mac
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As I have said before, this monthly series is not exhaustive -- just what flies by my mailbox and other source. I include art exhibits, art classes, and miscellaneous, mostly from the (San Francisco) East Bay. Many are from the Frank Bette Center in Alameda, which has wonderful classes and is probably the most robust operation offering art classes in the whole East Bay.
Hope you enjoy! Spread the word! Share! Tell people to just email me (mac at mcwong dot com) if they want to get on this email list! And when you go to one of these things, tell 'em Mac sent you! (They won't know who that is, but eventually they will catch on.)
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** SF Open Studios 2009 **
Weekend 1 is this weekend, October 10 & 11! And continues for the next couple of weekends, so if you can't make it with this last-minute notice, you can get to another one.
Get maps at http://artspan.org/
Open Studios includes galas, visit-the-artists (thus the maps), and a free exhibition thru Oct. 25 at SOMArts Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St., SF (Wed-Fri noon-4, Sat-Sun 10-5).
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Frank Bette Center for the Arts
At the Frank Bette Center for the Arts - 1601 Paru St (corner of Lincoln), Alameda CA 94501 www.frankbettecenter.org
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** SKETCHBOOK ALAMEDA**
Come out and sketch the beautiful sites of Alameda Island with friends. Free, open to all--everyone is welcome! Saturdays and Wednesdays each month, varying schedules.
Upcoming: Wed. Oct. 14, meet at 10am at Alameda Point former Naval station. Old hanger buildings, SF skyline, glorious old naval ships. "We may do a sketch crawl," they say, whatever that is! Details and what art and other supplies to bring are at
Bring a picnic lunch and chat and critique around noon. Just Show Up!
Sat. Nov. 14 and Wed. Nov. 18, at The Marketplace in Alameda, Park St. and Buena Vista, 10am. This shopping center has a lovely brick facade to practice your perspective, and boutique shops who are artist-friendly. Restrooms and restaurant and other eating opptys inside.
Bring a picnic for chat and critique around noon. Just Show Up!
TO GET ON THE MAILING LIST AT FRANK BETTE FOR THIS AND OTHER ART OPPORTUNITIES, CLICK THIS LINK AND FILL OUT THE FORM:
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**DAVID SAVELLANO: THE ART OF TRAVEL SKETCHING AND PAINTING**
[David's classes are wonderful - the guy is a genius painter himself, and also a wonderful teacher. Highly recommended! --mac]
"Learn to capture the essence and feel of a scene.
"This intermediate-level course builds on the foundation of basic drawing and watercolor techniques to take your sketches and paintings to a higher level.
"We will sketch on location to capture cityscapes, outdoor markets, indoor public spaces, landscape and water scenes."
Cost: $140 members, $175 non-members
Maximum 10 students to ensure quality teaching
Class schedule:
November 13, 2009
Friday evening introduction 7-9 pm
at the Frank Bette Center, 1601 Paru St., Alameda, CA
November 14 & 15, 2009
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm,
on location in San Francisco and Oakland (BART accessible).
**BONUS: A DAY OF SKETCHING & PAINTING CRITIQUES WITH DAVID SAVELLANO! **
A one-day class, on November 7, 2009.
Agenda for the day:
-10 to 11:30 am Review artist's sketchbooks and paintings at FBCA
-11:30 am to 3pm Paint on location in Alameda
-3pm to 4pm Final critique/review at FBCA
The purpose of the critique session is obtain constructive feedback on your current artwork and coaching tips for improving your sketches and paintings.
The critique sessions will follow a structured format based of the Elements and Principles of Design.
Cost $75/person - max 10 artists
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** PLEIN AIR PAINTING GROUP ON PENINSULA **
[Next get-together is TOMORROW (Sunday Oct 11), and here's organizer's Kim Holl's info on it:]
Time to get another Sunday painting in before the storm hits next week. This week we will be going to Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto. It was part of the old Gamble estate (as in Proctor and Gamble) which was donated to PA at some point. (Their website has all the specifics). Beautiful property with many different gardens. http://www.gamblegarden.org/index.html
Date: 10/11/09
Location: Elizabeth Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
Time: 9:00 on ( I am usually slow on weekends . . . )
See http://www.gamblegarden.org/ for directions.
No charge.
Rules:
1. Stay on paths and do not set up on brick or tile areas.
2. No painting may take place in the garden beds.
3. Plant material may not be moved, picked or pruned in any way.
4. Restrooms available during business hours only. (the PA library is close by)
5. No smoking
6. No disposal of artist material. Please dispose of these at home.
Happy painting,
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** FRANK BETTE HOLIDAY BASH **
Music, poetry & storytelling. Sat. Dec. 19, in Alameda. Tickets only $10.
Support both Frank Bette Center for the Arts & Rhythmix!
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**ART CLASSES**
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**MARGARET FAGO'S FAMED WATERCOLOR AND DRAWING CLASSES!**
"If you have been thinking of taking or rejoining one of my watercolor or drawing classes the new class sessions start Oct 5th for the Monday morning watercolor, and Monday afternoon 3-5 PM drawing class, and Oct 8th for the Thursday evening watercolor class. The drawing and Thursday evening watercolor class have several spaces open.
