President's Art Forum
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July 9, 2025
President’s Letter
July 2025
Dear Artist, Member, Friend,
A moment on Art. Robert Henri wrote:
“No line or form or color must change until you are compelled by the necessity of the structure you are making to change it. The need for change must be great. You only make the change because you must respond to an absolute demand.”
His words resonate deeply with me as we begin to implement changes for the future growth of EAA. In my last Forum news, I touched on some of these changes. The most important is our renewed focus on our mission and essence:
1. Nurture, engage, and support our community of Member Artists.
2. Provide opportunities for our members to display and exhibit their art.
3. Educate, enrich, and enlighten artists of all ages, wherever they are on their artistic journey.
This is our touchstone in the months and years ahead. So if someone asks, “Oh! You belong to EAA, what do they do?” — now you have an answer! Go ahead, practice it!
I also want to remind you that starting this month of July, we are changing the juror process so that we can all benefit more from their feedback and critique. It’s a vital learning opportunity for us. You will now know more about the juror awards. We’re asking our jurors to select a Gold, Silver, and Bronze award for the overall exhibition, as well as works they feel deserve commendations. We’ll be interviewing the judges and sharing their feedback as part of this new process.
This month’s Juror is Tom Tiedeman, and here is a selection of his comments:
Tom Tiedeman, Juror of the Summer Show, shares:
“I’ve learned from experience that you shouldn’t get too excited if you win an award, and you shouldn’t get too depressed if you don’t. That’s how it is in art — and in life.
I awarded ‘Sunshine II’ by Kat Furrow the Gold Medal because I like the way the flowers feel as if they’re drooping, with the one in the foreground light and bright and the ones in the background subdued. It creates a contrast, a tension. It’s not totally perfect — no one paints perfectly — but it’s very compelling.
The Silver Medal goes to ‘Alive’ by Suzanne Nicolaisen. I like the colors within the abstract, the balance, the way it has depth with light up front and then receding into that red shape.
Actually, it reminds me of Venice, where I’ve painted. (By the way, I’ll be painting the Rialto Bridge in Venice this Thursday at the Live Demo.)
The Bronze Medal goes to ‘Eternal Grace’ by Peggy Stokes. It’s another abstract, with flowing shapes and colors. The artist has really conveyed the feeling of water. I’m not sure what the medium is — maybe acrylic or ink — but the technique gives it real fluidity. There are some quite specific areas in the composition I really enjoy.
For commendations, I recognize:
‘Birdie’ by Parva Zarei — the use of color is very nice, and the composition of shapes is striking, almost like a bird. It reminds me of Native American or African art.
‘Woman Waterfall Dragonflies’ by Christine Damien — the use of complementary colors, blues against oranges, is powerful.
‘117 Degrees’ by Tim Cline — it creatively borrows from Van Gogh’s style for the sun, but it works beautifully within the composition.
‘Wind Storm’ by Joanne Sullivan — I love the contrast: pure white, deep darks, and all the in-between shades. It’s surprisingly strong and really works.*
I like this Summer Show. It has a diversity of styles and genres, and all the work comes together for a single, cohesive exhibition. Well done to everyone who submitted. Keep going, EAA Members!
For those interested, I’ll be teaching a class at Rancho Bernardo…”
Thank you, Tom!
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I also want to introduce you to the Docent’s Art Sketchbook.
In a conversation with Meg, one of our wonderful Volunteer Coordinators, we talked about how we could engage both our Member Docents and visitors to the Gallery. After all, we are all artists!
So we came up with the idea of keeping a Docent’s Art Sketchbook at the desk in the Gallery, inviting you to sketch, paint, or even just doodle in it when you’re serving as a docent. It will stay in the Gallery.
We also hope it becomes a great way to engage visitors. As people walk in, feel free to show them what you’re doing. It’s a wonderful way to start a conversation about art — and to show them you’re an artist too. So please, sketch away! Let’s share our art.
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P.S.
As always, I close with a personal request:
Please join us at the Opening Reception for the Summer Show on Saturday, July 14, from 4pm to 6pm at the Gallery on Grand, whether or not you have a piece in the show. Your presence in support of your fellow artists is very important. I know for certain that when you yourself are an awarded artist in the Gallery, you’ll want your artistic colleagues and fellow members there to see your work.
Let’s all support each other.
“This is the way.” (A dollar for anyone who gets the reference!)
May 6, 2025
President’s Letter
May 2025
Our future your future
Wow! Is it just me or does it seem like this year is accelerating! Time sure seems to be
flying by fast. In this letter I hope to share with you not only some of the upcoming
activities of EAA you won’t want to miss also I want to begin to share some of the future
vision we are forming for our organization and our plans to continue to nurture and grow
our community programs. I also want to begin a conversation about Art…I hope you will
read on.
