Current and upcoming exhibitions Classes and workshops Art Center news
Art Matters
Magazine of the Western Colorado Center for the Arts
Volume 1, Issue 1 December 2015 - February 2016
Working together to make a brighter future. U.S. Bank is proud to support the Western Colorado Center for the Arts Benefit Fine Art Auction Friday, May 6, 2016.
The community that plays together, stays together. That’s why we join you in supporting organizations and events, creating awe-inspiring memories that make us all happy to call this our hometown. Western Colorado Branches including Grand Junction Fruita and Clifton 970.243.2412 Member FDIC. Š2015 U.S. Bank
Art Matters Contents
4 Director’s Letter 6 Exhibitions 12 Lectures 16 Adult Classes 22 Ceramic Classes 25 Youth and Teen Programs 26 Workshops 28 Art Center News 30 Gift Gallery 31 Art Center Wish List
Art Matters December 2015 - February 2016 gjartcenter.org
WELCOME
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In your hands
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ou may have noticed a new feel to what you now hold – a distinctively sleek magazine.
First, from a form and function point of view, this new publication sports slimmer dimensions at 61/2 inches by 10 inches. It features a crisp makeover in typography and color palette – a design intended to command a place on a coffee table or wherever favorite periodicals rest to be revisited time and time again in your home or business. Mikkel Kelly Executive Director And we have added news briefs on pages 28-29. Second, from a cost angle, we plan to realize a 30 percent savings to print and distribute this new guide. Instead of five class schedules and six newsletters, we will bring you five deluxe magazines each year that combine information about classes, exhibitions, events and the like. Our talented staff and teachers will need to plan ahead a bit more, but we welcome this challenge. We have our sights on a win-win venture, in which we plan to assemble an even better bounty of Art Center offerings and information. So please enjoy these pages, and let us know what you think. We have worked fastidiously on this first edition but welcome suggestions to make it even better.
Transitions My first box of business cards was toast after three months on the job. So I opened my second box before the Annual Members’ Meeting in Studio Colorado just before our popular First Friday Demo Night event on Nov. 6. The center was abuzz with enthusiasm as artists demonstrated their artistry and offered “how-tos,” prompting attendees to try their hands at an array of mediums. At the Annual Meeting, we were proud to announce the election of newcomers Dean Harris and Kelley Burford to serve on the Art Center board, and board chair Robbie Breaux was re-elected. Harris is a lawyer, who is a longtime supporter of the center and brings expertise in employment law. Burford is a real estate agent with interest in finance and special events, and a passion for art and collecting. We offer a warm welcome to both and, of course, deep appreciation to Breaux for staying on to skillfully lead the board. We will miss outgoing board members Luis Lopez, John Hopkins, Kendra McDaniel and Steve Jones. All are impressive community leaders and contributed greatly. Now they will likely team in the success of the Art Center in other ways. Many thanks.
Onward Proudly the Art Center is partnering in the third phase of the St. Mary’s art project, which involves gathering artwork proposals for selection for the 9th and 10th floors of the medical center. The overarching theme of healing adds another level to the project. Artists have been asked to deliver “calming, uplifting, and healing images, providing color, value, and light to physical space to contribute to the healing process and to an environment in which comfort and care can best occur.” As a reminder to all interested artists, please see the call for entries documents on our website at gjartcenter.org. The key deadline for proposals is Jan. 14. Happy holidays! Art Matters December 2015 - February 2016 gjartcenter.org
5 arts organization dedicated to improving quality of life by promoting the enjoyment and understanding of the visual arts and related arts through studio art instruction, educational programs for children and adults, exhibitions and the acquisition, care and display of a permanent art collection. Board of Trustees
Robbie Breaux (President) Betty Bechtel (Vice President) Rob Jenkins (Secretary) Randall Cupp (Treasurer) Mary Hertert Dan Ryan Judy Vanderleest Denny Herzog Dean Harris Kelley Burford Cathy Zippert (Art Center Guild Representative) Kay Ambrose (Art Center Foundation President)
Art Center Staff
Mikkel Kelly, Executive Director Avery Glassman, Programs & Exhibitions Curator Lee Borden, Events & Communications Manager Laurie Quinn, Gift Shop & Membership Manager Rachel Egelston, Children's & Special Needs Programming Coordinator Terry Shepherd, Artist-in-Residence D Plunkett, Accountant Paul Lopez, Maintenance Maxine Buchholtz, Gift Shop Charity Finnigsmier, Gift Shop
Art Center Hours
Tuesday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Admission $3 (free to members and children under 12) There is no charge to visit the gift shop. Tuesdays are free to everyone thanks to a generous sponsorship by Home Loan & Allied Insurance
Holiday Hours - The Art Center will close early on Dec. 24 (1 p.m.) and will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 29. It will be closed Friday Jan. 1 and will reopen Saturday, Jan. 2 Operational funding provided in part by
ABOUT US
Our Mission: The Art Center is a community
EXHIBITIONS
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Eloquent Form:
Terry Shepherd & Jared Davis Sponsored by Chuck & Patti Shear and Rob & Lou Jenkins Dec. 4 – Jan. 23 First Friday reception Dec. 4, 7 - 9 p.m.
