Come make comic books with us! Poster by Teppi Zuppo, our event organizer.
Registration is open
Artists of all abilities are invited to join us in the global creative challenge known as 24 Hour Comics–a chance for you to make (write, draw, paste-up) your original 24-page comic book! It takes place on Saturday, October 7th. Pre-register now, or at the door. We start drawing at 9 AM.
Please register using the Eventbrite form–it has the waiver and code of conduct checkboxes all there. It’ll save a lot of paperwork on the day of the event.
Get sponsors!
There’s an option on your ticket to join CAL’s fundraising team. This allows you to set up your own campaign page on our event page and start promoting your participation in the challenge. You can post ideas about your story, an example of your art, or a bio about yourself. Then share it with your friends and family and ask them to sponsor you with a donation to CAL. Here’s the fundraising page and our team so far.
Fundraising is optional but will help us to offset the cost of producing this event. Montpelier Alive contributed funds to help start this year’s effort.
What is 24 Hour Comics Day anyway?
The original challenge started in the 90s between two comic book artists and it has taken off across the world as a creative challenge for anyone. Here’s some more info about its origin.
The three etching presses in The Pull Room can produce monotype prints. Monotype is an easy way to get your creative juices flowing, either as a warm up exercise or finished piece.
In all printmaking, paint (or medium) is applied to a matrix like an plexiglass or copper plate, which is then transferred to paper (or canvas) by applying pressure. In the case for monotype, the matrix is a smooth nonabsorbent surface onto which the artist applies paint directly. Monotypes are unique prints, meaning that no two prints are exactly alike.
Monotyping is a versatile printmaking technique that can be used to create a wide variety of images. The artist can use a variety of tools and materials to create the image, including brushes, rags, sponges, and even their fingers. The artist can also use a variety of inks and paints, as well as solvents and other materials to manipulate the image.
Fiona and Molly manipulate monotype plates. The plates are attached onto cardboard for easier handling.
Monotyping can be used to create a wide variety of artistic styles. The artist can create realistic images, abstract images, or even mixed-media images. Monotyping can also be used to create prints that are both beautiful and expressive.
Some of the most famous monotype artists include Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, and Edgar Degas. These artists used monotyping to create a wide variety of images, including landscapes, portraits, and abstract compositions. Their monotypes are now considered to be some of the most important works of art of the 20th century. Jasper Johns is a contemporary artist who utilized this method.
Jasper JohnsEdgar DegasHenri Matisse
Monotyping is a versatile and expressive printmaking technique that can be used to create a wide variety of images. It is a popular technique among both traditional and contemporary artists, and it is a great way to explore the creative process.
Learning Monotype at CAL
Two monotype classes will be held in July, led by printmaker Phillip Robertson, who teaches at Northern Vermont University at Johnson. This class is open to all community members ages 16 and up. All materials will be supplied. Phillip will lead you through various applications and manipulations of paint on the matrix and will help you to pull the resulting prints. Finished prints will be wet, which you may leave to dry or take home with you. Please wear clothes you are comfortable painting in.
Class 1: July 8, 2023
Class 2: July 29, 2023
Last week the T.W. Wood and the CAL staff learned to pull monotypes with Phillip, and here’s some of what they made.
We had such a great time last summer getting to know our neighbors that we’re doing it again! We’re partnering with the Montpelier Senior Activity Center to host potluck dinners this summer on the 4th Wednesday of the month. The first one will be on May 24th at 5:30 PM. Please bring dinner for yourself or something to share with the group. We’re working on inviting some City representatives to this first meeting to get to know their work and ask some questions. Come join us! For information, please email: info@cal-vt.org.
Schedule
May 24: meet City representatives
June 28: make music with us
July 26: decorate your own solar eclipse glasses and discuss viewing plans
Aug 23: learn about Barre Street businesses
Sept 23 (not a Weds): join the MSAC annual Harvest Dinner
What to Expect
All participants are expected to abide by CAL’s Code of Conduct. Please come if you are feeling well, and mask are optional. We’ll mingle about and eat dinner starting at 5:30. Games, fun, presentations will start by 6:15. Stay as long as you like, but we’ll clean up by 7.
