The Visual Arts Department encourages creative stimulation and thought while providing an opportunity to experience the joy and satisfaction of creating works of art. A wide variety of visual arts classes and workshops are offered for students of all ages, including pottery, painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, knitting, and more. Individual instruction is available and outreach programming can also be arranged.
There will be an extra $5 fee for visual arts class/workshop registrations made within 24 hrs of the class beginning. Please register as early as possible so instructors can make sure they have enough materials purchased and prepared. Last-minute registration can result in a shortage of materials for students.
Stained Glass-on-Glass Mosaic Class/Studio
with Nancy Nelson Brotz
6 weeks beginning Mon, Sept 15
16 & up/adults
1-3 p.m.
$122 class fee,
$50 materials fee
REGISTER
Create a stained glass artwork making a mosaic glass on glass technique first by creating a design, second learning to cut and shape glass and finally learning to grout. Tools for mosaic and adhesive will be explained. If you have already taken this class you can use this class as an open studio for continuing projects.
Historical Costume Design at 1/2 Scale
with Rachel Drees
6 weeks Beginning Sept 15
Teens and Adults
5:30-7 pm
$52 class fee,
$40 materials fee
REGISTER
This will be a course where students recreate a style or signature look of their choice from a past era, but on a much smaller scale. We will be using 1/2 scale dress forms to drape and reimagine a historically inspired design of their own.
INTRO TO JEWELRY AND METALS
with Kacie Keefe
Monday evenings
5-7pm
6 weeks beginning Oct 6
$127 class fee, $50 materials fee
$50 Tool Kit Deposit – This deposit will be returned to you when you return your tool kit.
REGISTER
This class will provide a variety of ways to manipulate copper and silver. Some of the smithing techniques you’ll learn include sawing & piercing, polishing, etching, jump ring & chain making, cold connections like rivets & prong settings. These techniques will be used to create a final piece of jewelry that will be presented and discussed at the last class. You may follow your heart to create a piece of your choice: a pin, necklace, cuff bracelet, hair accessory, earrings etc. The instructor will provide techniques and guidance, but the choice of project is yours to make.
Tuesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
8 weeks beginning Sept 16
5-7 p.m.
$124 class fee,
$30 materials fee
PURCHASE TICKETS
This class will cover sculpture, handbuilding, and wheel throwing. Demonstration and support will be given for each desired technique. Please come with a project in mind or a willingness to create.
Needle Felted Highland Cow (2D) – Intermediate Level
approximately 22”x24”
for teens/adults
with Nancy Nelson-Brotz
4 weeks beginning Nov 4
7:30-9 p.m.
$68 class fee,
$50 materials fee
Limit of 6 students
REGISTER
METALS II: SOLDERING 101
with Kacie Keefe
6 weeks beginning Sept 17
5-7 p.m.
$202 class fee,
$50 materials fee
Tool Kit Deposit- $50 This deposit will be returned to you when you return your tool kit.
REGISTER
This class will cover soldering, a technique used to join two pieces of metal together using a torch and a metal alloy. We’ll use a butane torch and a mini Oxy-Acetylene torch. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ADHERE TO WORKSHOP SAFETY RULES. Only students who have taken Intro to Jewelry and Metalsmithing or have experience working with metal should register for this class. Students will create a small object or piece of jewelry of their choosing.
Wednesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
8 weeks beginning Sept 17
5-7 p.m.
$124 class fee,
$30 materials fee
REGISTER
This class will cover sculpture, handbuilding, and wheel throwing. Demonstration and support will be given for each desired technique. Please come with a project in mind or a willingness to create.
Krampus Mug
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
$38 class fee,
$10 materials fee
3 weeks: Nov 12,19 & Dec 3
5-7 p.m.
REGISTER
Carved Hiking Staff
with Ralph Bacon
for teens and adults
6 weeks beginning Nov 12
5-6:30pm
$67 class fee,
$12 materials fee
REGISTER
We will be carving cut saplings for hiking staffs using sassafras, which will dry light, yet stay strong. A spiral will be cut in from the bottom up, the red bark will be whittled off along the handle, and any kind of motif may be cut into the staff for decoration: a bird, a tree, a mountain, etc.
Acrylic Painting
for ages 14 & up
with Ralph Bacon
6 weeks beginning Nov 12
6:30-8 p.m.
$67 class fee, $10 materials fee
REGISTER
Painting can be described as little more than drawing with a wet ended pencil. If you can draw, you can paint! We will start with quick one-color sketches and work towards a simple still life in which we lay color on top of the sketch.
Crochet 1
for teens/adults
with Pam Amy
8 weeks beginning Sept 17
5-6 p.m.
