Learn more about the MAA's annual Montgomery College scholarship winners in this feature written by MAA member Suzanne Papiewski.

Hedieh Anderson

Hedieh Anderson is a Graphic Design major at Montgomery College. Her lifelong dream has been to study art. She has really enjoyed her art classes at Montgomery College, “all ears, trying to absorb all the information.” The art classes taught her to think outside the box. She learned critical thinking, how to plan her artwork, and how to change her original plan. In applying these principles to her artistic process, she finds that she starts with an idea but the results are more detailed and somewhat different from her original plan.

Hedieh has created art inspired by the woman-led revolution happening in Iran, her home country. One school project required making a reliquary. A reliquary holds parts of or represents a saint. Her reliquary piece is titled "Nika, the brave daughter of Iran." Hedieh believes Nika was a saint because had a brave heart and died for her beliefs. The last photos of Nika show her standing on a dumpster in the middle of a protest, burning her head scarf. The Iranian Revolutionary forces brutally murdered her for this act, stole her body on her funeral day, and buried her miles away from where her family was planning to bury her. She was buried on her seventeenth birthday. 

Hedieh mostly uses paper clay for sculpture like the reliquary piece. She typically uses everyday items such as cardboard or foil as the base, and then creates the final shape with the paper clay. It air dries, so no oven is required, making the method practical. After it sets, she paints over it. She likes paper clay because it is soft and very easy to work with, it is easy to mold the shape and add layers. In the future, Hedieh plans to take more art classes. Although she is a Graphic Design major, she is also very interested in drawing, painting, and sculpting. She will utilize the skills learned in art classes, and continually expand her art knowledge. She hopes to create more artworks around current social events, and she really hopes to create ones with uplifting themes as well as the ones she has already made that focus on tragic events.

Sarah Meiselman

Sarah’s home life was surrounded by singing and music, and her parents fostered her exploration of the arts as a career choice. The art media she uses includes ceramics, painting, multimedia, and drawing. Ceramics particularly resonates with her because it allows her to use her hands and her mind simultaneously. She very much enjoys the serendipity in the unique variation of each of her ceramic works.

Sarah found her art history classes more interesting than traditional history classes. She enjoyed seeing world history through the lens of artists, which provided more concrete contexts to world events than other history classes she had taken in the past. She is most influenced by the art movements of Dada and Surrealism. She like to incorporate surrealism into her art by incorporating an “out of place” element. She also likes to use certain death symbols, such as skulls, in her art to remind her audience of life’s fleeting quality.

Sarah is currently applying to art galleries and is making her entry into the local "art scene." She would like to create a supportive community of artists and ultimately use a studio in her home as a gathering place for that community.

Dora Patin will give a demonstration at the Paint the Town Art Show & Sale on Saturday, September 2, from 1-3pm

Dora Patin is an oil painter who specializes in trompe l’oeil paintings, a style that gives the illusion that the painted objects are real. Her paintings are built upon several layers and can take weeks to complete.    Her close-up compositions allow for intimate and detailed exploration of her subjects. Currently she is working on a series of paintings that feature playing cards, as they have a rich history, and there are countless meanings, quotes and stories that can be used to create a narrative. 

Jennifer Lynn Beaudet will give a demonstration at the Paint the Town Art Show & Sale on Sunday, September 3, from 1-3pm

Jennifer Lynn Beaudet is an oil painter and native of the Washington, DC area. She has always been moved by art and artistic living, yet the responsibilities of family and career led her in a different direction. In 2018, when her kids were a little more independent, she embraced her love for painting. Since then, she has received numerous awards and is recognized and collected nationally.

Her training includes graduation from the three-year professional Master Artist Program led by Glen Kessler at The Compass Atelier in Rockville, MD. She has studied with varied contemporary artists such as Alyssa Monks, Gavin Glakas, Steven Assael, Teresa Oaxaca to further her knowledge of technique and painting philosophy. Jennifer has traveled to study at the Flemish Classical Atelier in Brugge, Belgium and received The Denis Diderot Grant to participate in an artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France.

