Summer Classes at Lubeznik Center for the Arts Celebrate the Natural World

It’s time to shake off the winter blues and reconnect with nature. Summer classes are popping up at Lubeznik Center for the Arts giving those with creative juices an opportunity to ignite their artistic flame. From water colors and oil painting to group improv and DIY experimental photography, LCA classes offer the tools to capture summer’s beauty in a creative way. A particularly interesting new addition to the class line-up is the Botanical Art Workshop, taking students on a unique journey through the Porter County Park's Brincka Cross Gardens. Check out all the details at www.lubeznikcenter.org where downloadable class schedules and registration forms are available.

VISUAL ARTS

Beginning Beading

• Ages 16 and up
• Instructor: Elaine Aquino
  
• 4 sessions: Wednesdays, July 6–27, 6:30–8:30 PM
  
• Tuition: $75
  
• Students will be introduced to various tools and techniques in this beginning beading class. Projects will include a lariat, an opera-length necklace, 3 strand and 6 strand bracelets.

Botanical Art Workshop

• Adults
  
• Instructor: Olivia Petrides
  
• 1 session: Saturday, June 18, 9:30–4:00 PM
  
• Tuition: $125
  
• This one day intensive offers two unique opportunities: Instruction by Olivia Petrides, illustrator of two Peterson Field Guides to trees; And access to the Brincka Cross Gardens—home to hundreds of rare plant species. Appropriate for all levels, students will be instructed in how to capture the details and defining characteristics of plants in pencil and watercolor.

Cyanotype Workshop

• Adults
  
• Instructor: S. Gayle Stevens
  
• 1 session: Saturday, June 18, Noon–4:00 PM
  
• Rain Date: Sunday, June 19, Noon–4:00 PM
  
• Tuition: $50
  
• This class will discuss the historical aspects of blue printing. Starting with a collaborative project to build community, students will move on to create individual cyanotype photograms. Toning of images will be demonstrated. This is a simple photographic process that can be done without a darkroom or specialized equipment.

Dynamic Realism in Drawing

• Adults
  
• Instructor: Laura Cutler
  
• 6 sessions: Tuesdays, June 7–July 12, 6:30–8:30 PM
  
• Tuition: $125
  
• Are you interested in achieving realistic, lifelike, and dynamic drawings? Discover your creativity while developing skills that will enable you to draw what you see. Fundamentals of light & shadow, composition, and spatial harmony will be explored, as well as personal expression and dynamic motion. The course begins with still life objects and culminates with portrait drawing from a model. Students of all skill levels are welcome.

Dynamic Realism in Oil Painting

• Adults
  
• Instructor: Laura Cutler
• 6 sessions: Tuesdays, July 19–August 23, 6:30–8:30 PM
  
• Tuition: $125
  
• An introduction to oil painting that emphasizes color mixing and painting techniques to achieve realism, grisaille, glazing, and alla prima will be explored. Subjects will include still life objects and portrait models. All skill levels are welcome.

Fiber Dyeing & Painting

• Ages 14–Adult
  
• Instructor: Deborah Landry
  
• 3 sessions: Saturdays, July 30–Aug 13, 11:00–2:00 PM
  
• Tuition: $65
  
• Learn how to dye wool and cotton fiber and to paint silk using a crock pot, microwave and your hands. Participants will leave with a small sample of each dyed lot.

Mosaic Tile a Stepping Stone

• Teens & Adults
  
• Instructor: Linda Sorkin Eisenberg
  
• 2 sessions: Sat. & Sun., June 25 & 26, 10:00–Noon
  
• Tuition: $55
  
• Design and create stepping stones for a garden using colored mosaic tiles, cement, and grout. You’ll take home one or two stones that can be left out all winter.

Nuno Felting

• Ages 14- Adult, Limit 10
  
• Instructor: Deborah Landry
  
• 3 sessions: Saturdays, July 9–23, 11:00–2:00 PM
  
• Tuition: $65
  
• Learn the art of Nuno Felting, a wet felt-making technique where fine layers of wool are attached to a sheer fabric. Students will create a small artwork suitable for framing and a scarf.

Painting Start to Finish: Realism

• Adults
  
• Instructor: Connie Kassal
  
• 1 session: Wednesday, July 6, 9:00–Noon
  
• Tuition: $45
  
• A crash course in creating a successful work of art, you’ll learn simple tools and tricks for painting actual objects such an animal or building, in a realistic manner as you create an original painting. This workshop includes simple ideas for capturing shape, shadows, perspective for buildings, contour and proportion.