A Sparkling Night Under the Stars
First things first.
Our Board members Christine and Annette together with very special
community leaders Adina Onda of Simply Adina Floral and Kristie Rocco owner of The
Hidden Chateau are all working hard to make Saturday June 21st, our Summer Solstice
Soiree – “Under the Stars” a wondrous, elegant, fabulous, magical sparkling Gala
Event. But you will need to reserve your tickets now as seating is limited and we expect
a sell-out crowd.
Tickets are $100 for members and $125 for non-members, these
funds support are monthly exhibitions on Grand Ave and all our outreach and
educational programming to introduce young people to art. You can reserve your tickets
on our web site www.escondidoartassociation.org.
Hurry we don’t want you to miss the
best party of the year!
Our Future Your Future
We have already begun to discuss our dreams, aspirations and objectives for the future
of EAA. We recently had a Vision Summit of our leadership and closest advisors and
legacy members to share thoughts and ideas on our future. We are unwavering in our
mission to support the Escondido artist community; people like you and to reach out and
introduce young people to art and support them on their journey. As I meet more of
you, I constantly hear your personal stories of what art means to you, sometimes
solace, sometimes self-empowerment, sometimes companionship and always creative
expression. Our future is your future as we serve you and the community. I welcome
your thoughts, ideas, needs, goals, dreams as we continue the process of mapping out
the future for EAA. More to follow….
Conversations about Art
I recently had the opportunity to return to my home city of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Amazingly at the Scottish National Galleries I happened into an exhibition of “The
Glasgow Boys”. These were a group of Scottish artists who painted mostly in the period
1880 to 1940. There was also “The Glasgow Girls” group! These artists were highly
acclaimed for their exciting new interpretations of portraiture and landscape and the
bold new colors and styles they used. One of them happens to be my great uncle, Sir
James Guthrie. But the exhibition reminded me that art and artists do not stand still.
They are constantly evolving, changing, growing and pushing forward into new ideas.
At EAA we want to do the same. I want to encourage, promote and nurture
conversations between us about art and artists. We all learn and grow from this
exploration. I share this with you because I came away from this show energized and
inspired to press forward, try harder, try new. I hope you will join us in this dialogue.
New NICU Gallery Show Open
Our partnership with North Island Credit Union has delivered a wonderful new show of
EAA member’s work at their gallery at 1230 Auto Parkway. Thank you for all the
submissions and please visit the gallery. It’s an exciting collection of our member’s work.
We are also delighted that The Writers Group led by Nancy Pace-Skinner has been
using the show for inspiration of their Haiku poems. The poems are printed in a handout
at the gallery and are quite wonderful. We love this sort of collaboration across art
disciplines! Look for more! And when you are there be sure to thank North Island Credit
Union for the show, they are great partners to EAA.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas for our future together. You can email me at
[email protected]. As we say in Scotland “Haste ye back”!
Adrian Stewart
Incoming President
Incoming EAA President
PS I have learned that some people read the PS first! Here is the link for a video on our
upcoming Summer Solstice Soiree gala where you can see the wonderful walled
garden, we will be having the event in: It’s going to be magical!
Here’s the link: Gala
Video
April 15, 2025
President’s Letter
April 2025
Dear Friend of EAA,
There is already so much news to share with you! Please read on!
This is one of my
first correspondences with you since I joined EAA to serve as your incoming President
and I have important news for you on upcoming events.
Firstly, a big thank you and congratulations!
What a delight it was to see so many of
you at the opening of the first ever Mayor’s Art Contest, this past Saturday. The energy
in the gallery was wonderful and again congratulations on all the submissions and to
those awarded with honors and prizes, it is all such wonderful artwork. It is a shining
example of our togetherness and mutual support of artists in our community. Wow! I
hope you are proud to be a member, a supporter, a patron and a friend of EAA. I know I
am honored and privileged to serve you as your President.
Open House this Friday! I hope you will join us at the Open House of our new NICU
Gallery show on this coming Friday, April 25 from 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm at the North Island
Credit Union Community Gallery, 1230 Auto Park Way Escondido, CA 92029. This new
Exhibition features latest works by our member artists, and we thank North Island Credit
Union for their on-going support of EAA and all our programs in the community. I know
you will enjoy the show, it’s spectacular and please bring your friends and come to the
open house this Friday. Thank you, Byron Marler, for all your work in putting this show
together.
