Art for Humanity

01.20.2018

ART HOP

Excellence in Arts Awards

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The Merced County County Arts Council seeks nominations for its inaugural awards ceremony

Karen LeCocq

LeCocq Arts grand opening

Starry Night

Monika Modest’s Starry Night Homeless Remembrance Project

CHAA // Anxiety into Art // OSCAR torres

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01.20.2018

ART HOP

MercedArtHop.org | This Inspiration

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Karen LeCocq "You need balance in your life"

With the addition of yet another new artist inside of the Robinson-Montgomery building at 1812 Canal Street in Downtown Merced, the artistic community has plans to welcome the newest creative member into the flourishing second-story location that is quickly becoming a hub for the arts. A longtime artist and resident with a studio based out of Mariposa, mixed-media sculptor Karen LeCocq will be hosting the grand opening of LeCocq Arts at Suite 125 during the Merced Art Hop, joining a group of artists consisting of photographer Roger Wyan, painter Lori Dimuro, singer and voice coach Cheryl Lockett, and others.

Throughout her career, LeCocq has gained notoriety as an artist across the nation and internationally, and has shown at galleries and museums including The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Armand Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art. Her work with Absolut Vodka gained international traction as part of the brands Signature Artist campaign and has seen her work published in magazines including Art in America, Art News, Time Magazine, and many others, as well as publication in books such as The Power Of Feminist Art, Feminists Who Changed America, California Artist and others.

In her new Merced location, LeCocq will be making use of her 12 years of experience lecturing at UC Merced on drawing, painting, design and sculpture to the public. In addition to her time at UC Merced, LeCocq has also previously taught at California State University Fresno, Merced Community College, and participated with visiting artist programs in both Merced and Fresno County School Districts.

LeCocq notes that participants who enroll

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in her fine art classes can expect to have their creative skills, which she notes everyone possesses, brought back to the forefront of their mind. “I won’t be teaching them anything that they don’t already know innately,” said LeCocq. “Everyone is creative, it’s just something that can get squashed, so I work with them to bring it back to the forefront of their mind.” She went on to explain that with the economization of schools more than half a century ago, the deemphasis of arts in school curriculum to make way for subjects like science, math or history resulted in lopsided focus on “left-brain” thinking.

“You need balance in your life,” said LeCocq. “To be able to have full, open thinking, even as an adult, you need arts to relax yourself with or you’ll go crazy. They add interest and expand the mind, even if you don’t understand [an artwork], it still gets you thinking which is wonderful.” She elaborated on this idea by saying that it is never too late to recapture your creativity by taking steps to pursue the arts. “You can learn at any age, from the age of a toddler who can’t yet speak to someone in their 90s, they’re all human and look for a way to express themselves.”

Those interested in learning more about the drawing, design, painting and sculpture classes offered by Karen LeCocq are encouraged to stop by Suite 125 at 1812 Canal Street during the Merced Art Hop or log onto karenlecocq.com for more information.

Classes are arranged in sets of 12, with a onehour class taking place once a week. Prices per session start at $60 per student, and are payable per class, or monthly at a total of $240. Students may also pay the total amount of all 12 classes at once for a lump sum total of $720.

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Starry Night

Homeless Rememberance Project

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MAH Epekel Gallery now offering Painting Classes every 2nd Thursday of the Month. mercedarthop.org MAH

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MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

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MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Steve M.Tietjen,Steven Ed.D.,E.County of Schools Gomes, Superintendent Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools

632 W. 13th St., Merced CA, 95341 • (209) 381-6600 • www.mcoe.org

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