Chestertown RiverArts is pleased to announce our Winter and Spring 2016 classes. As you bid goodbye to 2015 and make resolutions to do and learn new things in 2016, consider joining one of RiverArts classes.
In January, award winning poet and former Rose O’Neill Writer-in-Residence Meredith Davies Hadaway will lead a poetry workshop “Writing on Water” Through a series of readings, writings, and explorations, participants will locate themselves as creative forces in the environment, learn to hone individual voices, and hear the voices of others, in order to craft a poetic response. No previous literary experience is required. This class is limited to 10 participants.
One of our most popular excursions has been our annual trip to the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore. This year, the day trip will take place on February 20th. Bus transportation and admission are provided. The American Craft Council Show is a juried show that admits only the finest artisans. RiverArts artists Faith Wilson, Marilee Schumann, and Patti and David Hegland have all been accepted and will be participating in the show along with many other fine artists from the region and beyond.
RiverArts Clay Studio will be offering workshops for those who might like to try their hand at creating pottery. On Saturday January 23, Rick Bisgyer will lead a “Try It” workshop from 2-5pm. He will also host a “Date Night” at the clay studio for couples who would like to try throwing on the wheel together. Finger foods will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice to enjoy during the demonstration. Doug Sassi will lead “Beginning Handbuilding,” a two-day workshop to learn the basics of creating pottery and sculpture using slab clay, coils, and hand molding.
For more in-depth study of clay, Marilee Schumann will once again be offering her popular “Beginning and Continuing Pottery on the Wheel” and “Advanced Pottery Wheel” classes. These eight-week courses will immerse participants in the art of throwing pottery. Beginning Pottery will be offered on Thursdays for eight weeks beginning January 21, and again beginning April 27th. Advanced classes will begin on Tuesdays starting January 19 and again beginning April 5th. Doug Sassi will lead a four-week Handbuilding class on Monday evenings starting February 24 through March 16. For those with some clay experience looking to branch out, Rick Bisgyer will be leading an eight-week class in porcelain. Clay Studio classes include one brick of clay and one bisque-clay firing.
The Clay Studio is also pleased to offer two workshops led by guest instructors. Ellen Jacobsen will lead “Exploring Cups and Pitchers,” a two-day workshop on February 6 and 7. In this workshop, participants will delve into the specific techniques needed to create the two forms. On April 9 and 10, Sue Stockman will lead a mosaic workshop. Mosaic is the art of placing and sculpting pieces of “tesserae” into pictures or visually pleasing forms. Participants will learn to use the tools of the trade, as well as how to use different types of materials to create a work of art.
For those interested in two-dimensional art forms, RiverArts has several options. On January 19, get out and enjoy an evening of “Charcoal and Charcuterie” with artist and educator Raven Bishop. Participants will be treated to a complimentary class of wine and finger foods before embarking on an easy lesson on drawing with charcoal. Running on Tuesdays in February, Bishop will teach “Beginning Drawing” where participants will learn the basics of pencil drawing, charcoal, pastels and colored pencils. Beginning on March 8 for weeks, Bishop will teach “Drawing from Observation” which will cover aspects of still life, human figure, and landscape drawing. In concert with these classes, each Monday from 2:00-5:00 p.m. RiverArts hosts an open session of “Life Drawing.” Artists are welcome to pay a fee at the door to practice the skill of drawing the human figure. Models are provided for these sessions.
Theresa Schram will offer painting classes through the winter months. For four Wednesdays beginning January 20, Theresa offers “Intro to Painting and Color.” The course will delve into the basics of brush strokes, color theory, and composition using acrylic paints. She will follow this with “Introduction to Oil Painting” beginning February 24th.
RiverArts is pleased to welcome well-known abstract artist David Kessler from April 3 to April 5 for his “Loosen Up Abstract Workshop.” Kessler hails from North Carolina, and travels extensively bringing his unique perspective and techniques to workshops throughout the east coast and beyond. Space in this workshop will be very limited, and early registration is encouraged. This workshop open to acrylic, oil, and multi-media, so artists are encouraged to bring their favorite tools and materials for a workshop that engages them in an exploration of their own style.
For more information about RiverArts’ classes and workshops or to enroll, visit www.chestertownriverarts.org or call 410-778-6300.
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