Welcome to the First

DIGITAL ARTS REVIEW Newsletter

Foothills Art Association – May 2025

Over the last six months a great deal has been happening behind the scenes at Foothills Art Association to make our new Digital Art Gallery a reality—culminating in the launch of our current virtual exhibit:

Island to Inland – New Digital Media from Hawaii and Southern California.

The FAA board generously supported my proposal to design and integrate this Digital Gallery directly into our existing website. That phase of the project began in earnest six months ago alongside another milestone: during a visit to Honolulu, I attended a board meeting of the Digital Art Society of Hawaii (DASH) and proposed a joint virtual exhibition. This was the first time DASH had been approached to collaborate with another gallery—let alone one based in Southern California.

Their interest was sincere and once I followed up after returning home, we began working to bring the show to life. Coordinating artists on both sides of the Pacific took time, trust, and teamwork. Looking at the final exhibit, it’s clear the effort was well worth it. The artworks submitted are amazing.

While all of this was underway, I was also co-webmaster with Sharon Meng who graciously continued to maintain the main FAA website. Recently I was elected President of FAA. It’s been a great opportunity to better understand the organization, connect with our members, and work with the dedicated volunteers who keep the gallery thriving. I have a few ideas in mind for increasing both membership and gallery visibility, which I’ll be sharing in future updates.

Announcements & What’s Next:

🦉 Digital Wildlife Show

For the first time, the Digital Gallery will be part of our annual Wildlife Show! We will be accepting submissions in digital art and traditional photography for that show. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place but beyond the prizes, being selected for this juried show counts the same as exhibiting in our physical gallery. Don’t miss your chance to participate later this year!

🎨 Upcoming Themed Show: “Experimental”

Our next digital show will feature the theme “Experimental”. This is your chance to explore new ideas, push boundaries, and take creative risks. Whether you’re stepping into unfamiliar territory or simply want to have fun, we encourage you to join in that future show. I look forward  to see what our artists create.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed and supported this inaugural effort. The success of this first digital exhibition marks the beginning of a vibrant new chapter for FAA and I’m excited for where we’re headed next.

Warmly,

John Engen

President, Foothills Art Association