Blog

Camp Beast: A Summer of Arts and Adventure

Bridget Alexander — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Art Beast camps are designed for children 4 to 7 years old. We create a space that honors children by offering activities and environments suited to their age range. No trying to keep up with the 10 year olds at this camp!

Each session fills at 16 children and is led by two teachers, promising a group that can grow close. The camps offer a blend of structured arts exploration in the classroom and free play within the building, always under close supervision by the camp teachers.

Our camps are about exploring art and self-expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise arts integration with movement, song, story, and art. After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fee is tax deductible.

Session Times: 9 am to 2 pm

Please Bring: Lunch, snack, and a bottle of water. Wear clothes that can get messy!

Pricing: $180 a week. Additional siblings enrolled the same week receive a 15% discount. $75 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space.

Ready to register? Click here!

Hero Camp: A Camp for Superheroes and Stars of their own Story (June 17-21) Art, drama and music collide in this celebration of wonder girls and super boys. In addition to making capes, masks, and hero tools, the children will tell the story of their hero in a range of art styles. Daily dramatic play and movement games will bring imaginative worlds to life as children create characters and act out their feats of strength and heroism. Teacher Bio: Deborah Cardoza has been an Art Beast teacher for 3 years. She studied Percussion Performance under Dr. Daniel Kennedy at Sacramento State where she earned her B.A. in Child Development and has been a member of the Sacramento State Symphonic Orchestra, the Sacramento State Percussion Ensemble and the Bay Area Women's Percussion Troupe. She currently performs with Gamelan Dharma Santi and enjoys teaching to a wide variety of community members including high school students, developmentally-delayed adults and Art Beasties!

The Sound and Creativity Quest (June 24-28) Travel into the jungles of inventiveness to find music and art all around. Children will create one-of-a-kind maps, build a sound wall, make wind and percussion instruments, design graphic music notation art, and discover a range of possibilities in creating sounds and beauty from the everyday. Teacher Bio: Liz Barton is a musician and educator with a Master's in Horn Performance. She is lead Teaching Artist with VITA Academy and also provides instruction at Esparto Elementary, developing the first music program there in decades. Her career includes private teaching (piano and brass), as well as classroom teaching (recorder and choir). Liz performs in orchestras throughout N. California. Liz loves performing chamber music and is active with Classical Revolution Sacramento. She recently performed classical music with homemade instruments from pvc pipes, hoses, funnels, and balloons.

Yoga and Art Explosion (July 1,2,3,and 5) Children will move, contort, and stretch their creativity and their bodies! Each day will include yoga poses, circle time, storytelling, art and team building games. Magic wands, felted hearts, nature crowns, and sun catchers are just a few of the crafts we will explore. Yoga for children welcomes giggles, silly ideas, playfulness, and spirit. This camp is offered at a reduced rate of $140 as a four day camp. Teacher Bio: Jenna Maggard is owner of Hand for Humanity massage, a preschool teacher and a long time yoga instructor. Jenna has also practiced ballet throughout her life. Jenna is dedicated to practicing and teaching yoga, raising her son, studying early childhood education, buying local, eating healthy, riding her bike, making art with friends, and being an integral part of her midtown Sacramento community. Jenna’s been working with children for 7 years and sees no end to this journey.

Up, Up and Away! (July 8-12) Come and explore the things that soar in this weeklong camp focusing on the art of flight. From flying fish to rocket ships, campers will blend art and science with a lot of imagination. Through a variety of mediums, campers will create their own two and three dimensional works of art. We will also join together for group projects and creative exploration. Teacher Bio: Engaging with young people as they explore their creative process is an absolute joy for Lyndsey Roush. Since 2006, Lyndsey has been working as a teaching artist throughout the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. She holds a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Texas San Antonio and a Masters in Psychology from the Institute of Imaginal Studies – merging both to create a nurturing, collaborative learning environment.

Fairy Gardens and Gnome Homes: SESSION FULL (July 15-19) How does your garden grow? Come and join us as we explore all that grows around us! Be prepared to get those hands dirty and those thumbs green as we dig for worms in the soil and help the fairies with their gardens. Children will create take-home gardens and fairy houses, mason jar terrariums, garden stones, grass seed dolls and wind chimes in this magical exploration of gardening. Teacher Bio: Mariah Nall is a culinary arts major and aspiring pastry chef. She has been a camp teacher and art coach at Art Beast for over two years. Whether she’s in the courtyard helping give the babies a bath or at the desk greeting our families, Mariah enjoys working with the children and watching them grow. When not working, you can find her cruising midtown on her bike, hitting up the local café, or spending time with friends. Mariah is super excited to explore and create with the campers this summer!

The World Wanderers: A Camp for Young Adventurers (July 22 - 26) Join us as we journey across the world in search of exploration, creativity, and adventure. Everyday we’ll be visiting a new continent with homemade briefcases and passports in hand. We’ll learn about the mummies in Egypt, make origami in Japan, head to chilly Antarctica to learn about polar bears, go on a safari, and much more as we use our brains, bodies, and creativity to explore the world around us. Everyday we’ll explore a variety of countries to learn about different cultures, traditions, dances, and folklore. As our Beastie travelers further their exploration, so will their imaginations. Ready? Set…TAKEOFF! Teacher Bio: Michael Benton is currently an art coach at Art Beast. He’s also a full-time student entering his fourth year at Sacramento State as a double major in Deaf Studies and Family Studies. When at Art Beast you can find Michael putting on a puppet show with children, conducting interactive story times, and leading Friday Little Beast and Big Beast Workshops. Michael is thrilled to be able to share his enthusiasm and passion for exploration of the arts this summer!

Swashbucklers and Space Travelers: A Camp for Actors (July 29 - Aug 2) Make every day a new adventure! In this theater camp, children will create stories and sets, design costumes, sing at the top their lungs, and reinvent themselves each day as they learn the joys of acting. Skits, movement games, improv activities, and song circles will bring story after story to life. A range of art techniques will be introduced to create the props, costumes and special effects that build the imaginary world of the theater. Teacher Bio: Zoe Carlson-Meyers truly believes in the magic of theater. She has been in a relationship with acting ever since her imagination came alive as a young child. Since then, she has been in numerous productions, varying from Shakespeare to modern dance. She believes that children are the best actors, as they love to play make-believe, shout, dance, and have fun. Because theater is her life, sharing it with young performers is one of her greatest joys.

