Artwork above by Trudy Tolbert, ZNE Fondante Member
Welcome to variaZioNE ("ZNE"). We are one of the largest private indie arts / mixed media focused art groups in the world today, with over 2,000 members worldwide.
ZNE actively promotes its member artists and their art, and has ongoing art contests, art and ephemera swaps, art production theme weeks, discounted mixed media art related products for members only, and more.
ZNE is also committed to giving back to the community as a whole, recognizing that community support is an integral part of what allows the individual artist to thrive. We have one of the most extensive philanthropic programs of any privately held art group of our size.
We also have an annual convention - ZNE ConvenZioNE (www.ZNEcon.com) in Northern California, where we bring together art instructors, world renowned speakers and performers, and ZNE Members from all over the world.
We are a wonderful group with ongoing promotions and activities. We are always happy to welcome new members and we invite you to join us today!
ZNE HISTORY & OUTLOOK ON THE FUTURE
In the spring of 2005, ZNE started as a small private group for mixed media artists. ZNE Founder, Chelise Stroud Hery, wanted to create an artist community dedicated to the interests and promotion of mixed media, altered art, collage, and independent arts. Although ZNE has grown into incredible proportions with lofty goals - a supportive artist community, and meeting the needs of artists and art enthusiasts remains at the core of the ZNE mission.
With the help of three talented fellow artists who acted as founding moderators for the group, (Kris Hubick, Julie O’Neil, and Emma Fashokun) ZNE quickly grew to well over 100 artists. The founding ZNE group members (now known as the Fondante Tier) conducted ZNE specific art contests, art swaps, ephemera swaps, and collaborative art projects. The creativity, energy, and enthusiasm shared - was contagious.
The incredible community and supportive atmosphere fostered by the artist members of ZNE has allowed our group to move forward in striving for our goals. The group held a contest to create a logo for variaZioNE, and then voted on a winner. Our now well known ZNE word art logo was created by founding member, Julie O’Neil. In July of 2005, the public ZNE website went live.
As ZNE continues to grow, we have expanded our efforts on behalf of artists across the world to include direct outreach in many ways. We also have a thriving division in California (where the ZNE headquarters are located) - Pacific Coast Mestieri or PCM, that features local art shows, gallery installations, and in-person workshops.
ZNE actively seeks out collaborative relationships with other art groups and art communities, as well as art suppliers and vendors. The primary idea behind these collaborations is to provide benefits to both the collaborative identity, as well as all ZNE members - such as discounts, gallery opportunities, and networking.
The ZNEart.com website and the group variaZioNE continue to be under the direction of Chelise Stroud Hery with volunteer moderators providing management of the group, and all founding members serving as a steering committee for overall ZNE direction. ZNE Membership is open to any interested artist or art enthusiast.
ZNE is proud to be a diverse art group. We welcome members, of every creed, gender, orientation, formal artistic training, financial resource, and geographic location. Our goal is to be a productive and supportive group for all. Our only commonality is the love of the mixed media genre of art!
ZNE membership has extraordinary benefits!
Our wish for every artist always is to Enjoy Creating!
Chelise Stroud Hery
Founder, variaZioNE – ZNE!
ABOUT OUR NAME:
variaZioNE is an Italian word meaning "variation". A shortened version - the acronym "ZNE" was adopted by our founding members, and is now our better known group name. Both our full group name, variaZioNE, as well as the term ZNE were chosen by the group founder, Chelise Stroud Hery. ZNE in particular was not a pre-existing word and is not a generic term for collage, altered art, or any other type of craft or art style. Anytime you see ZNE in an eBay or Etsy listing, the seller is indicating membership in our group.
Endless Gratitude -
Visit our Special Thanks page.
