May 2024 Newsletter
Learn more about MOPO 2024 and other big news in this Newsletter...
Here we goooooooooo!! A month of events, exhibits, activities, classes and workshops to launch us into the Summer of '24 ✨
KelpFest! Art Exhibit & Reception
SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us at the Mendocino Art Center for the KelpFest! Opening Event, celebrating kelp forests' ecological significance.
Enjoy an engaging schedule from 4 pm to 7 pm, including Yuki Dancers, land recognition, a gallery reception, and guest speakers.
View the exhibitions, relish culinary delights and enjoy local beers and wines, while mixing with an amazing group of artists, scientists, chefs, filmmakers and community members.
This event is blend of art, culture, and environmental awareness.
Register for this free event, and consider supporting us through membership for additional benefits, such as discounts on art classes and the Gallery Store - Join MAC as a member.
Save the Date - Saturday, May 18
Time - 4 pm - 7 pm
Location - Mendocino Art Center 45200 Little Lake St.
MAC KelpFest! Art Classes
Limited Space - Sign Up Early
Experimental Urchin Glaze
Leila Al-Hemali
Experimental Urchin Glaze KelpFest! Class is an innovative workshop, led by the talented Leila Al-Hemali.
This unique three-hour session invites artists to explore the creation of distinctive ceramic glazes inspired by the ocean, utilizing urchin tests and spines. This workshop embodies our commitment to marrying artistic creativity with environmental consciousness, providing an enriching, hands-on experience that reflects the natural beauty and ecological challenges of our surrounding marine environments
The workshop includes 3 small bisqued cylinders to glaze with the experimental glazes made during the workshop, and, for an additional fee, firing in a wood/soda kiln at the MAC. You are welcome to bring your own bisque-ware to glaze, being mindful of size.
Leila came to ceramics in 2019 with a background in environmental sciences. When she took her first ceramics class, she had no idea of clay’s ability to seep into one’s every pore, and become a true obsession. As an avid diver, when she learned about the staggering rate of kelp forest loss, Leila had the idea to try to use the urchin bodies as a replacement for commercially mined calcium carbonate. And, to her surprise, it worked!
Date: May 19, 2024 - Sunday
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm - 3 Hours Session
For more details about the class, the instructor and to register, please use the link button below 🫖
Sea Urchin Fabric Dyeing
Margaret Seelie
Sea Urchin Fabric Dyeing with Seelie Studio KelpFest! Class is an inventive workshop led by Margaret Seelie.
This visual workshop teaches natural dye creation from purple sea urchins, incorporating ancient Polynesian practices and chemistry. Participants will create unique salmon pink dyes, applying them to silk items and learning water marbling techniques.
The workshop supports California kelp forest restoration by addressing purple urchin overpopulation. Margaret Seelie, a Bay Area-based artist and writer, brings her passion for natural dyes and connection to nature to this immersive experience.
Margaret Seelie, leading the "Sea Urchin Fabric Dyeing" workshop, is a Bay Area artist passionate about blending creativity and nature. Founder of Seelie Studio and Seawitches zine, she specializes in natural dyes from sources like sea urchins and food waste. Her work is grounded in environmental consciousness.
Date: May 26, 2024 - Sunday
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm - 3 Hours Session
For more details about the class, the instructor and to register, please use the link button below 🧣
Art & Algae: Cyanotype Printing with Seaweed and Sunlight
Josie Iselin
Art & Algae: Cyanotype Printing with Seaweed and Sunlight, led by the distinguished artist and author, Josie Iselin offers a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and diversity of seaweed through the art of cyanotype printing.
Participants will engage with the ecological aspects of algae, learn to identify various types, and create exquisite blue and white prints using the power of sunlight.
Josie Iselin, with her BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard and an MFA from San Francisco State University, brings over two decades of experience in marrying the realms of art and marine science.
An acclaimed author of several books, including "The Curious World of Seaweed," and recognized by The Explorers Club in their Explorers 50 class of 2022, Iselin is passionate about the beauty of the marine world and is eager to share her knowledge and artistic techniques.
This workshop, ideal for all skill levels; this art class is a journey into the ecological significance of marine life, providing a platform for artistic exploration and environmental education. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply curious, join us for this enriching experience.
