December events

TEEN ART PROJECT, DEC. 10
SPACE will host a card-making art workshop for teens at the South Pasadena Library on Dec. 10, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., in the Community Room. Students design and hand print holiday cards, inspired by traditional and non-traditional holiday motifs. All materials provided. No artistic skills necessary. Free. South Pasadena Library, 1100 Oxley Street, 626-403-7300.

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES, DEC. 11
Take a break from the hectic holidays and join us for an evening of cheer. At 6:30 p.m., artist/writer Gordon Henderson will perform Tales of Christmas and Tyranny, then at 7:00 p.m., bluesy singer Lisa Finnie performs from an eclectic repertoire of holiday songs and standards.

A music critic describes the talented Finnie this way: "This torchy singer's gigs are as fresh as a traveling salesman and as infectious as an office cold."

No admission charge, but donations accepted for the Downtown Women's Center.

CREATE A HANDMADE GIFT, DEC. 12
Make your own unique gift at an arts workshop for adults and children of all ages. We will show you how to create a holiday wall-hanging, ornament or cards for a loved one.
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Price: $7 per person.
Space is limited so reserve your spot by contacting us at southpasarts@sbcglobal.net, or 626-441-4788.

SPACE GIFT IDEAS
Something unique for everyone on your list!
For Mom: Crocheted necklaces and pins, handmade journals, ceramic sculptures
For Dad: Innovative designer Stefan Sagmeister's Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far, Arroyo Seco notecards, Gordon Henderson's 2009 Calendars
Children and Teens: Shapescapes building toy, Charlie Harper's Memory Game, artist designed pins and vinyl clutches, Concrete2Canvas: Skateboarder art
Stocking Stuffers: Felted yarn "desserts", ceramic pigs, sketchbooks
For Everyone: A gift certificate to SPACE which can be used toward artwork, gifts, or an art class.

Thank you for supporting local businesses this holiday season. WE APPRECIATE YOU! Check out southpasadenatoday for local shopping and entertainment tips.

SOUTH PASADENA ARTS BENEFIT, DEC. 6
Our friends Ellin and Harry Lieberman host this annual event benefiting patients at Children's Hospital of New Orleans still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. There will be art for sale, music, and food donated by local organizations. Unwrapped toys for the hospital patients are appreciated. Benefit 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Click here for more information.

Save the Date, Nov. 14

SPACE invites you to the opening of "Home for the Holidays", our home-themed show of fine and functional art, and handcrafted gift items. On November 14, SPACE joins local businesses Camille DePedrini, Rue de Mimo, Marz, Dinosaur Farm, the South Pasadena Music Center and others for an open house and block party. Don't miss sales, music, food, and activities!
Above, The Tea Party, Stephanie Mercado.

New Arts Workshops

Several new arts workshops will begin six week sessions in November.

Fiction Writing with author Allison Bell: For ages 9 and up. Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., begins Nov. 17. Fee $160.00
Drawing and Painting: For ages 6 - 8, Wednesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., begins Nov. 11. Taught by Joan Swayze. Fee $160.00 (CLASS FULL)
Ceramics: For ages 9 - 11. Thursdays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., begins Nov. 12. Taught by Rebecca Tager. Fee $160.00. (CLASS FULL)
Kinder Art: For ages 3 - 5. Tuesdays, 10:30 - 11:30. Begins Nov. 10. Fee $120.00.
Mixed Media: Adults. Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Begins Nov. 19. Fee $220.

Registration begins Oct. 28. More details coming soon. Please feel free to contact us for more information: southpasarts@sbcglobal.net, or call 626-441-4788.

Karen Green Art Show/ArtsFest

Only three artworks remain available for sale in the Karen Green exhibit, Latent Learning Experiments, on view through Oct. 30. The Forgiveness Machine (at right) created by David Kreitz, based on Ms. Green's design, has been working overtime to the delight of children and relief to the many adults who have used it to forgive or be forgiven. Over thirty mice, created by Ms. Green and other local artists as part of the installation, have been described as "cute" to "scary". Come see for yourself.

SPACE Gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

New Fall Workshop Schedule

The workshops are filling up, and our Pre-K and Ceramics Class got underway this last week, but we have space in the following classes: Drawing for ages 10 -14, Fiction Writing for ages 9 - 12, which meet for six weeks. For Adults, Drawing and Everyday Graphic Design which meet for eight weeks. Click here for the revised schedule and registration information.