Please note that this is intended to be a safe, welcoming event amongst neighbors. Some of us will be new to one another, so please respect one another’s choices in food, conversation, and personal boundaries. See you in the playground!
Last year, the group came up with this tagline for the neighborhood: A Wonderful Place to Grow.
Center for Arts and Learning joins Vermont Open Studio Memorial Day Weekend 🎨
TL;DR Visit the Center for Arts and Learning during Open Studio and meet artists Liz Le Serviget and LynaLou Nordstrom. CAL boasts two galleries and curated hallways.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montpelier’s nonprofit community arts hub, the Center for Arts and Learning (CAL), located at 46 Barre St in Montpelier, VT will take part in the Vermont Crafts Council’s 30th Spring Open Studio on Memorial Day weekend. Doors are open to the general public on May 28 and 29 from 10 am to 4 pm.
“Faces”, from Liz Le Serviget’s Tracking Time Through Covid show
Studio artists present will be painter Liz Le Serviget (B1) and printmaker LynaLou Nordstrom (B5) in the lower “Underground Gallery” space. Come see their work, visit with the artists and if inclined, purchase their work.
A print from LynaLou Nordstrom’s collection
Le Serviget’s exhibit “Tracking Time Through COVID” is displayed upstairs in the Members Gallery on the first floor. It’s a watercolor and oil timeline of her daily life since March 14, 2020, featuring cards, reflections, portraits and an interactive piece.
“Horror”, from Deborah Goudreau’s Separation Series
The second floor Community Gallery features Separation Series, a meditation on family separation via water-filled clay vessels by Deborah Goudreau. Wall art by Jeremy Vaughn, Lisa Meyers, and Sarah Ashe round out the Separations and Migrations exhibit.
OTHER ART AT CAL: The first floor hallway and a portion of the Underground Gallery is curated by the Art Resource Association (ARA), a membership group of Central Vermont artists.
There’s much to see during Open Studio at CAL. Opening reception for all shows will take place during Montpelier Art Walk, Friday June 3rd from 5-7 pm.
ABOUT CAL: The Center for Arts and Learning is Montpelier’s nonprofit arts hub, featuring gallery space, private art studios, and is the permanent home of the T.W. Wood Gallery and Museum and the Monteverdi Music School. It is located at 46 Barre Street and is open M-F 8-5, S/S 10-4. For more information: info@cal-vt.org
ABOUT OPEN STUDIO: The 30th Annual Vermont Spring Open Studio Weekend, is held during Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 & 29 from 10 – 5 each day. It gives shoppers, visitors and collectors the opportunity to plan a tour that brings them through the small towns of Vermont to studios where they can purchase beautiful well-made things and talk with the artist that made them. Open Studio is a project of the Vermont Crafts Council. CAL is stop #120 on the map.
Don’t miss us on the next Art Walk, June 3rd. See you then! 🗓️
Also: for everyone who came by the next day for Liz LeServiget’s art sale benefitting Ukraine, she was able to send off $800 in donations. Thanks to art buyers one and all. 💖
Our next Mocks and Smocks takes place on Friday, April 15 and is taught by Jess Quinn, who will be guiding participants through a mixed media collage on canvas creating images of poppies, and using this flower as inspiration.
Doors open at 5:30, and participants are encouraged to arrive then to sample refreshments and settle into their creative workspace. Class starts promptly at 6 PM.
From 6 til 8, Jess will guide participants in mixed media collage , using paint, paper, glue, and watercolors.
This series is a presentation of the Center for Arts and Learning. Ticket sales help to defray materials costs, pay the teaching artist, and supports overall CAL programming.
COVID Safety:
To ensure safety at this event, the class size is limited, the space has good airflow and we run an air purifier during class. Masks are required (provided if needed). Anyone feeling unwell should stay home and join us in a future class.
