Fine Arts

Friday Art Group (On site)

Friday, May 20, 2022 | 9:30am-11:30am

Fridays, 9:30am-11:30am

If you like to draw or paint, you are invited to join the Friday Art Group. No matter what your medium or skill level, you will enjoy the creative, pressure-free environment of a colorful group of novice and experienced artists. You can work from your own photos, pictures or illustrations or bring your own still life. There is no formal instruction, but plenty of help and advice from others if you need it. No registration necessary.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: David Reynaud 434)293-5494

Landscape Oil Painting

Friday, May 20, 2022 | 1:00pm-4:00pm

Fridays, May 5-June 24th 1-4pm (8 weeks)

In this 8-week landscape oil painting class, you will learn the 12 keys to masterful painting, how to effectively use compositional tools and colors to make your landscapes eye-catching, and experiment with light and shadow. Brush and color knowledge helpful but not required. Kathleen Hutter is a self-taught, award-winning artist who tells memorable stories using paint. (note: you may only take one series of the two oil classes offered – either Landscape or Beginners). Prime Members: free, Standard Members $100, Guests $125. Materials fee for all: $50, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Kathleen, began painting at age 3, and credits her artist father and her sister for much of her inspiration. In her works, Kathleen transports the viewer to a different, memorable world that may or may not be familiar. We welcome Kathleen, a new member at The Center. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 2

Sand Art Painting

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 11:00am-12:30pm

Create a beautiful mountain scene (or a scene of your choice) with colored sand. All paintings will be framed for hanging. Instructor Jamie Schwartz, Owner of Pikasso Swig Craft Bar, holds a degree in Studio Art and teaches several art mediums to all ages. Prime Members: free, Standard Members $10, Guests $15. Materials fee $25 for all, payable to instructor at time of class.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 5

Oil Painting for Beginners

Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 9:30am-12:30pm

Thursdays, May 5th-June 23rd (8 weeks)

Artist Kathleen Hutter will teach you the fundamentals of oil painting in this 8-week class. Learn the important elements of composition, how to use light and shadow, how to mix colors, and the different brushes and painting tools to use for fun results. (note: you may only take one series of the two oil classes offered – either Landscape or Beginners). 

Kathleen has been painting since she was 3 years old and has always viewed painting and color as a tool for creating magic. Her paintings have won awards throughout her life in various venues. She is largely self taught, but credits her artistic father and sister for much of her inspiration.  Prime Members: free, Standard Members $100, Guests $125. Materials fee for all: $50, payable to instructor at time of class.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 3

Card Making with Sherry - Summer Treats

Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 12:30pm-2:30pm

Avid veteran card maker Sherry Sinard will show you how to make summer treats cards and a pocket envelope. Prime Members; free, Standard Members, $10.00, Guests $15.00.  Supplies $10 for all, payable to the instructor at the beginning of class.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 1

Casting Call and Audition for Film “Romeo and Benvolio”

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 2:00pm-4:00pm

June 1^st 2-4pm and June 2^nd 6-8pm

Romeo and Benvolio is an one hour feature length film project and will be filmed in Charlottesville, Virginia. They will be casting a male teen 17-20 years old, an older woman 60-70 years old, and a young girl around 7 years old.

While rehearsing for a school production of Romeo and Juliet, three teens stumble through a mixture of illusion and reality and experience the joys and sorrows of their increasingly complex world. Theme: Three teenagers steer through their lives animated by their enchantment (illusion) and disenchantment (disillusion). No real violence or sexual content in the film. It will be a PG 13 movie.

Casting call is as follows:

Actor: Charlie: 17-20 years old to act as a junior high school teen, median to tall, sweet in nature and look, must be willing to recite some Shakespearean lines in Romeo and Juliet. Actress: Coco: 60-70 years old grandma, charming and humorous looking.

Ruby: 7 years old girl, cute, smart looking.

The above three characters are major characters, especially Charlie and Coco. Anyone interested in the two roles must be willing to commit to acting during July 16-30 and probably the first week of August.

Ruby’s load is not heavy, 2-3 days will be good. Anyone is interested to come for the audition listed above, please email to curiouswatermedia@gmail.com or text to 434-878-3123 before the audition.