Butterfly Ballet Camp (Aug 5 -9) Twirl, jump, bend, glide, and explore movement and music through ballet basics as we break out of our cocoons to fly free and gracefully as butterflies! We will also make time for art as we create our very own butterfly wings, ribbon sticks, and ankle bells. Group games, songs, and an end of the week "butterfly performance" are just a few highlights of this playful, whimsical, and self-esteem encouraging camp. Loose fitting clothing and socks are a must. Leotards, tutus and ballet slippers are encouraged. Teacher Bio: See Jenna

Art Monsters (Aug 12 - 16) Each day campers will explore a different art medium, investigating each with a series of experiences and creations. Children will experiment with paint, clay, dough, sculpture, and messy arts to learn new ways of using specific materials and expressing themselves. As a community of artists develops, daily circles of song, movement, drum, and storytelling will keep the giggles coming and imaginations keen. Teacher Bio: See Deborah

Glob, Slob, and Goo: A Science Camp for Mad Scientist (Aug 19 - 23) Campers will dive right into the messy part of science as we explore a new theme each day. Children will be encouraged to stretch their brains, creativity, bodies, and imagination as we investigate the magic behind science. Working together we'll use our silly ideas, playfulness, and curiosity to hypothesize and experiment. Campers will make and investigate alien goo for out-of-this-world science, make electrical bugs that conduct electricity, explore the spookier side of science with rubber bones, make tornadoes in a jar, and work together to create a unique baking soda volcano all while incorporating the arts. Teacher Bios: See Mariah and Michael

Geocaching Adventures: A 3 week series for ages 6 to 10 (August 15, 22, and 29th from 10 to 12 $50) Let's hunt for treasure! Throughout the world, small boxes and bottles are hiding filled with tiny treasures. Using a compass and a few small hints, children will learn to locate geocaches throughout our city. This is a great hobby for families as it makes every hike, urban outing, and trip to the river more exciting. The children will also make, disguise, and hide their own geocaches. These workshops will start at Art Beast, but involve journeys out into the surrounding neighborhoods. Grown ups are welcome to join us. Teacher Bio: See Jenna

Ready to register? Click here!

NEW Elementary Series. Starting in March!

Erin — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:25:00 -0600

Class begins March 4, unless otherwise noted. Registration is OPEN! Call the studio today to sign up! These classes are suited for children 7-10 years old.

Mondays:
Theater 1:30-3pm
Ceramics 3:15-4:15pm

Tuesdays:
Art Through Myths 3:15-4:15pm
Wildlife Drawing Techniques 4:15-5:15pm

Wednesdays:
Yoga & Mindfulness 3:15-4:15pm

Thursdays:
Ukulele Club 4:30-5:30pm

Fridays:
Sign Language 2-3pm

Theater: $85+ $5Lab Fee. 1:30-3pm. Mondays.

Step into the imaginative world of theater! Come experience a thrilling introduction to different aspects of theater, including voices, body movements, costumes, masks, cross-cultural drama, play writing and creative expression. Each week, your child will have the opportunity to develop their own characters and play fun improv games, allowing kids to become comfortable with self-expression and using their imagination. Each class ends with mini performances and encouragement from their classmates to build their confidence and enjoyment. At the end of the course, your young performers will showcase what they've enjoyed the most. The environment is fun and playful; after all, there are no wrong moves in theater! . Teacher: Zoe Carlson. No class on March 25. Class will run until April 29.

Ceramics: $75 + $10 Lab Fee. 3:15-4:15pm. Mondays.

Discover the magic of ceramic work as children learn to transform clay into a variety of creatures and creations. During this course, the teacher will introduce the basic methods of hand building using the pinch, coil and slab techniques. Teacher: Andre Gayet. No class on April 8. Class will run until April 29.

Art Through Myth: $75 + $8 Lab Fee. 3:15-4:15pm. Tuesdays.

This exciting art class will explore the famous creatures of the world’s mythological adventures. The stories will be brought to life with a creative use of drawing and painting styles. As we learn about drawing we will learn about some of the earliest beasts of land and sea. Teacher: Monart trained, Courtney Tice. . Classes will be held on March 12, 19, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & May 7

Wildlife Drawing Techniques: $75 + $8 Lab Fee. 4:15-5:15pm. Tuesdays.

Rainforests of the world will be our focus for this 8 week session. We will draw and paint the weird and wonderful creatures hidden in the canopy of our most treasured and unknown resource. Teacher: Monart trained, Courtney Tice. Classes will be held on March 12, 19, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & May 7

Yoga & Mindfulness: $65 + $5 Lab Fee. 3:15-4:15pm. Wednesdays.

Children gather for a session of yoga that welcomes wiggles and giggles while introducing the poses, breathing, and peacefulness that yoga brings. Each class will also include lessons on mindfulness, meditation & reflection. Teacher: Erin Tinney & Christine de Guzman.

Ukulele Club: $65 + $10-$45 Lab Fee. 4:30-5:30pm. Thursdays.

The ukulele has taken the world by storm! Start making music right away with this accessible instrument. Students will need a Ukulele and a clip-on chromatic digital tuner. All other materials provided. Instructor can provide an instrument and tuner for a $45 lab fee. If student already has an instrument, lab fee is $10. Teacher: Liz Barton.

Sign Language: $65 + $5 Lab Fee. 2-3pm. Fridays.

Learn the basics of American Sign Language. Learn how to finger spell, sign a full song, explore Deaf art & history, play plenty of ASL games and more! Teacher: Michael Benton.

New Elementary Classes - Begins January 7!

Erin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:15:00 -0600

Elementary Aged (7-10) Classes - January Series!

Our next round of Elementary Aged classes is here! This round runs from January 7 - March 1. Registration begins Wednesday, December 5.

Mondays:
Theater 1-2pm
Greek Myths 2-3pm
Ceramics 3:15-4:15pm

Tuesdays:
Drawing Animals 2-3pm
Sewing 4-5pm

Wednesdays:
Food Science II 3:30-5pm

Theater – Mondays 1-2pm. Class Fee: $75 Lab Fee: $5

Greek Myths – Mondays 2-3pm. Class Fee: $75 Lab Fee: $8

This exciting art class will explore the famous characters of the Greek and Roman mythological adventures. We will bring to life the powerful Zeus and Poseidon. We will design our own Trojan horse, and paint beings that ruled the seas. The stories will be brought to life with a creative use of drawing and painting styles. As we learn about drawing we will learn about some of earliest heroes. Please join us for this eight week session as we learn to draw and paint our way through these famous stories of ancient times. Teacher: Courtney Tice.

Ceramics – Mondays 3:15-4:15pm. Class Fee: $75 Lab Fee: $10

Discover the magic of ceramic work as children learn to transform a ball of clay into a variety of creatures and creations. During this eight-week course, the teacher will introduce the students to the three basic methods of hand building using the pinch, coil and slab techniques. The students will become familiar with the tools and materials used in hand building objects from clay. They will learn to incorporate texture and glaze in the design of their projects. Student work will be bisque fired in preparation for glazing. Teacher: Andre Gayet.

Drawing Animals – Tuesdays 2-3pm. Class Fee: $75 Lab Fee: $8
Learn to draw and paint dogs, cats and even a few mysterious animals from Australia. We will learn how to draw fur put the sparkle in animal eyes and even create habitats for our creatures. Teacher: Courtney Tice.

Sewing – Tuesdays 4-5pm. Class Fee: $75 Lab Fee: $10
Learn the basics of sewing with a sewing machine! Each student will leave the class with three small projects. Teacher: Margaret.

