Events
Join us for upcoming events on our campus to see art, meet artists, and support the work of the Mendocino Art Center.
Reclaiming Woke
Opening Gallery Reception and Artist Talk
Reception: May 10th 5pm - 7pm
Artists Talk: 6:30pm
It’s time to awake to the term woke. Woke has been demonized in our polarized environment. We need to reclaim woke as a mainstream term that emphasizes inclusivity of all of us. The consciousness of bad actions needs to encourage us to speak out strong enough and loud enough to bring about positive change. We strive to promote awareness, inspire learning and encourage rational thinking through this project.
-Ginny and Joe Cooper
Master craftsman and instructor, Joe Cooper discovered his love of woodworking as a very young boy. He escaped to his parents’ garage where he found a hammer, nails, a saw and a vivid imagination. Joe’s formal education includes an AA in Cabinet and Mill Work from LA Trade Technical College, a BA in industrial Arts with a major in Wood Technology from Cal State University LA, a teaching credential from UCLA and numerous art classes at Otis College. In the 1970’s Joe designed his own line of furniture which sold at a number of stores in the Los Angeles area and beyond. Joe started teaching in 1979 and taught 28 years for the LA Unified School District. He also taught at Otis College for a number of years. He helped start Trade Tech’s Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) program as well as educating teachers in the field of CNC for Paton Group, a cutting-edge company in Industrial Arts education. As a teacher, articles about Joe appear in Pacific Woodworker and Woodworker West. Joe’s fabrications and name have appeared in Architectural Digest, Dwell, Interior Design and Faith and Form magazines. His business supplied signage and support furniture for exhibits in most of the major museums in Los Angeles, including the Black History Museum, the Getty, LACMA, and the Gene Autry Museum. In 2016 Joe closed his shop in Los Angeles and moved to Fort Bragg with his wife Ginny. He has set his dream shop in a beautiful barn that he designed and built. He has donated his time and work to Gloriana’s production sets, Noyo Marine Center’s dome, as well as numerous other projects here in Fort Bragg.
MOPO 2025
Join us at the Mendocino Art Center for the Mendocino Open Paint Out (MOPO), our annual plein air festival!
Sept 8th - Sept 14th.
Nestled along the stunning Mendocino Coast of northern California, our festival offers a picturesque canvas where the Pacific Ocean meets stunning landscapes. With its rugged coastal views, charming Victorian buildings and pastoral vineyards, Mendocino is not only a place with sublime natural beauty that inspires artists and nature lovers alike, but is also the ancestral lands of the Northern Pomo people.
Their future, along with Mendocino’s landscape, is once again placed in a precarious position. The gradual amplification of climate change and deregulation of environmental policies has brought to the fore the important role communities have to play in preserving the biodiversity and ecologies that still remain. MOPO offers an unique opportunity for artists, visitors and local residents to build community around a shared love for art and nature, and to contemplate the fragility of the remarkable coast that we call home.
Whether you’re looking to gather with fellow artists, enhance your technique, collect new works or simply celebrate art in one of the most scenic settings on the West Coast, MOPO promises an enriching experience for all.
This year we are thrilled to have Cathy Xu, 2024’s top award winner as one of our judges alongside local legend Maeve Croghan. Stay tuned for more announcements to come!
We’re working on creating a great event for 2025. Check back here for details on vendors, food, scheduling and more.
For lodging and accommodations, click here.
Our lodging is limited and does tend to sell out around the event.
Register
Registrations are now open for our 2025 MOPO.