A Visual Arts Explosion

The Center for the Arts and Studio Art School Team Up with Expanded Programming  

The Center for the Arts and The Studio Art School have joined forces to create The Art Studio of the Center for the Arts, or ASCA. The amazing new space is NOW OPEN at 111 Elk Avenue.

The Studio Art School has closed its location next to Clark’s Market and will now offer its adult visual arts programming through this new location in partnership with the Center, and its children’s programming through the Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum in Mt. Crested Butte.

Melissa Mason, proprietor of The Studio Art School, will serve as Program Director of the new ASCA. As such, Mason will manage the new space; hire and manage instructors; provide the technical artistic equipment; and work collaboratively with the Center on program design. Mason, who designed and implemented visual arts programs at three other schools including the Slate River School and Crested Butte Academy, is also a member of the Arts Alliance and the Visual Arts ad hoc committee of the Center’s Board of Directors. The committee’s goal is to assist the Center in developing a new vision for the visual arts in the community, and to provide feedback on the expanded facility plan related to the visual arts spaces. 

The Center brings its non-profit mission of offering engaging opportunities and educational experiences to enrich and expand the life of the community to the mutually beneficial partnership. Additionally, the Center is offering financial, marketing and professional support to the ASCA. Bringing the two entities together also merges clientele, broadening the base of people able to easily access the new visual arts programming.

“What we’re going to be able to accomplish together is so much more than I could ever have done on my own,” says Mason, “The visual arts in this valley are ready to ignite. Working with the Center and the Arts Alliance is what’s allowing the big picture visions to actually begin happening.”

The Center for the Arts’ number one goal is to be recognized as a “best-in-class” facility for visual and performing arts. Its stated Values are to provide art for everyone; to add creativity, innovation and diversity to the life of the community; and to extend accessibility to art through diverse programming. Now, with the new partnership with The Studio Art School, and its incredible roster of workshops, classes and lectures, those visions are becoming a fast reality in the visual arts.

“We are only able to have limited offerings of visual arts because we don’t have the space in our current facility,” says Jenny Birnie, Executive Director for the Center, “Opening the new space on Elk Avenue with The Art Studio allows us to grow our adult visual arts programming in preparation for the Center’s expansion.”

The Art Studio of the Center for the Arts rockets into action on October 12^th with classes in Printmaking, Introduction to Ceramics and Introduction to Drawing (see “Center Stage” for more details). Throughout the year, ASCA plans to provide a variety of eight-week classes in ceramics; photography; painting (including oil, acrylic, watercolor, realism, abstract and expressionistic techniques); drawing (including basic, figure and multi-media techniques); printmaking; graffiti, spray paint and modern street art; crochet and knitting; sewing; jewelry making; and Meet the Masters classes which combine art and art history instruction.

Additionally, workshops will allow participants to focus on learning a technique and leaving with a product in a single session. Workshops will include glass painting; pottery painting; body art (including henna and airbrush); guided painting; New Year’s Eve mask making (and other holiday workshops); beaded jewelry; and silver jewelry casting.

The Art Studio is also available for private lessons in any medium; parties for birthdays, ladies’ nights, employee parties and organized wedding activities; and events for local organizations.

Special new programs include three day Women’s Retreats package vacations with art workshops, lodging and meals; Continuing Education for Local Artists which contracts experts in the field to provide professional level courses for established artists; Guest Artist Lectures with experts in the field speaking on art, art history and artistic techniques; and Community Critique sessions where artists can receive feedback on their work from other attendees.

As part of the Center’s beliefs that art and cultural experiences should be provided for everyone, ASCA will initiate an Apprenticeship and Continued Visual Art Education for Youth program to bridge the gap between children’s programming provided at The Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum and the adult programing at The Art Studio. Youth from grades six and up will be able to participate in art classes designed specifically for their age group, with special apprenticeships with local artists provided for dedicated arts students. Additionally, week long intensives assure creative outlets throughout the summer.

The Shared Artist Space memberships, or SAS, also continues at ASCA. Here, local artists may use the ASCA for their own projects with 24-hour, seven day a week access; personal storage for supplies and works in progress; access to the potter’s wheels and other ceramics supplies; and use of the kiln. Memberships are $85 per month or $80 per month when signing up for the entire year. Artist and ceramicist Laura Elm is the Managing Artist for the SAS. As a working studio, the ASCA will also have gallery sales as part of its storefront where patrons may purchase local art.

“This is step one of a five-year plan the Visual Arts ad hoc committee is working on,” says Mason, “The Art Studio is becoming a team player in the broader picture of bringing people to the valley for visual arts. We see this area becoming a visual arts mecca. Getting people excited about this type of programming paves the way for the Center’s planned expansion.”

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