Freaky Food Science II – Wednesdays 3:30-5pm. Class Fee: $95 Lab Fee: $15

This eight week series will involve cooking, tasting and investigating different types of food. Young scholars will learn about the composition of various foods and what our bodies require, acidity or alkalinity of food and the effect on the digestive system, and understand the main flavors of food and how our taste buds determine each, all while creating and sampling delicious cuisine each week. *Classes will cater to the dietary restrictions of each student. You do not need to have taken Food Science I in order to take this course. Teacher: Vanessa Dunne.

Elementary Aged Classes! Starting November 5!

Erin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:40:00 -0500

Our next session of classes for children 7-10 years old begins November 5 and lasts for 6 weeks (no classes the week of November 19). Experience watercolor painting, science play, instrument making and more! These classes do fill up quickly, so call the studio right away to sign up!

Ceramics - Monday 2-3pm. $60 + lab fee
Discover the magic of ceramic work as children learn to transform a ball of clay into a variety of creatures and creations. During this eight-week course, the teacher will introduce the students to the three basic methods of hand building using the pinch, coil and slab techniques. The students will become familiar with the tools and materials used in hand building objects from clay. They will learn to incorporate texture and glaze in the design of their projects. Student work will be bisque fired in preparation for glazing. Teacher: Andre Gayet

Instrument Making - Tuesday 3-4pm. $60 + lab fee
Children will gain knowledge of sound production through hands-on, interactive sessions that result in the creation of a variety of instruments (both wind-blown and percussive). Using the handmade instruments, participants will be guided through the collaborative creation of a soundscape to accompany a silent film. Students will have three handmade instruments and a DVD of their completed film with soundtrack upon completion of the 6-week course. No previous musical training is necessary. (Classes on week 5 and week 6 will run 90 minutes long). Teacher: Liz Barton

Beginning Watercolor Painting - Wednesday 2-3pm. $60 + lab fee
Over the six week class we will learn about the joy of painting with watercolors. We will learn the basic building blocks needed to be successful at this watery medium. There will be demonstrations of techniques suitable for the subject, exercises, critique and lots of painting time. If you would like to learn this more about the beautiful medium known as watercolor please join us this November. Teacher: Katy Salvo

Chewed Paper Art - Wednesday 3-4pm. $60 + lab fee
In this six week class, young artists will be working with upcycled children’s art work from fellow Beasties and utilizing a unique technique to create distinctive paper maché projects. These will include lanterns, decorative face masks and a culminating piece chosen by the students. Teacher: Cody Lane.

Freaky Food Science - Thursday 2-3:30pm. $75 + lab fee
This six week series will involve cooking, tasting and investigating different types of food. Young scholars will learn about the composition of various foods and what our bodies require, acidity or alkalinity of food and the effect on the digestive system, and understand the main flavors of food and how our taste buds determine each, all while creating and sampling delicious cuisine each week. *Classes will cater to the dietary restrictions of each student. Teacher: Vanessa Dunne

Lab fees vary from class to class, but typically run between $8 - $12 total for an entire 6 week series. Lab fee is due the first day of class.

Save Tubman House!

Erin — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:28:06 -0500

In a nutshell:

Tubman is fighting for its life. After ten years of connecting homeless, parenting youth to housing and meaningful futures, Tubman is scrambling to ensure its currents families continue on their paths toward stability and joy.

Yesterday Tubman House was notified that after ten years of funding and the highest reviews, they would no longer receive federal funding to serve homeless youth. This funding provided 60% of the funds needed to sustain our program. Provided NO notice of this change in order to prepare, Tubman House is working hard to secure $15,000 to get through this month and ensure each family we serve transitions to a safe, stable home with supports in place to maintain momentum toward career, college, and wellness.

We are also working toward a much broader goal of building a network of 500 to 700 supporters that commit $25 each month to sustaining Tubman House for the year ahead. Tubman has already secured $100,000 in funding for 2013, will generate $40,000 in Tubman funding through its cottage industry, and owns its two program sites. This year of support would allow us the time to secure solid funding going forward. To sign up as a monthly supporter, please follow this link: Become a Monthly Supporter

Or Make a one time donation

In the long-winded and detailed style we favor:

Without the help of this community, Tubman House is going to close. Unless some magic unfolds in the week ahead, Tubman will be forced to shut its doors within days after ten years of service. We had thought we were just getting started.

Yesterday, while coaching with a Tubman resident, we received news that Tubman would not be receiving the Runaway and Homeless Youth funds that cover 60% of the expenses of housing, nourishing, and supporting our residents and our children. We have been receiving these funds for ten years and our reviews always place us in the top ratings for quality of programs and outcomes. We, along with programs across the nation, submitted out applications for funding in June. The funding was to begin September 30 as it had for ten years. Yet, no agency had heard anything as of last Friday. Our endless phone calls to federal representatives were answered the same way: “We have not been authorized to announce the recipients.” Yesterday, two days into the funding cycle, it was announced. Tubman, along with countless other programs for homeless youth nationwide, was left unfunded.

Had we some notice, we could have braced for this. At minimum, we could have ensured that each Tubman family transitioned from the program with housing, childcare, and momentum in place. We believe we could have raised the funds through community donations and grant writing. Instead, we are blindsided and the money we need to continue has been denied. We have been told that we should get a letter in the next month explaining why we were denied. Until then it is a mystery to us. Our outcomes are the strongest they’ve been in ten years in terms of stabilizing housing, securing jobs, completing GED and college classes, earning career certificates, and connecting residents to wellness and health.

Tubman House expected $200,000 in Runaway and Homeless Youth funding over the next 12 months. This covers 60% of Tubman’s expenses, including occupancy expenses for both houses, groceries for 8 families, a range of supplies, gas for the van, and payroll and basic medical benefits for our 7 person staff that includes the Executive and Program Directors, a Youth Development Director, 2 House Directors, and 2 Child Development Teachers.

Over the last 5 years, we have worked hard to diversify our funding and decrease our dependence on government funding. We opened Art Beast-which slides all profits into Tubman. We secured major grants from The California Wellness Foundation, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, and Dignity Health. We layered in smaller regional grants from the Active 20/30 Club, Soroptimist Clubs, Raleys, Target, and The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. We launched The Festival of Little Houses, our annual fundraiser which doubled its proceeds in its second year. We doubled our community donations. We went from 90% dependence on federal funds to 60% in 4 years. In fact, we had already secured $97,000 in grant funds for 2013 and we’re mentally looking toward on-going growth and expansion of services in 2014.

Furthermore, we reduced our program expenses in those same 4 years by securing a grant to purchase both our sites. With the exception of the Child Development Teachers, no one on Tubman’s staff has received a raise in years.

This morning, slightly less numb with shock, the staff and residents and children gathered into a circle to talk. You can imagine the fear being carried. Residents months away from moving into their own apartment wondering, “Where will I go?” and “How can I finish my college classes or keep my job if I lose childcare?” Staff- every single staff person- suddenly unemployed after 4 or 7 or 10 years of commitment.

Yet, once again, as always, crying and sighing and somehow laughing together, we claimed hope. The residents were full of fire. They were not asking, “What about my family?” They were asking, “What are we going to do to save our community?” As women and men of tremendous heart and resilience, they took action:

“I started working on an email to Oprah and Ellen last night.”

