Festival September 30th, admission $10
Art in the Alley Every Friday. Artists can sell their art and there is no charge. They must bring their own tables and display apparatus.
Studio Art Farm Friday June 30th. Artist Reception 4.45 – 6.45
Craft Fair October 28th and 29th (set up on the 27th)
Plein Aire October 14th – 21st
Quick Draw at the Plant Show November 4th
? Holiday Show in the Congregational Church, 1st week in December?.
For further details, contact Morna.
An artist from the Artisan’s Gallery told us there is an opening for an Associate.
This is an Artists’ Co-op and any member may place their artwork for sale .
In return they are expected to work in the gallery for 4 and a half days per month.
When items are sold the artist will receive 70% and the gallery will receive 30%.
The meeting was closed at 11.15am.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON SATURDAY JULY 15TH FROM 10.00 UNTIL NOON.
WE WILL PRACTISE DRAWING OR PAINTING A MODEL
Respectfully Submitted Claire Fairclough
MDAL March Meeting minutes
March 16, 2024
The meeting of the Mt Dora Art League was brought to order by Morna.
12 members were present.
Morna reminded members that dues are to be paid by January 31 next year, 2025.
This year dues need to be paid by April 1 to be in the show.
Send your entry information for the Spring Show to Bob Pearson, 1021 Nantucket Sound, Mt Dora, FL, 32757 or [email protected] …By April 22 and have entry forms filled out on drop off day, April 29, between 10am.-2pm. Monday at MDCA gallery. The entry fee is $10 for one or two entries.
Artwork should be labeled with Name, Title, Medium, and Price, at drop-off. Your entry should not be larger than 80 universal inches including frame. Add height to width to equal 80 inches. You may enter 2 pieces.
If sold the art league will take 35% of the price.
Artist with show entries will be required to sit the exhibit for a 3 hour shift. Sign-up to sit will be required when you check in your art work so bring your schedule with you at that time.
The awards this year are $200 for Best of Show, 1st place $100, 2nd place$150 and 3rd place $50. Honorable mention receives a ribbon but no cash prize.
Show schedule is Friday May 3rd, music acoustic guitar Vic Kusik, 5:00-7:00 pm, award ceremony. Walkabout to the Lakeside Inn to Patty Carroll’s exhibit- 7-8:00 P.M.
May 10th Art in the Alley 5-7 pm.
May 16th Chamber of Commerce After Hours 5-7 pm. Thursday Refreshments, music and painting raffle.
June 7th End of Era closing party, 5 to 7pm. Pick up art work at 7pm. Saturday 10am.-2pm
April 17 –Lakeside Inn Plein Air paint out 1-4pm. Wednesday
May 15- Sherry De Carlos has invited the group to do Plein Aire at her farm in Eustis from 10am.-2pm. There is a fee of $10 per person.
Entry to the Lake County Fair Plein Air deadline is March 30th
April 6th Plein Aire at the fair. It is $20 to register, painting must be for sell during the fair. Elisabeth stayed they preferred a gallery wrapped canvas, they frame work for free.
March 20, 1-4pm, Pleine Aire in Sunset Park by Pieces Rising.
March 23- Watercolor class at Trout Lake, $50 fee
April 3rd register for Re/cycle Show at the Art Farm to be exhibit in their hallway. Abstract show on now. Morna and Chrissie Hawkes have work in the show.
April 20, at our next meeting, Bob Pearson will lecture on Tips, Tools, etc. for drawing. The meeting will be at the MDCA. At 1:00 PM
Last day to sign-up for the Spring Show is April 22. Information needs to be sent to Bob Pearson, info above
New business, MDAC is moving to 5th Avenue and Highland Street in the old gas station.
Mount Dora Art League will exhibit next year, May 2025 at Lake County Art Museum show in Tavares.
Lake County Art Museum next exhibit, Tim Yanke –Call of the American West closing April 5.
Gatehouse – artist of the month features several of our members. April is Aphrodite, May is Patty Carroll, June is Morna, art priced under $550. Contact Kris Palmisano to be artist of the month.
Artisans on 4th are offering classes and Featured guest artist, showing now is Gary Hopcraft.
Our website is being worked on by Aphrodite Backus, Suzi Harr and Dodi Truenow
Louise Gardella gave a talk about linoleum prints and opportunities for Printmaking at Jenny Harpers studio in Eustis.
Motion to adjourn was made by Sam McEwen with Jane Moody 2nd, meeting was adjourned.
Respectively submitted by Peg Parsons
Mount Dora Art League History
The Mount Dora Art League was founded on February 26, 1926 and was active from the start. In the early days, the artists were from both Mount Dora and Eustis until Eustis began their own league, but there are still close ties between the two. Art classes in many disciplines and writing were conducted and the first art shows by the group were often held on the tennis court fence!
On the 25 th. anniversary in 1951, Hugh Mc Kean who was then President of Rollins College and is the benefactor along with his wife of the Morse Museum in Winter Park, was the honored guest at a catered dinner in the Community Building.
The League began to fade but was invigorated in February of 1962 when dues were a dollar and no meetings were held but the membership displayed their work together in several exhibits a year.
In 1963 –64, the membership was similar to today’s membership of 50; two shows a year were held and displays by four local schools were included.
Then, only painters were displaying their work, but now all forms of artistic expression are encouraged and members who have an interest in art but are not producing art , are also encouraged to come as members to learn about art through demos and discussions.
Demos are planned for each of their meetings which are held at Mount Dora Center for the Arts at 138 E5th Ave Mount Dora, FL on the third Saturday of each month. Membership for the year is $25.00 which helps to offset any demonstration fees. Come join our Mount Dora Art League and display your art with us at our two shows this coming year.