He will exhibit mainly vessel forms in a variety of interpretations of firing process including stoneware, porcelain, Raku, saggar firing and salt-vapored work. Shepherd’s focus in the past year has been on developing a rich patina of fumed color, evocative of the color spectrum one sees in the Western Slope’s geologic formations. For Shepherd, the firing process plays a primary role in the outcome of his work. The serendipity of firing processes, vapor fuming and the interaction of natural elements inherent in clay and metal oxides embellish his forms with sublime and often dramatic results. Shepherd embraces the notion of creating eloquent clay forms with confidence, yet leaving it up to the fire to embellish.
Jared Davis was born in New York City and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley. He has worked in blown glass for the past 20 years. Of Davis, Shepherd says, “I have known Jared since he was 4 years old. I’m honored to show with an artist of his caliber, who has such dedication to the medium of blown glass. I especially admire some of his recent work in sensuous altered vessel forms that feature sand-blasted imagery derived from satellite photos of lake shoreline contours.” Jared collaborates with his wife Nicole, who is also an accomplished artist, to design the imagery’s layout on the surface of the blown glass. Together they sand blast through layers of colored glass to reveal the pristine and luminous clear glass at the core of the vessel. Jared and Nicole Davis own and operate North Rim Glass, a hot shop and gallery, in Crawford. Their work has won numerous awards at fine art, sculpture and craft shows throughout the years. It can be found in galleries from coast to coast and is included in many private collections around the world. For this exhibition they plan to show new works from the Riverway, Ponderosa and Jupiter series in addition to new table lamps and a variety of holiday giftware.
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ach year artist-in-residence Terry Shepherd exhibits new work alongside an artist of his choosing. Jared Davis is the guest artist for 2015. Shepherd has led the Art Center’s Ceramics studio since 1984. With a studio career spanning 43 years, he is an acclaimed ceramicist and educator. His work is in many private collections nationwide and in a few public collections including the Western Colorado Center for the Arts and Colorado Mesa University. He is represented by Penryn Gallery (Penryn, California), The Blue Pig Gallery (Palisade) and Ago Gallery (Ouray).
EXHIBITIONS
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Behind the Lens:
Interpretive Presence in Photography Sponsored by Dr. Michael Neste & Family Health West, John & Penny Hopkins, and Safari Ltd. Nov. 25 – Jan. 23 Artist lecture Dec. 4, 5 p.m. First Friday reception Dec. 4, 7 - 9 p.m.
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hotography has become the vernacular of the 21st century. Image-making and image-sharing are now constant components to the way humans communicate. It is how we document our daily lives. While the advantages for accessibility go without saying, one drawback to this shift in the practice of photography is that photographs are often conflated with objectivity. Our instinct is to accept them as fact or truth, when photographs are as much a reflection of their maker’s aesthetics and visual priorities as they are a depiction of the subject. Behind the Lens presents two photographers, wholly different in practice, whose work calls attention to the authorship of image-making. Arthur Lavine and Andrea Wallace share an investment in subject matter that is evident in the decisive way they frame their compositions. Both artists often traffic in portraits, whether those portraits are of people, a place, or an object. Wallace engages with her subjects directly by posing them or pointing the camera into their gaze. Lavine does so indirectly by making them the focal point in an otherwise forgotten scene. Their work exposes the artistic interpretation that happens with each capture, even if what is shot falls under “documentary” photography. Originally from Massachusetts, Andrea Wallace is the Artistic Director of Photography and New Media at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in photography and electronic media at CU-Boulder and worked as an Assistant Professor at Lake Forest College and Willamette University. She has exhibited throughout the Americas, Europe, China and the Middle East. Wallace uses personal histories and shaped environments to compose intimate photographs rich in metaphor. Throughout his career, Arthur Lavine has blurred the boundary between photojournalism and fine art photography. Born in 1922 in Trenton, New Jersey, Lavine served in the Pacific as a photo lab technician and non-combat photographer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. In the 1950s he worked as a freelance photographer for such magazines as Newsweek, Esquire, the New York Times Magazine, Glamour and others. While many of his images capture candid moments, they are far from arbitrary or accidental. With a studied eye, Lavine is specific when it comes to the angles he chooses to shoot from, even if he has only a matter of seconds to make those choices before the moment is gone.