“I called the news station.”

“Have you heard of crowd sourcing? Couldn’t we do that?”

“I called my grandpa and he said he’s going to talk to his church.”

“How do you organize a telethon? Can I google it?”

“Let’s occupy something. I’ll live in a tent.”

“The news only likes to cover bad stuff. How could we get them to pay attention to the good things that happen here?”

“I’m going out this afternoon and knocking on doors. I want to tell people what’s happening.”

“I called Linda and told her that I want the money she is giving me for painting her windows to be donated to Tubman. This is our home.” (This from a young mother and great artist who just got her first work doing a store window.)

“I think I could host a gaming night if I could find a site and get my friends to bring their systems.”

“Could we do some evening kids’ events at Art Beast?”

What had begun as the worst morning of our careers had somehow become one of our proudest moments. This is what Tubman is all about. It’s about believing you can fight for what you love and dream of. It’s about knowing you hold within you the brilliance, strength and creativity to create the family, the future, the home and the community you want.

We were undone today by the love shown. Undone by house directors and child development teachers insisting, “I’m not going anywhere. It’s not about the money.” Undone by residents who pulled us aside to worry about our grief and reminded us to feel- letting us know it was OK that we could not lead as gracefully and confidently as usual. Undone by the children clamoring onto our laps for hugs and songs and presence.

Tubman is up for the fight. Everyone of us is ready to risk hope and work hard toward it.

But, now, more than ever, we need our community. Desperately. We have never been an agency with big donors. When we do ask for support, we usually have an offering: a place of creativity for children or a weekend of family renewal. This time we come to you with nothing but need.

We have two dreams. One is small- to see us to a graceful end. The other is absurdly big- to ask our community to stand by Tubman and commit the $200,000 to see us through the year ahead.

The small dream is to raise $15,000 in the next few days. This would allow us 30 days to find housing and childcare for our current Tubman families. The outcomes would not be those the residents were aiming for as of last Friday because one month is not enough time to build savings, work up affordable housing lists, find quality childcare, secure employment, and complete schooling. We would have to somehow settle for basic stability over blossoming. The $15,000 would also allow us to continue to provide services on site for the entire month, and give our staff one month of income as they scramble to secure work.

The big dream would be for us to survive this and come out stronger. Relying on government funding is always scary. We see way too many great program fall to budget cuts. If we could develop a strong base of donors quickly, we could emerge from this with a stronger foundation, and residents who had witnessed the miracle of community. More than anything, we want to prove to our residents that this city and this world thinks they are worth the investment.

Furthermore, we already having $97,000 secured for 2013, along with owning our program sites and bringing in consistent income through ArtBeast, our cottage industry to sustain Tubman. We know how to put together funding to sustain a program. We were just denied that chance with the lack of notice. We can get back on our feet- and soon. We just need the time.

It would take 650 people committing $25 a month to Tubman for the next 12 months to survive this moment.

We have the same question our residents asked: Is that number huge or is it actually quite small?

27 hours ago, when we got the news, it seemed impossibly big.

Somehow, after the morning we just had, it seems surprisingly possible.

ArtBeast Classes for Elementary Aged Children

Erin — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:20:22 -0500

artBeast Classes for Elementary Aged Children
Art Beast is offering classes to children 7 to 10 years old in the year ahead. The first round of classes will begin in September with more classes rolling out in 6 and 8 week sessions throughout the year. Offered in the early afternoon, the classes are ideal for homeschooling families looking for dynamic classes in the arts and sciences. We always welcome feedback on the classes families would like to see us offer.

The first session:

Introduction to Ceramics: Monday 1:30 to 2:30 (September 10 to October 29): $75

Beginning Drawing Techniques: Wednesday 1:30 to 2:30 (September 5 to October 24): $75

Yoga Circle: Wednesday 3 to 3:30 (September 5 to October 24): $35

Brain Boosting Biology: Thursday 1:30 to 3:00 (September 6 to October 25): $95

Complete details about each class, teacher bios and material fees are below.

Art Beast is located at 2226 K Street in midtown Sacramento. The building is surrounded by free two hour street parking. Classes will take place in the outside courtyard or upstairs classroom depending on teacher preference. The classes do not include unlimited play in the general studio unless a family membership or admission is purchased. Parents may drop their child off for class by checking in with the teacher and indicating they will be off site during the class.

Art Beast is a register vendor for South Sutter Charter School and Visions. If using these funds to attend the class, a purchase order must be requested with the school to start the registration process.

To register: Call Art Beast at 916-441-1233 or register online at http://www.formstack.com/forms/?762869-MO30K16Kno

We are capping registration at 12 students. Once a class fills, a wait list will be established for interested families and additional sessions may be added. Registration is final and refunds cannot be given. Studio credit will be issued if the cancellation comes with one week’s notice.

Art Beast’s Dual Mission: Art Beast is committed to nurturing each child’s creativity by offering an environment for child directed play and parent connection. Every penny raised at Art Beast is dedicated to Tubman House, a community for young parents overcoming homelessness. In choosing Art Beast to share the world of art, play, movement and song, you are also choosing to support families in need as they attend college, secure work, stabilize housing, and find the time and space to love and celebrate their children.

Introduction to Ceramics: Mondays 1:30 to 2:30
Discover the magic of ceramic work as children learn to transform a ball of clay into a variety of creatures and creations. During this eight-week course, the teacher will introduce the students to the three basic methods of hand building using the pinch, coil and slab techniques. The students will become familiar with the tools and materials used in hand building objects from clay. They will learn to incorporate texture and glaze in the design of their projects. Student work will be bisque fired in preparation for glazing.
An $8 lab fee for class materials includes Clay, Glaze and Firing of finished pieces.

Teacher: Andre Gayet has been creating art for over 40 years. With a strong background in pottery, ceramics and blowing glass, Andre’s work can be found in local galleries. Andre has taught adults and children the wonder of working with clay, including creating collaborative pieces with the students of Theodore Judah Elementary.

Beginning Drawing Techniques: Wednesdays 1:30 to 2:30
Students will learn the techniques artists use to create dynamic drawings. Using a range of drawing tools, children will learn how to use shadow, texture, light, and perspective to develop as artists and expand the possibilities of putting pencil to paper.

A $8 lab fee for class materials includes paper, charcoal and drawing media.

Teacher: Kathleen Salvo is a working visual artist with a bachelor’s degree in art education and 6 years of experience teaching art to elementary aged students. Says on reviewer: Katy is “an educator dedicated to her students and their exposure to art and techniques from a wide variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Katy brings to her lessons a unique understanding as both a talented artist and a teacher well versed in the California Art Content Standards. She can create, teach and inspire all at the same time! ”

Yoga Circle: Wednesdays 3 to 3:30
Children gather for a session of yoga that welcomes wiggles and giggles while introducing the poses, breathing, and peacefulness that yoga brings. Each week children move through a series of poses, moving toward mastery of simpler poses while greeting the challenge others.

