Residents and visitors will have plenty of opportunity to get creative this Fall as a warm-up to the island’s full cultural season.
The Studios of Key West will begin its second full cultural season ahead of schedule with a handful of great creative workshops and opportunities this Fall. The 2008/09 programs, planned for the main hall of the historic Key West Armory building, will include over forty classes in a comfortable and nurturing environment, taught by highly-qualified creative practitioners.
Beginning the season will be an ongoing Painting Boot Camp with Rick Worth, two pastels workshops with Caren Ragan, acting with Richard Grusin, and monologue study with Juliet Gray. This Fall, the Armory main hall will also host the return of John McBride’s mask-making and carnival head-dress classes, as well as new opportunities for creative people interested in short story writing, quilt-making, web-site design, songwriting, oil painting, and more. The full season, extending to mid 2009, will be finalized and announced next month. Places for all classes are limited, and registration is now being accepted for Fall and early Winter workshops.
“We’ve planned a very diverse and exciting creative agenda for Key West,” said program coordinator Martha Barnes, “including a new series of on-going and weekly opportunities to help the creative momentum continue.”
The full 2008/09 season will offer participants a chance to make small sculpture with Thomas Mann, study portraiture in art with Curt Richter, learn the Impressionist’s palette with William Welch, craft a memoir with noted journalist Diane Roberts, and learn encaustics with Kate Miller. Popular instructor Susan Sugar returns with a Solstice Sunset Painting class, Roberta Marks convenes her Abstract Painting Seminar, and author Mark Hedden offers his unique take on non-fiction writing. Places are limited, and complete information can now be found at www.tskw.org.
“The creative prospects do not end there. The Armory will also host special classes in plein air painting, children’s book illustration, watercolor fundamentals, and even the craft of songwriting,” said Barnes. “As with last season, we’ll also be presenting a wonderful series of free lectures by and about creative people, on topics that explore Key West’s storied history and heritage.”
Those wanting to get a head start on the island’s season should look into the upcoming Fall classes at the Armory. Fabric artist Margo Ellis, well-known as an award-winning local quilter, will offer a four-session class on bullseye quilt-making, beginning October 27. Her course is limited to twelve people, and is $100 for members and $120 for non-members.
Rick Worth’s Painting Boot Camp begins on October 7, as a weekly chance to learn and hone paintbrush skills throughout the season. The noted local painter and set designer will offer Tuesday evening sessions, perfect for any level, with casual enrollment always welcome. Each session is priced at $25 for TSKW members or $30 for non-members.
Accomplished painter Caren Ragan brings her talents to Armory, offering a three-session October workshop, “Introduction to Pastels.” The award-winning artist has shown and taught at museums in New York and Florida, and finds immense inspiration in the luminous qualities of Key West light, seascapes, and people. Ragan’s beginner-level workshop is planned for October 13, 20, and 27 from 9am to 1pm. Enrollment is $125 for TSKW members and $150 for non-members. The instructor encourages participants to use that experience as a stepping stone, and enroll in her follow-up course in Pastel Portraits. That will run from 9am to 1pm on Mondays between November 3 and 17.
For local emerging literary artists, writer-in-residence Kristen-Paige Madonia will present an October 15-17 workshop entitled "Short Story: A Dialogue Between Writers." The class will be an opportunity to develop new work, explore the craft of the short story, and provide motivation in a comfortable, seminar-style setting. Registration is now open for Madonia’s three-day, noon to 3pm sessions, and enrollment is $100 for TSKW members or $120 for non-members.
“This is just the tip of the creative iceberg, said Barnes, “Soon we’ll be announcing our full-blown program, and that will give everyone on the island, resident and visitor, a chance to explore the creative process, make something meaningful and special, and discover a new creative spark.”
Advance registration forms for upcoming workshops are now available at The Studios of Key West office and on the organization’s website. To learn more about the coming season at The Studios of Key West, or to become an annual members, please contact Martha Barnes at 296-0458 or martha@tskw.org.
29 September 2008
The Studios of Key West announces its first Writer-in-Residence
Emerging novelist, Kristen-Paige Madonia, will spend October at the organization's Mango Tree House; to offer Short Story Workshop on October 15-17
The Studios of Key West continues to develop its cultural programming, and is proud to announce its first writer-in-residence, Kristen-Paige Madonia. The Virginia-based author, who completed her MFA in 2005, will reside at the organization's Mango Tree House and work on her next novel. Madonia first came to the island as the Marianne Russo Scholarship winner, awarded by the Key West Literary Seminar, and received acclaim for her readings as a talented, emerging American voice.
"At the time, we were beginning our visiting artist program," explains TSKW director, Eric Holowacz, "and Kristen-Paige began asking about various aspects of life at the Southernmost Point. When she mentioned that her second novel would be partially set in Key West, we couldn't help but invite her to apply for our residency program."
Since January, visiting artists have come from as far away as Helsinki, Finland and Wellington, New Zealand, to complete works-in-progress, connect with the local community, and find new artistic inspiration. Usually spending one month at a time in the renovated cottage and gardens in back of the historic Armory, the creative visitors have been engaged in photography, music and songwriting, paintings, mixed-media and environmental installations. Madonia, who will be in residence during the month of October, is the first literary artists to be hosted by The Studios of Key West.