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EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITIONS
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Cherish or Perish: Grand Valley Collectors
Sponsored by the William S. Robinson Estate Dec. 4 – Jan. 23 First Friday reception Dec. 4, 7 - 9 p.m.
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ollecting is a distinctively human practice. Why do we do it? Whether it’s fine art, historic artifacts, or Lord of the Rings paraphernalia, personal collections are all driven by the same urge to identify and acquire that which we find precious. In doing so the objects we collect take on additional significance, significance which can turn into worth if recognized by others. Some collectors preserve their objects untouched, while others interact with theirs regularly and even use them to create something new. What constitutes “precious” varies extremely from person to person, but collecting itself is nearly universal. The collectors featured in this exhibition are defined by their collecting practice as much as they define their collections. The way they amass objects and what they choose to collect is more than a hobby; it is an integral part of their character. Cherish or Perish seeks to examine the act of collecting, be it an act of love, compulsion, nostalgia, obsession, or a combination of motivators. It exhibits Grand Valley collections of all shapes and sizes from the following collectors: Mark and Karen Madsen, Chuck and Kendra McDaniel, Claudia Jantzer, Carl Barker, Kay Crane, and Russ McKeel. Recorded interviews with the collectors offer a multimedia component to the exhibition, encouraging visitors to listen as well as look.
Members 2016
Feb. 5 - 27 Sponsored by Chuck & Kendra McDaniel and Ron Beckman First Friday reception Feb. 5, 7 - 9 p.m.
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ebruary means the Art Center’s annual Members Exhibition. With over 300 works it has the claim to fame of being our largest exhibition, but it also reflects the geographic and technical diversity of our membership. Medium ranges from collage to clay, and exhibiting members come from all over the Western Slope and beyond. Four years ago the Art Center incorporated People’s Choice Awards into the Members Exhibition. Votes are collected and cash prizes are awarded to first, second, and third place winners. This democratic process raises the stakes for both attendees and featured artists by prompting our viewers to evaluate their aesthetic preferences. Most of us know exactly what we like and dislike but do not know or think about why. Our predilections, especially when it comes to art—that most subjective of subjects—can teach us a great deal about our personalities. The People’s Choice Awards also encourage viewers to take a closer look at artworks than they normally would. Anyone who has taken the time knows that the longer you look at a work of art, the more it will communicate. The conversation between a viewer and a work of art is never over, but usually we don’t allow enough time for it to even begin. For the artists (and WCCA members) themselves, seeing their work in an exhibition setting tends to give them a whole new take on their artistic approach. Observing how viewers interact with a piece is one way artists gauge how effectively their work conveys their intention and, subsequently, if that is something that even matters to them. You’d be hard-pressed to find another exhibition that showcases beginners alongside experts, painters alongside photographers. Our members are distinct in their method of artistic expression but united in their support for the Western Colorado Center for the Arts. The awards announcement will be noon Saturday, Feb. 20.
EXHIBITIONS
A Veritable Smorgasbord:
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LECTURES
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Russ McKeel:
Ancients and Contemporaries Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m.
