OFFCenter Fun at RT66Summerfest

Ron and D'Ana helping families make art together

Thanks to all those who helped make the RT66Summerfest Community Art Project fun for all the families who participated! Art Educator Topher House volunteered to manage the project and helped families build and decorate paper towers out of old newspapers. (Thank you Jo Tabacchi for coming up with the activity!) OFFCenter's Executive Director, Ron Breen and Board President Margaret Lopez and Board Member D'Ana Alderate were there to make it a success on the streets! 

Topher House guiding kids on the construction

Thanks also to the volunteers and interns who helped prepare for the project. This was truly an event where art making = community. Unfortunately the weather cancelled the second half of building -- but now we have leftovers to keep building art together in the Community Art section (alongside the Giant Coloring Books) at the 9th Annual "We Art the People!" Folk Art Festival this Sept. 11th!

Silk Painting Class Photos

Claudia Fluegge taught basic silk painting using a variety of materials to a completely full class on Saturday. Here are a few photos of her "happy campers."

Intro. to Silk Painting with Claudia Fluegge

Saturday, Feb 20th, 1-4pm

Painting on silk is a playful and colorful adventure. If you have never tried it, this is your change to take an excellent class with the accomplished instructor and artist Claudia Fluegge. Claudia has won numerous national awards for her silk painting work and currently exhibits at Weyrich Gallery in albuquerque.

Class participants will start by stretching a white piece of silk over a fraeme. Then Claudia will lead you through an exploration of basic silk painting techniques such as salting, outlining (in addition to the gutta resist we will be working with soy wax) and applying dyes with a paintbrush.

Usually there is enough time to make two pieces. Finished pieces must be steamed to fix the dyes. Claudia will charge $2 per piece if you would like her to do the steaning for you.

If you have previously taken tis class, she would love to have you back to do more painting.

Friends and Dragons

Our 2010 occasional Wednesday night workshops are proving to be popular and fruitful this year! Last Wednesday was a Chinese paper dragons intensive, in celebration of Chinese New year, led by longtime OFFCenter friend and art teacher Ann Dunbar.

Next Wednesday evening, it will be Valentine Gifts. Stay tuned for more info here, or check our OFFCenter Calendar on our main website. Come on by! All ages are welcome.

Repujado Workshop Oct. 24

Repujado is an old European metalworking technique -- called "repousse" in French, where special tools are used to add dimention and texture to metal. This technique can add a beautiful lustre and antique finish to metal.


Come join us on October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The $60 course fee includes all materials. Please call OFFCenter at 505-247-1172 for more information -- your payment must be received at time of registration to confirm your spot in the class.




Jolanta Feliciano is a local repujado expert, who we're happy to have back at OFFCenter for another workshop.

Felting Workshop: Felting Art...From the Start

Saturday, June 27, 2009
10 am to 12 pm

Immerse yourself in the natural, magical technique of felt making!

Individual wool fibers are laid out and a hands-on process combines the wool with soapy water to create a non-woven fabric called felt.

Drawn from the ancient Central Asian craft of felt making, the material created by this process is nothing like the acrylic squares found in craft stores. Students will have the opportunity to make an individual finished product such as a felt rope bracelet, bookmark, coaster, or penny pouch.

Note to people with wool allergies, we will be using natural wool fibers in our projects.

Instructor Jane Heider has fourteen years of teaching experience and a life long passion for art making.

Cost: $15
All materials will be provided.
Please call OFFCenter to register.
Class limit: 10 people -- don’t wait too long on this one!

Art Workshop with Leighanna Light

Join us as we dive into transforming the mundane into the extraordinary! We'll have a blast altering found dolls to make them look like unearthed relics.

The class is called "Resurrecting Charlotte," and we are so thrilled to have Leighanna back in the studio with us again.

Go to the OFFCenter website to download the complete, downloadable flyer with supply list and statement from the artist.

As usual, the class fee for this all-day event includes many various art supplies and materials that Leighanna will provide.

Cost is $75.00.
Class size is limited to 15 students.

Contact OFFCenter to register.

For more about Leighanna, visit her blog at www.lklight.blogspot.com

FLOORCLOTH FUNSHOP

Sharie's Studio Journal

I say funshop because it truly was more fun than work. The art of make an ordinary piece of canvas a beautiful accessory for decorating you home is really a great deal easier and more fun than you might think. Mary Ann Corley taught a small group of students this technique. Using ordinary house paint and other acrylic paints turned blank pieces of canvas into works of art. These clothes can be used as table runners, floor cover under a table or your chair at your desk to protect your carpet, or hang them on your wall; shoot you can even create your own specially designed placemats for your dinner table. More than one participant was new to OFFCenter and all had a great time and more than once commented on how much fun they were having and they are looking forward to coming back to the studio to make art. Later ya'll----Sharie

Art, Ritual and the Sacred, a workshop with Judith Shaw

Discover the power of art to connect us with our sacred source. Join visionary artist Judith Shaw, for a fun and inspiring 2 session workshop, incorporating guided visualization, group ritual and hands-on art making.