Date: June 9, 2024 - Sunday
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm - 3 Hour Session
For more details about the class, the instructor and to register, please use the link button below ⛬
Friday Night Fun: Pottery Night Out
Join us at the Mendocino Art Center for a fun and creative experience on May 10th, Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm - DROP-INs WELCOME...or Register Online
Our Pottery Night Out event offers you a chance to unwind, socialize, and get your hands on some clay. Whether you're a novice eager to learn wheel throwing or an intermediate looking to refine your skills, this class promises a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Bring your favorite beverage, craft pottery alongside friends, and let your creative spirit flourish. Come on out and create lasting memories and masterpieces!
For more details and to register, use the link button below...see you Friday Night at MAC ✨
Chasing the Light in Pastels
Bob Rhoades
Chasing the Light in Pastels offers an immersive experience into mastering light and shadow with pastels, under the guidance of Bob Rhoades.
This workshop, suitable for all levels, focuses on the dynamic contrasts and shadow work on dark-toned paper, inspired by the iconic works of Edward Hopper. This class promises a deep dive into pastel techniques that bring scenes to life.
Bob Rhoades is an accomplished artist and educator with extensive experience in pastel techniques. His expertise lies in illuminating compositions with nuanced light effects, aiming to elevate the skills of workshop participants.
Date: May 25 & 26, 2024 - Saturday & Sunday
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm - 2: 4 Hour Sessions + 1 Hour Break at Noon
For more details about the class, the instructor and to register, please use the link button below 🖍️
Anyone Can Sketchbook Journal
Suzi Long
Anyone Can Sketchbook Journal invites participants to Mendocino Art Center for a creative exploration with Suzi Long.
Aimed at beginners and intermediates, this session teaches the art of sketch journaling, a powerful way to capture and immortalize travel memories beyond photos. Suzi Long, an artist with extensive experience in pastels and watercolors, will share techniques for drawing, perspective, proportion, and fun lettering.
This reoccurring class, Anyone Can Sketchbook Journal, has been a resounding success, drawing participants from various backgrounds eager to learn sketch journaling techniques. Attendees discovered the joy of capturing travel memories through art.
Date: June 1, 2024 - Saturday
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - 3 Hour Session
For more details about the class, the instructor and to register, please use the link button below ✏️
MAC On Campus Update
The Mendocino Art Center is excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Dav Bell, who shares an introduction and a vision in his statement below. Dav will begin integrating with MAC Staff in May working through the transition with Erika Island, Interim ED, along with MAC staff and the board.
Dav Bell:
I am thrilled to join the staff and board members of the Mendocino Arts Center as the new Executive Director. In these polarizing times, there is an urgency to share and create platforms for nuanced and challenging stories about connection and equity. I believe strongly in MAC’s commitment to the arts and its dedication to helping communities thrive. Art and healing are crucial in community building: in personal relationships, in transformative justice, and in systemic reform. I believe art spaces are active environments where the legacies of the past, the sacrifices made, and the stories of those who came before us converge with the present to create a place where norms are challenged, critiques are welcomed, and accountability is paramount.
As an educator and art organizer with over fifteen years of experience, I have actively centered and prioritized BIPOC+ and LGBTQ+ artists and voices. I am the founder and former director of the Los Angeles art space, Visitor Welcome Center, and co-founder and director of the community art space, The Greenhouse Project, located in Santa Cruz, California. I studied visual art at Metáfora School of Contemporary Art in Barcelona, Spain, and hold a BFA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MFA in Environmental Art and Social Practice from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before making a life in the arts, I worked as a firefighter for the US Forest Service and as a park ranger at the Upper Tampa Bay State Park in Tampa, Florida.
I look forward to collaborating with the MAC’s current partnerships and forming new expansive collaborations. Furthering the development of programming that centers on intersectionality, accessibility, and inclusion, while recognizing the importance of collective liberation.
MAC Board:
The Mendocino Art Center Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Dav Bell as our new Executive Director. Dav brings new ideas and skills to our team, and will enable MAC to be a community-centric organization with a focus on inclusivity and excellence in the arts.
His experiences in the art world are top notch and his recent work with UC Santa Cruz on their Greenhouse project highlight the skills that make him an wonderful Executive Director. We look forward to his leadership and accessing his knowledge of the art world to help connect MAC with a broad audience, from the Mendocino coast to the northern California region and beyond.