** COLOR DYNAMICS IN WATERCOLOR **
Come develop your painting voice while learning watercolor techniques. We'll explore color mixing, color values, glazing and brush strokes, hard and soft edges, finding and defining a center of interest and much more. Perfect for both beginning and intermediate painters.
Space is available for the Thursday evening classes, which are 7:00 to 9:00 pm -- Oct 15, 22, 29 & Nov 12, 19
** DRAWING DYNAMICS **
Working from Still Life and Plein Aire we will explore how to create design and form through line, shading, black and white shapes and tonal values. Release your inner artist through warm up exercises which will allow you to draw what you see. Beginners and intermediate artists welcome.
Monday afternoon 3:00 to 5:00 ~ Drawing Dynamics ~ Oct 5, 12, 19, 26 & Nov 9, 16
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**OIL PAINTING CLASSES WITH CAROL TARZIER
Carol, a *wonderful* painter in oils, teaches this fall in her own studio at 1217 32nd St., Oakland, Saturday afternoons 1 to 5pm, from Nov. 13 thru Jan. 30th. $180. Sign up now -- class limited to 15 students.
I've taken her class and she's terrific and inspirational (even though I will never reach her level of artistry if I live to be 99).
The studio is open, spacious, and brightly lit, 750 square feet, with a kitchen/bar and patio flower garden for lunch breaks. The classes will incorporate some plein-air, landscapes, and working on still life, with still-life setups at each class.
Sign up at http://www.frankbettecenter.org/carol_tarzier_oil_painting_class.html . If you have questions, you can also reach Carol at tarzier@tarzier.com .
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** HONOR YOUR WRITER'S VOICE:
A 4-HOUR CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP **
Saturday November 7th, 10am – 2pm
Cost: $50
(and scroll to the bottom to see other "Literary Arts" activities at the Frank Bette!)
"Everyone has a unique voice. And everyone has stories inside them that are waiting to be written. If we leave our stories unwritten, no one will tell them for us. And if our stories remain untold, then the world will be a less rich and beautiful place as a result.
"This four-hour workshop will help you discover the stories you need to tell. And it will help you develop the tools you need to tell them. Filled with exercises, prompts and discussion, it will offer inspiration, encouragement, and support so you can find and honor your unique writer’s voice. Appropriate for beginning writers as well as for more experienced writers looking for a creative jolt.
"Instructor and novelist Elaine Beale will be offering a weekly creative writing class at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts starting in 2010. You can also meet Elaine at Frank Bette on Monday October 19th when she will read from her new novel and answer questions about this workshop and her upcoming weekly class."
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** HALLOWEEN CARDMAKING WORKSHOP with Briana Learnihan **
Sunday – October 25, 2009 – 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the Frank Bette in Alameda. Sign up and get DETAILS of what to bring etc. at http://www.frankbettecenter.org/Learnihan-briana.html
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LEARN TO PAINT THE FIGURE FROM THE INCOMPARABLE SUSAN LEA HACKETT
**EXPRESSIVE FIGURE PAINTING WITH WATERCOLOR**
Watercolor techniques to develop the expressive quality of value, color, and composition with the figure.
Hackett is one of the finest watercolor figure painters, and the opportunity to learn from her is a privilege not to be missed! More info and enroll at
and see samples of her wonderful work!
Classes, $135 (nonmembers) for three-day sessions, 9:30am to 12:30pm: Nov 13-20-27
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**"LIQUID THERAPY--DRAMA BY DESIGN"
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP WITH TERRI HILL
Oct 23-25 at the Southwest Artists Gallery in Redwood City, $247.
Limited to 15 students.
"3-Day Workshop in transparent watercolor works that tell a story by going deep with pigment, reflecting the past with juicy material incorporating our personal framework. There will be demos on painting liquids, both contained and not. We will get wet and wild under it all, painting from photographic references. Demos and discussions each day followed by painting in class.
SWA--Society for Western Artists, 2625 Broadway St, Redwood City 94063; more info and registration form available at SocietyofWesternArtists.com; or email mzsherrylee@msn.com, or call Sherry Vockel (650) 873-0118.
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** 2009 HOLIDAY GIFT BOUTIQUE AT FRANK BETTE**
Nov. 27 thru Dec. 20 -- special holiday hours DAILY 11am to 7pm!
CALL FOR ARTS & CRAFTS!
If you want to SELL your arts and crafts at this annual Boutique event, apply by filling out the form at
and dropping it off at Frank Bette (1601 Paru St., Alameda) and bring two samples of the kinds of artwork/craft--which must be stuff you have made! -- for approval (this is a juried show, and space it limited, so hurry!)
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** REGULAR EVENTS at the Frank Bette **
**LIFE DRAWING**
Frank Bette Center, every Tuesday 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
Gesture Poses with a nude model.
All skill levels welcome. Bring your own materials.
Space limited. Pay by the month to cover model fee: $35 - $45 depending on number of artists.
Limited Drop-in Spaces are available at $15 per session.
