A free introductory tour for potential tour guides and docents at di Rosa Preserve is scheduled for Jan. 11. Reservations are required.  

The preserve relies on its 100 dynamic volunteers to lead public tours, staff the admissions desk, provide occasional office support and help out at events. One can volunteer on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule. Volunteers learn about the di Rosa art collection from seminal artists and curators, make field trips to Bay Area art venues and artists’ studios for art tours and are invited to attend informative and social gatherings.

 Guide training consists of six or 14 two-hour sessions, depending on level of interest in the collection. Upon completion, guides and docents lead an average of two to four tours each month, representing the Preserve collection to thousands of visitors annually.

A special volunteer membership rate of $25 allows volunteers to have all general members’ benefits ($50 value) as well as specially designed experiences.

The next training session starts Jan. 18. Weekly training sessions are scheduled from 10 a.m.  to noon, Fridays through April 18.

For information, introductory tour reservations,and a volunteer application please contact Gregory Gazaway, volunteer coordinator, 226-5991 ext.24 or e-mail gregory@dirosapreserve.org.

Art Association reaches milestone

The Napa Valley Art Association is celebrating a milestone at it reaches 100 members. The 54-year old association was formed in 1953 as a way for local Napa visual artists to get together and share inspiration and resources. For many years the group solely worked in paint mediums, acrylic, oil, and watercolor. Today’s membership includes talent with many art forms including textiles, jewelry, photography, and handmade papers.

“It’s exciting and encouraging to see the participation of our creative community in the Napa Valley Art Association,” said Michelle Williams, executive director for Arts Council Napa Valley. “NVAA is one of the oldest arts organizations in Napa County, and this milestone shows that arts organizations can thrive in this community, and demonstrates the need for organizations to support our diverse artist population.”

The association purchased its Behrens Street building in 1955 for $4,000 from the City of Napa. The building was being used as a barn to stable the City’s fire-cart horses. Today the building is a wonderful meeting space and classroom with theater seating and state-of-the-art technology to video art demonstrations, making them available to all its members. The building is also rented by Napa Valley College for a wide variety of art classes.

A large portion of member dues and a percentage of art sold contributes annually to the NVAA Scholarship Fund, which benefits local high school and college students who wish to pursue artistic careers.

The association also promotes many exhibiting opportunities, two of which are the Artist of the Valley galleries. Both galleries are located on First Street in Napa, one in Town Center and one near the new Oxbow Market. They are both open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit www.nvart.org or call 254-2085.