Please RSVP. Open to all.

About the Director: Kuei-Lan Anna Ma, M.F.A. in film and Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary arts, is an independent filmmaker and script writer. She has made a few short films and written four feature length film scripts. A forever film lover, Dr. Ma has published a book on film study titled “Symbolist Films: The Metaphorical Expression of Narrative Films,” and a book chapter titled “Prospero’s Books vs. The Tempest: A synthesis of Shakespeare’s Idea and Style into Film Form.” For script writing, Dr. Ma has devoted many years focusing on the genre of romantic comedy. With this genre, she wishes to explore the complexity of human conditions and inner struggles. By creating various non-villain but interesting antagonists, Dr. Ma aims to create dramatic conflicts but not the conflicts in the real world. Nevertheless, the traveling plots embedded in her stories further shows her wish for global harmony. Memory is another subject Dr. Ma means to explore. To tell fantastic stories enriched with the collision of visuals and contents is always Dr. Ma's approach to cinematic art.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Contact: curiouswatermedia@gmail.com

Beginning Crochet

Thursday, June 2, 2022 | 1:30pm-2:30pm

Thursdays, June 2-23rd 1:30-2:30 (4 weeks)

Member Jane Hermann has been crocheting since she was twelve years old and enjoys the calming creativity that comes with simple repetitive patterns. Learn how to make a chain and three basic crochet stitches to a create either a scarf or a hat for your first project. Bring your own yarn/wool or choose from a variety of colors we have here free at The Center. You will need to bring a crochet hook (size G or H, or 6,7,8). Prime Members, free, Standard Members $20, Guests $35.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Sorry, this event has sold out!

Jazz Jam Session

Thursday, June 2, 2022 | 6:00pm-8:00pm

Meets the first Thursday of every month

A jazz jam session is a relatively informal musical event, in which musicians, including both instrumentalists and vocalists, who have not previously rehearsed their performance together, meet to play commonly known standard jazz tunes. The arrangements are created spontaneously by the musicians during performance. There is also a strong focus on individual improvised solos. Musicians may choose to participate in only one song or all songs during the evening.

The styles of jazz music performed during a single jam session can range widely – from early Dixieland jazz from the 1920’s, to big band swing of the 1930’s to 1940’s, popular Broadway tunes, Latin beats, Bebop and Cool jazz of the 1950’s to 1960’s and contemporary jazz from the 1970’s through to today. The jazz jam experience is a fun and educational experience for both participants and the audience. Participants get the chance to practice their jazz improvising skills in front of a live audience and meet other musicians in the local jazz community. Musicians of all abilities and ages from beginners to professionals are welcome to join in. The audience will likely hear some familiar jazz tunes but will also certainly discover new songs performed that they have not heard before.  

Steve Brecker will head up this program. He has a music degree from University of Miami and has played jazz trumpet for 50+ years in a variety of music groups. He is a member of the Charlottesville based Sentimental Journey Big Band and the Charlottesville (Municipal) Band.

Free and open to all. Not a musician? Just come and listen!
 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Hand Embroidery II

Monday, June 13, 2022 | 10:00am-12:00pm

Expand your hand embroidery skills with Lazy Daisy, French Knots, Herringbone, Fly and Chain stitches.  We will also review Stem, Back and Running stitches.  With these basic stitches in your repertoire you should be able to complete most embroidery designs you will encounter. Sisters Moira and Ellen MacAvoy have been sewing for over 50 years and have taught many classes in hand embroidery, from beginners to advanced. Bring to class- 6- or 7-inch embroidery hoop, small ruler, pencil & paper, small scissors for cutting thread, thimble if you like to use one. All other materials will be provided. Prime Members: free, Standard Members, $10.00, Guests $15.00. Materials fee $15.00 for all, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 10

Piedmont Pastelists

Monday, June 13, 2022 | 1:00pm-3:00pm

2nd Monday of each month, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Join a congenial group of artists who gather to practice their pastel painting skills. Each may bring a work in progress for a constructive group critique. 