All this of Pot and Potter—Tell me then, Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot? ~ Omar Khayyam
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lay: it was once stone that turned to silt that can turn back to a solid— through the alchemy of fire. A pot: it was once clay that turned into a vessel that served its maker—through the maker’s ingenuity, inspiration and need. Those creators, those artists, frequently unnamed and often unknown, provide a touchstone to our past and inspiration for our present. In addition to the formal elements such as form, texture, or design, there are marks left behind that engage us: the fingerprints on a corrugated Pueblo pot, the incisions chiseled on a bone flute, or the pattern on the bottom of an 18thcentury French salt-glazed jug when it was cut free as it turned on the wheel head. Did you know that historic and ancient peoples restored pottery? It seems theirs was not a “throw-away” society! They valued an object even when it could no longer fulfill its original function. This addition to the Art Center’s Lecture Series will explore these concepts of the past inspiring the present. Russ McKeel served as a C-130 pilot during the Vietnam War. After completing his obligatory military service, McKeel become a potter. He studied ceramics with Roger Lang at Metro State College and attended workshops with Betty Woodman, Jim and Nan McKinnell, and Paul Soldner. To subsidize a pottery studio, Russ renewed his flying skills through the Wyoming Air National Guard where he traveled extensively in Central and South America, giving him a unique opportunity to study pre-Columbian art and the associated cultures.
All lectures are free and open to the public, courtesy of
Betty and Joel Bechtel, John and Penny Hopkins,
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LECTURES
Are you passionate about The Art Center?
Funding the Future of Great Art The Western Colorado Center for the Arts Endowment Foundation is exclusively dedicated to support the Western Colorado Center for the Arts through the acquisition, management and distribution of legacy and other gifts. The Western Colorado Center for the Arts Endowment Foundation is a permanent endowment for The Art Center. The WCCA Endowment Foundation provides an ongoing funding stream on which The Art Center depends. For information about making gifts to The Art Center, please contact Mikkel Kelly, Executive Director, at 970-243-7337, ext.4, or mkelly@gjartcenter.org.
Join The Art Center Guild
The Art Center Guild is a volunteer group whose purpose is to support the Art Center in a variety of ways. We provide food and staffing for two First Friday receptions and for the evening of the Fine Art Auction. We help underwrite children’s programs, special events and art exhibitions. We fill volunteer needs as requested by the Art Center staff. We have two annual fundraisers. Our popular Jazz Among the Grapevines concerts are held at the Two Rivers Winery each summer. During the Art Center’s November Art and Craft Fair we prepare and sell lunches including our famous chicken casserole. We also sell homemade baked goods and manage the sales in the Not-So-Starving Artists’ Room. The Guild meets once a month from September to May. For more information about this active, enthusiastic group of Art Center supporters, please call Cathy Zippert at 970-245-9215.
Classes and Workshops
Members: Classes start January 11 Register early! Art Center members receive a great perk - discounted class tuition. But in order to receive that discount, you must register by the member discount deadline. After that, you pay full price. So make sure to register early, and save some cash.
Registration for the winter session opens Tuesday, Dec. 8, at noon. Register by Jan. 4 to receive your member’s discount!
ADULT CLASSES
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Adventures in Mixed Media Gayle Gerson
Mondays 1 – 4 p.m., Jan. 11 – Feb. 8 $90 member/ $130 non-member Supply list available All skill levels welcome. This 5-week intensive will explore experimental techniques for making mixed media art, such as collage, painting and transfer. Students will be able to devote plenty of time to 2 or 3 projects in order to create a work of art that releases the sparkle of the artist’s personality. Mini-workshops, art journaling and drawing sessions will also be part of this dynamic class.
Tai Chi Mark Posey
Mondays 1 - 2 p.m., Jan. 11 – Feb. 29 $110 member/ $150 non-member Wear clothing that is comfortable to move in. This class is intended for all levels of fitness and body awareness. Tai Chi is a system of movement designed to reduce your stress level, boost your immune system, and promote optimal functioning of your body and mind. Learn valuable methods for aiding in relaxation so that you can enjoy the season, and your life, more. The movements of Tai Chi improve your balance, joint function, and range of motion. They make it easier to move, help prevent and heal injuries, and generally help you to stay active longer and with more comfort and energy. Instructor Mark Posey has been teaching Tai Chi for 20 years.
(Guided by a facilitator, all levels welcome) All media welcome. The open studio is a relaxed and light-hearted space where artists work with live models to hone their skills and understanding of elements such as line, form, shape, value, and proportion as well as gain insight into the principles of the medium they choose to work in that week.
