Degas Pastel Society

www.degaspastelsociety.org

Purpose

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting public awareness of the pastel medium and providing exposure and recognition for the society’s members through exhibition.

Society History and Activities

During the summer of 1983, seven artists gathered to plan the first pastel-only exhibition to be held in New Orleans. The purpose of the exhibit was to present to the public a show of artistic excellence utilizing the pastel medium.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic response to the Premier Pastel Show held at the International Trade Mart (now the World Trade Center) in Nov. l983, they decided to organize formally on April 23, 1984.

The Society is named in honor of Edgar Degas (1834–1917), the artist most widely recognized for transforming pastel from a sketching tool into a major artistic medium. The Society holds an annual membership meeting, sponsors workshops and demonstrations in pastel, issues a newsletter and organizes a National Juried Exhibition and Membership Exhibitions biennially.

Membership Information

Patron: $100 annual contribution
Active: Accepted by the Jurying Committee; annual dues of $20.
Associate: Annual fee of $20. All privileges of Active Members except Associates may not exhibit art.
Honorary: Selected by the Board of Directors.

Contacts

Sandra Burshell, for membership
Linda Marsh, for Web content