Teacher: Erin Tinney is the Assistant Director of ArtBeast as well as a Registered Yoga Teacher. She earned her BFA in Fine Arts and enjoys all mediums of creative expression! Erin's experience with children includes serving as a full time nanny for many years, leading children's programming at a non-profit tutoring and community center, substitute teaching and leading children's classes with a mobile museum program. Erin is thrilled to share the gentle rhythm of yoga with children each week.

Brain Boosting Biology: Thursdays 1:30-3
This eight week series will introduce students to the fascinating world of biology in a fun, inquiry-based nature. Students will be expected to maintain a weekly journal with descriptive illustrations and/or notes, depending on capability, chronicling our journey through science. We will pull knowledge from each class as the series progresses. Each student will end the series as a scientific thinker.
Lab Fee: $12

Teacher: Vanessa Dunne, brings scientific expertise, a sense of joy, and a tremendous amount of passion to working with children. Vanessa is a CSUS Biology professor and a homeschooling mother of 3 who believes the world is her classroom! She earned her BS in Microbiology from UC Davis and her MS in Molecular Biology from CSUS. Although she enjoys using her education to engage students in her community college classrooms, she has the most fun getting slimy and dirty with her kids in the backyard. She has worked with children in various capacities, from teaching creative movement in elementary schools to guiding nature studies to exploring messy science with Beasties!

Week 1: Introduction to the Scientific Method
Students will begin to think like scientists! This class will cover the understanding and implementation of the steps in the Scientific Method and will progress into designing effective experiments. This class will lay the groundwork for the next seven class sessions (and the next seventy years of life!).

Week 2: Characteristics of Life
What is life? This class will help answer the question of the definition of a living thing. Students will learn the basic characteristics of life and design experiments to test whether various items are considered living or non-living. By the end of class, students will be able to logically deduce whether Mary Shelley’s monster was truly alive!

Week 3: Animal Geniuses: An Introduction to the Animal Kingdom
We all have our biases, but in this session students will design an experiment to end the age-old debate: which is smarter, a dog or a cat? We will study the physical and behavioral characteristics of a variety of mammals to help understand classification of the animal kingdom. Students will have creative freedom to design experimentation to test any number of questions they may have of these curious critters!

Week 4: The Hidden Life of Plants: An Introduction to the Plant Kingdom
In this session, students will study classification, vascular actions, and ecological significance of our quiet plant friends.

Week 5: Protists and Fungi
Students will investigate the macro- and microscopic world of the Protist and Fungi Kingdoms. This class will definitely be a little gross, but full of wonderment with interesting experiments on these unpopular but essential members of our world.

Week 6: Human Behavior: Reaction Time
This session will begin a three week exploration of human behavior, starting with a look at reaction times. Is it humanly possible to dodge a speeding bullet? No, we won’t directly experiment on this one, but we will be able to make a rational conjecture after plenty of fun and creative experimentation!

Week 7: Human Behavior: Senses
Students in this class session will explore all of the senses and discuss whether a sixth sense really exists!

Week 8: Human Behavior: Perception

After investigating the senses in Week 7, students will have the opportunity to test how much of what we sense is based on perception alone in this class session. We will try to “trick” our senses into experiencing things that may not be real.

Art Beast's Festival of Little Houses

Erin — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:45:00 -0500

From September 21-23, 2012, Art Beast Studio will host The Festival of Little Houses, a weekend of whimsy and wonder on the banks of the American River. This event, now in its second year, will offer families the opportunity to create, explore and play in nature. The festival will feature family art workshops, creation stations, family yoga, an outdoor movie night, song and story circles, live music and performances, and time to explore nature.

All the proceeds from this event support Tubman House, a residential community for young parents that are experiencing homelessness and their children. At Tubman, young parents between 18 and 21 experience a holistic program centered on youth development, the strengthening of physical and mental health, educational attainment, career development, and financial management so that so that they leave prepared to be leaders in their own lives and leaders in the lives of their children and community. Children experience stability and blossom in a nurturing home with an on site child development program. In exchange for housing and support, Tubman residents lead Youth Corps, developing leadership and spearheading projects to build up their neighbor-hoods, schools, and natural spaces. Youth Corps reconnects youth to their community as leaders.

Thanks to CGI for generously sponsoring the Festival of Little Houses and creating change in the lives of youth and children.

Learn more about Tubman, with outcomes and links to an NPR profile and a short documentary below.

The Festival of Little Houses raises funds to keep our doors open at Tubman. The little houses refer to the tents raised and remind us of the blessings of a home and family. We are honored to host families, artists and performers that believe in the family, community, art, nature and PLAY- and support Tubman’s families is their quest to claim a future of meaning and stability.

Festival attendees can camp for the weekend or come for the day. Healthy meals are served all weekend from our outdoor kitchen, and tents and pads are set up and waiting for a small rental fee. Activities and workshops at Little Houses are included with your pass! Some of the performers and activities included in your weekend pass:

The Poodlums: Performing original music for children and grown ups.

Musical Robots: Playful music and silliness for the whole family.

Parie Wood: An inspired singer-songwriter who won 3rd place at the 2011 Sacramento Jammies.

Ross Hammond: Amazing guitarists with music rooted in jazz and folk and rock and soul, and heavy on the improvisation.

Amy Reed: Old time bluegrass that will have you swooning: "Amy Reed is a wonderful folk singer who tackles both originals and classics (and by classics, I mean in the 'sitting on the front porch in Appalachia' classics)" -`R Hammond

Tyehimba Kokayi: Enjoy this brilliant session of West African Drumming and join a circle of rhythm led by Tyehimba.

John Cummins and Eli: Sweet acoustic guitar and song by a father and his young daughter.

Andrea "Yaya" Porras: Join a dance workshop and community blessing with this vibrant actor, performer, scholar and culture and arts educator.

Hands for Humanity Massage: Offering chair massages that rebuild the spirit and give back to your community.

It's All Yoga: Welcoming yoga sessions with Tamara Dowling.

Seidokan Jujitsu: Playful jujitsu and cooperative games for the whole family.

Jenna Maggard: Children's yoga with the much loved ArtBeast and Yoga Seed teacher.

River Days: Guiding children into connection with the natural world through gentle activities stir wonder.

Felted Soap with Patricia and Leanna: Learn how to create your own bar of felted soap with wet felting. ($4 material fee for this session)

Maggie's Umbrella: Song circles and storytelling with the whimsical founder and teacher of East Sacramento's family childcare.