Nude Figure (must be 18 years of age)
Mondays 9 a.m. - noon or 6 - 9 p.m., Jan. 11 – Feb. 29 $80 member / $120 non-member
Portraiture (Clothed model)
Wednesdays 9 a.m. – noon, Jan. 13 – March 2 $80 member / $120 non-member
ADULT CLASSES
Live Model Open Studios
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ADULT CLASSES
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Painting the Masters into the Present Susan Claffey
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Jan. 12 – March $150 member / $190 non-member Supply list available This painting class is open to all levels of experience, from basic to advanced. Students may work in oil, acrylic or both. Emphasis for all levels will be on the formal elements of composition, particularly shape, value and color. We will be working in three directions: photographs, still life and figurative with a live model. Students will follow master artists from Impressionism up to the early 1920s, and advanced students may try implementing the style of a master in one of their own compositions. Susan, who received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Denver, taught at Colorado Mesa University for over 20 years and is excited to get back into the classroom. For the first class students should bring a canvas, an image of a painting by a well-known artist from between 1865 and 1925, and painting supplies. Canvases should be pre-stretched and gessoed, with sizes no larger than 30 inches by 40 inches and no smaller than 24 inches by 30 inches.
The World of Dyes, Resists and Fabrics Mary Hertert
Sundays 1 - 4 p.m., Feb. 14 – March 6 OFFSITE: meets at Color Creek Fiber Art (1150 N 25th St., Unit B) $70 member / $110 non-memberAll materials provided; $35 paid to instructor on first day. This class will be an extensive foray into the world of dyes and resists on all types of fabric. Students will learn to work with chemical resists such as wax, potato dextrin and gutta, as well as mechanical resists like wrapping, clamping, stitching, silk screen or airbrush and color discharge. The class will also introduce students to fiber reactive dyes for cotton or silk, acid dyes for silk and polyester dyes for synthetics. The fun to be had is endless. The results will amaze you. Mary sets up different stations and exercises to work through that demonstrate the various processes. Your last session is creating a final project using any of the demonstrated methods. These four-week sessions are open to both beginners and more advanced practitioners. For those who’ve been through the sessions before – you can treat this as open lab and work on your own projects. Lots of flexibility. Mary Hertert owns and operates Color Creek Fiber Art in Grand Junction. Her mission is to promote, teach and demonstrate all that is possible with dyes and textures on fabrics. Her studio is an open, working studio, and she encourages everyone to come dip their fingers in the Color Creek experience. Visit colorcreekfiberart.com for more information.
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ADULT CLASSES
ADULT CLASSES
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Chinese and Japanese Brush Painting Gary Clapp
Wednesdays 1-4 p.m., Jan. 13 – March 2 $140 member / $180 non-member Supply list available This class will cover the application of Japanese and Chinese ink painting techniques. Students will explore these techniques as they relate to traditional and contemporary subject matter, as well as their use in sketches, detailed renderings, and abstraction. Students will learn how to adapt these techniques to studentselected media such as watercolor, acrylics and oils. Gary Clapp moved to the Grand Valley from New Hampshire. He has worked in watercolor for 15 years and in the Eastern tradition for eight years. Gary has taught sumi-e (Japanese brush painting) classes and workshops, has taught how to adapt Japanese and Chinese painting techniques to subject matter such as western landscapes, and has demonstrated sumi-e on community television. He is represented by Oakley Gallery in Grand Junction.
