For Hometown News
MARTIN COUNTY -- One of the features of the new Elliot Museum opening in March 2013 is The Studio, a working artists' studio and classroom facility across from the new exhibition hall.
In anticipation of its opening, the museum announced a full array of classes for all ages and skill levels. The spring session runs from March 4 through May 31, 2013.
Robin Lee Makowski, art studio coordinator, has been working with instructors and arranging classes to begin right after opening day on March 3.
Also museum patrons visiting on opening day can see the instructors in action, talk to them about their work and sign up for any classes that haven't been filled. The classes are being taught by leading local and regional artists.
Highlights include: Art for Home-Schooled Kids during the day on Monday with Meg Winter, as well as an art after-school program for budding artists ages 5-14; adult art classes throughout the week including pastel painting, painting realism, oil painting, watercolor studio and floral arranging and design.
One of the key features of The Studio's spring session is a life draw weekly class from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays for experienced adult artists 21 and over, and an open studio for everyone on most Fridays.
In addition to the after-school program for kids on Mondays, Ms. Makowski worked with local photographer, filmmaker and instructor, Livia Kropf, to develop two digital photography classes: one for elementary school kids on Tuesdays after school from 3 - 5 p.m., and another for pre-teens and teens from 12-18 years old on Thursdays after school from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
The Studio is also not limiting its offerings to traditional art forms, but extending it to hand crafts, textile arts, and other specialty presentation forms. One example is the floral arranging and design class with Dolores Mimms offered from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoons beginning March 7.
The Studio will also play host to several in-depth workshops this spring including "The Magic of Polymer Clay Weekend Workshop" with Sarita Neun on Saturday and Sunday, March 9 - 10; a Quilling Workshop: The Art of Paper Filigree with Jan Yoshioka all day on April 6; and a special textile arts workshop: Thread painting, the sunset series with Michele Sanandajian on Friday and Saturday, April 19 - 20.
Another popular program is summer art camp for school-aged children. Camps are being planned over the summer months while children are out of school. The week-long camps, running all day, will offer participants a wide variety of age-specific artistic projects to explore their creativity in the inspiring new Museum.
Collaborating with the Arts Council of Martin County, the Museum will hold its Annual Juried Art Show, Celebrating Viva Florida 500, in September 2013 in the new Changing Exhibits Hall as well as at the Cultural Court House galleries, offering artists a chance to show and compete with their local and regional peers.
Artists interested in participating may log onto CaFE, www.callforentry.org, to view the prospectus. Five thousand dollars in awards is being offered and workshops by the two judges, Caroline Jasper and Jeff Ripple, will be held in conjunction with the event.
For all classes and workshops, space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Studio has a wish list of needed materials ranging from furnishings, such as storage bins, to art supplies, paints, paper, brushes and any other new or used art and craft materials. Ms. Makowski encourages anyone with a possible donation to contact her. Non-artists who are interested in supporting The Studio may donate gift cards from art supply vendors or offer cash donations.
A full list of classes, times and costs is available at www.elliottmuseum.org.