$58 class fee, $8 materials fee
limit of 10 students
REGISTER
Suitable for beginners, or for those who want to refresh their crochet skills.
Mixed Media Fashion Design
for teens/adults
with Rachel Drees
6 weeks beginning Sept 17
5:30-7 p.m.
$52 class fee,
$12 materials fee
REGISTER
Please bring 1-2 garments to upcycle/transform
An experimental design course combining unconventional materials with textiles. We’ll be upcycling a garment of your choice to create wearable art.
Crochet 2
for teens/adults
with Pam Amy
8 weeks beginning Sept 17
6-7 p.m.
class fee $58, materials fee $8
limit of 10 students
REGISTER
For students ready to start a full-scale project. We’ll add circle magic technique and new stitches.
Embroidery/ Wool Felt Applique Squirrel
for teens & adults
with Pam Amy
8 weeks beginning Sept 17
7-9 p.m.
$67 class fee, $8 materials fee
REGISTER
We will be embroidering wool felt applique using basic embroidery stitches and DMC floss. The featured stitch will be turkey work to make a fluffy squirrel tail perfect for fall decor.
Open Pottery Studio (September session)
for adults
with Erica Ledford
8 weeks beginning Sept 18
10am-2 p.m.
limit of 6 students
$72 class fee, $30 materials fee ( includes 1 small kiln firing and 25 lbs of clay)
Register
For adults who have taken classes and would like to have extra time to work on their pieces as well as grow their studio knowledge and technique. Full access and support to come and create. More materials are available for additional fees.
Open Pottery Studio (November session)
for adults
with Erica Ledford
5 weeks beginning Nov 13
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
limit of 6 students
$47 class fee, $30 materials fee (includes 1 small kiln firing and 25 lbs of clay)
REGISTER
For adults who have taken classes and would like to have extra time to work on their pieces as well as grow their studio knowledge and technique. Full access and support to come and create. More materials are available for additional fees.
Hand-Carved Art Tiles
for teens/adults
with Becca Stowell
4 weeks beginning Oct 23
5-7 p.m.
$54 class fee,
$20 materials fee
REGISTER 
No teen/adult classes in visual arts are currently scheduled on Fridays. Check the schedule for Friday workshops.
Drawing for Beginners
with Rebecca Ollikainen
8 weeks beginning Sept 20
10:15-11:15am
$64 class fee, $8 materials fee
Learn basic drawing techniques.
Watercolors for Beginners
with Rebecca Ollikainen
8 weeks beginning Sept 20
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
$64 class fee, $8 materials fee
Learn basic watercolor techniques while completing a landscape.
Raku Christmas Tree
for teens and adults
with Becca Stowell
4 weeks beginning Oct 25
(no class Nov 8)
10 a.m. -2 p.m.
$50 class fee,
$15 materials fee
limit of 8 students
One of the things we love about pottery and ceramics is that they are elemental. With its dramatic mix of earth, fire, air, and water, raku firing is one of the grittier approaches to pottery. Raku is a low-fire process, reaching around 1830F (1000C) at its highest temperature. Pottery is removed from the kiln when red hot. It is cooled rapidly, often in combustible material like sawdust or paper. Raku firing is usually done in a fuel-burning kiln, rather than electric.
Payment
Payment is expected at the time of registration unless otherwise noted, and can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Platform fees will apply to all transactions. Members receive a discounted rate. Materials fees, model fees, and some other fees are excluded from this discount.
Registration
Registration is required. A minimum number of students is needed to hold a class. When necessary, a class start date may be postponed a week or a class may be cancelled 24 hours prior to the starting time. Classes and lessons are open to all, regardless of race, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. There will be an extra $5 fee for visual arts class/workshop registrations made within 24 hrs of the class beginning. Please register as early as possible so instructors can make sure they have enough materials purchased and prepared. Last-minute registration can result in a shortage of materials for students.
Refund Policy
If a class is cancelled, appropriate refunds will be given. Persons desiring to withdraw from a class, who do so at least 24 hours before the start time of the class, will receive a full refund. If you drop a class after this deadline, but before the second meeting of the class, you will receive a refund for 75% of your tuition. There will be no refunds after the second class meeting
Financial aid is available for eligible students. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION Rev. 1115 may be downloaded or obtained at the front desk and must be filled out and returned no later than one week prior to the start date of the class.
By registering yourself or your child for a class/workshop/music lesson/or other activity at the arts center, you hereby waive and release all rights and claims for damages you or your child may have against the arts center and its employees. The arts center will not be responsible for injuries suffered by you or your child during classes, workshops, or activities sponsored by the arts center. In addition, you also give the arts center and its employees the right to use your or your child’s image with or without you or your child’s name, for purposes such as advertising, publicity, and public presentations.
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