Marcos Hernandez and Joshua Kline with Damento Jugglers

Pinata Making Workshop with Sol Collective: Learn the art of Pinata Making with the dynamic arts and culture center, Sol Collective

Festival of Little Houses Creation Stations: Stations are set up throughout the festival for children and adults to engage in creating. This year’s stations include:
• Fairy Houses: Build a fairy house from nature’s offerings and add to our neighborhood for fairies and pixies.
• Nature Spiral: Walk, run or skip through our spiral of river rock
• Nature loom: Weave leaves and grasses into our four sided loom/room
• Do-it-yourself Face Painting: Recreate yourself endlessly with homemade face paints
• Bird Feeders and Bird Nest Helpers: Create feeders and nest helpers from a buffet of offerings for birds and squirrels
• Clay Station: 200 pounds of clay await shaping into creatures and bowls and treasures.
• Family Banners or Prayer Flags: Create a banner for your home or garden that celebrates your family and what they believe in
• Tie Dye: We will have squirt bottles of tie and plenty of runner bands to make bright colored shirts or scarves. Bring something to dye.
• Moon lanterns: Use paper, tissue and glue to shape a lantern for your moonlight wanderings.
• Gnome Making: Use felt and needles to sew a simple and friendly gnome

Get the best prices on passes and meal plans by purchasing today at the festival website:

www.littlehousesfestival.com/tickets.html

Follow updates on festival events at our Little Houses Facebook page.

Your attendance of the Festival sustains the very real and impactful work of Tubman House.
Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, Tubman House provided safe housing, individual coaching and supportive housing services to 18 youth and their 22 children. Of the 18 youth, 7 are currently residents, 9 exited to permanent, income-based housing, and 2 exited to market rate apartments with income in place to sustain stability. The 7 current residents are all on track to exit to income based housing as well.

In addition to stabilizing long term housing:
- 89% of residents connected to weekly mental health services through individual or couple’s counseling.

-67% successfully attended college. Those not attending college were either in the last months of pregnancy or working toward their GED.

-100% connected to Early Head Start for weekly home visits to monitor the development of each child and to enroll in off-site child development centers upon exit.

100% entering without a diploma worked toward GED completion, with 50% passing the GED prior to exit.

-61% of residents secured a job and worked during their Tubman stay.

Tubman staff provided labor support at all 4 births in the last 12 months, and provided lactation support to ensure all new parents breastfed for the first 6 months.

A mini-documentary was created in May 2012. It captures our history, philosophy and the journeys of our residents. It can viewed at the following link:
Tubman Magic Documentary
NPR’s State of the Re-Union also did a profile that aired nationally in September 2011:
NPR Profile)
The Tubman House Facebook page capture’s weekly highlights: Tubman House Facebook Page

Camp Beast Registration!

Erin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 -0500

CAMP BEAST

Our camps are about exploring art and self expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise a range of arts integration with movement, song, story, and art. After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fee is tax deductible.

Session Times: 9 am to 2 pm

Please Bring: Lunch, snack, and a bottle of water

Pricing: $175 a week includes all supplies unless otherwise noted. Additional siblings enrolled the same week receive a 15% discount. $75 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space.

Every camp is taught by Art Beast teachers. All are committed artists and experienced teachers. We have been lucky to have many of our favorite teachers from last Summer’s camps agree to return for new sessions of fun, creation, and friend making!

To Register: Call the studio anytime to register over the phone at 916-441-1233 or online by following this link:

http://www.formstack.com/forms/?944583-2ddj6s8Xgc

Camp Bang - June 18th- June 22nd

A camp that promises arts integration, as campers drum, dance, tell stories, sing, create rattles and drums, and explore the world of percussion. Each day children will build a community of rhythm in drum circles, clap and stomp lines, and voices raised. Art, stories, poems, movement, and song will be woven into the beats so children fully experience the power of creation.

Teacher Bio: Deborah Cardoza has been a percussionist ever since she played the pots, pans and wooden spoons in her parents' kitchen as a child! She studied Percussion Performance under Dr. Daniel Kennedy at Sacramento State where she earned her B.A. in Child Development and has been a member of the Sacramento State Symphonic Orchestra, the Sacramento State Percussion Ensemble and the Bay Area Women's Percussion Troupe. She currently performs with Gamelan Dharma Santi and enjoys teaching percussion to a wide variety of community members including high school students, developmentally-delayed adults and Art Beasties!

Arg! A Camp for Beginning Pirates - June 25th - June 29th

Join our pirate camp and enjoy living like a pirate for a week! Our pirate children will learn about pirate folklore and seafaring life as they will make ships, play games, create pirate hats and spyglasses, sing pirate shanties and learn a jig. They will create maps and hunt treasure to bring home at journey’s end.

Teacher Bio: Jessica spent most of her time competing in, and training for, dance competitions. She began teaching in high school and has gone on to teach everything from ballet to gymnastics to drama. Jessica studied Musical Theater at California State University, Sacramento where she appeared in numerous productions. She was the 2005 CSUS recipient of the Drama Award for her performance in Godspell , and is a Jeffrey Award recipient. She was nominated for an Elly award in 2010 for her work in children's theater. Jessica was fortunate enough to bring theater and dance to the children of Tortola, BVI. She performed in HONK! - the first musical ever performed on the island, and helped build a theater for the local community. Before moving to Olympia, Jessica served as Assistant Director at ArtBEAST Children's Studio. For the last 2 years she has been a dance instructor at Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia.

Song and Dance Camp - July 2nd -July 6th

Make every day a musical! Children will create sets, sing at the top their lungs, tap, shimmy and glide across the floor! Children will explore song and dance through daily themes and skits. They will have an opportunity to create costumes, perform within the group, learn good old fashioned songs and help create scenes for their improvisational performances. Combining performance, dance, skits, and song, this camp is sure to be a show stopper!

Teacher Bio see above: Jessica

Yoga and Art Explosion - July 9th -July 13th

Children will move, contort, and stretch their creativity and their bodies! Each day will include yoga poses, circle time, storytelling, art and team building games. Children will tap into self expression as they move and create art in new mediums. This camp provides tools that will benefit for a lifetime: respect of differences, collaborative ways of creating art, and honoring one’s self and one’s body. Yoga for children welcomes giggles, silly ideas, playfulness, and spirit.

Teachers: Erin Tinney and Elana.

Teacher Bio: Erin Tinney is the Assistant Director of ArtBeast as well as an artist and calligrapher. She is currently completing her 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training. She earned her BFA in Fine Arts and enjoys all mediums of creative expression! Erin's experience with children includes serving as a full time nanny for many years, leading children's programming at a non-profit tutoring and community center, substitute teaching and leading children's classes with a mobile museum program. Erin is thrilled to share the gentle rhythm of yoga with campers and looks forward to integrating yoga, music, art and peaceful play into a harmonious week of camp.

Goop and Gizmos: A Science Camp for Mini-Makers - July 23-July 27th

Campers will explore a new science-based theme each day through movement, art, science experiments and one-of-a-kind creations. Each day, campers will use the scientific method as they ask questions, hypothesize, experiment, observe, and calculate to learn more about everyday physics and chemistry. Themes will include: Space, Dinosaurs, Motion, and Light and Shadows. This camp will be full of stories, song, and cooperative games as we honor the wonder and magic of the world. There will be a $15 supply fee for this camp.

Teacher Bio: Bridget Alexander is one of the founders of ArtBeast as well as a credentialed teacher and a mother of 3. She has taught children from ages 2 to 20 over the last 17 years. She has a passion for process based learning where children and their teacher collaborate to create a learning environment that explores questions from every angle. A big fan of the Waldorf and Reggio approaches to education, Bridget believes that art, story, handwork, song, natural objects, and lessons that are gentle and magical are central to educating young children. Bridget is thrilled to be taking a break from her work as Executive Director of Waking the Village to spend 5 days exploring the mysteries and the magic of this world with a circle of children.

