DFAAnews
November 2025
The Dunwoody Fine Art Association (DFAA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to:
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Promote fine art in the Dunwoody, GA area
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Encourage its artists to exhibit their art
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Support each other in their creativity and self-expression through lectures, critiques, workshops and exhibits
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” Pablo Picasso
Direct inquiries to the DFAAnews editor:
Susan Gallo suegallo@comcast.net
Deadline for news items - 15th of each month
TIP FOR MOBILE VIEW --- Turn your phone sideways and the font size will increase as the page adjusts to the new orientation.
IMPORTANT DATES
November 5 - Monthly Meeting, 9:30
November 10 - S&I submissions open
November 12 - Board Meeting, 11:00
November 19 - Open Paint/Create, 11:00 - 3
HELPFUL HINT --- Login is not necessary unless you want to view the member directory.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
“There is nothing more artistic than to love people.” - Vincent Van Gogh
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Pablo Picasso
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Dear DFAA Members,
As I was reading through a list of artist’s quotes this morning, two of them spoke to me. I am sharing them with you above.
These past two months have been a trial of my resilience and fortitude. I have had to deal with the grief of losing my husband of 63 years and put back together our estate and other important tasks. Through it all, I did not have to worry about DFAA, as many of you stepped up and helped Lynne and Julie with getting Dunwoody Fine Art Month off the ground.
Also, Sights & Insights is ready to launch with the help of Linda Brown, Sue, Lynne and others. I have been on the sidelines, trying to orchestrate from a distance, but knowing things were happening. Thank you all for stepping up and helping out when asked. This is what DFAA is about, being involved in your organization. I also understand that we have a number of new members, welcome and I am looking forward to meeting you. We are a volunteer organization, and I am hoping you will get involved.
I found in my moments of profound grief that turning to art helped to lift me up. I sketched and I picked up watercolor pencils and watercolors and painted. I lost myself and had moments of peace and joy as I remembered beautiful memories of our 63 years together.
Hoping to see you at the Annex, November 5 for our DFAA Meeting…
Thank you for your love and support.
Barbara Riordan - Co-President DFAA
UPCOMING EVENTS
November Presentation - Binders
A representative from Binders Art Supplies will be making a presentation to us this month.
DFAA Holiday Luncheon - December 3rd
This year our holiday luncheon will be held at Marlow's Tavern in Dunwoody. The menu has been changed from a buffet to a regular sandwich menu because of the cost. Lynne has tried to give everyone a nice selection of sandwiches and desserts.
Please let her know if you are going to attend: print the menu and bring it, with your check for $28 made out to DFAA, to the November meeting or send them to:
Karen Peay, 5655 The 12th Fairway, Suwanee, Ga 30024
Sights & Insights 2026 Announced
The 2026 location for the S&I exhibition will be Abernathy Arts Center. Abernathy hosted our exhibit in 2020 and it turned out to be a wonderful collaboration. The dates for the exhibition are January 31 - March 13. Submissions will begin online on November 10 at dfaa2026.artcall.org. Our juror will be Veronica Hogan. Ms. Hogan will address the group in an Artist's Talk on February 21st. For much more information the prospectus is attached below.
DFAA 2026
Sights & Insights
Prospectus
Holiday
Luncheon
Menu
EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBIT CHANGEOUT DATES
Chupitos - TBD
Dunwoody Library - January 7,2026
Shallowford Annex - TBD
Dunwoody Fine Art Month - A Great Success!
We had a super successful kickoff party hosted by Chupito’s! A model posed while Sharon Weiss and Jenny Kalmin drew her and Naomi Garcia displayed her painting skills. Nasir Garcia from District V Band not only had his band playing great music outside on the patio, he was drawing in customers and entertaining them with their music and his conversation!
