It’s summer: a time when many kick back and relax. For artists who want a bit more, the East End Arts Council (EEAC) is providing the opportunity to learn something new or expand their skills.
There are four-day mini-retreats that focus on painting or drawing. A weekly Speakers Series will reveal ways artists from different fields have been able to make their art pay off. Both programs peel back some of the secrets of artistic success.
The Speakers Series launches on July 16 and continues every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. through August 20. The mini-retreats, running over four consecutive days, will be held in August. Registration is underway. The workshops will be led by painters Alan Bull or Anne Kullaf. Optional yoga workshops are available to get participants in the creative zone before the painting or drawing begins.
Both programs tap area talent and the expertise of two artists selected for the EEAC’s new Summer Artists in Residence program. The Speakers Series is based on member interest in the business side of art and the EEAC’s devotion to providing information that can help artists succeed. The programs and the artist residencies are a few new ways the non-profit arts organization is spreading its wings.
“The artist programs and the Speakers Series are experimental,” said EEAC Executive Director Patricia Snyder. “We know the topic of how to make a living as an artist is always of interest to artists, so we hope we’ll have a good response. It’s exciting to not have a program structure in place and to be able to take chances and see how it turns out. That’s really what art is all about—trying new things and seeing what happens and pushing beyond the comfort zone.”
Offering four-day retreats is new for the EEAC. Workshops are typically offered in weekly series or as one-shot deals. The idea to offer a concentration course was sparked after Ms. Snyder went on an artist retreat in North Carolina last year. Afterward, she wanted to share her experience of gaining new creative perspectives made possible by multiple days dedicated to creativity.
While participants in the mini-retreat will go home every day, she believes the opportunity to spend four full days learning painting or drawing, gaining confidence and claiming a style provides benefits that shorter workshops cannot.
“When you get to step away and are just able to paint, you start to have new ideas and gain a new perspective that you can’t have when you’re so close to everything,” Ms. Snyder said. “It was a wonderful experience and I wanted to see if we could offer something similar that was closer to home.”
The Speaker Series also walks a bit on the wild side as there is no specific format for the artist talks. The only expectation is that the artists will speak about how they make a living from their art. Each of the artists was selected for his or her apparent success and ability to engage a crowd to create an enjoyable evening. The intimacy of the meeting room should encourage dialog and foster a personal experience, Ms. Snyder said.
Most of the speakers are visual artists. They include Mike Killelea (July 23), Alan Bull (August 6), Dan Rizzie of North Haven (August 13) and Elaine Thompson (August 20). Poets Julie Sheehan and Star Black share a bill on July 30. Singer-songwriter Hugh Prestwood kicks off the series on July 16.
Mr. Prestwood is a 2006 inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and a songwriter for BMG music. His songs have been extensively recorded by country music stars including Randy Travis, Trisha Yearwood, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, The Judds and others.
Ms. Sheehan and Ms. Black have published multiple poetry collections. Ms. Thompson is known for her golf art and has been commissioned several times to create the commemorative posters for the U.S. Open. Mr. Rizzie’s paintings are part of many private, corporate and museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art.
Mr. Killelea’s marine art has been exhibited in museums across the country and his work in collections held by The Smithsonian Museum and the US Navy Museum. Mr. Bull has had solo shows in London, New York and Boston. His paintings are part of the upcoming Warner Brother’s movie, “The Clique,” to be released this fall.
The two artists in residence were selected for their artistic accomplishments and their ability to share their expertise with the community (for bios and information, see www.kullaf.com and www.alanbull.com).
The Artist in Residence program provides living accommodations and use of the Carriage House to create work. Artists are expected to connect with EEAC members through performance, teaching or a presentation. Residencies range from one week to one month.
Having the expansive space in the Carriage House allows for greater outreach beyond visual arts. The on-site recording studio and photography darkroom has led to new types of classes. The Musicians’ Think Tank easily accommodated the crowd of more than 100 who attended, Ms. Snyder said. The hope is that musicians and photographers will begin to take advantage of the facilities in greater numbers.
Art workshops coinciding with exhibitions at the EEAC Gallery are also new. Themed summer classes focusing on still life and portraiture are designed to enhance the experience of viewing the gallery shows, “The Face” (June 6 to July 11), and “Food” (July 18 to August 22).
EEAC board member Annika Shapiro believes the new programs are important moves in the right direction.
“We’re pleased to have artists to interact with the community and for the community to become aware of the various cultural forms we have in the area,” she said. “We’re somewhat removed from art centers like New York City and universities. We’re trying to fill a niche and provide opportunities for people to learn about the arts and about the talent we have here in the community.”
The EEAC is located at 133 East Main Street in Riverhead. For information, call 727-0966 or visit www.eastendarts.org.
on Jul 7, 2008