Jennifer’s paintings are rich in color and texture as she attempts to push the boundaries of realism with varied and sometimes opposing elements of style and brushwork in a painting. "My process is exploratory, and as in life, it is not always a straightforward path. This iterative approach allows me space to play with the formal elements in an image while I follow along and respond intuitively. As the painting evolves, I am often led to a better understanding of what the painting is about. In doing so, I find an opportunity to explore my own truths and reveal stories about a broader human experience."

Jennifer teaches oil painting at The Compass Atelier and shows her work regularly.

Ella Bella will give a demonstration at the Paint the Town Art Show & Sale on Monday, September 4, from 11am-1pm.

Elaha Soroori, also known as Ella Bella, is an unconventional artist and the first female Afghan fluid artist specializing in fluid media. While her professional background lies in financial analysis, her true passion lies in the world of colors and paints, where she finds a transformative escape from the ordinary world of numbers. In the early 2020s, Ella fell in love with abstract fluid art, a relatively new style of painting that allowed her to explore her creativity and connect with her inner self. Instead of regular brushes, Ella employs water, fire, airflow, and gravity as her tools, creating the most unique effects in her art. She finds inspiration in the sheer joy of painting and embraces the artistic freedom she discovers in acrylic pouring techniques. Ella hopes to popularize this style of painting and aspires to teach, inspire, and encourage aspiring artists to express themselves freely through art. With each pour, she revels in the unpredictable and beautiful patterns that arise from the layering and mixing of colors, showing that creating art only requires a willingness to try something new and see where it takes you.

New Member Spotlight – Sheela Becton 

Lives in: Silver Spring, MD

Website: https://www.sheelacreates.com/

Social Media: @sheelabectoncreates, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheelacreates/

Media and subjects: Oil, Acrylic and Mixed media, Culture, Nature, Positive expressions, Women empowerment

Why you joined MAA:  To meet other like-minded Artists who want to see Art evolve and collaborate, to participate in art events in the county.

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far?  I have participated in the ongoing summer theme exhibit at Windridge Vineyards. I look forward to participating in more upcoming exhibits.

Something fun about you: I love to cook and sing, and I speak 5 languages.

Artist Biography: Sheela Becton was born and raised in India and moved to the US in 1997. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she embraces her love for painting. Sheela believes that “Art is a language that transcends boundaries and brings people together.” Her paintings draw inspiration from different themes going back to her Indian culture and roots; colors and textures of nature, and female strength and determination. Her memories, stories, and emotions come together to convey that art tells the story of many cultures and we as a human race have so much in common.

Her works capture the moments and memories she treasures from her life and travels in India. She relives these precious moments through her art showing how personal history and memory are tied to a place and how visual representation can communicate experiences.

Sheela believes in painting with a purpose; to spread positivity, encourage healing through art, and uplift others. In her efforts towards that end, she has collaborated with Hope Works of Howard County. The organization’s mission is to support and advocate for people affected by sexual and intimate partner violence. Sheela’s work has been featured in the Hope Works’ arts magazine, Dragonfly, four times since 2015. In 2021 her painting “Love” was featured on the cover of Hope Collected, an anthology celebrating the best of Dragonfly entries since its inception in 2014. 

List of juried Exhibitions, Artist talk, Artist Panel discussion and Publications:

·        “Dragonfly, poetry reading and art exhibit” 2019

·        ‘Colors of India - People, Places, Festivals and Landscapes’ at Bernice Kish Art Gallery at Slayton House September-October 2022 

·        Artist talk on ‘Color culture of India’ – October 17th, 2023 Bernice Kish Art gallery, Columbia, MD

·        ‘Colors of Nature’ at Brookside Gardens January 2023 – March 2023. 