Frank Bette Members only please! (No Instructor)
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** BETTE'S BODACIOUS BEADING BEAUTIES **
Every Wednesday Evening, 6 – 9 pm - Ongoing - Free
Share your enthusiasm for beads and baubles. Share techniques with fellow beaders; everything from bead stringing to bead weaving. Share works in progress for support and feedback.
This is a supportive space to hang out with and bounce ideas off fellow beaders. Join us! Bring your own materials/project to work on. (No Instructor)
** AND! UPCOMING EVENT FOR YOU BEADERS! **
Sunday Nov. 8 from 1 to 5pm
"Join Bette's Bodacious Beading Beauties for a fun afternoon of earring-making at this fund-raiser for the Frank Bette Center for the Arts. For $25 you will take home a pair of earrings that you designed yourself, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Frank Bette Center, so bring your friends and help us raise lots of money.
"The informal, free beading group meets at the Frank Bette Center on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9, creating beaded art of all kinds, and on November 8th, they will be sharing their expertise with YOU.
"They will provide beads from their personal collections, findings, and know-how to help you create a beautiful pair of earrings for yourself, for a friend, for your mom, your wife, or maybe your girlfriend. Male and female earring makers welcome."
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** SOCIETY OF WESTERN ARTISTS IN REDWOOD CITY **
Has released their 2010 schedule of workshops, including e.g. watercolor, oil-pastel-acrylic, plein-air watercolor, plein-air oil, oil-and-pastel workshop, and more!
For details visit http://societyofwesternartists.com/workshops2009and2010.html
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** FEATHER RIVER ART CAMP NEXT JUNE -- EARLY DETAILS! **
Every year dozens of artists retreat to the mountains above Sacramento and spend a week living in tents and cabins (or the local motels if they prefer) and taking classes and painting, drawing, learning guitar, making glass beads and other crafts, and just getting away from it all. I went in 2008 and it was fun and intensive.
Plans are under way for next year. Since it's so expensive, now is not too early for you to be starting your plans. Here's some early info from Karen LeGault, art camp director:
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Hello there,
Set your Calendars! Dates for Feather River Art Camp for 2010 are official! ... only 8 1/2 months away (but who's counting?). We will convene from June 20 to 27, 2010 for another wonderful week at Art Camp.
I will be sending more information along as instructor commitments are firmed up. There will be a new 2010 registration form available online by mid-November.
Our Class Lineup is pretty impressive. Instructors who have already indicated that they may be offering a class are as follows :
-Bookmaking with Rhiannon Alpers
-Outdoor Installation Art from Nature with Ron Brown
-Landscape in Oil with Kay Carlson
-Watercolor with Margaret Fago
-Guitar with Larry Ferrara
-Mosaic Art with Dmitry Grudsky
-Papermaking with Linda Lemon
-Fused Glass with recyled glass with Reddy Lieb
-Writing from the Crazy Child with Clive Matson
-Hot Torch Glass Beadmaking with Harlan Simon
-Clay with Blanka Soltys
-Drawing with Chinese Brush with Karen LeGault
There will also be a kids class with a new format. I will send more information later.
Please pass the word!
In the Spirit of Feather River Art Camp,
Karen LeGault
art camp director
Feather River Art Camp
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**AFGHANISTAN SINCE THE PREVIOUS WAR**
This is more culture and current affairs, but there is art involved too -- read on.
At Cal State East Bay (Hayward):
Get in on the pulse of the Bay Area’s Afghan and Iranian persons at the Global Knowledge Conference Oct. 22-24 at California State University, East Bay.
Community leaders and academics will be discussing Afghanistan and India’s Common Cultural Heritage, Afghanistan Since the Withdrawal of the Soviet Union’s Army, 1979 – 30 Years Hence, personal and immigration narratives, new directions in Afghan and Iranian scholarship, and numerous perspectives on women’s health issues, and the arts of the culture, and much more. Fremont sculptor Sami Nadi and several Afghan and Iranian artists will show their work, Homayoun Sakhi will perform on the rubab, and a film will explore the making of “Beyond the Mirror” by Bond Street Theatre and Emile Theatre of Kabul. There will be both Afghan and Iranian poetry, a dance demonstration and displays of Afghan and Iranian literature and art.
Pre-registration through Oct. 15 at $35 per person includes a light reception on the opening day, an Afghan dinner Friday, and continental breakfast and Indian lunch Saturday.
The registration form and details are at: http://class.csueastbay.edu/Global_Knowledge.php
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**LOCAL PLEIN AIRE PAINTING GROUPS
the organizing site for a number of Bay Area outdoor painting groups:
*Benecia Plein Air Group (aka DaGroup)
*Peninsula Outdoor Painters (aka POPs)
*A Few Other Painting Groups listed at http://www.pleinairlinks.com/Plein_Air_Links/Other_Group_Links.html
*See also http://www.pleinairlinks.com/Plein_Air_Links/Introduction.html for an overview of how to get on the mailing list(s) and what it's all about. The groups post photos of their weekend adventures every month so you can see what your competition looks like ;-).
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GOOD LUCK AND GOOD ART TO YOU!
MAC