Painting Start to Finish: Abstraction

• Adults
  
• Instructor: Connie Kassal
  
• 1 session: Wednesday, July 13, 9:00–Noon
  
• Tuition: $45
  
• A crash course in creating a successful work of art, you’ll create an abstract (no recognizable subject–just color, shape, line) painting using simple tools and tricks while learning about color and its values, as well as easy design solutions. At the end of the workshop you will have created a piece of modern art.

Pinhole Photography Workshop

• Adults
  
• Instructor: S. Gayle Stevens
  
• 2 sessions: Sat. & Sun., June 11 & 12, 11:00–3:00 PM
  
• Rain Dates: Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28
  
• Tuition: $125
  
• Students will be introduced to the world of the camera obscura and make a medium format pinhole camera to take home in this class. Learn the history of pinhole photography and how to expose paper and film. This is very basic, stylized, photography.

PERFORMANCE

Group Improv

• Ages 18–Adult
  
• Instructor: Jasmine Lake
  
• 6 sessions: Sundays, June 19–July 31 (no class July 3), 6:30–8:00 PM
  
• Tuition: $75
  
• Through various games and exercises, learn to free your mouth and mind, letting impulsive thoughts and actions guide you instead of rationality. No prior experience is necessary, just an open mind and a love of laughs!

WRITING

Sandcastle Writers

• Adults, Limit 10
  
• Instructor: Jo Pilecki
  
• 8 sessions: Wednesdays, June 8–July 27, 6:30–8:30 PM
  
• Tuition: $120
  
• Using the Amherst Writers and Artists method, this workshop focuses on in-class writing, sharing (if the writer chooses), and positive feedback in a safe, encouraging environment. Prompts are designed to help writers with their craft and creativity and to overcome fear and writer’s block. For both beginning and experienced writers.

Nurture, Heal & Inspire

• Adults, Limit 10
  
• Instructor: Jo Pilecki
  
• 4 sessions: Mondays, August 1–22, 9:00 –11:00 AM
  
• Tuition: $80
  
• Take time to nurture yourself through writing in a setting where you will be safe, supported and stimulated. Using the Amherst Writers and Artists method and guided by a trained workshop leader, we will write together, then share and respond gently to new work. This workshop will take place in the unique tranquility of the Brincka Cross Gardens, home to hundreds of rare plant species.

SUMMER ART CAMP

Session 1: Word Up!

• Ages: 7 to 13
  
• Instructor: Alison Jaksa
  
• Weekdays, July 11–22, 9:00–11:00 AM
  
• Tuition: $100 for 2 weeks, pre-paid (LCA members $90)
  
• Drop-in rate: $16 per class

Week One: Art with Text

• Day 1: Graffiti Art–Letters and Numbers
  
• Day 2: In LOVE with My Name. (Robert Indiana sculpture)
  
• Day 3: Seeing Spots! (Roy Lichtenstein inspired drawings)
  
• Day 4: Texting USA (Jasper Johns map paintings)
  
• Day 5: When Pictures Talk (Barbara Krueger inspired mixed media collage)

Week Two: Creating a Book

• Project 1: Paper Making
  
• Project 2: Creating Covers
  
• Project 3: Illuminated Initials, Stamping your mark
  
• Project 4: Binding the book

Session Two: En Plein Air New

• Ages: 7 to 13
  
• Instructor: Alison Jaksa
  
• Weekdays, August 8–12, 9:00–11:00 AM
  
• Tuition: $60 for 1 week, pre-paid (LCA members $50)
  
• Drop-in rate: $16 per class
  
• En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air.” All projects will be outdoors, under tents if raining.

Day 1: Drawing and Texturing with Nature
Day 2 & 3: Painting Outside
Day 4: Creating Bark Images
Day 5: Sunlight Photographs

Classes fill fast, don't wait until the last minute to sign up. For more information, or to register, phone 219-874-4900 or visit www.lubeznikcenter.org.

The Lubeznik Center is located at 101 W. 2nd St., at the lakefront in Michigan City, IN. Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Galleries are closed on Mondays. For more information please visit www.lubeznikcenter.org or call 219-874-4900. All times are based on Chicago time.