Shoe Seance

The shoe seance was a success! Ayren Valerie taught the workshop, encouraging the attendees to paint and otherwise embellish their lifeless shoes. The end results were very exciting, including several pairs of funky boots and a pair of updated golf sneakers. The workshop was part of the ReEnVision project, a series of workshops emphasizing finding creative uses for discarded materials. The ReEnVision workshops are culminating in an exhibit of recycled art called Dumpsite Grotto. 

Media Arts Students Participate in Printmaking Workshop

Adabel Allen, an art educator at OFFCenter, facilitated a printmaking workshop several weeks ago. An art class from the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School came into the studio and used recycled milk cartons as a tool to create prints. Students were asked to bring in a sketch and converted it into a plate for printmaking. It was the first printmaking experience for many of the students, who demonstrated a natural talent, as shown above. This workshop was part of a series of workshops made possible, in part, thanks to a grant from the Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason Foundation.

The WE ART THE PEOPLE FOLK FESTIVAL 2011 was terrific!!!!! I had several people, both vendors and attendees tell me that this was the best organized year ever for the festival. Also heard some folks say this is their favorite Abq. festival!! This is a great mid September tradition for OFFCenter and hopefully will be for years to come. The kids area was hopping all day long with beautiful hats and pin wheels emerging from the art making tent, children having fun with hula hoops, and being thoroughly entertained by Pink Elephant and Clan Tynker! The group paper tube sculpture and giant coloring book/painting canvases were great.... can't wait to see the new OFFBags made from the canvas. Come shop for one in the OFFCenter retail shop in the studio! I got a fantastic henae design on my entire arm and enjoyed seeing lots of lovely painted faces walking all around the park. Thanks to all the dancers and musicians too for creating such a festive day. It's a gift to see all the art vendors and witness the enormous variety of creativity in our community. Yea for Chami and all the other folks who worked so hard to make the 2011 We Art the People Folk Festival happen so wonderfully! Better and better each year :) Hope to see lots of fun 2011 Folk Fest pictures here and on the website soon!

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!

OFFCenter's "Nature of Happiness" Exhibit Opens at Main Public Library

OFFCenter's "Nature of Happiness" Printmaking/Book Arts Exhibit at the Main Public Library is now open!

Congratulations to all those who submitted art made during the Nature of Happiness Workshops -- the exhibit is in the display cases on the first and second floors of the Main Public Library. We will have another 6 months of workshops coming your way, as well as another exhibit in November at OFFCenter Community Arts...so stay tuned to your emails and call/email to sign up for a workshop you want to attend, because they fill up fast. Priority seating will be given to newcomers, however, so that as many people as possible can reap the benefits of learning printmaking/book arts.

July 2 - July 29th Main Public Library - 5th & Copper Hours: Mon, Thu-Sat, 10am-6pm; Tues & Wed 10am-7pm

Parking: Free parking for up to 2 hours in the Very Special Arts Garage at 5th and Copper. Bring your parking stub to the circulation desk for validation. There is also on street metered parking.  As a reminder, once you take a Nature of Happiness workshop, your allowed to come into the studio and check out inks/presses during open studio time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 - 7 pm. Master Printmaker Adabel Allen will be on hand during those days/times to assist you with press setup and any other further technical questions.

KUDOS to OFFCenter Promoters and Supporters and Workers!

Thanks to both Rick and Roy (Sumner & Dene Gallery) for your excellent promotion of OFFCenter's 2011 Albuquirky House Tour. Recently we had a couple of people come into OFFCenter because of the great recommendation they received at Sumner & Dene about OFFCenter and the 2011 House Tour (and they bought house tour tickets!). They loved OFFCenter, and were also impressed with the wonderful tour they received while visiting the OFFCenter studio. Way to go everyone! Here Comes the 2011 Albuquirky House Tour!