·        ‘Soulmates’ Love themed Exhibit at ‘Girls who paint’ -February 2023

·        ‘Joy’ and ‘Spring Blooms’ Blossoms of hope Exhibit at Columbia Art Center April 2023

·        ‘Golden Forest’ won second place in people’s choice awards at the First Friday gallery, May5-June5th 2023

·        Nominated for Baltimore magazine readers poll in the Visual Arts space May 2023

·        ‘Women of Color Art Expo’ The 3rd Inc at Columbia, MD, June 23-25th 2023

·        Ongoing Exhibits – ‘Carefree sense of Summer’ at Windridge Vineyards June – October 2023

·        ‘Experiencing Freedom’ at Sebrof-Forbes cultural center for Arts, Kensington Maryland. June 17th 2023

·        ‘Expressing freedom through Art’ Participated in Panel discussion, June 17th, 2023

·        ‘Spread your wings’ painting published in Dragonfly Magazine by Hope works of Howard County – June 2023

·        ‘Blooms of Hope’ ‘Golden Forest’ and ‘The scarf’ showing at the 3rd Inc, Columbia MD, July-September 2023

Spotlight feature – Levi Robinson – July 2023

Lives in: North Potomac

Website: levirobinsonart.com

Social Media: IG: levirobinsn

Media and subjects: Oil, Acrylic, Collage/Culture, Music, History, Religion, Literature 

Why you joined MAA: I joined MAA in order to expand my practice and connect with the arts in my community. 

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far?: I have not.

Artist Biography:  Levi Robinson’s art takes you on a journey through the sublime and familiar. He uses mixed media techniques to create visual art that serves as metaphors that encourage the viewer to reimagine the way they consider language, theatre, music, art, and culture while exploring complex questions of race, religion, gender and politics. 
Levi’s work is now represented in several galleries along the east coast. He is the co-founder, program director and curator of Grail Arthaus, and Unbound Digital. He is a leading member of the DMV League of Artists art collective and has participated in several major art fairs including Red Dot Spectrum at Art Basel in Miami Beach, and Superfine DC. He has developed a burgeoning mural practice that has landed him media coverage from Reuters, New York Times, USA Today, National Geographic, and ABC News.

We are thrilled to have artist and educator Sumita Kim as the judge of this year’s Paint the Town Labor Day show. Kim is a professor of art at Montgomery College in Rockville.

Kim was born in Gwang-ju, South Korea. Growing up in Seoul with artist and journalist parents, she developed a deep appreciation for the power of art and language at an early age.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Sogang University in Seoul, she came to the United States to continue her education. In 1982, she was awarded a master’s degree in filmmaking from The American University in Washington, DC. She then worked for Voice of America for 10 years as a broadcaster in the Korean Service.

In 1992, Kim left journalism to pursue a formal education in fine arts, focusing on painting. She earned her MFA from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1999, and was hired the next year as a full-time professor by Montgomery College through a national search.

She is currently the painting coordinator of the Art Department at the Rockville campus. From 2008 to 2011, she also served as the department chair. She has been an active member of the college community, serving on schoolwide committees such as the General Education Revision Committee. In 2011, she was recognized for her excellence in teaching by earning the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award.

While committing herself to teaching, she has also continued her career as a practicing artist. Her one-person show, “In Limbo,” at VisArts in Rockville, Maryland, received a review in The Washington Post. In 2019, Kim was appointed to the Maryland State Arts Council, where she served as a councilor until early 2023.

As MAA’s new year commences, I would like to welcome our new Board of Directors. You will see some names that have deep roots and knowledge of MAA and other new names who come with a fresh perspective and energy, both necessary to have MAA grow and thrive.  We are excited for all of you to come together as a team.

I would also like to sincerely thank our outgoing Board members, Amelia De Silva (2nd VP of Shows) and Marta Lopez Teigeiro (Community Outreach Chair) for their time, service, and dedication to MAA. We could not have done it without you and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

In closing, I want to keep my door open for any questions, comments, ideas. You all are what makes MAA a fabulous organization.  Please feel free to contact me at maapresident22@gmail.com.  

Cheers to another wonderful year,

Jen Barlow

Montgomery Art Association's
2023-24 Board of Directors

Officers

• President: Jennifer Kahn Barlow 
• 1st Vice President, Programs: Frank Mancino
• 2nd Vice President, Shows: Kathy Tynan
• 3rd Vice President, Communications & Marketing: Teresa Sites
• Secretary: Ella Soroori 
• Treasurer: Anastasia Walsh
• Past President: Alan Rich

Committee Chairs

• Activities: open
• Children’s Activities: Judith Levine
• Communications: Teresa Sites
• Community Outreach: open
• Equipment: Joyce Koeneman
• Hospitality: open
• In-Person Shows: open
• Marketing: Martina Sestakova
• Membership: Kathy Tynan
• Online Shows: Wendy Shiau
• Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Anastasia Walsh
• Plein Air Events: Sandhya Sharma
• Programs: Hiral Joshi

Lives in: Bethesda, Maryland 

Instagram: @suzannepapiewski, @__pink__poppy

Media and subjects: Mixed media collage from a woman’s point of view

Why you joined MAA: At the suggestion of another member, Fran Simon

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far? I participated in the Heart of the Vineyard Show at Windridge Vineyards. I'm looking forward to participating in more events and shows. 