SIX HOURS TOTAL workshop time.

Saturday, April 25 - 9am – 12pm

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 1 - 4pm

• In the first session we create paintings and small sculptures of our personal sacred images.
• In the second session, gaining inspiration from the first day, we use a small box as our canvas and create a centerpiece for our home altars.

Each participant is asked to bring their own box.

NOTE: Please call Judith directly at 505-977-3792 to reserve your space.

Cost: $75 includes both 3-hour sessions and all required art materials.

Pastel Landscape Workshop with Jane Schoenfeld

Wow! We will work with Jane Schoenfeld both outdoors in Robinson Park and also in the OFFCenter Studio. All levels of experience are welcome. MAY 9, 2009 10:00 am TO 5:00 pm

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Tuition of $75.00 covers materials, including a set of 32 pastel half sticks to keep.

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Making art includes both predictable elements that can be learned by anyone and the magic that happens when we loosen up and allow our creativity to flow. Master Pastelist and Art Therapist Jane Shoenfeld will demonstrate and guide participants in both these area.

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Techniques of application and instruction on how to convey the illusion of depth in a landscape will be covered indoors. Then we will go to the park where Jane will demonstrate how to imaginatively simplify the landscape elements of bottom, middle and top. The emphasis will be on vivid color and freshness within the pastel medium. Layering and development from start to finish will be covered and exercises to stimulate the imagination and connections to nature will be offered.

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Jane Shoenfeld's landscapes have been represented in numerous museum exhibitions, including the Las Cruces Museum, the Millicent Rogers Museum and the Brooklyn Museum. She has been teaching pastel landscape and creativity development for over twenty years.

Beautiful Pysanky

Workshop with Jo lanta Konopelska-Feliciano

Soft Sculpture Mermaid Workshop April 18, 2009

with Kathleen Schweizer!
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Saturday, April 18, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Please Call OFFCenter to register.
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Cost: $40.
All materials will be provided.
Scholarships are available.

This is not a workshop but a “playshop!"
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Working with colors found in the ocean (teals, aquas, greens, blues) you will create a sweet soft sculpture mermaid. First you will learn to create a 2-D wire armature, then shape the armature so that it becomes a 3-D framework. Next you will cover the basic framework with fabric and then the real fun begins -- embellishment!! .

If you’ve previously taken one of Kathleen’s classes, you know that she will provide you with an abundance of materials from which to choose -- you will work with fabric, sequins, beads, shells, yarns, ribbons, feathers and more. Feel free to bring any items you would like to incorporate into your mermaid figure. If you have a pair of needle-nose, round-nose, long-nose or conical-nose pliers, please bring them with you to class.

Click Kathleen's picture to visit her Etsy shop!

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Traditional Pysanky, Russian Egg Workshop Sat. 4/11

Hurry! A few seats are still available! This Saturday!

Call OFFCenter to register.

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Cost: $40 All materials will be provided. Scholarships are available.

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PYSANKY (PEE-SAN-KEY) - traditional Eastern European folk art of decorating eggs. Learn the batik technique of this unique traditional art in our 4 hour workshop taught by Jo lanta Konopelska-Feliciano. Jo lanta was born in Poland and learned this captivating art form in early childhood. She mastered this craft, adding her own unique styling to thousands of hand crafted, precisely designed, and beautifully finished Easter eggs.

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You will explore the batik technique by using beeswax applied with "kistka", dyeing eggs in vibrant colors, and designing them by following traditional Ukrainian and Polish symbolism or modern geometric forms. The final step will include empting an egg and preserving the delicate shell, so it can be used as an ornament or a unique gift for many years to come.

Reinventing T-Shirts Workshop

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Cost: $20.00 (scholarships are available)
Please call to confirm

Come transform your old forgotten tee shirts into a new fashion statement! Beginner and advanced sewers are welcome to come and have fun artfully recycling.

Bring at least two of your tee shirts and all other materials will be provided.

Tirzah graduated with a BFA from Xavier University with an emphasis in sculpture and has been working as an art teacher in Albuquerque for three years where she has had the opportunity to work with a large variety of student populations.

Intro. to Silk Painting with Claudia Fluegge

Sunday, March 15, 2009 1-4 pm
Cost: $45. All materials provided. Class size limited to 12.

Reservations required – must pay in advance. Scholarships are available!

Painting on silk is a playful and colorful adventure. If you have never tried it, this is your chance to take an excellent class with the accomplished instructor and artist Claudia Fluegge. Claudia has won numerous national awards for her silkpainting work and currently exhibits at Weyrich Gallery in Albuquerque.