Mendocino Film Festival Gala
Mark your calendars for an extraordinary evening! The Mendocino Film Festival Gala, sponsored by Pamela Hudson Real Estate, is happening on Friday, May 31, 2024, from 5-7 pm at the Mendocino Art Center.
This special event, for Mendocino Film Festival members only, promises live music, exquisite local cuisine, and a selection of beverages from our finest wineries and breweries. It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the Mendocino Film Festival in style.
Interested in attending? Ensure you're a festival member by visiting the MFF website for more information on membership and the event.
We invite you to join us for this vibrant evening of entertainment and camaraderie, celebrating the art of film in our beautiful coastal setting. It's the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the festival's opening night and support the arts with a new membership to another of Mendocino’s many cultural events!
Register for MOPO 2024 🎨
Our illustrious guest artists, Ryan Jensen, Erin Dertner, and Paul Rickard will guide this years wonderful event with special location excursions, in-depth demonstrations and passionate judging for the multiple cash prizes and awards!
Wet Sales, Artist Demos, Quick Draw, Awards
Join us this year from Monday, September 16th - 21st for MOPO 2024
Summer of '24 ✨
Call for Artist in Residence - Ceramics Only
The Mendocino Art Center is thrilled to announce the reopening of applications for our Artist in Residence program, under the guidance of new leadership and a renewed commitment to fostering equity and inclusion within the arts.
We are now inviting applications from artists working in ceramics, for the next residency cycle, beginning October 1st, 2024.
This exciting opportunity is open to both emerging and established artists seeking to advance their practice in a supportive and inspiring environment. To learn more about the program, eligibility criteria, and the application process, please use the link below to visit our website.
EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE - MAY 15, 2024
The Mushrooms | Color | Art | Craft Exhibit opens May 23rd, 2024
This exhibit features mushroom-dyed works by contemporary artists and makers including science illustrator Dorothy Beebee, who worked closely with dye pioneer Miriam C. Rice to unlock the full spectrum of color from mushrooms.
It accompanies a showing of the new film, Try It and See: The Story Behind Mushroom Dyes, at the Mendocino Film Festival, May 30 - June 2 🎬
Come see the show and then catch the film! Mendocino Art Center is proud to sponsor this film and support the Mendocino Film Festival. See you at the movies...
Looking Ahead to June at MAC...
Art with Julie: Summer Art Camps at MAC
Children ages 5-12 - June 24-28 and July 22-26
To register, or for more information, please contact Julie at: juliekarlonas@yahoo.com or (530) 908-1524
Relief Printmaking for Social Justice
Nicholas Collins
Relief Printmaking for Social Justice with Nicholas Collins is about altering the course of the world we live in through art.
June 8 - 9, 2024 - Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (1 hour lunch break)
Instructional Workshop - All levels
Relief printmaking has long been a vital method of social criticism and propaganda. From addressing broad systemic flaws or to shed light on issues that are more personal in nature, the object of this weekend class is to render your images of protest and injustice into block prints that you can proudly stand behind.
Support MAC with Donations and Volunteerism
As we continue to celebrate and support the vibrant tapestry of arts within our community, it's crucial to remember that the Mendocino Art Center thrives on the generosity and passion of individuals like you. As a nonprofit organization, MAC relies on donations and the spirit of volunteerism to sustain and expand our programs, events, and initiatives that foster creativity, enrichment, and community wellness.
We have volunteer opportunities for those interested in supporting MAC beyond contributions.
Gallery Assistance
Gift Shop Support
Event Hosting
Docent Tours
Visit our website, using the link below, to complete the volunteer form and we will reach out to connect with you. Please also share this with others who may enjoy being part of campus life and our arts community.
As well, your tax-deductible gifts are instrumental in keeping the arts alive and accessible in Mendocino. We invite you to visit our website and click the "Donate" button to contribute to this ongoing cultural legacy. Additionally, if you're looking to engage more deeply with the arts and our community, consider signing up as a volunteer. Your time, skills, and enthusiasm are invaluable assets that help MAC continue to be a beacon of artistic engagement and education.
Together, through your donations and volunteer efforts, we can ensure that MAC remains a nurturing ground for artists, students, and art enthusiasts for generations to come. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the arts.