We’re very much looking forward to next week’s Mocks and Smocks event with Katie O’Rourke. Doors open at 5:30 PM and class starts at 6 PM. If you haven’t yet reserved your ticket, please do so now!
Katie is a Montpelier-based teaching artist and she is a great guide to help you create a finished painting that you can take with you. This month, we will be making an abstract winter scene.
Learn how to make this painting on March 18th
Great for friend groups. teens, and #TGIF unwinding sessions. Refreshments will be provided. $5 discount for two tickets purchased.
For folks who want to plan ahead, please check out the spring dates here and go ahead and pre-order the canvases for the dates you’re interested in. As always, class size is limited. Paintings for these sessions will be posted later.
If you enjoy this program, please make sure to tell your friends, post about it on Front Porch Forum, or share our Facebook events. See you on Friday the 18th!
Come #TGIF with us this month on Friday, Feb 18th and unwind with a fun low-stress paint along! Local teacher Katie O’Rourke will lead us through painting an owl face, with feather details. Come as a pair you can each do half a face!
As always, this is a sober family-friendly event and no experience is necessary. Refreshments and supplies provided. Take your painting home with you! For ages 14+
Painting of an owl face that we’ll be working on.
Please note, we’ve changed the ticketing a little bit to make it easier and more fair for everyone. Ticket costs offset supplies, teaching fees, and supports CAL programming.
Center for Arts and Learning presents Let’s Collage About It, a community exhibition of contemporary collage art by 15 Vermont artists. The exhibit includes a variety of collage techniques by artists of different ages and mediums. The exhibit is curated by artist Jess Quinn.
Featured Artists: Kristin Bierfelt, Liz Buchanan, Katherine Coons, Anne Cummings, Elizabeth Dow, Ren Haley, Holly Hauser, Lily Hinrichsen, Jean Kelly, Jess Quinn, Rachel Marie Rodi, Cariah Rosberg, Anne Sarcka, Peggy Watson, Olivia White.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception, to be held as part of Montpelier’s Art Walk on Friday, February 4th, 2022 from 5-7 PM in the 2nd floor Community Gallery. The Gallery is sponsored by National Life Group.
Are You Made of Stone? by Kristin Beirfelt, Middlesex, VTSending An SOS To The World by Anne Cummings, Westford, VT
The show will be on display until April 15th, 2022. Viewing hours are Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM and 10 AM – 4 PM on the weekends. CAL is located at 46 Barre St., Montpelier, VT. The elevator accessible entrance is on Monsignor Crosby Ave. For more information about the exhibit and the artists, please visit www.cal-vt.org.
ABOUT THE VENUE: The Center for Arts and Learning (CAL) is the permanent home for the T.W. Wood Gallery and the Monteverdi Music School and serves as an artistic hub for Central Vermont, located in an historic building in Montpelier, Vermont’s capital. CAL is a nonprofit organization created to support the arts by providing studio space for artists, musicians, writers, and nonprofits.
Mocks and Smocks is back again every third Friday of the month, starting on the 21st with a wintry painting session led by Montpelier artistKatie O’Rourke.
Mocks and Smocks is open to everyone ages 14+, all materials and instruction will be provided. Enjoy mocktails and snacks on us. You take your painting home with you!
Friday, January 21, 2022. Doors open 5:30, class starts at 6 PM.
As seen above, our COVID precautions include masking, limited class size, and use of an air purifier in the space.
Class will be held in the 2nd floor gallery space. Elevator accessible entrance is located on the Msgr Crosby side (purple door).
Tickets available for youth participants, parent-child pairs, and adult pairs. We offer discounts for paired tickets.
Here’s the painting we’ll be working on this month.
Cardinal sitting on a fence in a snowy field with a branchy tree in the background against a blue sky while snowflakes fall. Painting by Katie O’Rourke.
Tickets help us to offset cost of materials, the teaching fee, and supports CAL’s overall programming. We appreciate your support. For more information: info@cal-vt.org.
