Blog

Introduction to the Wheel (B)

April 02, 2025

Learn to throw clay on a potter’s wheel. We’ll cover the foundations of wheel work, including wedging and centering clay and forming cylinders, cups and bowls. Basic glazing information will help you finish your final forms.

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Erasure Poetry: Confrontation + Collaboration

April 02, 2025

Erasure is a form of poetry in which a source text’s words are removed in some way to create a poem. In this class, you will learn about erasure’s long history of collaboration and confrontation. Erasure today is most often used as a means of both partnership with a given text, or protest against it. […]

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ONLINE: Journaling for Artists, Writers + Photographers

April 02, 2025

This course is designed for anyone interested in the techniques and development of visual journaling. We'll review the contributions of visual diarists such as Dan Eldon and Frida Kahlo. Each session will begin with a short presentation on a visual diaris

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Introduction to Screenprinting (A)

April 02, 2025

Explore screenprinting, a process that allows artists to create hand-printed multiples of the same image. Translate your graphic design, photography, or drawings into vibrant, layered compositions. Learn a variety of ways to create screens that can be used to print onto fabric, paper or wood.

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Introduction to Loom Weaving

April 02, 2025

Learn to weave on a floor loom. You’ll enjoy warping demonstrations and plenty of practice time, along with tips for achieving smooth selvages and an even beat. Plan to design and complete at least one plain weave project—a rag rug, a scarf or a table runner. Returning students will take on more complex projects.

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Screenprinting Immersion

April 02, 2025

Whether you are a novice or advanced, this class will immerse you in screen-printing methods and projects that are customized for your personal level of enjoyment and exploration. Each student will select a personal theme and work with the instructor to make use of appropriate inks, image-making techniques like drawing fluid and photo, and substrates […]

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Master Drawing Class: Bargue Drawing Skills

April 02, 2025

Students learn all about accurately judging proportion and achieving likeness. We will copy the master drawings of 19th Century artist Charles Bargue, who created a drawing course that was popular in the ateliers and academies of Europe during that century. This knowledge is no longer off limits to women and people of color as it […]

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Introduction to Woodworking: Create a Spice Rack or Shelf

April 02, 2025

Make a shelf to display your collection of precious spices (or something similar depending on your design). Introduction to both manual and computer drafting, basic joinery and assembly knowledge, decorative chiseling/wood carving, and staining practices.

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Writing the Memoir

April 02, 2025

Thomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the first year of law school.” You’ll work with writing prompts and timed writing exercises, and […]

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Flameworking: Marbles + Sculpture (A)

April 02, 2025

Students will focus on using the torch to create one-of-a kind marbles out of Italian glass. Several designs will be taught and we will discuss how these tools and techniques can also be used to make simple sculptures like ornaments and plant decorations.

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Intermediate Glass Fusing + Slumping

April 02, 2025

Students will work on fused and slumped glass projects to create functional and narrative pieces. We will be creating with glass sheet, frits, powders, stringers and rod.

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Intermediate Sewing

April 02, 2025

Improve sewing skills with guided practice during class time. After weekly demonstrations, students can work on individual projects and explore more advanced techniques. Demonstrations include sewing zippers and buttonholes, specialty seams and finishes, making fit adjustments to sewing patterns, and other student requests.

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Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator + InDesign for Beginners (A)

April 02, 2025

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are the three most popular programs within the Adobe Creative Suite. When used together, they give you the power to create and manage visual content with amazing results. Learn to create documents for print or digital platforms using Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. We will edit images in Photoshop, design graphic […]

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3D Modeling + Printing With Nomad Sculpt

April 02, 2025

Learn the fundamentals of Nomad Sculpt and explore your creativity in 3D modeling. Students will learn the interface of Nomad Sculpt on the iPad, complete themed exercises to develop skill and increased proficiency in the program. Students will have free time during the class to work on personal project ideas and get assistance in their […]

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Introduction to Hand Building

April 02, 2025

Create functional ceramic pieces using slab, coil, pinch and slump techniques. Learn how to use tools, create a variety of forms and apply slips. By the end of the class you’ll have a good understanding of basic hand building methods and clay studio practices.

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Jewelry Intensive in Glass + Metals

April 02, 2025

This class offers a comprehensive exploration of glass jewelry-making, combining the artistry of glass with the craftsmanship of metalsmithing. Split between the Glass and Metals Studios, students will first learn the art of creating detailed, fused glass patterns. Using various kiln temperatures, you'll experiment with textures and surfaces to shape glass into intricate jewels. Once […]

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Introduction to Black + White Darkroom Photography

April 02, 2025

Learn to take black and white photographs using 35mm film, process the film, and print photographs in a darkroom. Enjoy lots of technical guidance and aesthetic feedback, whether you’re just getting started or expanding your portfolio and skill set.

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Hand-Built Ceramics

April 02, 2025

Work on functional or sculptural forms using slabs and hand-building techniques with guidance and demonstrations from the instructor. Demonstrations could include: making textural tools to personalize work, how to use the spray booth and how to use the sand blaster. Students will have ample time to practice their craft with the benefit of having a […]

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Pouring Vessels

April 02, 2025

Pitchers, cruets, teapots, ewers, decanters, bottles, and more! This class is for folks trying to pour from their pottery. Learn the many ways to make a pot pour, using slab spouts and wheel-thrown spouts.

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Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator + InDesign for Beginners (B)

April 02, 2025

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are the three most popular programs within the Adobe Creative Suite. When used together, they give you the power to create and manage visual content with amazing results. Learn to create documents for print or digital platforms using Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. We will edit images in Photoshop, design graphic […]

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Lasercraft + 3D Printing: Make Custom Tools for Ceramics

April 02, 2025

Learn how to use VisArts' laser engraver and 3D printer to design and create custom logo stamps, tools for construction, cleanup, or textural surface decoration in clay. Use your own designs or choose from countless available open source options.

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Storytelling in Comics

April 02, 2025

Explore the artistry and mechanics of comics by reading and discussing contemporary works and completing guided exercises to create our own pieces. Learn how text and image collaborate to tell a story that is greater than the sum of its parts. We will work on fast and fearless in-class exercises to stretch our minds and eventually […]

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ONLINE: Introduction to Digital Photography

April 02, 2025

Learn how to effectively and creatively use your digital camera and leave the auto button behind! You’ll learn the fundaments of photography and image capture, including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and composition. We'll also cover tips and tricks like choosing the right lens for your image. Weekly assignments, critiques and discussions will help […]

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Speculative Worlds: Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Story Writing

April 02, 2025

Got ideas for a science fiction or fantasy story but aren’t sure how to approach it? Have you wanted to try exploring these imaginative genres but need a push to get started? Looking for like-minded folks with whom to share work and explore ideas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is […]

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