So many great community programs! As I try to step in and fill the shoes of our
incredible leader Tokeli Baker I am so surprised by all the programs EAA has in this
community. Our kid’s programs bringing art education and encouraging art in young
people and students of all ages, our high school scholarship program, our Art Camps
and our Workshops Lecture Demonstrations helping people grow their art skills and
most importantly our monthly exhibitions that give access to you, all our community
artists to display your work in a professional gallery in the Center of Escondido. It’s a
tremendous accomplishment. EAA is the beating heart of the artistic community in
Escondido.
It's a party and a Gala! One of the most important aspects of being a community based
non-profit organization is our ability to raise important funds for us to continue all this
work. That is why I am personally asking you to buy your tickets now, today, to our
Fund-Raising Gala Event on Saturday June 21, The Summer Solstice Soiree at the
wonderful and magical Hidden Chateau in Escondido. Tickets are $100 for EAA
Members and $125 for Non EAA Members and you can purchase them right now on our
www.escondidoartassociation.org website or by clicking on this link:
Get your Tickets
Here!
This will be a fabulous, elegant magical party! It will take place in a gorgeous private
walled Garden just a few blocks from our Gallery and you will want to bring your friends,
partners, clients and neighbors. We will have food from your favorite local restaurants,
local wineries with tasting and serving wine, entertainment and more. It’s a perfect way
to spend the Summer Solstice evening and all proceeds go to support our much-needed
programs in this, our Escondido community. Please get your tickets early we anticipate
selling out! A very special thank you to Christine and Annette for all their hard work and
for our lead Volunteers and Angels Adina and Kristy and many others for their support.
Go Team EAA!
Next Take In! Finally, this is just a reminder our next take in for our next exhibition
“Abstract Adventures” is Saturday May 3, 11 am - 4 pm at the gallery. We have a free
live art demo on Thursday May 8, 2 pm - 4 pm and the opening is Saturday May 10, 4
pm – 6 pm.
Yikes! Well, I have run out of space for this letter, and there’s still more to share with
you like our new Young Adults program “Ignite” and much more so please look for my
next email and update. And in the meantime, if you see this tall American Scotsman in
the Gallery, please say hello and introduce yourself. I’d love to get to know you and get
your input. I’m honored to serve you as your new President.
In service, best regards.
Adrian Stewart
Your Incoming President of The Escondido Art Association.
Escondido Times-Advocate. By News Desk
on March 27, 2025
Escondido Art Association welcomes Adrian Stewart as new president
The Escondido Art Association (EAA) has nominated acclaimed local artist and sculptor Adrian Stewart as its incoming president. Stewart will serve alongside Tokeli Baker as co-President until June 2025, at which time he will fully assume the role upon official election by the EAA membership at the annual meeting.
Stewart brings a distinguished background in both the fine arts and arts leadership. As an artist, he is widely recognized for his evocative paintings and masterfully crafted wood sculptures, which have been featured in numerous exhibitions. His solo exhibitions include the From the Garden to the Sea at Expressions Gallery in Escondido and a showcase at Sophie’s Gallery in Kensington.
Stewart has played a pivotal role in managing some of the nation’s most esteemed arts organizations. His leadership experience includes executive positions with The Pittsburgh Ballet, The American Conservatory Theater, The Dallas Theater Center, and most notably, his tenure as managing director of the San Diego Repertory Theater.
“We are thrilled to welcome Adrian to this leadership role at EAA,” said Tokeli Baker, current co-president. “His extraordinary blend of experience—as both a talented artist and a proven leader in arts management—makes him the perfect person to help propel our organization into an exciting new era.”
Originally from Rhu, on the west coast of Scotland, Stewart studied painting under John Brown RSW (Royal Society of Watercolourists).
“I am deeply honored to be part of the next chapter for the Escondido Art Association,” said Stewart. “This organization has a remarkable legacy of supporting local artists and fostering community engagement with the arts. EAA’s dedication to Escondido’s creative community is truly inspiring, and I look forward to working with Tokeli and the board to further strengthen and expand our impact.”
Stewart also holds business and engineering degrees with distinctions from Edinburgh University and a joint MBA/MFA from Indiana University. At Indiana University, he served on the board for the inauguration of the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Art in Bloomington. His professional career spans three decades as a healthcare consultant, and he currently serves as chairman of the IndUSa Alliance, an initiative dedicated to advancing cancer research and immuno-engineering collaboration between the United States and India.
With Adrian Stewart at the helm, the Escondido Art Association looks forward to a dynamic future, continuing its mission to nurture creativity and provide meaningful opportunities for artists in Escondido and beyond.
For more information, visit www.escondidoartassociation.org.
Original article: https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/escondido-art-association-welcomes-adrian-stewart-as-new-president/