CCA ART OF VITALITY OFFERS VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS

Center for Community Arts, in partnership with the Nature Center of Cape May, announces its Art of Vitality workshop series for seniors and other adults. Most are visual arts workshops and consist of four sessions of two hours each on consecutive weeks, and take place at the Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Avenue. In addition, there are movement workshops at Cape May City Elementary School and poetry workshops at CCA’s office, 712 Lafayette Street.

Instructors are:

Judy Ballinger, who holds a B.A. in Art and an M.A. in Education, and is a practicing artist in various media;

Tina Giaimo, a local award-winning professional photographer and owner of Spirit Catcher Gallery in Cape May;

Gretchen Ferrante, Sanctuary Director, Nature Center of Cape May, and

Jody Swope, whose art work has been exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in galleries throughout Philadelphia.

Workshops include:

Photography with Tina Giaimo of Spirit Catcher Photography: Learn the basics of photography using a 35mm camera. Discover how to capture the moment and create your own hand-tinted photographs. Tuesdays, Oct. 11 – Nov. 1, 10 a.m. – noon.

Chinese Watercolor & Art as Meditation with Jody Swope: Discover the relaxing art of Chinese watercolors and create a hand-painted paper parasol and fan. Combine art, guided imagery and relaxation techniques as a tool for self-expression. Tuesdays, Oct. 11 – Nov. 1, 1 – 3 p.m.

Printmaking with Jody Swope: Create your own holiday or note cards, gift wrap and gift cards using linoleum block printing as well as other printmaking techniques. Tuesdays, Nov. 8 – 29, 1 – 3 p.m.

Nature Studies in Art with Judy Ballinger: Explore and interpret the beauty of nature through various drawing and painting techniques. Wednesdays, Oct. 12 – Nov. 2, 1 – 3 p.m.

Eco-Crafts with Gretchen Ferrante: Environmentally friendly projects for the serious crafter. Learn to make quality usable products or pieces of art from materials that have had a previous life. Wednesdays at both 10 a.m. – noon and 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19: T-Shirt Rag Rugs. Nov. 2: Decorative House Numbers. Nov. 16: Broken Crockery Trivets. Dec. 7: Holiday Gift Wrap & Bags. Dec. 21: Draft Evaders. Pricing & registration for this series is different from the other Art of Vitality workshops. Call the Nature Center at 898-8848 to register.

Mixed Media Nature Studies with Judy Ballinger: Create art works designed from nature using collage, rubbings, pen & ink and various forms of printmaking. Wednesdays, Nov. 9 – 30, 1 – 3 p.m.

Fall Foliage: Designing on Paper & Fabric with Judy Ballinger: Use the wonderful fall foliage as a basis for design while creating patterns on silk scarves and decorative papers using leaves, seeds, and other gifts from nature. Thursdays, Oct. 20 – Nov. 10, 10 a.m. – noon.

Book Arts with Judy Ballinger: Learn to use decorative papers to create unique handmade books using a variety of bookbinding techniques and materials. Thursdays, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 10 a.m. – noon.

The Art of Floral Design with Jody Swope: Learn the art of flower arranging using your vase and other creative containers. Use Autumn’s natural bounty of pumpkins, vegetables, berries, pods and shells to create a natural table arrangement just in time for the Holidays. Thursdays, Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 1 – 3 p.m.

Sculpture Inspired by the Sea with Jody Swope: Use the sea and its creatures as inspiration to create hand sewn soft sculptures embellished with beads, shells and embroidery. Create hanging sculpture using wire, glass beads, shells and natural found objects from the beach. Thursdays, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 1 – 3 p.m.

Except as noted, workshops require advance registration, with fees of $40 per four-session series, $25 for seniors, and $5 off for CCA members. For a detailed brochure and registration information, please call 884-7525 or see www.centerforcommunityarts.org.

All of the above are accessible to users of wheelchairs. The Art of Vitality is made possible in part by grants from the Lower Cape Alliance, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and many generous businesses and individuals.

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