Free Holiday Art Nights in December

FREE Holiday Art Nights on Wednesdays in December
5 to 7:30 pm (open late for these special event nights)

• Free and open to anyone.
• Bring your family!

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Gift cards and RECYCLED PLASTIC PLACEMATS
Wednesday, December 2nd

Roberta Delgado will demonstrate a simple printing technique to your produce beautiful personalized cards.
Marci Sednek will also demonstrate how to produce laminated recycled plastic placemats using the same process used for our signature OFFBAGs.

• Both products are great ideas for the holidays.
• Bring your recycled plastic to use and share.
• Free and open to anyone.
• Bring your family.

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Ornaments and GIFT CLOTHING AND SCARVES
Wednesday, December 9th

Susan Tische will be on hand to show how to turn recycled fabrics into the coolest attire.

Also we will be producing pass-around ornaments. What is this? Small groups of artists will sit around a table of materials and work for 5 minutes on an ornament design and then pass it to the next artist. The ornament is passed around the group until it returns to the originator in its finished glory! Great spontaneous fun!

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Holiday gift bags and paper
Wednesday, December 16th

Our last Holiday art night this year will feature decorating paper and folding gift bags using stamps, paints, markers, glitter and anything else you can find in the studio that touches your spirit!

Sharie's Studio Journal: Twinklelight Parade

Greetings: Well the holiday season is upon us again--The stores have all their Christmas decor out, everyone is shopping or planning their shopping trips and lists and just generally getting ready for Thanksgiving and the Friday Sales in all the malls etc. OFFCenter is preparing to help out in this area. We have work shops coming up to help relieve the stress and pressure so watch the calendar and join our family friendly gift making workshops and wrapping paper and gift bag making workshops in the coming weeks. Again watch the calendar for the dates and c'mon down and join in the fun and spirit of the season.

An OFFCenter potluck Thanksgiving meal will be shared with and by artists and friends of OFFCenter this coming Wednesday November 25 from 1 til 6 PM. Join us with your favorite dish and what you are thankful for this year.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have been involved in the creation of OFFCenter and to still be an active participating artist. I cannot even think of how different my life would be without this organization and the many opportunities to explore my creative side. Today was one such opportunity--Several of us created canvas banners to be displayed on the sides of a float for RANA (Raynolds Addition Neighborhood Association) in the upcoming TwinkleLight Parade. The Parade will be this coming Saturday November 28 at 5:15pm traveling from Central and 3rd St. to the Botanical Gardens. Washington Middle School students are participating by playing mariachi music and singing carols on the float and a WMS dance troupe will even follow the float along with other RANA neighbors. This is one more way that we at OFFCenter build our community involvement and get support from and give support to the neighborhood. Those of us that worked on these banners had a great time together getting better acquainted with each other as well as meeting new friends as they joined us in the creation of the banners (see photos)

I look forward to seeing you in the studio in the coming days and weeks as the holidays approach. Happy and safe Thanksgiving to you all---Sharie

Sharie's Studio Journal: Girl Scouts revisit OFFCenter

Hi everyone: Last weekend I was privileged to be a part of a couple of workshops held at OFFCenter for Girl Scouts working toward earning badges. I watched as these talented young ladies moved from one activity to the next as they participated. I was impressed as they helped each other by explaining the next project and how to use the materials provided. It also brought back some very fond memories of my own years as a Girl Scout.

There were two sessions and two different age groups for the day. Yes the girls had fun and made some beautiful art and jewelery to take home with them as well as earning their badge; but OFFCenter made some new friends as parents who attended with their daughters and granddaughters found a new resource for family activities and maybe a new way to study art for some who home school. One of those memories was of the "Friendship Circle" at the close of a troop meeting we joined hands and sang a song entitled "Make New Friends" I have to admit it warmed my heart when at the end of the day the girls and their parents and leaders joined hands and sang that same song.

There will be more such workshops and I hope to be a part of them. It is another great way for the community to be a part of OFFCenter and vica versa.---TTFN Sharie

Thanksgiving Potluck Wed. Nov. 25

Everyone is invited to our annual Thanksgiving potluck feast.

Bring your family and a side dish to share.

We will be making art as usual throughout the day!

Please note: We will be CLOSED for the THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
on Thursday and Friday, November 26th and 27th

WANTED: Your web links

IF you are an OFFCenter artist who has a website, blog, or online shop where you sell your art, won't you please send us a link? We want to add you to our OFFCenter artists on the web column here on our blog.

C'mon now, don't be shy. If you're wondering "Are they talkin' to me?" -- well, do you sell your work in the gift shop? Play music at OFFCenter? Participate in one of our ongoing classes? Submit your work to our exhibits? Well, then, we are talkin' to you!

Just post a comment to this post, or send an email message to info@offcenterarts.org that says "OFFCenter Artist Links" in the subject line.

Sharie's Studio Journal

Greetings to all I've been out of the studio for a week and will be for another week but I know things don't stop because I am otherwise committed. The ongoing classes/workshops like the drawing classes and guitar lessons continue and the writing group happens so please check out the calendar for dates and times. There are upcoming new workshops there too so keep looking at the schedule and for announcements for these. If there is something you think would be a great media or thechnique to learn or teach in a work shop contact Ron in the studio and tell him what your idea is.

Last weeks First Friday Coffee House was a lot of fun with great snacks and good music. Watch the calendar for the next one in December. TTFN Sharie

First Friday Coffeehouse with Norm Everett Fri. Nov. 6!