Something fun about you: During the pandemic, I baked over 40 types of cookies. This was before I broke up with my boyfriend and started creating art. 

Artist biography: I have been supporting myself since age 18. I left home, put myself through college, and put myself through law school, going to law school at night and working full time. I made law review and graduated with honors from Georgetown University Law Center. I survived a divorce, cancer, and a layoff within a two-year period when I was in my 40s. I found my favorite job of all time--I negotiate with foreign governments about the taxation of multinational corporations.  

As a single mother, I raised a son who has a B.A. and an M.A. Then, I became an artist. I have no formal training but I have a lot to say about being a woman in a patriarchal society. I started creating art seriously in September 2022 and began to apply to open calls.  

My art rejects traditional gender role stereotypes. I want to raise awareness for the rights of women and people of color, with whom I feel an affinity.  I want to put a spotlight on strong women, who are heroines in my eyes. Every piece has a story and I intend to reveal layers of meaning, including whimsicality.  I am grateful to be part of a very supportive community of artists and have even begun to mentor others.  

List of Juried Exhibitions

“It’s the Little Things” small works show.  December 1, 2022 – January 13, 2023.  

Girls Who Paint Gallery - Kensington, MD; Piece entitled “What You Imagine, You Create.” (sold)

“Claim to Fame” February 3 – February 24, 2023.  Gallery Underground, 

The Shops, Arlington, VA.; Piece entitled “Nonconformist.”

“The Urge to Create” 2023 Invitational. February 5, 2023 – March 4, 2023 Waverly Street Gallery, Bethesda, MD; Four pieces: “Eve Was First,” “Capable,” “Art Lover,” and “In Charge.”

“Paradise Pink.”  February 1 – February 28, 2023. HMVC Gallery New York online group exhibition; Piece entitled “Pop Princess."

Lives in: the Rock Creek Palisades neighborhood in Kensington, Maryland.

Social Media: @12th_house_virgo on Instagram

Media and subjects: Acrylic, Mixed-Media, Photography 

Why you joined MAA: To encourage myself to paint more and to connect with other artists.

Something fun about you: I like making things. I do a lot of do-it-yourself projects. I recently bought an old cargo van to convert to a camper van. 

Artist Biography
I started painting because I took a color theory class in college and realized I love working with acrylic paints. I like to build up layers of color and sometimes work in mixed media, painting on prints of photos I’ve taken. These days, I am interested in painting what I think of as psychological landscapes to try and reveal private but also universal moments when the self sees itself as part of the cosmos. I have collected photos of sunrises and sunsets and am working out how to paint them. If you live in the area, you will likely see me walking my dog Bo around Kensington and taking photos at sunrise. I look forward to connecting with others over the years. 

Thank you to all who submitted entries to the Windridge Vineyard Watercolor Map Contest! This was a very difficult contest because the artists were asked to channel their creativity through a prism of constraints ... a lively, colorful vineyard map seen from above to include vineyard grape labels.  Eleven fabulous MAA watercolor artists submitted beautiful vineyard map paintings.

The Windridge Vineyard owners have made their selections.

First Place: Windridge Vineyard Map, Tracey Gage

Second Place: Venue Where the Sun Sets, Antonia Tiu

Third Place: Windridge Vineyard Map #1, Lily Kak

The first place winner's painting will be purchased by Windridge for $350.00 and used for publicity and advertising.  MAA will have the winning painting photographed by Debra Halprin of Fine Art Giclee Printing Services to provide Windridge with a high resolution digital image.    

The second place and third place winners will receive monetary awards along with award certificates..  

Congratulations to all.