To join by Zoom, click on this link a few minutes before 1 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82839488707

History

Noting the lack of a chalk pastel society in Virginia, in August 2001, Dick Carpenter invited Charlottesville regional artists in that media to meet at Michaels Arts and Crafts store at Barracks Road shopping center. Many were members of the Central Virginia Watercolor Guild, which had long admitted pastel as a water compatible “mixed” medium, but not as a feature of the CVWG activities. The result of the meeting was, quite purposefully, an “un-organization” with NO membership requirements, bylaws, officers, dues, agendas, minutes, quorum, name-tags, committees, etc. Just like-minded people enjoying meeting to exchange ideas and experiences about pastel materials and techniques, constructive criticism, and “show and tell.” The format is a mutual critique -- an examination, not fault-finding. Suggestions for overcoming problems are a part of critiquing. The choice of subject and style of a painting are not topics of critique. Some elements of Critique: 1. Overall Composition - Division of space. 2. Shapes and values 3. Form –shadows-placement of each of the elements 4. Perspective- Illusion of depth 5. Color harmony 6. Paths for the viewer’s eye 7. Center of interest - 8. Principles of Design. Assuring that there is a “message”. All attending artists are active producers, serious about their work, open to criticism, willing to present “work-in-progress," and constructive in their comments and suggestions. Although pastels are the featured media, other problem-paintings may be introduced.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Paper Crafting with Diane - June

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 10:00am-11:00am

A parade of poppies for June!

Every second Tuesday of the month, Diane Chapman shares her 30 years of paper crafting experience to help you create cards and other novelties. This month papercraft a parade of poppies with Diane – two all occasion cards, one birthday card, and a petite pillow gift box.  

Registration required below.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Seats available: 8

Acrylics Basics

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 10:00am-1:00pm

We're sorry, this class has been cancelled.

Acrylic paints may become your favorite medium once you discover its versatility and the easy clean up!  Learn about the different grades of acrylic paint, the correct brushes to use, how to mix paint to create a wide variety of colors, what type of surfaces can be used, and so much more!  Experiment with many techniques of acrylic painting along with individual assistance from instructor Jan Settle.  Prime Members, free, Standard Members, $10.00, Guests $15.00. Materials fee, $15.00 for all participants, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Acrylics Level II

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 | 10:00am-1:00pm

We're sorry, this class has been cancelled.

This class is for folks who recently took the Acrylics Basics class or for those who have some experience in painting with acrylics. Acrylic paints may become your favorite medium once you discover its versatility and the easy clean up!  Experiment with many techniques of acrylic painting along with individual assistance from instructor Jan Settle.  Prime Members, free, Standard Members, $10.00, Guests $15.00. Materials fee, $15.00 for all participants, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Song Writing with Jim

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 | 2:00pm-3:00pm

Wednesdays, 4 weeks, August 10th-31st

Think you’re too old to write a song? Think again. Bob Dylan is still going strong at 80. John Prine was past 70 when he released his final album. Like those two, you have a lifetime of stories to tell. Your experience gives you an edge!

Bringing your stories to life in song can do a world of good for you. Songwriting is a great brain exercise, and it can soothe your soul in so many ways. The final product is a treasure you can share with friends and loved ones — a piece of you that lives on forever.

Don’t know how to play an instrument? No worries. Jim Richardson will supply the guitar accompaniment and help you craft the rhythm, rhyme and melody.

Objectives:

1. Learn how songs are formed.
2. Write at least one song as a class.
3. Perform the songs during one of Jim’s concerts in the Atrium or at another special event.
4. Record the performances on phone videos and voice memos.

Prime Members: Free, Standard Members: $20, Guests: $32

About the Instructor:

Jim has been playing guitar and singing since he was 12. Around age 60, he started taking it more seriously and started performing in bands and as a solo act around Charlottesville. He has enjoyed playing a weekly gig at The Center for the better part of a year. His band JRB has played Thursdays around five to three times

He started writing his own songs about three years ago. He took Mike Clem’s songwriting class at The Front Porch twice. He also self-studied the songwriting craft by reading many books on the subject.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Contact: jimr5356@gmail.com