Class participants will start by stretching a white piece of silk over a frame. Then Claudia will lead you through an exploration of basic silk painting techniques such as salting, outlining, and applying dyes with a paintbrush. Usually there is enough time to make two pieces. Finished pieces must be steamed to fix the dyes. Claudia will charge $2 per piece if you would like her to do the steaming for you. If you have previously taken this class, she would love to have you back to do more painting!

Monotype Printmaking with Cathy Wysocki

Saturday, March 28
Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $45.00
Reservations are required. Please pay in advance to reserve a seat.

Cathy Wysocki will lead this all-levels workshop where students can explore the versatility of monotype printmaking. Instruction will be given on combining painting, drawing, and printing techniques with the use of water-based printing inks on plexiglas. Students will learn how to transfer their images through the press onto paper to create the one of a kind print.

Everyone will have ample time to experiment and explore the various techniques by creating numerous prints. For over 30 years Cathy has been a working artist and exhibited widely including “Cautionary Tales-A Visual Dystopia” - 516 Arts ; “Originals 2007" - Harwood Art Museum, Taos; “Imprinted: Contemporary Printmaking” - El Museo Cultural, Santa Fe. Her work is in numerous private collections.

Funky Found Object Canvas Village Feb. 28

Leighanna Light is back at OFFCenter with another Saturday workshop!

"In this workshop we will create our very own imaginary village using a variety of techniques to build thick deep layers on canvas. We will use paint, paper, fabric, fibers, found objects & gel to create amazing depth & dimension. Learn many new tips & tricks including how to obtain a beautiful encaustic look without using messy hot wax & crock pots. Please join us for a fun, relaxing day of inspiration & art making! This is a project oriented workshop. You should be able to leave with at least one finished canvas, three if you work fast!"

Saturday, February 28, 2009

10am - 4pm -- Cost:$70.

Reservations required – must pay in advance to reserve a seat.

• three 8 x 8 or 6 x 12 stretched canvases,with at least a 1-1/2 inch edge. An inexpensive source for this is http://www.cheapjoes.com/ - look for “Joe’s prime really good canvas,extra deep” A package of 5 is $14.49 plus shipping. You can also work over a canvas that has already been painted.
  
• At least 8 oz. of REGULAR gel medium, semi gloss or matte. This is important - you will not be able to participate without this.
  
• 4 oz.of glue, PVA is best,available at Papers! – we will have some to share if you don’t have any.
  
• Several paint brushes, a ruler & scissors or use what OFFCenter has.
  
• A small palette knife - OFFCenter has a few of these also.
  
• A heat gun or a blowdryer if you have one – several will be available.
  
• A FEW of your favorite acrylic paints (if everyone brings 2 or 3 & is willing to share, we should be fine) or use what OFFCenter has in stock.
  
• A variety of small found objects to embed into your canvas - flat game pieces, lace, fabric, metal, buttons & gears or use what OFFCenter has in stock.
  
• A variety of papers, dictionary pages, old handwriting, maps, wallpaper, decorative papers will all work well or use what OFFCenter has in stock.

Star Tunnel Book Making Workshop -- Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14, 1pm – 4pm, STAR TUNNEL BOOK MAKING

In conjunction with the "Trust the Hand that Makes it Round" exhibit, Linney Wix will teach this fun bookmaking class. You will learn to make a triple layered accordion fold book with cut out windows for seeing into and through the layers. It can stretch long or fold into a four-pointed star.

Linney has taught bookmaking in the Art Education Program at UNM for eight years and is an Art Therapist. Materials will be provided.

Cost: $5 per person No registration required.

Stitching with Sequins Workshop -- Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14, 10am – 1pm

Mary Tafoya will help you solve the mysteries of sewing sequins to fabric using several different stitches, with and without beads: spot stitch, lines, scales, and floral motifs.

In this class, you will work on fabric and felt to create a sampler of stitches that Mary has explored and discovered over several years studying old European, East Indian and Asian surface embellishment and embroidery.

Mary Tafoya is a nationally known beadwork artist, teacher and writer whose work has been featured in numerous books and exhibitions. Currently, she works in various media and creates a line of recycled jewelry for her online shop. http://www.marytafoya.etsy.com/.

Be sure to bring reading glasses if you need them!

Cost: $35. Scholarships are available. Registration required. 12 person maximum. Call 505-247-1172

Jesse Reno is Coming to Albuquerque!

We are so excited to have nationally known outsider artist Jesse Reno come to OFFCenter for three days of teaching in March! Jesse will share his techniques for layering media to create spontaneous and amazing personal imagery.


The workshops are filling fast, so contact Leighanna Light at lklight@copper.net if you're interested in joining us. She's handling the registration details. Workshop dates are Saturday, March 21 (one-day workshop), and Sunday-Monday, March 22-23 (two-day workshop). There are only a few slots left.