Montalvo
’s Education and Outreach Department announces the launch of Art
in the Barn, an ongoing series of art classes and workshops held in
the historic Barn at Villa Montalvo. Taught by some of the best art
instructors in the Bay Area, the series offers a variety of classes
for people of all ages and sk
ill levels throughout the year.
Montalvo’s Education and Outreach Department announces the launch of Art in the Barn, an ongoing series of art classes and workshops held in the historic Barn at Villa Montalvo. Taught by some of the best art instructors in the Bay Area, the series offers a variety of classes for people of all ages and skill levels throughout the year.
The Barn at Montalvo is a rustic structure that has long existed as an artist’s destination. In the 1950s, a group of area sculpture students, known as the Barn Swallows, crafted an art studio from the former horse stalls. Since that time, the Barn has been used as a studio for Montalvo’s artists in residence and as a workshop for the creation of holiday crafts by the Montalvo Service Group.
“The Barn is a unique and inspiring venue for art instruction,” said Katie Haggerty, education director at Montalvo. “The charm of this space, combined with the creative energy emanating from the arts programs at Montalvo – and the world-class artists that they draw to our stages, gallery and residency program – fosters an ideal setting for creative thought and activity.” Art in the Barn kicks off its Winter/Spring courses on Sunday, Dec. 7, with a one-day workshop titled “Succulent Wreaths.”
Inspired by Montalvo’s historic cactus garden, students will create living wreaths made of succulent plants. On Saturday, Jan. 31, the series will host a special workshop with exhibiting Montalvo artist Inez Storer leading students through varying approaches to two and three dimensional forms in “Mixed Media & Collage.” This extraordinary class will coincide with Storer’s showing in the Montalvo Gallery with Inez Storer: Encore Narratives. Other courses provided through the spring include “What is Drawing?,” “Fundamentals of Book Art” and “Mythological Creatures.”
Registration is available through the Montalvo Box Office at 961-5858 or in person at Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga. Details on these and other education programs at Montalvo, visit www.villamontalvo.org or call 961-5812.
A full schedule for Art in the Barn’s Winter/Spring courses is listed below. All classes, unless otherwise noted, will be held in the Barn at Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga.
Succulent Wreaths
Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-5 p.m.
Instructors: Lisa Offenbacher, horticulturist
Katie Haggerty, education and outreach director
Limit: 15 students (Recommended for Adults)
$55 Members/$65 Non-Members
This workshop, inspired by Montalvo’s historic cactus garden, will teach students how to create and care for a living wreath made of succulent plants. Succulents are renowned not only for their hardiness, but for their variation in color, texture and form, making them ideal plants for living wreaths that can be enjoyed year-round. Instructors will demonstrate how to assemble a wreath and discuss their long-term care. Students will be assisted in making their own wreaths to take home.
About the Instructors: Lisa Offenbacher serves as Montalvo’s horticulturist, planting and maintaining acres of historic gardens and grounds. Katie Haggerty, Montalvo’s education and outreach director, has over ten years experience in arts education.
Mixed Media & Collage
Special Guest Instructor: Inez Storer
Saturday, Jan. 31, 12 – 5 p.m.
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for practicing artists)
$150 Members/$175 Non-Members
Discover and define the visual and uncharted legends of your unconscious mind in this extraordinary one-day workshop offered by exhibiting Montalvo artist Inez Storer. Using mixed media and collage, practicing artists will be offered technical information and demonstrations of varying approaches to two and three dimensional forms, enabling them to clarify their own artistic path. Participants are encouraged to bring to class their own images and materials to incorporate into their work.
About the Instructor: Inez Storer is a leading San Francisco artist who has been an influential faculty member at the San Francisco Art Institute for nearly 20 years. Storer has exhibited widely throughout the United States. Her exhibit, Inez Storer: Encore Narratives, will be on display in the Montalvo Gallery November 9 – March 7.
Aqua Extravaganza
Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, 6:30- 9 p.m.
Instructor: Ken Hay
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for Adults)
$160 Members/$180 Non-Members
Whether you are a novice or have been painting for years, you won’t want to miss this course specifically designed for those who love water-based mediums. Using traditional mediums of watercolor, acrylics, and ink coupled with non-traditional methods, students will take an experimental approach to creating personal works of art. Paint qualities and characteristics will be taught, as well as a variety of painting techniques. A $15 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class.
