Morro Bay Art Association

OUR MISSION: TO CHAMPION ART AS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE AND GIVE OUR COMMUNITY A CREATIVE VOICE.

April 2024

President's Message

Hello,

Happy Monday! Springtime is always a time of renewal and inspiration, and wow, I am incredibly inspired with so many fun things on the horizon. Recently, during a leisurely hike at Montana de Oro, myself, and a few of our board members, decided we would love to host a regular Game Night at the Gallery. Pictionary, anyone? If Pictionary isn’t your cup of tea, maybe Cribbage, Hearts, Yahtzee or something else? If you are interested in joining us for a Game Night, please reach out, we are looking for volunteers to oversee organizing it, as well as, game donations. Email: Artcenter.morrobay@gmail.com.

The first 2024 Art in the Park is approaching soon! This Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27th, expect to see a new, improved MBAA booth. We will be debuting a new tent with new panels in a new location. Our new position gives us better exposure with two aisle entries rather than just one and the new tent is designed for showcasing artwork by allowing for more light. If you would like to sell your work in the MBAA booth at Art in the Park, please sign up ASAP. It is FREE for MBAA members to display art work, however, you will need to volunteer as a cashier and/or rover during the event. Art in the Park take-in is on Friday, May 24th, 3-4pm and take-out is on Monday, May 27th at 4pm sharp. Signup here: SIGNUPGENIUS or call the gallery for info at 805.772.2504.

At the beginning of the month we took down the Chasing Light & Aquarius exhibits and installed our newest exhibit, Outer Limits. This exhibit encouraged artists to challenge the boundaries of their work. The pieces that were entered into this show are inspiring and definitely worth checking out. Floral Design of San Luis Obispo, a local nonprofit garden club, brought in a dozen unique floral arrangements designed specifically to pair with some of the artwork on display. The Outer Limits will be on display until May 13th. Thank you to all the artists and to all that joined us for the Reception.

For the next exhibit, May16th-June 24th, we are hosting the Central Coast Artists Collective’s annual juried exhibit. Because this is a CCAC show and the deadline to enter has already passed, we will not be accepting new entries during take-in. However, the show after that is a MBAA members only, juried show, where members are encouraged to submit two of their best works. Take-in for Show Off is on June 25th. I absolutely cannot wait to see what this show inspires from our talented members. I already know it is going to be very challenging to select the pieces that will be awarded with best in show.

Have you ever been interested in sharing your artistic talent, skills and techniques in a classroom setting? If so, we have been looking for you! The MBAA is seeking talented artist instructors to teach workshops in all types of artistic mediums. We offer our instructors full use of our workshop space and a commission based pay structure. Our wheelchair accessible downstairs workshop space is well lit, with a large screen TV and a full kitchen. If you would be interested in developing a lesson plan for a one-day workshop or a series of classes, please reach out to our Workshop Director, Anne Grannis at anne.grannis@gmail.com or call the Gallery for info at 805.772.2504.

Last Friday, the Chamber hosted another successful Downtown Sip and Stroll. We had quite a few visitors pass through the gallery and even made a few sales.

At the end of March we had the honor of hosting another group of students from Tulare High. 50 art students and 4 teachers traveled to Morro Bay to see the Art Center exhibit and participate in a workshop, on Gold leaf and its history, led by Spenser. It is incredibly inspiring to see such a dedicated group of young artists. There was soooo much energy and excitement. We plan to make this an annual visit and are working on figuring out how to offer remote internships that will help students gain valuable, resume building, job skills.

One last note, spring is here and in Morro Bay that means beware of where you park, because the black-crowned night-heron are nesting in some (not all) of the trees. However, this shouldn’t deter you from coming downtown, as there are plenty of heron free parking spots.

Just beware, parking downtown, these days, can be a little bit of a crapshoot (literally) because the city has occasionally been cleaning the sidewalks making it less obvious as to where the heron’s targeted areas are. I figured I would mention it because, I recently had a shitty experience with one of these magnificent birds, luckily, it was easily resolved at the car wash.

Wishing you a colorful and inspiring spring!

