About the Club
THE BETHLEHEM PALETTE CLUB
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA
The purpose of the Bethlehem Palette Club is to stimulate the creativity of its membership by providing them opportunities to learn, exhibit their art and network with other artists. The purpose also is to create an interest in art within the community through outreach and exhibitions, acquainting the public with the work of the members of the Bethlehem Palette Club.
The membership consists of artists and those interested in the arts.
The Bethlehem Palette Club sponsors art exhibits for its members each year. Several are juried with prizes awarded. One is a non-juried show which allows every member to participate.
The Bethlehem Palette Club offers year round opportunities for members to create and learn. During Wednesdays in the summertime, “Paint-outs” are scheduled at various town and country locations where members can enjoy painting outdoors. During wintertime “Paint-ins” take place each Wednesday morning at the The College Hill Moravian Church, 72 W. Laurel Street, Bethlehem, PA. where a live model poses for portrait painting.
The Club organizes two (usually 3 to 5 day) workshops per year which are taught by prominent artists for members who want expert instruction. One-day Saturday workshops are offered as well.
Bus trips are also part of the Club`s activity. A popular one-day trip to New York City occurs in spring. Members go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Watercolor Society show at the Salmagundi Club. Three or four day painting excursions are also sometimes available.
Plenty of opportunities exist for members not only to create and network with other artists, but also to be involved with various and interesting Club activities. To join, contact the Bethlehem Palette Club through this site.
CLUB HISTORY
June 11, 1947, nine artists met at the home of Mrs. D.J. Fitzgibbons and organized the Palette Club. Paul Remely was elected to be the first President; Muriel Shively, Vice President; and Dorothy Fitzgibbons, Secretary/Treasurer. The other artists at the meeting were Jerry Quier, Hazel Ressler, Caroline Jobbins, Dorothy Koons, Camille Weiss, and Garth Howland.
The objective of the organization was to stimulate local and public interest in the progress of fine arts and artists in the city of Bethlehem.
The dues were $1.00 initiation fee and $2.00 yearly dues.
The first exhibition was at the Drawing Room Theatre Building at 546 School Street in Bethlehem. DRT received a 20% commission and fire and theft insurance cost $7.15.
The mayor gave permission for the First Wash Line Exhibit on the corner of New and Market Streets on November 8, 1947, which was during American Art Week. Fred Bees, Jerry Quier, and Paul Remely made posters to advertise the event. Sales amounted to $20.00.
The first nineteen members who paid their dues in 1947 were considered Charter Members. Fred Bees was in that group and he continued as an active member until his death in 2002.
The first constitution was prepared by a By-laws committee on September 22, 1947. Those committee members were Paul Remely, Garth Howland and Jerry Quier.
On December 16, 1968, Judge Alfred T. Williams signed a decree of incorporation for the Palette Club as Bethlehem Palette Club, Inc. a nonprofit corporation.
Following are relevant excerpts from that document:
“The purpose of the Corporation is: To acquaint the public with the work of Bethlehem area artists, to develop a buying public, to foster the furtherance of the art interest and the social contacts of the members, and to exhibit the work of the members.”
“The corporation does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit, incidental or otherwise, to its members.”
“The term of its existence is perpetual.”
“The Corporation shall have a Board of Directors… “The Directors shall be subject to all the provisions of the
Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1933 relating to Directors.”
“The power to make, alter, amend and repeal the By-Laws shall be vested in the Board of Directors.”
“A majority of the Board of Directors shall have power to exercise all the powers of the Corporation, including the power to borrow money, mortgage, purchase, sell, lease away or otherwise dispose of real estate.”
“The corporation is to be organized upon a nonstock basis.”
“The Club constitution bylaws were revised in 1969 then again in 1992.”
The Club tax status was changed from exempt under Section 501 (c) (7) to exempt under IRC Section 501 (c) (3) on November 7, 2017.
The Bethlehem Palette Club Presidents:
1947-51 - Paul Remely
1952-53 - Wilmer Behler
1953-55 - Ann Riley
1955-57 - Camillo Weiss
1957-59 - J. Caroll Tobias
1959-63 - Thomas Drust
1963-67 - Donald Johnson
1967-69 - Paul Remely
1969-71 - Fred Bees
1971-73 - David G. Nicholas
1973-75 - William Tinsman
1975-77 - Fred Bees
1977-78 - Ross Benavides
1978-79 - Woodrow Ueberroth
1979-81 - Robert Worsley, Jr.
1981-83 - Charles Edwards
1983-84 - Donald Masters
1984-86 - Mary Lou Cummings
1986-87 - Thomas Briody
1987-89 - Margaret Sentz
1989-91 - Chester Rider
1991-92 - Frederick Munson
1993-94 - Jack Corcoran
1994-97 - Maurice Van De Putte
1998-00 - Hugh Sutherland
2000-02 - Lee Branagan
2002-04 - Noel Adams
2004-06 - Noel Adams & Ed Klova
2006-08 - Sandra Corpora
2008-10 - Linda Anderson
2010-12 - Claire Davis
2012-14 - Pam Bayliss
2014-16 - Sue Carnwath
2016-19 - Diane Hutchinson
2019- present- Pam Bayliss
Under their leadership and the many hard working members of the Bethlehem Palette Club, Inc. a vital fine arts organization continues to evolve and grow.
