By Judith Levine

It took several months for us to be in the same place with enough time to do an interview, but it was worth the wait. Jonathan Jaeger’s sunny disposition and huge warm smile just pull you right into his world.  

The artist was born in 1970 in Oklahoma City, adopted in 1973 where he would end up with two brothers and a sister and many relatives who form his close-knit family. The family moved to Washington, Pennsylvania to be closer to part of that extended family in 1975.  He spent his time growing up in Pennsylvania. 

“My earliest memory is from 2^nd grade when I realized I wasn’t an ace artist straight away!” he said. Though he had not had formal classes, he began to do a lot of sketches.  He only took one art class in high school but was disappointed when it turned out to be very formulaic and lacking in passion for art. He began university at Dayton University in Ohio as a communications major. Jaeger returned to Pennsylvania, switched to Mercyhurst College and earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1998. Other than the one Art History class at Dayton, art faded from his life

The next five years saw Jaeger working for the state government as a social worker. “I continued to pursue a career in social work and believed it was my calling [but it was] not my passion,” he said.

That first year saw him at a halfway house, focused on helping troubled youths. “I realized I wasn’t cut out for the turmoil.” He switched to a program that focused on troubled families, a job that lasted for four years; then a friend mentioned he was moving to Washington, D.C. and Jaeger decided to go with him and spend more time with family in this area.  He got a place in Germantown and, “I thought I had landed in heaven!!”  

The places he had grown up and worked in were fairly homogeneous and for the first time he was living in an area well known for its diversity. The artist is multi-ethnic and says “I had some racial issues growing up, sometimes I still do, I am always walking the line between one race or the other and that causes me to feel like I have no identity.”  (He is part White, part African American and part Polynesian)  He met his wife online, and they married in 2006. They are currently raising their son and daughter in Silver Spring.

Initially the artist continued to do social work but he began to realize he needed to decompress. He left social work behind and went to work at Washington Adventist Hospital as a transporter and art came roaring back into his life. “Art was sort of looming...I was into tech...” so he began using a digital app to make paintings and drawings that he shared on social media such as FB.      “One day I said to myself ‘If I can paint on digital, I should try doing it using actual paint’. So I went to my basement and did. [I realized] it was a passion thing and I couldn’t stop.” Soon he became a member of the Olney Art Association, he then met Sandra Perez Ramos leading him to both Montgomery Art Association and the Washington Projects for the Arts Gallery where he currently exhibits regularly.

When asked about artists that he gravitates to, he immediately mentioned Jean-Michel Basquiat. Anyone familiar with Basquiat can see why. Both paint in a somewhat similar style, use of colour with those fierce yellows, oranges and greens. Both show profound passion in their paintings. The biggest difference is that Basquiat paintings show the inner torment that led to his early death while Jaeger’s deal with things around him, things that see him using the full range of emotion. He closely identifies with Van Gogh for similar reasons, the colour, the movement within the compositions and the intensity.  The third painter he feels a kinship with is Picasso. And like Picasso, he has no plans to end early. It is not to say that he doesn’t feel things to the depth of him-he does.  It is that he has refused to allow it to destroy him.  He sees a passionate need to speak through his work as the way to feel complete.  All those years he pushed his passion for art down are behind him. He now can no longer imagine a life without being an artist. 

Jaeger’s advice to a new artist is “Feel what you are painting. Don’t be judged by society. Follow your ethics.”  Johnathan Jaeger is a deeply religious man. He continued, “This conflicts me sometime when the passion I reflect, how I think how G-D would judge me as opposed to how my church would see it. In the end, freedom is very important to me when I choose what to paint.” We finally agreed that we see our talent is something we personally see as a G-D given gift to be used as honestly as we can.  To that end, the artist hopes to do a lot more travelling across the United States and eventually to Europe where, hopefully he will be seeing his work exhibited. And yet it is here he expects to keep returning, where his family, his friends, and his heart remains. 