Margaret Lopez

OFFCenter Board President and Volunteer

OFFCenter Artists Haul in State Fair Ribbons

This year three OFFCenter artists entered work into Expo New Mexico State Fair art exhibitions. Gloria Hajduk won First Place and Best of Show for her entry in the Stamped Book catagory. Koffi Mbairamadji's acrylic paintings picked up a Best of Show, a Second and two Thirds. Henry Kennison won two Second place awards for his mixed media compositions. All three of artists are extraordinarily dedicated and talented. Congratulations from everyone at OFFCenter and our extended community! Koffi and Henry also brought along a few ribbons from previous State Fairs to brighten up their photos.

Sharie's Studio Journal

Hello everyone!! It has been a while since I have been able to "blog" You know the old saying when it rains it pours?? Well it certainly has in my life this year so I have not been in the studio as much as I would like to but the Saturday hours have helped. On one such Saturday last month I was talking with my friend, artist and former board member Juanita Sanchez. Since her retirement from Sandia Labs she has done several things to stay busy and most recently she has been driving a group of Senior Citezens to various places to preform musically. This summer they traveled to Las Cruces to compete in Senior Olympics. Wel-l-l-l-l Juanita competed too and came home with two Gold Medals. One medal was for reading an original poem that she wrote (she is a published poet). The other medal was for her musical talent she played an original composition on a Native American flute. Juanita is a multi talented person witty and funny and I consider myself priveledged to know her and to be able to call her friend. Congratulations!!! Juanita, on your two Gold Medals.

Call for Submissions!

Craft Punk 3 Raises $3000 for OFFCenter! OMG!

After hearing that OFFCenter Arts was going to be the beneficiary of Craft Punk 3 for the second time this year we felt a little numb from the remarkable generosity and support shown towards OFFCenter and the many artists who use and benefit from our free community studio. We were fascinated by the passion and creativity of the Craft Punk artists and send our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the event at the Launch Pad on Friday, August 13th. Our special thanks goes out to Crystal Sims of Evolution Body Piercing and her capable team whose vision and dedication made this year's Craft Punk event a smashing success!!
http://www.evolutionpiercing.com/

A Shout Out toTerry Begay

Terry epitomizes the spirit of OFFCenter's community art studio. Passionate and capable, friendly and funny, Terry alternates as a teacher and student who constantly experiments in his work blending traditional and modern into his unique artistic expressions. Hungry to learn and eager to share his knowledge, Terry is a positive influence on every artist in the studio. Today we honor Terry's acceptance into the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe where Terry will pursue his artistic development through higher education.

Reminder: OFFCenter Closed July 1-3

OFFCenter will be closed Thursday July 1, Friday July 2, and Saturday July 3. Have a happy and safe July 4 holiday weekend and we'll see you again on Tuesday July 6!

Summer fun at OFFCenter and Downtown Grower's Market :)

Summer is in full swing at OFFCenter with our new Saturday 10am- 2pm hours, coinciding with the dates of the Downtown Grower's Market. You can find great OFFCenter art and support your local artists at the OFFCenter table at the Downtown Grower's Market at Robinson Park (just across the street from OFFCenter) every Saturday morning from 7 - 11 am this summer. Then after 10 am you can come across the street to create your own art too! OFFCenter... Make Art, Buy Art, Meet New Friends!

Ninos y mayores, Children and elders final exhibit

exhibit - Children and Elders intergenerational workshop

runs through June 18th

This exhibit features a series of collaborative art works produced by neighborhood children and elders over the last several months.

The project brought children and elders together to interact, share and explore each other’s lives in a variety of exercises facilitated by educator Roberta Marquez at the Barelas Senior Center .

This project was made possible, in part, by a grant from New Mexico Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs for the State of New Mexico .

Call for Art: Things in the Air

Things in the Air
Entries due July 9th and 10th.
Exhibit Opens Friday, July 16th 5pm –8pm

Is it a bird? a plane? a UFO? a kite?

Unleash your imagination and let it soar using this year’s theme for the “We ART the People” folk festival!

• A call for art in any medium for a non-juried community art show.
• Entries limited 2 pieces per person please.
• All work should be dropped off by Saturday, July 10th . no entry fee.
• For further information call 247-1172.