Jes Park Tuesdays 1-4 p.m., Jan. 12 – March 1 $140 member / $180 non-member This class will be an in-depth exploration of jewelry-making techniques, including bead stringing, wire-wrapping, and pearl knotting - three of the most common jewelry construction skills. You’ll have time to practice each technique and then apply your new skills as you create unique jewelry items like necklaces, bracelets and earrings. We’ll explore the most important tools for jewelry-making and how to use different types of wire. You will learn how to use common jewelry findings (clasps, earwires, etc.) and types of stringing materials (metal cord, nylon cord, stretchy cord, leather). After learning the most useful jewelry-making techniques, you’ll gain experience repairing and redesigning old or broken jewelry. We’ll also spend two weeks learning how to work with precious metal clay to create unique charms and pendants. The last week of class will be devoted to putting all the pieces together to design your own beautiful and creative pieces using your skills, supplies and precious metal clay charms. Supply list Tools - cutters, round-nose pliers, chain-nose pliers, awl Wire - spool of 24 gauge, spool of 26 gauge Clasps - at least 6 clasps of any variety you prefer (lobster claw, hook/eye, s-hook, toggle) Cord - spool of Beadalon or Softflex (.014 size), package of leather cord, spool of stretchy cord, two silk cards (size 4) Findings - Package of earwires, package of headpins (2 inch), crimp beads Beads - strand of pearls, any other beads you want to work with during the class Other supplies - any broken jewelry, items you want to redesign, pendants, brooches, family heirlooms, etc. Precious metal clay supplies: about $15-$20/student, paid to instructor
ADULT CLASSES
Jewelry Design and Technique
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CERAMICS CLASSES 22
$195 member / $235 non-member
Robbie Breaux - Mondays 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 11 – Feb. 29
Robbie Breaux – Tuesdays 1-4 p.m. Jan. 12 – March 1
Gary Andrews – Tuesdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 12 – March 1
Terry Shepherd – Thursdays 1-4 p.m. Jan. 14 – March 3
Dan Patten – Thursdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 14 – March 3
Designed for beginners and intermediates alike, this class will cover the fundamentals of wheel-throwing, hand-building, glaze and slip decoration, clay body, slip formulation, and raw materials. Independence is a primary component of this class, with students encouraged to develop their own projects and take initiative toward their creative learning during open studio hours.
All Levels Handbuilding Robbie Breaux and Jack Griggs Mondays 1-4 p.m. Jan. 11 – Feb. 29 $195 member / $235 non-member
Not all beautiful ceramic work is thrown on a wheel! We will join slabs of clay into beautiful works of art using a variety of techniques and surface decorations. We will focus primarily on functional work during this session; we’ll make a casserole, vase, plate, and more!
Intermediate/Advanced Ceramics Terry Shepherd
Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 13 – March 2 $195 member / $235 non-member This class is a continuation of Fundamentals in Clay. Students will acquire skills, techniques, and study of form and function that include throwing, handbuilding, and altered throwing techniques. Further study of cone 10 stoneware, porcelain clay, multiple glazes and alternative firing processes will be introduced.
CERAMICS CLASSES
Fundamentals in Clay
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CERAMICS CLASSES
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Teen Wheel-Throwing Ashtonn Means
Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. Jan. 13 – March 2 $140 member / $180 non-member Ages 14-18
Whether you’ve never touched clay before or have experience throwing, this is the class for all teens 14-18! Students will learn the skills behind wheel-throwing, glaze application and a basic understanding of Cone 10 materials and firing, as well as design principles for functional pottery, fundamentals of form and aesthetic design techniques. Every class will have demonstrations, hands-on projects, and one-on-one guidance on the wheel-throwing process. Students are strongly encouraged to be self-directed and to bring project ideas and learning goals to work on throughout the eight-week course. Demonstrations will be geared toward students’ learning goals. See you there!
Rachel Egelston
Fridays 4:30-6 p.m. $52.50 member / $ 70 non-member per session Ages 5-13, all materials provided In this fun-filled class, students will learn basic skills in various forms of art. Students with more experience will be exposed to more advanced techniques and materials. Session 1: Jan. 8-29 Clay pottery, watercolor, textile design Session 2: Feb. 5-26 Sculpture, tie – dye, jewelry (membership discount deadline is Jan. 29)
Home School Art - STEAM Rachel Egelston
Thursdays Jan. 7- Feb. 25, 1-2:30 p.m. $105 member / $155 non-member Ages 5-13 all materials provided Students will be introduced to the various correlations between the visual arts and math, science, history and literature. The course features a variety of two- and three- dimensional art forms in the creative process, mediums used include clay, pastels ink, and acrylic. The instruction allows for various skill levels.
YOUTH & TEEN
Afterschool Arts & Crafts
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WORKSHOPS
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Make a Vase
Robbie Breaux and Peg Oswald Sunday, Jan. 10, 1 - 4 p.m. $30 member / $45 non-member
This is a chance to wow your Valentine. Make a handbuilt ceramic vase and fill it with flowers! We will learn the basics of putting together slabs of clay to make a lovely, handmade work of art. Vases will be glazed and fired for you and available approximately two weeks after this fun afternoon workshop. Limit 10 students. Robbie Breaux is a regular ceramics instructor at the Art Center, and Peg Oswald has practiced ceramics for the past fifteen years.
