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.
