Coinciding with the opening of their new education centre and studio at the new Baytown complex, formally Merren’s Plaza, the National Gallery is launching a new series of adult programmes this month. Photography and printmaking courses, which ran over the summer, will be joined by five additional classes covering a wide variety of media, writes Natalie Coleman.
By inviting well-known artists from around the island to lead the classes The National Gallery plans to inject new energy into the programmes, which have continued to rise in popularity since their inauguration in January.
Digital and film photography will be led by well known local photographer and 2005 McCoy Prize winner in the Fine Art Photography category, Art Pasquali.
Sarah Sessions, the Gallery’s longest running continuing education teacher, returns to instruct students in relief printmaking methods which include ink and watercolour monoprints, collographs, registration techniques and Lino Prints.
Newcomers include Chris Mann, Head of Art at George Hicks High School and National Children’s Art Festival exhibition coordinator, will teach two classes: ceramics and acrylic painting. In ceramics students will learn about the history of pottery develop the essential skills of ceramic making and design, using various materials and hand-built techniques. In acrylics, students will learn to mix colours and explore the different techniques and styles that are unique to the medium.
Completing the ranks is Stephanie Van de Meulebroucke, art instructor at St. Ignatius, school whose impressive mixed media theatrical puppets drew crowds at Art@Governors 2005. Stephanie brings her expertise to two classes: life drawing (with a live model) and creative sculpture which explores clay, plaster, wire and found objects.
National Gallery director Mrs. Nancy Barnard will also resume her basic drawing skills class and encourages all artists, whether established or novice, to give it a try. This course will cover the basics of sketching, shading, composition, perspective etc.
All of the classes, which run throughout the week in the evenings, will be housed in the workshop area of the education centre.
Nancy explains, ‘This room is designed as a place where artists can meet and create freely, with few limitations on their creative pursuits both during these sessions and in our open studio hours.’
She continues, ‘Coffee will be served and the extensive art library housed at the complex will provide inspiration to both newcomers and returning participants. We encourage anyone with the slightest artistic sensibility to join these diverse classes; it’s never too late to pick up a paint brush.’
The Gallery is offering a limited number of teen scholarships and encourage interested parties to send an application specifying their course of choice for consideration to [email protected]. For class dates and information call the National Gallery at 945 8111.
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