CCArts Blog

Van Gogh UP CLOSE at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

RAIN, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Students in Diana Heitzman’s painting classes suggested this CCArts excursion and I am so glad they did.  This same group of painters regularly visit picturesque local sites like Longwood Gardens, the Hagley Museum and Gardens or Winterthur. They enjoy strolling these beautiful grounds, photograph landscapes and historic buildings, then create inspired paintings back in the studio at CCArts.

It is no surprise that these artists would enjoy a private tour of the upcoming Van Gogh exhibition and the chance to see the master’s work up close and personal. In fact the day is made to order with plenty of time to meander through the museum and a side trip to see another beautiful landscape as well, the Tiffany glass mosaic of the Maxfield Parish designed “Dream Garden” at the Curtis Center. This is going to be a great day and it’s a good value as well.

A visitor recently remarked that the $63 fee for the day was a steal and when I took the time to add up what it would cost to have this day of art on your own, I discovered she is absolutely right! By the time I added up museum admission, the private tour, parking at two locations, gas and mileage, the total exceeded a hundred dollars. Wow! And I didn’t even factor in the frustration of driving on busy city streets or the headache of finding a parking space and then walking great distances. Thank you, mam, for calling my attention to this.

Apparently, other people are figuring this out because we are beginning to take registrations – two at a time – for friends and couples who look forward to a lovely, artful day.  Get on the bus! We are in for a real treat.

Van Gogh UP CLOSE: March 15, 2012, 8:30am – 4:30pm

What is a better way to support your local community arts center, than to Give the Gift of Art this holiday season? We have put together a few gift ideas for anyone on your shopping list!

$35 and up – a membership to CCArts

$50 and up – give the gift of a CCArts class

$63 to $68 – Van Gogh up close bus trip

$125 per camp – gift a summer camp or a few

$225 per week – gift Spring Break Art Camp

$$$ – can’t decide? gift certificates make a great gift to be used on classes, membership, events or in our gift shop Unique.

Watch this video: Annie Leibovitz says go for the iPhone

Now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Straight from the photographer of legends, Annie Leibovitz says the iPhone is the way to go for everyday, snapshot photography.  In an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, Annie responds to his question about what camera to buy…

“It’s an interesting time, because of the iphone. That is the snapshot camera of today… really — i’m still learning how to use mine here, but — (holding it up for the camera) – there you go. It’s great; it’s a pencil, it’s a pen, it’s a notebook. I can’t tell you how many times people show me their children. It’s the wallet with the family pictures in it, it’s so acceptable and easy.”

If it’s good enough for Annie, well I think most of us will be thrilled! That’s why Kathy Buckalew and I developed the new iPhone Photography class. There is so much to learn about taking beautiful photographs skillfully and creatively and Kathy is as excited about this new photographic art form as I am.  It’s the “camera in your pocket”.

Check it out: iPhone Photography at CCArts, 4 Saturdays this winter, February 4th and 18th, March 3rd and 17th, 2012, 10:30am – 12:30pm. These are scheduled every other Saturday to allow plenty of time to shoot between classes. Class fee is $67 for members registering early. Call us if you want to know more about this class.

The Center for the Creative Arts celebrated their 30^th Anniversary at the Reception for the 2011 Annual Regional Exhibition, held Thursday, October 13, 2011. Also on view was a tribute to former CCArts Instructor and Advisory Board Member Edward Loper, Sr., who passed away recently. Artwork in a variety of media in this juried exhibition is on display by 39 regional artists through October 28.  Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10am-6pm, Friday, 10am-4pm

Prizes were awarded for first, second, third place and honorable mentions:

First Place Second Place

The Road to Henry’s Emblem DIS

Michelle Green                     Vera Kaminski

Third Place

Cagnes’ Swirl

Marilyn Bauman

Honorable Mentions

A View from the Hill, Winterthur Taking Flight

Cyndy Falcoff                                                  Debbie Hegedus

Picasso’s Pink House Jar and Lemons

Mark Houlday                              James R. Huntsberger

Marriage (Metaphor) Cabo

Dawn Majewski                          Tom Planer

Tally is in! Luck of the Draw raised…ready? over $8,000 profit for scholarships for kids! Special thanks to all that came to bid, attended as ticket holders, artists and friends for donating artwork and our volunteers!

Even the last pick of the night can be fun! Pamela Howard enjoyed picking her piece.

Instructor and ticketholder Diana Heitzman enjoys the event!

Noted photographer, Kathleen Buckalew, will lead a fall photo safari, documenting rich visual stories of the community. With Kennett Square’s revitalization efforts, there are multiple angles to consider; people, buildings, reflections, details, plants, trees, action, light, stores, galleries, restaurants, and more. This Documentary Photography Workshop, open to intermediate and advanced students who know their camera well, meets October 14 in the evening and all day Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Check www.ccarts.org for details. Fee is $116 ($96 for CCArts Members). A minimum number of registrations are needed by Monday in order to run this workshop.

Karl Kuerner speaking about his lastest works.

Saturday evening’s fundraiser “Luck of the Draw” was a great success for CCARTS as well as for me. My very first painting instructor, who inspired me greatly, was the guest speaker. Karl Kuerner, a local favorite came and spoke to us, signed his new book “Ike at Night”, it was such a treat for me. Among the guests were also several people in my life that contributed to my life and skills as an artist, West Chester University Professors Nancy Rumfield (Photography), Belle Hollon (Painting and Printmaking), and Virginia DaCosta (Art History) to name a few were there and it was so great to see them again. It has been twelve years since I graduated West Chester University, but it seems like yesterday. -Jenna Schuck (Instructor, Artist)

West Chester University Arts Professors

The Fall classes aren’t full yet, so don’t delay.
Sign up for Lisa Lutwyche’s “Outside the Lines” and “Finding the Right Words.”

These classes have been running for most of the last 20 years and we’re still doing new things!

See you there!

Lisa L.

We are coming to the end of our summer camp here at Cc-arts. It is safe to say that this summer has been the best camp thus far. I honestly do not want it to end. It definitely can go on all year round and it would be the best job ever!

 This week I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday, August 16th, with the Ccarts family. Amazing…..I was on lunch duty and one of the campers bracelet broke into two pieces. I told her that I could fix it. I went down to one of the teachers rooms that had glue and I came back to the lunch room with the bracelet repaired. However, when I got there the room was dark and there were no children in sight. I started to panic…then the lights come on and the children were screaming and singing the birthday song at the top of their lungs. The best birthday ever!