Note:  To view title of work just hover your cursor over the lower right bottom piece.         

By Susan Brown

Come and take a look at our colorful work at Glenview Mansion from March 1 through March 27th. A number of the paintings in this exhibition express color found on vacations, other places, or other ways of seeing. In other words, they display scenes of travel and varied reactions to that travel. 

The color of light in a different country impressed John MacArthur and Helen Wood. For John, the light in France shown there on the lavender fields is very different from light on this continent even in lavender fields. He thinks it is because of a violet tone in the light there. Helen visited Kruger National Park in South Africa at the end of winter, just before spring. She was struck by the stark contrast of the winter trees against the clear sky particularly in the “golden hour”, that time just before sunset, the sky just lightly pink. It seemed to her as though the African trees were glowing. In contrast, Laura Aikman thought less about the actual color of the scene she found in Spain. She looks for places that stand out and Ronda, Spain, was both awe inspiring and terrifying due to the fact that it is perched on the side of sheer cliffs. Recently, she has been experimenting with exaggerating color and this scene lent itself to that process, a process she enjoyed very much.

Robert Shiao, Susan Fitch Brown and Gale Marcus painted scenes fromthe United States. Robert put together an image of Red Rock near Sedona, loving the beautiful red of that area and paired it with some cacti found in Tucson, Arizona. He liked the interplay of green and red, the bright colors. Susan painted from her nephew's photo taken on a hike in Idaho. She chose the photo because of its vivid and varied colors. The picture's beautifully vivid sunset set against the rugged mountains was an enjoyable challenge to paint. Gale had been looking for old cars to paint and found hers in Key West, a blue truck against the orange of an old Spanish style church. The color contrast was also important to her.

Pauline Rakis traveled - in her "A Walk in the Woods" - in a different way. She began with some green which reminded her of the leaves of a tree, then added purple which reminded her of orchids. So she decided she was painting a scene in a tropical woods, maybe Florida or south of the Border, and then added orange which seemed to be a path through the woods. In this case, her travel was in her imagination, a journey she much enjoyed. 

Glenview Mansion is just off Baltimore Road between First Street and Twinbrook Parkway, and next to the F Scott Fitzgerald Theater.

The opening reception is Sunday, March 1, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. 

If you are interested in purchasing artwork from the gallery, please contact Betty Wisda at bwisda@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8681. 

Lives in: Silver Spring, MD

Website: www.graysonstudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraysonStudios/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graysonstudios/

Media and subjects:  Printmaking and painting (oil on panel)

Why you joined MAA: To be in community with other artists.

Something fun about you:  I am an avid reader, hiker, and biker (hybrid bike).

Artist Biography: Deborah Grayson makes drawings, paintings, sculpture and prints that draw on magic, myth, and memory to create a contemporary picture of the real and imagined worlds of women's lives.  Grayson’s creative process embraces deconstruction as part of creation. She is intrigued by the process of bringing together seemingly disparate materials – old, new and found  – to build her bodies of work.  

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Grayson completed a BA at the University of Maryland, College Park and an MA and PhD at Michigan State University.  In addition to her studio work Deborah Grayson is an independent scholar and much sought after workshop facilitator and speaker.

By Judith Levine

On February 13, 2020, John MacArthur and I attended Maryland Arts Day in Annapolis. Sponsored by Maryland Citizens for the Arts, the event was attended by people from all over the state. Many were organizers and administrators; fewer were artists. We split up and began speaking with fellow attendees and came home with a lot of new contacts. All were united in the need to see an increase in funding for the arts, gratitude for the current Maryland administration’s support and concern for lack of Federal support.

There was a slew of legislators speaking as expected, many who have been strong backers of funding for the arts, especially in education. The speakers who most impressed the audience though were Yumi Hogan and Joyce J. Scott. Yes, Hogan as in Larry. Yumi Hogan (shown at right) is the wife of the current governor and an exceptionally talented painter. She spoke most eloquently about the need for education AND support for working artists.