Urban Camp-Out on Imagination Peak - July 30th– August 3rd

Children will imagine their way through a week in wild as they develop their scout skills and pitch tents at Art Beast. Campers will make treasure boxes, camp flags, and a leaf and animal track journal. They will create dream catchers and stick vases, paint rock creatures, sing songs around pretend campfires, make homemade trail mix, and catch faux fire flies in a jar. There will be a cozy book nook where children can retreat to enjoy nature and animal books.

Teacher Bio: Whether she is leading a group of children in a parade around the block or dancing and acting out stories, Melinda Quick believes dancing, singing and creating should be a part of every child’s and every adult’s daily life. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary/early childhood education, and she has spent her life finding ways to include music and art in all learning. Melinda believes that stimulating learning and creativity in children is her calling in life.

Art Monsters - August 6th - August 10th

Each day campers will explore a different art medium, investigating each with a series of experiences and creations. Children will experiment with paint, clay, dough, fabric, and reclaimed materials learning new ways of using specific materials and expressing themselves. As a community of artists develops, daily circles of song, movement, drum, and storytelling will keep the giggles coming and imaginations keen.

Teacher Bio: See Deborah

Fantasy and Fable Camp - August 13th – August 17th

Children will slip into the world of dancers, unicorns, knights and fairies as they bring fairy tales to life in this magical camp. Children will be the heroes and heroines of their own tales as they use art and movement to bring a fantasy world to life. Campers will make masks, capes and crowns, create dances, listen to fairy tales, sculpt, paint and sing. As with all ArtBeast classes, teachers will offer stories and activities that promote gender equity and cultural diversity, retaining the magic of old tales while ensuring they reflect the culture and power of all girls and boys.

Teacher Bio: Winter has a variety of dance and music experience. She began playing the violin at

age seven and since has learned to play other instruments. Winter began dancing at age five and has been trained in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, and other genres of dance. Winter is a former Waldorf student who now attends the University of Redlands where she continues to play and create music, as well as dance in her spare time. Winter strives to share her passion for dance and music with others and introduce them to a beautiful world of song and movement.

FREE Spanish Demo Class with Lango at ArtBeast!

Erin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:12:58 -0500

Learn Spanish with Lango!
Lango classes are a terrific way for kids ages 2 to 11 years of age to learn a foreign language! Classes are packed with music, games, arts and crafts and immersion activities - guaranteed to improve your child's target language.

Lango will be offering two FREE demo classes at ArtBeast so families can learn more about Lango and enjoy some of the games and activities that are played in regular classes. The demo classes will last approximate 20-25 minutes and are for children ages 2-6 years. Please contact Helen at helen@langodavis.com if you plan to attend one of the demo classes. Space is limited.

Wed, March 28 @ 9:30am
Fri, March 30 @ 12:00pm

Please visit www.langodavis.com to learn more about our program. Or contact Helen Hadani, Director of Lango Davis, at helen@langodavis.com or 530-220-0453 for more information.

These 2 demo classes will be offered free of charge at ArtBeast on March 28th and March 30th. The demo class does not include admission to ArtBeast.

Scratch & See: A Printmaking Series with Brenda!

Erin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:44:55 -0600

Dig, scrape, scuff, and score into all kinds of art media to discover printmaking. During this 4 week program, we will explore works of art that will inspire us to create prints that interlace and intertwine lines, texture, and color.

Times:
Mondays, 3:30-4:30pm

Dates:
February 13th
February 20th
February 27th
March 5th

Age: Recommended for children 5-8 years old.

Cost: $40 for all 4 sessions (members receive a 10% discount). This includes studio play the day of class!

To Register: Call the studio (916) 441-1233 or stop in!

Check out what we will be exploring each week:

Week 1 – Mono prints

Week 2 – Etchings

Week 3 – Wood Cuts

Week 4 - Styrofoam Prints & final class reflections!

Teacher Bio: Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch loves making art, cooking play dough, crafting fairy wings and building forts for her daughter, Lily. She has also spent the last 15 years teaching art for children of all ages in public and private schools, as well as museums and galleries. Brenda is originally from South Dakota, though she has traveled and taught in many different places, and has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art Education, Curriculum, and Instruction.

For more information about ArtBeast visit us at www.artbeaststudio.com

Camp Wonderland: Art Beast Winter Camps for Children 4 to 7 Years Old

Erin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:13:30 -0600

Camp Wonderland: Art Beast Winter Camps for Children 4 to 7 Years Old!

Our Winter Camps will celebrate the arrival of Winter in proper Art Beast fashion with lots of creating, storytelling, and movement activities. The children will use art, dance, and dramatic play to explore the world of Winter as we consider the magic of the changing seasons, the coming of a new year, and the busy animals preparing for the cold.

As always, Art Beast welcomes all so the camps will center on the joy of the season rather than specific holidays.

Two sessions of Camp are offered. The first session runs from December 27 to December 30 and the second from January 2 to January 6. Each session will be unique. Camps will start at 9 am each day and end at 1 pm. We ask that children bring a lunch.

The first week's camp is led by Erin Tinney. A few of the activities include the following:

-Cozy Corner in the classroom devoted to story telling, writing and winter themed books.

-Frosty Friends Mural: Cool blue, silver and white paper will be hung on the wall and campers can collaborate throughout the week on the mural by creating winter inspired artwork!

-Gourd penguin painting with dried out gourds.

Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch leads the second week with an emphasis on Amazing Arctic Animals! A couple of projects planned for this week include:

-Branch Antlers: craft a set of antlers using branches from nature.

-Scrimshaw work using plaster 'walrus tusks'.

The first week running from December 27 to December 30 (a 4 day camp) is $150 and our second week running from January 2 to January 6 (a 5 day camp) is $170. Siblings enrolled in the same week receive a 15% discount. To register, please follow this link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?944583-2ddj6s8Xgc.

You can also register in studio or over the phone at 916-441-1233.

Art Beast camps are art drenched and energetic camps designed for children 4 to 7 years old. We create a space that honors children by offering activities and environments suited to their age range. No trying to keep up with the 10 year olds at this camp!

After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a residential community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fees is tax deductible.

ArtBeast Closed November 24th & November 25th for Thanksgiving.

Erin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:50:49 -0600

ArtBeast will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in honor of the holiday.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Around the World Animal Adventure Workshop Series with Brenda!

Erin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:35:52 -0500

A workshop series for children 5 – 8 years old! During these workshops, children will discover new places and learn about amazing animals that thrive all over the world. With each session, children will study a different location, learning its position on a map, as well as some interesting facts about what makes this part of the world unique. Using that setting as our jumping off point, children will create a work of art based on a native animal.