Mat Cutting and Preservation Domineeque Provident
Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. $50 member / $90 non-member Preservation is key to keeping works of art from fading and yellowing over time. Learn how to properly mount your artwork in a preservation format while still keeping it reversible for ever-changing styles. Learn to cut mats and coordinate colors to give a piece the perfect look. This workshop will also cover how to assemble preservation-style picture frames from start to finish, as well as how to match frames to suit both your art and your decor. A recent transplant from Phoenix, Domineeque Provident is the Sales Manager at Michaels in Grand Junction.
Improv for Everyone Lee Borden
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. $50 member / $90 non-member Ages 18+. Improvisations may include adult content. Whether you’re a novice actor, a stage veteran, or never want to be on stage, improvisation is for everyone. Come and play! Improvisation isn’t just for actors. It’s a handy tool no matter your walk-of-life or performance experience. Improv can help you build self-confidence, learn to listen, think on your feet, work in concert with others, be more creative, be “in the moment,” and discover a new side of yourself. If you do have a theatre background, improv is always a great way to strengthen your skills. Don’t think you’re funny? You may be surprised. But improvisation isn’t always about being funny. It’s about creating and discovering how to feel comfortable outside of your old comfort zone. We’ll start with easy and comfortable improv games to help you feel comfortable with yourself and the rest of the group. Then, over the course of the weekend, we’ll build our improvisation skills with increasingly fun and complicated improv games which may very well help you find a side of yourself you’ve never known.
Jeff Johnson
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16 and 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $150 member / $190 non-member To capture an emotion and tell a story through an image is a unique talent, yet one that can be learned simply through practice, practice and more practice. This workshop is designed to teach you to see beyond the obvious subject or icon. By tapping into your experiences, emotions and feelings you can create much more depth in your photographic imagery. One day will be spent shooting portraits and the other will be devoted to landscape photography. We’ll take a trip to the Colorado National Monument and use this amazing environment as a backdrop for how not to photograph the obvious! It’s a challenge in the winter, but I’ll have my mittens ready, and we’ll see what we can see. Bring your cameras (DSLRs and Mirrorless systems, no iPhones or point-andshoot cameras please) and an open mind for this, fun and interesting hands-on photography workshop. Jeff Johnson has worked as a professional photographer for over 38 years. To see more of Jeff ’s work, visit jeffjohnsonfineart.com and soulroadtrips.com.
WORKSHOPS
Intimate Landscape / Intimate Portrait
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NEWS
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Double Duty
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he Art Center board president Robbie Breaux and husband Dr. Chuck Breaux were both honored for their work in the community in the space of a week. Robbie was honored Oct. 1 at the 2015 Women of Distinction Breakfast by the Girl Scouts of Colorado with two other community leaders Karen Troester (U.S. Bank) and Susan Alvillar (WPX Energy). Chuck was honored as St. Mary’s Robbie and Chuck Breaux Physician of the Year at the annual benefit ball Sept. 26 hosted by the St. Mary’s Foundation. He also volunteers for the Art Center. Robbie was a pharmacist for 18 years and office manager for her husband’s practice for 17 years where she was instrumental in establishing the Pediatric Specialty Clinic. She is a ceramics artist and teacher. She serves in other community groups including the Avalon Foundation board.
Many Levels of Art S t. Mary’s Medical Center finished the top two floors of the Century Tower, opening floor 11 for post-surgical services and floor 12 for rehabilitation services on Sept. 25. A total of 110 art pieces were installed on the new floors, representing the works of about 80 Colorado artists.
St. Mary’s is in the process of finishing floor 9 for neuro trauma services and floor 10 for acute medical care. Once again The Art Center is partnering with St. Mary’s to gather art, assisting St. Mary’s in continuing its tradition of featuring art to contribute to a comforting, healing environment. Completion of the new floors is scheduled in July. In sum, the Century Tower is expected to feature works from about 600 Colorado artists upon completion. For call of entries information to submit artworks for the third phase, please visit The Art Center website at gjartcenter.org.