About the Instructor: Ken Hay is a Bay Area artist who has exhibited his paintings nationally. He serves as Art Instructor at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos and is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
What is Drawing?
Sundays, Feb. 22, 29, March 7, 14, 1:30- 4 p.m.
Instructor: Amanda Fin
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for Adults)
$175 Members/$195 Non-Members
Demystify the basics while developing your own definition of “drawing.” Learn contour and gesture drawing from observations of still life and nature, and explore different mediums such as charcoal, ink-wash, oil stick and mat medium. Course will include the creation of dynamic grounds on which to draw using collage and mixed media. Various artists’ work will be presented in class including Richard Serra and David Ireland – artists involved in the design of Montalvo’s new Artist Residency cottages. A $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class.
About the Instructor: Amanda Fin (MFA Stanford University) has taught studio art at Stanford, the State University of New York at Purchase, and the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Her work has been exhibited in group shows at the Paule Anglim Gallery in San Francisco and Pieroggi 2000 Gallery in New York, among others.
Fundamentals of Book Art
Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Instructor: Peggy DeMouthe
Limit: 15 students (Recommended for Adults)
$95 Members/$115 Non-Members
Beginning book art students will be amazed as their skills develop from simple booklets to a Japanese accordion “flutter book” in this one-day workshop. A brief overview on the evolution of the book will be included and examples shared of a variety of book structures, from innovative artists’ books to fine leather design bindings. Students will gain the knowledge to pursue more advanced projects with confidence. A $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class.
About the Instructor: Peggy DeMouthe is a book collector and design binder. Her work, in collections throughout the U.S., has been exhibited at Stanford University Library and the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum, among others.
Gardens of Splendor: Nature Inspired Sculpture
Sundays, March 28 and April 4, 1- 4 p.m.
Instructor: Ken Hay
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for ages 8 and older)
$120 Members/$140 Non-Members
Be transported to a magical natural world of your own creation in this two-day workshop inspired by the whimsical beauty of exhibiting artist Ming Fay’s sculptures. Working with natural objects collected from Montalvo’s grounds as well as plastics, wires and specialty papers, students may construct both mobile and freestanding forms expressing their feelings and relationship to nature. An ideal opportunity for families to make art together. A $10 materials fee will be collected at the first class session. Ming Fay’s exhibit will be on display in the Montalvo Gallery March 21 – June 20, 2004.
Wings, Water & Clouds: Drawing from Nature
Wednesdays, April 28, May 5, 19, and 26, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday Field Trip: May 15 9 AM – 12 PM (Meet at Shoreline Park in Mt.. View)
Instructor: Edward Rooks
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for Adults)
$175 Members/$195 Non-Members
Discover nature in all its glory during this five-session course taught by acclaimed nature artist Edward Rooks. By examining a variety of flora and fauna – both in the studio and in the field – students will learn basic composition and shading techniques using pencil and black ink. A class field trip will introduce students to sketching nature as reference. Students will conclude the class with a detailed pen and ink drawing that captures the beauty of nature. A $15 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class.
About the Instructor: Edward Rooks is an award-winning wildlife artist born and raised in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications. Rooks is also a skilled naturalist who leads tours of the Antarctic.
Mythological Creatures
Sundays, April 18, 25, May 2, 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Instructor: Amanda Fin
Limit: 18 students (Recommended for ages 9-12)
$135 Members/$155 Non-Members
Ganeesha, Horus, mermaids, unicorns, and griffins will captivate your child in this three-session class designed to stimulate creativity and encourage the artist within. Students will learn basic skills in drawing, painting and sculpture. As source material children will learn about mythological creatures from around the world to create their own fanciful animal. Recommended for children 9-12 years old, this class is sure to stir the wilds of your child’s imagination!
About Montalvo: Montalvo is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the arts by presenting the best of the literary, performing and visual arts, supporting practicing artists in the major disciplines and providing significant arts experiences for children. Located in the Saratoga hills, Montalvo occupies a Mediterranean-style villa and the surrounding 175 acres, which were left as a gift to the people of California by Senator James Phelan in 1930, for the encouragement of art, music, literature and architecture.
For details visit www.villamontalvo.org or call 961.5800.