Week 1: African Savanna

Week 2: Amazon Jungle

Week 3: American West

Week 4: Australian Outback

Dates & Times

Mondays in November, 3:30-4:30pm. November 7, 14, 21 & 28

Cost: $40 - Includes studio play the day of class

About the Teacher: Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch loves making art, cooking play dough, crafting fairy wings and building forts for her daughter, Lily. She has also spent the last 15 years teaching art for children of all ages in public and private schools, as well as museums and galleries. Brenda is originally from South Dakota, though she has traveled and taught in many different places, and has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art Education, Curriculum, and Instruction.

Call the studio to sign up today, 916-441-1233!

ArtBeast Celebrates Day of the Dead!

Erin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:57:42 -0500

Come visit ArtBeast during the month of October for some forbidding fun! All month, we will celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Help us build a collaborative altar in our front entry by leaving art work or other mementos to honor friends and family. On Oct 15, Sugar Skull Art will be onsite from 10 to 5 offering huge sugar skulls for sale for $10 along with a buffet of embellishments to decorate them. ArtBeast will also be offering some Halloween themed activities in the days before Halloween.

In addition, we’ll have special crafts happening all month long…

October 2 – 8 Paper Plate Skull Masks in the Open Studio

October 9-15 Pasta Skeleton in the Open Studio

October 16-22 Fabric Ghosts in the Open Studio

October 23-29 Harvest Bowling in the Courtyard

Friday Workshops

October 7 Mexican Painted Tin Folk Art

Folk artists in Mexico have found tin to be an adaptable resource for creating decorative, fun and colorful items. Their skills in tin punching and etching allow them to create detailed works of art.

October 14 Day-of-the-Dead Skeleton Dioramas

Day of the Dead dioramas are miniature skeleton scenes created in a box. These fun and festive scenes are created in shoeboxes with clay figures and are hand painted with fabric, sequins, and other embellishments.

October 21 Mexican Folk Art Masks

Throughout Mexico's history, masks have been used in dances, festivals and ceremonies. These folk art masks were seen as a means of influencing powerful forces in nature.

October 28 Sugar Skulls

Sugar skulls are decorated and displayed to honor friends and family during Day of the Dead.

The Festival of Little Houses: 35 Things to Do Sept 23-25

Bridget Alexander — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:10:53 -0500

Art Beast Presents: The Festival of Little Houses
A weekend of whimsy and wonder as families create,explore, and play in nature

Join us as we gather next to the American River to claim the joy of being together in a shady green place where the river comes close. Come for the day or camp for the weekend. We will offer ample opportunity to dance, sing, wander, discover, nourish, and create. We also offer space to pitch a tent, artists to inspire, supplies for creating, opportunities to gather, and a river running right by.

Each family is invited to create their own little house using the offerings of nature. Sticks, grasses, mud, bamboo, leaves, stones and mosses will be on hand, inviting children and adults to join in building fairy houses, altars, or land art to remind ourselves that all of us need to make art.

The little houses also remind us of the blessings of a home and family. All the proceeds of this event are dedicated to Tubman House, a home and community for young, homeless parents and their children.
Join us September 23 - 25th as we:
Create and Explore Crafts at 9 Free Creation Stations
Hand Sand and Paint a Set of Blocks
Make a Wind Wand
Sew a Lavender Dream Pillow
Tie Dye a Shirt
Build from Cob
Wet Felt a Jingle Ball
Make a Fishing Set with Felt Fish and Magnet Pole
Dip a Candle
Make a Toy Bamboo Raft
Meet Artists and Crafters and Explore their Art
Make a Sugar Skull
Create Garden Flags
Make a Wooden Toy in a Bus Converted into a Woodworking Shop
Hand Build a Clay Bowl
Learn to Knit or Felt
Create Henna Art
Come Together with Other Families for Song and Movement
Family Yoga
Song Circle
Drum Circle
Cooperative Jujitsu Games
Storytelling
Join a Walk with a Naturalist
Evening Campfire Circle
Outdoor Movie Night featuring "My Neighbor Totoro"
International Dance Circle
Enjoy Performances by Local Musicians and Performers
Heather Frederick
Amy Reed
Tyehimba Kokayi
Joaquin Fioresi
SubliminalMsg Dance Troupe
Ross Hammond
International Dance and Storytelling with Sonja White
Puppet Shows from Rainbow Bridge Preschool
Parie Wood
MOMO
Dylan Page
John Cummings
Richie Lawrence and Katie Thomas
Nourish and Care for Yourself
Healthy Meals and Snacks from an Affordable Outdoor Kitchen
Beer, Wine, and Cider Tasting
Massage Stations
Shade and River Abound
Create a Little House
Use Nature’s Offerings and Whimsy to Build a Home or other Land Art
Support
The Creative Spirit of Children
The Community of Families
The Daily Work of Tubman House, a Community of Young Parents and their Children Overcoming Homelessness
Event Schedule
Friday Night:
Stage: Amy Reed and Ross Hammond
Group Space: Guitars and Banjo Campfire
Activity: Outdoor Movie: My Neighbor Totoro
Saturday:
Stage: Amy Reed, Parie Wood, Subliminal MSG Dance Troupe, MOMO, Dylan Page, John Cummings, Tyehimba, Heather Frederick, Richie Lawrence, Katie Thomas, Joaquin Fioresi

Creation Stations (included with admission): Little House Land Art, Fishing Set with Felt Fish and Pole, Toy Boat Making, Tie Dye, Cob Sculptures, and Candle Dipping

Group Space: Family Yoga, Drum Circle, Jujitsu Games, International Storytelling and Dance, Guitar and Music Circle, Campfire

Activities: River Bird Stories and Bird Walk with Naturalist, Puppet Shows, Storytelling Circle, Cooperative Games

Artist/Vendors: Artists offering crafts for a small fee
Willie's Woodshop: Make a wooden toy in Willie's woodworking bus
Garden Songs: Make garden flags
Wonderwul:    Learn how to wet felt wool
Sugar Skull Art:    Decorate sugar skulls to create sugar skull art
Forever Knits:   Learn simple knitting
Forum Boutique: Handmake soap
Craftology: Offering a variety of handwork arts
Serabhi Gupta: Henna art

Sunday
Stage: Amy Reed, Parie Wood, Dylan Page, and Joaquin Fioresi

Creation Stations: Sand and paint a set of wooden blocks, Wind Wands, Lavendar Dream Pillows, Wet Felted Jingle Ball, Little Houses Land Art

Group Space: Drum Circle, Jujitsu Games, International Dance and Storytelling

Activity: Bird Walk with Naturalist, Puppet Show

Artist/Vendors: Artists offering crafts for a small fee
Willie's Woodshop: Make a wooden toy in Willie's woodworking bus
Sugar Skull Art:    Decorate sugar skulls to create sugar skull art
Forever Knits:   Learn simple knitting
Serabhi Gupta: Henna art

For more details:
Website: www.littlehousesfestival.com
Website includes link to purchase tickets.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Festival-of-Little-Houses/244393945573375

Tickets:
One Day: $25 adult and $10 child (12 and under)

Weekend Pass (includes camping): $50 adult and $15 child

Every penny supports Tubman House, a transitional community
for young, homeless parents and their children