Design Your Own Skateboard Deck is the week of July 10-14th. Students are provided with a blank maple deck, lots of images of contemporary skateboard deck designs. Then they work to design, paint, and varnish the bottom of the deck. No wheels or trucks are provided but when done you can add them on you own. 2-4pm every day from July 10-14th
$125 per participant Ages 9-16
This is Gerda. She is turning 96 years old this next week and has a solo show of her paintings up at Capitol Lakes. Gerda says, "she never had time to do art until now." She had no formal lessons and just started painting in 2011. Now, she can't stop! Every Friday, Bare Knuckle Arts heads up to their art studio and Gerda is there always early for the Open Studio Acrylic Painting class. Capitol Lakes is a retirement community up by the Capitol here in Madison, WI. They have an a amazing collection of art as well as rotating shows highlighting the many talents of their residents. Gerda is proof that you are never too old to try something new!
Big planning, big ideas, and inspiration from local public sculpture and world sculptures. Today in Lapham Buildementary Outdoor Sculptures we took a look at some local public sculptures for inspiration. We love Sid Boyum, Erika Koivunen, Susan Walsh, Leon Varjian, Jim Mallon, Dr. Evermore, and a few more. Putting our ideas onto paper with popsicle sticks to represent the pole bases. Lots of food ideas. animals, and of course a farting cactus.
Almost too many to mention but if you are looking for a great date night experience and need a place to leave the kids for a bit try Date Night at Bare Knuckle Arts. Then head out to One Barrel Brewing, Alchemy, Tex Tubbs Tacos, Lao Laan Xang(my favorite), Monte's Blue Plate Diner, and Chocolate!!! Barrymore for entertainment or a night at Sol Escape Healing Spa. Then pick up the kids and get the art framed at Megan's Custom Framing! Probably forgot a few!
The world of possibilities you might find at Bare Knuckle Arts begins with all the classes here. Each has a unique flair not found in other places. We are currently accepting enrollment for summer classes in Sewing Camp for Kids in June, Architecture & Automatons in July, Make and Photograph Miniature Worlds in July, Exploring Contemporary Artists Week in August, and Family Fun Glass Mosaics Week(2 for the price of one).
Summer planning begins now for most, if not now very very soon. Reserve your spot today!!!
Lots of great places to eat and explore in the Atwood Neighborhood. So, drop the children off at Bare Knuckle Arts, and go enjoy a night out! We will fill their evening with fun art projects. They will explore all different types of art and design, paper crafting, duct tape, and sculpture. Multiple child discounts available. 6-8pm Friday night March 24th. Ages 6-Up $25 per participant or $20 with multiple children. Pre-Registration required.
Have you had a couple lessons but want to learn a bit more? Every Thursday 6:30pm-8:30pm we have open studio for acrylic painters. It is open, you paint the subject matter you would like to paint but an instructor is there to offer suggestions and help with a few techniques. Student grade acrylics, brushes, and small canvas, canvas board or paper is provided. You can also bring your own paints, canvas, and panels as well.
Sessions every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 beginning March 9th, March 16th, 23rd, and 30th.
Ages 12-Adult welcome $20 per session and you can pay per session or all in one.
We all can use a little more time to be creative, it's important. Offering a bit of time and a great low cost workshop to help nurture that creative drive. Altered Cigar Box Workshop is all about taking an old box and making it your own. Modify it, revise, revamp, rework, redo, and transform your box using all the materials in the studio. Lots of choices-lots of fun. Saturday March 25th 10am-12pm
Ages 8-Adult $36 per participant
We are off and running with the Lapham Buildementary: Outdoor Sculptures by Kids. This is a 12-week exploration of public art and sculpture in an after-school club. Led by artist and art educator Amy Mietzel (owner of Bare Knuckle Arts), 1st and 2nd Grade Lapham students will consider local examples of public art, work with a few guest artists, and design and build sculptures in small groups. The students' work-in-progress will be on display during Gallery Night at Bare Knuckle Arts on Winnebago Street on Friday, May 5th and finished works will be displayed along the Yahara River in the summer. This amazing opportunity is funded by a grant from the Madison Arts Commission with support from the Marquette Neighborhood Association, the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association, and the Lapham Parent Teacher Group. Writer and organizer of this project is Jessica Becker an arts advocate for the city of Madison who has created several inspiring projects within the city of Madison including Reflections from the Banks of the Yaharra River and Reynold Park Projects. Read more about these successes on her blog Between Two Lakes.
Often times when I tell people I am an art educator, they say to me, "I can't draw a straight line with a ruler," which doesn't quite make sense. If you have always wanted to learn to draw and have at times felt overwhelmed, self-conscious about your skills, or hesitation then this is the class for you.
6 Week Session beginning April 20th
This drawing course is a very beginning focus on the development of observational skills and drawing techniques. We will be doing still life, contour line drawing, and gesturing drawing. Every session offers a different drawing media from pencil to charcoal to ink, etc. We will work on developing both technical abilities and creative responses to material and subject matter. No prior experience with drawing is required or expected just an open mind and willingness to try. Every Thursday from 6:30pm till 8pm beginning April 20th. Ages 12-Adult
Thursday April 20th Still life drawing with Pencil, Thursday April 28th Contour Line/Gesture drawing with Pencil, Thursday May 4th Charcoal drawing of objects, Thursday May 11th Pen & Ink Drawing, Thursday May 18th Pastel Drawing Volumes 3D, Thursday May 25th Loose your inhibitions-Draw like a Child
Great class for your elementary aged child ages 6-10 years old. We will explore and learn about 5 different contemporary famous artists then create our own art based on their images. Monday is the artist Yayoi Kasuma and the project is painting. Tuesday is the artist El Anatsui and the project is metal sculpture construction. Wednesday is the artist Willard Wigan and we will create small miniature worlds and then photograph them. Thursday is the artist Shinique Smithand we will create a textile sculpture. Friday is the artist Anish Kapoor with a sculptural project.
Ages 5-9 welcome Class meets Monday thru Friday 1-3pm
$125 per participant
Sewing Camp for Kids!
This is a hands-on week where students learn how to hand sew buttons and re-purposed fabric into small birds or animals or people. One day students will learn to marble fabric and use the fabric in a project. They will create a small messenger bag on a sewing machine. As well as some other small sewing projects such as a pillow making and key chains.
All equipment, basic fabrics and materials will be provided, however students are encouraged to bring in their own materials for experimentation and re-purposing. No experience necessary — this class is designed for beginning makers. Monday thru Friday 1-3pm every day June 26th-June 30th
$125 per participant Ages 7-12 years old
Today in After school Art, a little 3rd grader had a huge crying melt down because she could not make the project the way she wanted to make it. Perfect. After a long discussion with her and Grandpa who picked her up-she said she is so stressed out with Map testing. She feels like she can't make anything perfect. She quit, told me to throw the project away and left just spent. Being creative should breed happiness but the stress of life is getting to even the kids. Usually, the act of being creative, makes us all significantly more happy but today it was areflection on a child's world.
Ojos de Dios are also known as Godseyes. Godesyes were traditionally made in Mexico and by the Pueblo people in New Mexico as a celebration, blessing or to mark a trail they walked on. The spiritual eye of the Ojo de Dios is thought by some believers to have the power to see and understand things unknown to the physical eye. In Mexico The four points represent the elemental processes: earth, fire, air, and water.