"I'm hoping to mine the island for cultural details, aspects of everyday life, as well as the extraordinary opportunities like Fantasy Fest and the extremes of the tourist industry," says Madonia, whose short stories have been published in Inkwell, Pearl, and the South Dakota Review. "My next novel is about a sixteen-year old embarking on a cross-country odyssey from West Virginia to San Francisco. This trip is prompted by the discovery that she is pregnant, and by an on-going ambition to locate her paternal father, whom she has never met. I want to give voice to a character exploring the transition between childhood and adulthood."
Residents and visitors will have a chance to meet the talented young writer, and discuss her work, at the October 16 Walk on White. The Third-Thursday reception at the historic Armory will also feature the upstairs open studios and the opening celebration of a new exhibition in the main hall, by local mixed-media artist Katie Truax.
For local emerging writers, Madonia will offer an October 15-17 workshop entitled "Short Story: A Dialogue Between Writers," as an opportunity to develop literary work, explore the craft of the short story, and provide motivation in a comfortable, seminar-style class. Registration is now open for the the three-day, noon to 3pm, sessions, and enrollment is $100 for TSKW Friends or $120 for non-members.
"There is great value to the creative process in providing undisturbed work space and time for an emerging artist," says Madonia. "I would not be able to self-sufficiently spend a month working in Key West, without the generous institutional support from TSKW. There is extreme value in exploring locations outside of your comfort zone, and Key West, in particular, encourages artistic growth."
"There are so many wonderful writers associated with the island: Robert Stone, Joy Williams, Annie Dillard, Ann Beattie, Judy Blume, not to mention Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. I love them all, and am really looking forward to exploring the creative community -- both the historical literary energy and the current culture that seems to be so dedicated to encouraging emerging contemporary artists."
For details about The Studios of Key West, Madonia's upcoming short story workshop, or the 2008/09 creative season at the Armory, please see www.tskw.org or contact TSKW at 296-0458.
The Studios of Key West continues to develop its cultural programming, and is proud to announce its first writer-in-residence, Kristen-Paige Madonia. The Virginia-based author, who completed her MFA in 2005, will reside at the organization's Mango Tree House and work on her next novel. Madonia first came to the island as the Marianne Russo Scholarship winner, awarded by the Key West Literary Seminar, and received acclaim for her readings as a talented, emerging American voice.
"At the time, we were beginning our visiting artist program," explains TSKW director, Eric Holowacz, "and Kristen-Paige began asking about various aspects of life at the Southernmost Point. When she mentioned that her second novel would be partially set in Key West, we couldn't help but invite her to apply for our residency program."
Since January, visiting artists have come from as far away as Helsinki, Finland and Wellington, New Zealand, to complete works-in-progress, connect with the local community, and find new artistic inspiration. Usually spending one month at a time in the renovated cottage and gardens in back of the historic Armory, the creative visitors have been engaged in photography, music and songwriting, paintings, mixed-media and environmental installations. Madonia, who will be in residence during the month of October, is the first literary artists to be hosted by The Studios of Key West.
"I'm hoping to mine the island for cultural details, aspects of everyday life, as well as the extraordinary opportunities like Fantasy Fest and the extremes of the tourist industry," says Madonia, whose short stories have been published in Inkwell, Pearl, and the South Dakota Review. "My next novel is about a sixteen-year old embarking on a cross-country odyssey from West Virginia to San Francisco. This trip is prompted by the discovery that she is pregnant, and by an on-going ambition to locate her paternal father, whom she has never met. I want to give voice to a character exploring the transition between childhood and adulthood."
Residents and visitors will have a chance to meet the talented young writer, and discuss her work, at the October 16 Walk on White. The Third-Thursday reception at the historic Armory will also feature the upstairs open studios and the opening celebration of a new exhibition in the main hall, by local mixed-media artist Katie Truax.
For local emerging writers, Madonia will offer an October 15-17 workshop entitled "Short Story: A Dialogue Between Writers," as an opportunity to develop literary work, explore the craft of the short story, and provide motivation in a comfortable, seminar-style class. Registration is now open for the the three-day, noon to 3pm, sessions, and enrollment is $100 for TSKW Friends or $120 for non-members.
"There is great value to the creative process in providing undisturbed work space and time for an emerging artist," says Madonia. "I would not be able to self-sufficiently spend a month working in Key West, without the generous institutional support from TSKW. There is extreme value in exploring locations outside of your comfort zone, and Key West, in particular, encourages artistic growth."
"There are so many wonderful writers associated with the island: Robert Stone, Joy Williams, Annie Dillard, Ann Beattie, Judy Blume, not to mention Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. I love them all, and am really looking forward to exploring the creative community -- both the historical literary energy and the current culture that seems to be so dedicated to encouraging emerging contemporary artists."
For details about The Studios of Key West, Madonia's upcoming short story workshop, or the 2008/09 creative season at the Armory, please see www.tskw.org or contact TSKW at 296-0458.
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