Rocking Our World T
hank you to Whitewater Sand and Gravel for the generous donation and delivery of 5 cubic yards of gravel, for the back parking lot renovation project of September 2015. Over the years Whitewater has been very generous in their support of The Art Center’s grounds project improvements. Art Matters December 2015 - February 2016 gjartcenter.org
We had highlights aplenty to appreciate at the Annual Meeting on Nov 6. Here are a few statistics tallied at the end of our fiscal year, which spanned July 2014 to June 2015: • • • • • • • • •
100 courses taught 1,521 students in summer camps 21 exhibitions 28 workshops 13 free lectures (average attendance 54) 494 students served in the Artability program $34,000 net raised in the annual auction $10,000 raised in St. Mary’s Century Tower art project 28,902 attendance at The Art Center
Call for Entries Contemporary Clay 2016 Exhibition May 13 – June 25 Steve Hilton, Juror
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how us your stuff! Contemporary Clay is a biennial exhibition open to all artists in North and South America. Entries must use clay as the focus material. To submit please complete the entry form, which is available at The Art Center and on our website, www.gjartcenter.org. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1. About the Juror: Steve Hilton is a ceramic artist and professor at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in ceramics at Arizona State University. A geologist as well, Hilton finds inspiration in the way plants, animals and weather influence the Earth’s surface. He has exhibited nationally and internationally.
USBANK Fine Art Auction Gearing Up
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uction prospectus is out now! The event is the largest annual fundraiser for Art Center programs and was especially successful in 2015. In 2016, we hope to be just as inventive by bringing in new artists and making the event even more fun. Artists can pick up an auction entry form at The Art Center or go onto our website at gjartcenter.org. Deadline for auction entries is Feb. 5. Artist notification is March 4. Artists and collectors interested in donating their artwork at 100 percent please call Lee Borden 970-243-7337, ext. 5. Art Matters December 2015 - February 2016 gjartcenter.org
NEWS
By the Numbers
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GIFT GALLERY
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Art Center Gift Gallery
Visit the Art Center’s Gift Gallery for a terrific selection of artwork by some of the Grand Valley’s finest artists. We have handmade jewelry, small scale artworks, scarves, bookmarks, magnets and books, as well as fine art prints and originals, beautiful ceramics and more … all made by members of The Art Center! You can also purchase gift certificates and memberships for your loved ones. If you are taking one of our classes, we carry watercolor paper, YUPO paper, sanded pastel paper, alcohol inks and clay tool kits. The Grand Valley Blacksmith’s Guild will be the featured club on the North Wall of The Art Center Gift Shop from November through December. The Rocky Mountain Collage Society will be the featured club on the North Wall of The Art Center Gift Shop from January through February.
Winter Gift Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Robbie Breaux January Gift Gallery Artist of the Month
Deb Bairunas December Gift Gallery Artist of the Month
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Acrylic, 8 ½ x 11 sign holders 66-quart plastic storage bins Art supplies Assorted brushes Books: art, literature, craft, architecture or dealing with social or cultural issues Brown bark Commercial vacuum(s) Cookies for First Fridays/Art Camp Electric skillets Flowers for galleries Frames and framing supplies Fresh frozen fish Glue guns Hair dryers Hammers Hard candies in wrappers Legos Linoleum cutters Metal forks(Kitchen & Art Program) Mulch Newer digital cameras Newer laptop computer Nice, high-quality card table(s) Old jewelry Old or new canvas Paints of all sorts Pencils Plaster Plywood scraps ½” - ¾” 3’ or longer Potato peelers Quick crete Scissors of all sorts and sizes Sheet of Masonite Small Rolling Cart Standing spotlight land for open studio Toaster ovens Vacuum(s)
The Art Center is currently looking for community-minded service groups or businesses to organize and cater First Friday openings. If you or your organization would like provide hors d’oeuvres for one of our monthly openings please call Lee Borden at 243-7337, ext. 5, or email him at lborden@gjartcenter.org. Past groups and businesses include P.S. Catering (Shelley Mayo), Vegan Life Colorado, The Art Center Guild, Altrusa of the Grand Valley, and The Art Center Ceramics Studio students and instructors.
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Art Center Wish List
1803 Nor th 7th Street Grand Junction, CO 81501 tel 970 - 243 - 7337 fax 970 - 243 - 2482 w w w. g j a r t c e n t e r . o r g
Volume 1, Issue 1 December 2015 - February 2016 NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PA I D GRAND JCT, CO PERMIT 162