First Friday Coffeehouse is November 6, 2009, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
and He's Back!
The yodelling, throat singing, wild & wacky one & only...

NORM EVERETT
and his band Namronth

opening with singer/songwriter Bonnie Bluhm

Coffee! Snacks! Gift Shop Open!

plus, the Dia de los Muertos exhibit "Threads from the Dead: Who Are You From?" continues.

Come join us -- it's Free and we welcome you to our Community Arts studio!

Sharie's Studio Journal

Greetings Everyone: I grew up in a home where books were sacred--you did not turn the corner of the page down to mark your place, you did not lay a book open face down as that would break the spine, and many other don'ts about books. I had a difficult time thinking of participating in a recent workshop held in the studio---Altered Books--- Once I got past all thatI signed up and the day of was very interesting we met new people--sponsors of the event participants and the facilitators. This was part of the BIG Read the campaign to encourage people to read more.

There were books of all description----old text books, prime readers, how to books, childrens nursery rhymes, big books, medium and small in terms of thickness and dimension. The facilitator had several examples of the many ways you can alter a book. Supplies to use in the altering of these books--paper, beads, baubles, photos and threads or yarn. I have to admit it was a lot of fun to take a book and alter it and make it my own.

Play It Again John...

John Ortiz completed his recital today at the OFFCenter Studio and earned his new guitar after his 12th lesson. He is planning to continue taking classes so he can work on reading. He currently plays only by ear. Congratulations John! May you have great enjoyment from your playing..

iCreate offers ongoing beginning and intermediate guitar instruction Wednesday afternoons throughout the year at 3:30pm at OFFCenter and throughout the week at other locations around town. New students and instructors are always welcome.

Sharie's Studio Journal

There is so much that happens in the studio. There is something for everyone. If you want to learn or improve your drawing skill there is a class with David Blecha on Tuesdays. Thought of writing there is a writers group on Thursdays with Amanda Gardner. Would you rather be a musician and learn to play the guitar check out the class on Wednesday afternoons with iCreate.

If these don't strike your fancy and maybe you have wanted to learn to sew or do embroidery I am available for teaching the basics for either of these skills. We also have peole who can help those who might want to learn to crochet or knit.

There is always the opportunity to learn a new skill or technique from an artist sitting at the table next to you. If you have an idea of a skill to share or want to learn come to the Emerging Artist meetings on Thursday at 5:30 P M this is where these things get on the calander.

Don't forget if you would like to support OFFCenter thru financial donations to United Way you can do so thru your employer sponsored campaign by selecting OFFCenter as a designated program for your contribution to go to. IF your employer is not involved with a payroll deduction campaign and you would like to donate thru United Way that is avaliable too.

More from the Studio later. Have a great week. There will be workshops to get ready for the upcoming show "Threads from the Dead--Who are you from?" Keep checking the calendar.

Sharie

Thank you, Ron and Marcy

Do you come to the studio during open hours and find what you are looking for to work on your projects? Do you have art for sale in the shop? Were you a vendor or attendee at We Art The People Folk Art Festival? Have you enjoyed music, art and food at a First Friday Coffeehouse? Do you make OFFCenter one of your places? Then remember to say THANK YOU to Marcy and Ron, our two steady eddy staff people ever present in the studio.

Recently staff evaluations were completed for both Ron and Marcy and it was easy to see how much they do all the time to keep OFFCenter running smoothly and to make it a welcoming space for all. How many places in Albuquerque provide that?!

Thank you to Ron and Marcy, we all appreciate the hard work you do!

The OFFBag

Hello all OFFCenter folks! Yesterday I was OFF to do errands on my bike wearing my handy dandy OFFbag! It was perfect to hold whatever I was hauling OFF to the post office, etc. - and it's diagonal strap keeps it from falling OFF my shoulder! Are you OFF to town with your OFFbag? I hope so! See all the new available OFFbags at OFFCenter, new sizes too!

Call for Artists: Threads from the Dead -- Who are you from?

Entries Accepted October 21st through 23rd.

Exhibit Opening Friday, October 30th 5pm –8pm

OFFCenter’s Annual Day of the Dead show open to all artists and mediums. All work should be dropped off by Oct 23rd and there is no entry fee.

Sponsored by NMATA ( New Mexico Art Therapist Association).

For further information call Marci at 247-1172.

Repujado Workshop Oct. 24

Repujado is an old European metalworking technique -- called "repousse" in French, where special tools are used to add dimention and texture to metal. This technique can add a beautiful lustre and antique finish to metal.


Come join us on October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The $60 course fee includes all materials. Please call OFFCenter at 505-247-1172 for more information -- your payment must be received at time of registration to confirm your spot in the class.




Jolanta Feliciano is a local repujado expert, who we're happy to have back at OFFCenter for another workshop.

Sharie's Studio Journal

Last week in the studio was busy in preparation for the opening of the Paper or Plastic Show and Thank you to our wonderful volunteers. There were not so many artists in the studio but there were new visitors coming in to check it out. Some said they had missed the Folk Art Festival due to being out of town others said a friend had attended the fest and told them about it so they wanted to see who we are and what we do. It ws nice to have the opportunity to share with new friends about OFFCenter and what we do and what a great place OFFCenter is.

Some are looking for a place to make art others want to donate materials and others their time and talents.

The photo of "roses in a box" these were made by several artists in the studio to be given to our valued volunteers we could not function without the great individuals (just a few shown here).

The Letters Home Project continues to meet at OFFCenter on Sunday afternoons to create cards and letter writing materials for military personnel overseas to have so they can write to their families and loved ones. (see photos)