Then came Joyce Scott (who I'm shown with in the photo below). Scott’s work speaks for itself over her long and well-known career. But many don’t know that Scott is also a very gifted—and funny—verbal storyteller. She left all of us rolling on the floor with her stories, but then she had us feeling tears as she spoke of her ancestors who were slaves. This multi-talented artist used her time to take us through her personal story and that of her family, many of whom are just as talented.

After the formal speeches, we split up to meet with our legislators. Montgomery County has its own chamber, and we heard from our State Senator Nancy King. She has personally gotten many arts funding bills written and passed. I was invited to contact her office to continue our conversation. I also had the opportunity to touch base with legislator Kirill Reznik. Kirill is an immigrant, born in Ukraine; Nancy happens to be part of the LGBT+ community. Both understand what it means to be part of groups with specific needs and concerns. 

John--who sketched the proceedings, shown below--and I hope to use the contacts we made to help the Montgomery Art Association grow and contribute to our goals of supporting each other as artists. I do urge our members to think about having MAA join this vigorous supporter of the arts in Maryland. Wheaton Arts Parade, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and BlackRock Center for the Arts are just three among many county groups who are members. And I personally look forward to getting to represent us again next year.

MAA member Maria Elena Sayan received the Viewers Choice Award at the MAA Members Show & Sale at Oasis Gallery in Bethesda for her still life Summer Zinnias and Herbal Tea.

More than 80 guests at our January 25 opening reception voted for their favorite works from among the 65 pieces in the show. Shirley Crawley took second place, and Helen Wood was third place.In total, 65 MAA members are in the show, and many of them attended the reception, each sharing thoughts about what inspired them to make their pieces. 

The show runs until April 10. You can visit Monday-Friday, 10 am-4 pm. 

Lives in: Germantown, MD 

Website: http://deborahwalmer.com

Social Media: Instagram: @deborah_walmer; Facebook:

http://facebook.com/deborahlwalmer

Media and subjects:  Oil on canvas

Why you joined MAA: To socialize with and support other artists.

Something fun about you: Along with painting, dance comes in a close second. As far back as I can remember, I have danced.  If there is music on, you will see me swaying to it.  I have been a member of three dance companies over the years and even traveled to West Africa to study dance.

Artist Biography: I grew up in the Philadelphia, PA area and majored in Fine Art at Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C.  Although I am a Philly girl, I consider myself a Washingtonian since I have lived in the DC area for over 26 years.  I started drawing at 1½ years old.  Unfortunately, it was all over my aunt's door during a sleepover. That was my last sleepover.  (Editors Note:  Fortunately it was not her last artwork.)

After college I didn't really paint that much. I was uninspired. After my divorce, three years ago, I realized that something was missing. I needed to paint. I now know I cannot go a day without painting.  Besides my two teens, painting has made me happier than anything I have ever known.

My second love—dance has stayed with me over the years.  Although I no longer dance as part of a dance company, I stay involved in the dance world by creating costumes for CityDance School and Conservatory at Strathmore in North Bethesda. I merged my two loves of dance and painting and created a dance series of paintings. When I watch the conservatory dancers, I am transported back onto stage. I want the viewer of my art to see the movement of dance and feel the emotion as if they are dancing.

During my first art exhibit this last summer, the paintings were displayed while the dancers performed the repertoire that is depicted in the paintings. I wanted the audience to experience the emotion and story they tell through movement in my paintings.  One of my paintings, Girl On Fire, depicts an African dancer. She is wearing the costume I made for that dance repertoire.

My paintings have been described as paper unfolded or stained glass. You can see the influence of Picasso, Braque, Dali, and Kahlo in the paintings.   I recently expanded into Abstract works. These abstract paintings are a mix of textures that include oil paint, cray-pas, shells and fabric woven together with the techniques of the cubism genre. My friends call the style Debism.