Fall Events and Workshop Schedule

Summer vacation's over, kids are back to the school grind and a new wave of bad news seems to slap us in the face each day. We've found some escape from it all at SPACE, where we are excited by the the new art exhibit we've just hung and by the comprehensive new schedule of arts workshops we've put together. Our gallery is getting stocked with must-have art books and cool t-shirts for sale and we look forward to the opening of artist Karen Green's new work on Saturday, September 19, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Ms. Green's mixed media art pieces takes a darkly humorous look at transformative "machines" designed to perform magical feats such as granting forgiveness or turning bacon back into a pig. The pieces are complex, subtle, yet powerful and redemptive. Guests are invited to use a "working" forgiveness machine, based on Ms. Green's designs. The show runs through Oct. 30.

Our fall schedule of workshops offers our largest slate so far, including several drawing classes, taught by some of our favorite teachers, and a Pre-K and a ceramics class. For adults, we have watercolor painting and graphic design for beginners. Classes begin the week of Sept. 28. Click here for the schedule and registration form.

We had a wonderful summer with our arts camp being our primary preoccupation. Dozens of art projects were made, from handmade loteria cards to outlandish model lifeguard stands to magical tree houses. Students took photos of the city mayor and made digital videos now showing on Youtube. It was three weeks of creativity, musical performances, and watching Charlie Chaplin at the Rialto. We had a blast and believe the kids did, too. You can see photos from the camp here.

Come visit us at SPACE and we'll help you chase away the smoke and blues of summer.

Art Walk Saturday, July 25, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Come help support the Downtown Women's Center this Saturday as it hosts a wonderful art walk in South Pasadena. SPACE will participate along with several other galleries in the area. With Reflections of Home as its theme, the SPACE exhibit features local artists displaying paintings, prints, fiber art, and assemblage pieces. Refreshments will be served. Click here for more information

Teen Art Project

Just for teens. Altered Book Art Workshop at the South Pasadena Public Library, Thursday, July 9, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the library's community room. Artist Jocelyn Webb Pederson will show teens how to take discarded books and create works of art out of them. No registration is required. Sponsored by SPACE and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library. 

CELEBRATE!

SPACE turns one year old this summer! Join us for cake and

champagne Saturday, June 20, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. as we celebrate our anniversary with an exhibit featuring the artwork of painter Ana Rodriguez. On view will be Ms. Rodriguez' lusciously vivid two- and three-dimensional paintings of cakes, as well as the fantastic abstracted landscapes and drawings from her Arabian Nights series.

Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Summer at SPACE

JULY WORKSHOPS: We offer nine great week-long arts workshops for ages 6 - 14, including drawing, painting, ceramics, and design. Click here for more information.

ARTS CAMP: From August 3 - 21, we host our wonderfully creative neighborhood arts camp, aimed at ages 6 - 14, which runs Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m each day.

The camp features morning workshops taught by experienced visual artists, an afternoon of unstructured creative fun, walking field trips, and guest visits by professionals in the arts. Past activities have included silent movie viewings at the Rialto Theater, live music at the South Pasadena Music Conservatory, and a photo shoot with a professional photographer. Weekly projects include ceramics, mural painting, chalk art, puppet-making and lots more.

The intimate size of the camp allows us to explore, when possible, individual interests students may have. Students can attend one week or all three. Registration is going on now. More info and registration details are here.

Interested in writing workshops? We want to hear from you. Contact us at southpasarts@sbcglobal.net and let us know if you are interested in a fiction writing workshop for 9 - 11 year olds, led by published author Alison Bell, or our poetry workshop series for adults, taught by writer/poet Doraine Poretz.

South Pas. Music and Art Festival May 9

Three stages of live music, an Artmobile to take you to all the galleries in town, plus food, drink, and all your favorite stores open late. Do not miss the wonderful opportunity to support your local community and to join friends in celebrating the arts! SPACE will be open late tonight, offering over 100 artworks on view, by over 25 artists, all priced $100 and under. We will be making Mother's Day cards and serving refreshments. We hope you can stop by!

Mothers and Others, Art Exhibit

Featuring Postpartum Provocations, paintings by Susan Krueger-Barber, Sketches On a Line, a window art installation by Joan Swayze and Melanie Ciccone, plus 100 Artworks from over 25 artists, all priced $100 and under.

Unique gifts for Mothers and Fathers!
Opens May 2.
Artists' Reception 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

POETRY WORKSHOP SERIES

Join poet and teacher Doraine Poretz for a creative writing workshop series titled, "What We Want".