Jenny Kalmin got the People’s Choice award on her model sketch - a gift certificate donated from Dick Blick’s Art Supply. Speakers Natalie and Devon from City Springs Theatre spoke about the artistic contributions and future shows at City Springs Theatre. They recognized several in attendance who helped at the theatre. Dawn Tresh from Dunwoody Gallery and Rosemary Watts from Create Dunwoody as well as Nasir Garcia from the band expressed their role and the importance of art in our Dunwoody Community. Create Dunwoody had a list of the yearly Dunwoody Art events which all can find on their website. Rob Price, one of the Dunwoody Councilmen was in attendance and expressed his dedication and support to the arts as well. A painting of elephants by Harriette Perlstein was sold during the evening. Everyone had a great time and the appetizers provided by Chupito’s were enjoyed! Some of the crowd even stayed and had dinner! A great time was had by all.
The BoB Juried Exhibit - Now thru 1/7/26
Thank you to Carol Santos for being the juror for our exhibit. The 3 award winners are pictured below.
1st Place - Communication, Jenny Kalmin
3rd Place - The Guitar Player, Pat Webster
2nd Place - Solitude, Mark Nanes
ARTISTS CORNER
Holiday Ornaments for Hotel Trees
Create Dunwoody invited local artists to celebrate the season by showing and selling their works at participating hotels who will display a professionally decorated holiday tree featuring artwork in a variety of mediums.
DFAA artists participated in this effort by creating two - or 3 dimentional ornaments to hang on the trees.
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Ornaments will sell for $30 with 50% of the proceeds to benefit Create Dunwoody. This is a win-win for visitors and hotel guests to enjoy and collect artwork, and for artists to share and sell their work. The finished pieces are pictured above. Thanks to all who participated!
Corner's Outreach Fall Project
DFAA provided bags of Goldfish crackers, leaves to scratch, fall activity books and colored pencils to 80 students today. It was a fun way to end a rainy day. Thanks to Mary Phillips for heading this joyful series of projects.
DUMC Veil Exhibit
Mary Phillips will be exhibiting her creations at the VEIL (Visual Arts Exhibit in the Library) of the Dunwoody United Methodist Church during November and December 2025. She calls her collection “My Journey in Creativity.” The selections will display a variety of original works including paintings, jewelry, fused glass, poetry, crewel embroidery, macrame, samples of her 400 Covid sewn masks, and a child’s lined pink coat to name a few. After exploring creative opportunities, Mary selected painting personal cards in watercolor as her favorite artistic endeavor. Contact info: maryphil@bellsouth.net
Welcome New Members!
LJ Reitman ljreitman13@icloud.com
Lynn Kaplan kaplancreates@gmail.com
Julie Marshall - DFAM Chair
A great big thank you to Julie Marshall for orchestrating Dunwoody Fine Art Month and for organizing the fabulous opening reception at Chupito’s.
The reception was so well attended and everyone had a great time.
All the venues look great! Job well done, Julie! We appreciate you!
DFAA LEADERSHIP TEAM 2024 - 2026
DFAA Officers
President: Barbara Riordan
Co - President: Lynne Joffe
1st Vice President: Joan Monroe, Programs​
2nd Vice President: Traci Kruger, Membership
Secretary: Harriette Perlstein
Treasurer: Karen Peay
DFAA Committee Chairpersons
Barn Paint Days: Janette Worley
EBlast Communications: Jenny Kalmin
Hospitality: TBD
Membership: Traci Kruger
Newsletter Editor: Susan Gallo
Online Directory: Traci Kruger
Parliamentarian: TBD
Programs & Workshops: Joan Monroe
Printed Brochure: Tim Minton
Publicity: Sharon Weiss
Social Media: Traci Kruger
Webmaster: Susan Gallo
Exhibit Chairpersons
Art in the Park: TBD
Best of the Best: Jenny Kalmin, Sharon Weiss, Lynne Joffe
Dunwoody Library Hall: J Kalmin, S Weiss, L Joffe
Dunwoody Fine Art Month: Julie Marshall
Sandy Springs Library Gallery: Donna Fitzwater
Sights & Insights: Barbara Riordan & Lynne Joffe
Shallowford Annex: Lois Shingler & Julie Wedean
PLEASE NOTE: DFAA members do not need to subscribe to the newsletter.