News

Proxies for the election of the 2020 Class One Board of Governors, along with membership invoices for yearly dues, are now in the mail to all 1,320 current members of the Pastel Society of America. Once more, the Board of Governors has extended voting privileges to Associate members. We appreciate and encourage the participation of the entire society in choosing its leadership.

All Governors are volunteers who generously contribute their time, skills, and funds in support and promotion of artists who work in soft pastel.

Your modest membership payment supports the society’s essential expenses, such as rent for facilities at The National Arts Club, the salary for our partime administrator, and the office administrative expenses for the Annual Exhibition and for education programs.

When your dues payment is processed, each member in good standing is automatically added to the website’s public record of official PSA membership. Don’t lose your place on the members roll of America’s oldest pastel society.

After 11 years of dedicated service, Leslie Lillien Levy PSA-MP (left) has resigned from the PSA Board of Governors to devote more time in her home community of Kent, Connecticut, to a family experiencing an emergency humanitarian crisis. Leslie writes, “My involvement with this family, as well as my heavy participation in local, state, and national politics prompted me to reexamine and rank my priorities. During the 11 years I have been on the board, I have had some of the most rewarding experiences in my life. You’re all my family, and it is a difficult decision to leave the nest. I plan to continue painting and will help my replacement with the transition.”

During her tenure, Leslie served on the board’s executive committee as corresponding secretary. In addition to organizing receiving at the PSA Annual, Leslie utilized her managerial experience in national network advertising to apply a professional approach to PSA’s communications. One of Leslie’s initiatives was the creation of the PSA eblast program.

As PSA president, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Signature member Kristin Divers to the PSA Board of Governors. Kristin will fill the Class 2 seat vacated by Leslie Levy before the end of the current term. Kristin’s vision of community building as life-long vocation makes her a natural to take on the society’s communications program, including eblasts, as the first of her board responsibilities.

Kristin’s formal education was in studio art and art therapy. Over the years, she took (or taught) an occasional art class, mostly in drawing technique. In 2000, she took her first pastel class. She was hooked, and started to focus studio time on pastel work. She has sporadically taken workshops around the eastern US from contemporary pastel artists she admires, focusing on growing her mastery of this wonderful medium. She lives in Pittsburgh, but spends significant time in New York City.

Thank you Leslie for the many years of innovative, unselfish, and enthusiastic service to PSA. We extend a hearty welcome to Kristin as she begins her tenure on the PSA Board of Governors.

SEPTEMBER 3 – 28
GRAND GALLERY
NATIONAL ARTS CLUB
15 Gramercy Park South, NY, NY

Friday, September 20
Gallery Tour & Reception 6-8 pm
Commentator: Richard McKinley PSA-MP, HFH
Open to public — free of charge

Saturday, September 21
Materials Fair 10am – 4 pm
Portfolio Reviews 11 am – 1 pm

Sunday, September 22
Awards Ceremony 4 pm
Annual Dinner and Raffle Drawing 6:30 pm

Saturday, September 28
Weekend Demonstration
Deborah Quinn-Munson PSA 1-3:30 pm
Free of charge

Click here to view the slideshow and awards.

The PSA Raffle benefits the PSA School for Pastels at the National Arts Club.

Book of six tickets $25
2 Books $40

PSA members will receive raffle books in the mail. Tickets are available to the public at the exhibition and by contacting the PSA office by email or phone.

Winning entries will be drawn at the Annual Dinner.

View the paintings and read the bios here.