Lives in: Bethesda

Website: galemarcus.crevado.com

Media and subjects: Oil painting of all kinds. I like to have an animal somewhere in the picture.

Why you joined MAA: I joined MAA as a way to show my work and meet other artists.

Something fun about you: I am a connoisseur of good food, fine wine and EBAY.

Artist biography:  I have always loved to paint.  In high school, many years ago, I decided that oil painting was my calling, so my father made an easel for me and sent me off to college as an art major. My practical self soon realized that as an artist it was going to very difficult to support myself with my art, so I changed my major and made a career in television--always knowing that at some point I would re-engage in my art.  I have since retired and live just down the street from the Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo, so I have pulled out that old easel and am taking classes and painting full time.  In the past year, I have started showing my work in both juried and open shows; and recently I was awarded second place in oils in the Rockville Art League’s Winter Juried Show.  My interest is primarily in color with a touch of Impressionism, and ideally I like a painting to tell a story.  

Sixty-five members of the Montgomery Art Association are showing works for three months at the Oasis Gallery in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

MAA's third annual member show & sale runs January 13-April 10.

A reception is scheduled for Saturday, January 25 from 2-3:30 pm and is open to the public. During the reception, visitors will be asked to vote for a Viewers Choice Award. The winner will receive a gift certificate good for a free painting workshop offered by Walt Bartman of the Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery.

The Oasis Gallery is in the second-floor Macy’s Home Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7125 Democracy Boulevard.

Directions to Oasis from the mall's Garage A: Follow the aisle to the end and turn left. Drive two aisles to your left to park near Macy’s Home Store entrance. Pass through elevator lobby and see entrance on left. From inside the mall: Enter Macy’s Home Store, turn left toward Linen Department. Go through Linens and follow signs for the Exit/Parking Garage. At the inner lobby, enter OASIS straight ahead.

Shown (clockwise from top left): Resting in Quiet Waters (watercolor) by Angela Lacy, Winter Scene (pastel) by Marcia Billig, Watching the Tide Come In (oil) by Jeanne Powell and Perchance, to Dream (#3) (acrylic) by Gordon Lyon.

Download the 2020 Oasis Show flyer

Name: Jack Hammond

Lives in: I'm a proud, 60-year resident of Takoma Park.

Media and subjects: I've worked in pastels, water colors, oils, acrylics, and more; my subjects are varied.

Why you joined MAA: I'm drawn to the artistic communion offered by the organization, as well as the opportunity to show my work.

Something fun about you: Back in the day, my future wife, Vaughn, was seeking a local daytime art class and stopped in Lipman's Art Shop (now Plaza Artist Materials) to inquire. Shirley Lipman seized the opportunity to sign Vaughn up for my Saturday morning class. Trick was, the class was for six- to ten-year-old children. The rest is history!

Artist Biography: University of Maryland - Fine Arts/Practical Arts; US Navy Ships' Artist; "Niche" Period 1960-1980; Vaughn and I opened the art gallery -- Gallery on the Park -- 1970-1980; prolific in a present day renaissance with new vision after two cataract surgeries.

Shown, left to right: Bend in the Road, Morning Pier and Cataract by Jack Hammond.

With MAA member Martina Sestakova
Artist, teacher, and founder/owner of RADOST

Many artworks have been created about the self.  In this workshop at the Oasis Gallery--set up in conjunction with MAA's third annual Oasis Gallery art show--you will join teaching artist Martina Sestakova in an exploration of your senses and what makes you a unique self. 

You will take a look at artists such as Sonia Delaunay and Paul Klee while you work in watercolors to create a visual capture of yourself.  No experience is necessary and all supplies will be provided.

Oasis Gallery

Friday, February 7, 2020
1-2:30 pm
Fee: $25 

To register, visit https://www3.oasisnet.org/Washington-DC/Classes