These artists mean business

NEWTON - Local artists made a strong showing on Wednesday, Jan. 10 when the first monthly meeting of BOAS - Business of Art Sussex, met here. Thirty people took part in a lively discussion of the business side of art after a presentation on writing an artist’s statement and biography. The February meeting will feature “The Artist and The Internet” a free two-hour program led by painter, printmaker, and collage artist Jonathan Talbot. Attendees will explore the career-building possibilities of the Internet for artists. The specific subject matter will be determined by all present. The meeting will be held at the Hilltop Country Day School library, 32 Lafayette Rd., Sparta, on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. . Talbot’s works have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and are included in museum collections The Newark Museum, The Smith College Museum, The Everhart Museum, The Byer Museum, The Free Library of Philadelphia, The San Francisco Academy of Art, Fairleigh Dickinson University, The Provincetown Historical Society, and the Toronto Central Library. He is also the author of two books: “Collage: a New Approach” and “The Artist’s Marketing and Action Plan Book.” In addition to creating art, he giveses workshops on collage techniques and the business of art. His studio is in Warwick, NY where he lives with his wife Marsha. They are the parents of two children: a daughter, Loren, and a son, Garret. BOAS, founded by local artists Sean Holzli, Valerie Ellen Magro and Jennie Traill Schaeffer, is an informal group open to visual artists from as far as people are willing to travel. Future topics of discussion include legal and accounting questions, free promotion, web sites, sales ideas and resources for artists. The group hopes to develop themes based on the interests and needs of its members. BOAS is an informal, no-fee based group for artists committed to learning about and nurturing the business end of their work with other artists. They ask only for a small contribution if partaking in coffee and tea; please bring your favorite mug. BOAS thanks the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council for space for the first meeting and the Craft Creators for lending an easel, and extends its gratitude to the school for space and use of technology for meetings. For more information contact Schaeffer by phone, 973-383-3418, email, boasussex@earthlink.net or go to the Web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~boasussex/.