Cheers,

KathleeN

Present Exhibit

April 5 - May 13

Your Outer Limits

Photo by Linda DeRosa

With a retro nod to the 50s fascination with outer space, artists were asked to tap into their personal “outer limits” for this unusual exhibit that has netted surprising results. Regardless of the inspiration or what direction they chose, the purpose of this exhibit was to play and to push the limits and test their outer boundaries.

Ann Kalb

Featured 3D artist

April 4 to May 13

An architecture enthusiast and former mosaic artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, Ann found her calling in art glass, with a distinct focus on mid-century modern design as a primary influence. Fired at over a thousand degrees, these unique and clean-lined pieces express an interpretation of the consistent aesthetic of late 40's, 50's, 60's and early 70's, as line and color become infused with a contemporaneous edge. Both functional and decorative, the work maintains an integrity as original art, with a utilitarian purpose, all with that Mid-Century Modern hallmark.k

Free Demo Day

Monday, May 13

GOLD LEAF in Calligraphy, Artwork, and History

with Spencer Collins

May 13th 3 to 5pm

Art teacher Spencer Collins has never questioned her ability to be an artist; she is simply compelled to express herself with her hands. A popular artist, known for fun, interactive workshops, she has led numerous workshops at Art Central and here the Morro Bay Art Center on anything from drawing to bronze to print-making to photography. Her style ranges from realistic landscapes to expressionist abstracts.

In this Demo you will learn how to apply gold leaf using two different techniques. One technique will highlight calligraphy and the other will demonstration how to apply gold leaf to larger surfaces. We will also discuss the importance of gold in art during the Byzantine time period and look at artworks by Gustav Klimt for further inspiration

Workshop

Jewelry Wrapping Design Workshop

May 11th 1-3pm

$150/MBAA Members;

$165/Non-members

Signup

Join our wire-wrapped jewelry class and discover the art of creating stunning and unique pieces of jewelry. You’ll learn fundamental ire wrapping techniques, including how to shape and manipulate wire to create intricate designs. You will walk away with the skills to create necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Tulare High Art Students

visit Art Center

For the second year in a row, Tulare County Joint Union high school seniors visited the Art Center with a mission to experience an art gallery and participate in an artist exercise.

Amy Pohl, art teacher, and Marcene Feenstra, Social Studies teacher led the group of 50 students on this field trip to Morro Bay Art Center recently. According to Ms. Pohl, she wanted students, who participate in the Art, Media and Entertainment Academy, to have a cultural learning experience. This Academy is part of a nation-wide academic program, with standardized requirements monitored by the National Academy Foundation (NAF). In Tulare County there are four high schools participating in the academy school program, offering students engineering, public service, health science, marketing, art, agricultural science, and pre-med studies in addition to their regular classes.

The teachers explained that the Academy programs offer students an opportunity to explore their interests and prepare them to enter the working world, or college, with a greater perception of what is required to be successful. Fifty percent go into the workforce and 50% go on to college or university studies.

In addition to meeting federal academic standards, these students must meet state

requirements as well and they typically exceed these academic requirements.

The Art Academy offers a variety of subjects including Digital Design, Photography, Film, Drama, Orchestra and Drawing and Painting. At the Art Center, students had a workshop with Spencer Poulter, who gave hands on instruction about gold leaf techniques and its history.

Many of the students expressed an interest in coming back to Morro Bay for a more intensive training in sketching and painting. This type of hands-on learning helps to focus student on outcomes that better define college, career, and future readiness.

Art on the Patio

Sat., April 27

12:00 to 4:00pm

contact

Deborah Lord: dsl1201@aol.com

Wanted: Art Instructors

Do you have an artistic skill or technique you would like to share? Looking for instructors to teach all different painting and art mediums. Teach a class series or a one day workshop in our Gallery which has a well lit classroom. We have a large screen TV for your use. A full kitchen area. Wheelchair accessible.

Contact Workshop Director, Anne Grannis at anne.grannis@gmailcom or call the gallery for info at 805.772.2504.

Morro Bay Art Association

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