Take advantage of this special opportunity to discover the language of how to communicate your most heartfelt desires. Using the inspiration of contemporary poets Sharon Olds, Mary Oliver, Galway Kinnell, Li-Young Lee and others, beginners will learn imaginative exercises in a fun and nurturing atmosphere and more advanced writers will learn how to deepen the power of their writing. Register by email, southpasarts@sbcglobal.net, or call 626-441-4788.

Dates: April 26, May 3, May 17
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $150.00 for 3 Sunday workshops.

Regarding writing and lovemaking, the writer John Barth said, "Heartfelt ineptitude has its appeal, and so does heartless skill, but what we want is passionate virtuosity!"

NEW ARTS WORKSHOPS

Assemblage/Mixed Media Class for Adults
Find "fun in the discarded world" with artist Annie Helm. Using found objects and memorabilia, students will create meaningful visual "stories" through the art of assemblage and mixed media. Ms. Helm teaches a variety of special techniques and students leave the class with several completed artworks.
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Ongoing

Narrative Art Class for Adults
Artist and illustrator Abira Ali leads this studio class in which students play with words, images, and materials to unlock their narrative imaginations. Each student creates an art series, resulting in a collaborative class book which will be printed and published in a limited edition.
Fridays, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Begins May 1

For Children:

Introduction to 2-Dimensional and Graphic Design
Fridays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
(Click here for more info.)
Begins May 8
Ages 10 - 14

Creatures and Places: Sculptural Environments
Creating animals and their environments out of clay and mixed media.
Wednesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Begins May 6
Ages 5 - 8

Comics and Zines
Learn how to draw and tell stories through the art of comic books and zines.
Thursdays, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Begins May 7
Ages 10 - 14


Click here for more information.

SUMMER ARTS CAMP REGISTRATION BEGINS

Registration for the Summer Arts Camp at SPACE begins today, March 25.
We are excited to bring three weeks of fun and creativity to children in our community this summer. The camp, open to ages 6 - 14, will take place August 3 - 21 at SPACE and an adjacent facility.

The camp operates Monday - Friday, from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. We offer a choice each week of art workshops in the morning taught by teaching artists, then create a fun and creative open studio in the afternoon where students have the opportunity to work on their art projects, engage in group activities, and take our walking field trips to places like the Rialto Theater, the South Pasadena Music Conservatory, a professional photo studio and much more. We will also host visiting artists who will do unique projects and enlighten the children about careers in the arts. (Above, Lisa Garcia, 6)

For registration information about this special neighborhood camp, click here.

ARROYO SECO PHOTO WALK

Sunday, March 29

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Come explore the Arroyo Seco with photographer William Kelly and horticulturist Dana Kennedy. Bring your camera, if you like, as we revisit the settings of photographs currently on exhibit at SPACE.

Participant photos shot that day can be sent to us and posted on the SPACE blog. Details about the photo walk meeting place will be given when you r.s.v.p. to southpasarts@sbcglobal.net.

This event is free!

ARROYO SECO, Photographs by William Kelly

A series of black-and-white photographs depicting the uneasy yet beautiful co-existence of the natural and the man-made in the Arroyo Seco landscape.

On view through April 15.
For a look at more of William Kelly's photographs, go here.

ARTS WORKSHOPS BEGIN MARCH 2

We have an exciting new slate of arts workshops for children and adults, beginning March 2.

The session runs for six weeks and includes classes such as drawing, printmaking, photography, assemblage and more.

Space is limited to ten students per class. Register early to guarantee a spot.

For more information, click here.

POETRY READING AND WINE TASTING

Sunday, Feb. 8
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

We are proud to present a reading and book signing with noted poet Doraine Poretz, in honor of the publication of her new book,"This Alchemy".

The poetry of Ms. Poretz has the power to lift us up in these uncertain times. Give yourself the gift of hearing this special voice.

The reading is followed by a wine tasting provided by City Sip Wine Bar.

"'This Alchemy' is a book of poems that turns the concerns of everyday life into sublime acts of love."- Jack Grapes, editor Onthebus, poetry journal.

"The poems in 'This Alchemy' are transformative - taking our common language and spinning it into gold." - Laurel Ann Bogen

Here's a sample of Ms. Poretz' work.

A Story

The infant cries,
sharp blades through the ice cold dark.
She is in the world now, wanting.

Soon she will be drunk on wanting
and later, caught in the maw of time,
bloodied, delirious with it,

she will not know
why or what
she wants, until

the wind taking pity on her,
bangs open the backyard door
and pulls her into night;

and she, solitary,
hears her own heart beating to a
million billion stars, their every voice entreating:

Want this.
Want only
this.