Thanks to a grant from Manatee Cares, ArtCenter Manatee is pleased to offer programs to help you reduce stress, isolation, and boredom brought on by COVID. We’ll provide you with a safe, creative environment where you can interact with others and destress for a few hours a week. The arts have been proven to facilitate the healing process and we have selected these classes to help you learn and have fun while you destress.

• All classes are FREE.
• Supplies are included (you will need to bring your own yogo mat).
• Registration is limited to Manatee County residents NEW to ACM.
• No experience needed.
• Seating is limited so register now by calling 941-746-2862.
• Masks are required-no exceptions.

Jewelry Making with Wendy Thurlow
Thursdays 6:00-9:00
October 8, 15, 22, 27
Learn the basic skills needed to make your own jewelry such as soldering, sawing, and forming metal. You’ll have fun as you create your own works of wearable art! Closed toe shoes required for safety. Limited to 9 students.

Learn the Potter’s Wheel with Seth Barendse
Fridays 1:00-4:00
October 16, 23, 30, Nov 6
Learn how to center, pull walls, and give shape to your pots. You’ll also learn how to trim and glaze. Limited to 6 students.

Yoga in the Gallery with Sarah Boler
Mondays 5:30-6:30
Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9
Give yourself the rejuvenating and relaxing gift of yoga. All poses are designed to increase your strength, balance and flexibility. Plus, it gives your nervous system a boost! If you have never tried yoga or have a regular practice this class is for you in the beautiful gallery atmosphere. Bring your own mat. Limited to 9 students.

Make Glass Beads with a Torch with Liana Martin
Saturdays 9:00-12:00
Oct 10, 17, 24, 31
Learn about safety, lampworking equipment, glass properties, bead making techniques and annealing. Students will learn to make beads of various shapes; how to use shaping, raking and poking tools; surface decoration; pulling stringers; basic encasing, frit work and making twisties. Limited to 9 students.

My name is Qing Wang. I grew up under the nurturing OrientaI culture and art. But I took a fancy to sketching and Western Art in middle school.  I started to draw billboards for stores when I was 15 and studied art design and fine art while in college. After college, I had my own Advertising design company for a few years and worked for three galleries as a contract artist. During that time my artworks was sold to Russia, Arabia, Korea, and US. 

My work is very diversified. I create paintings in different mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor and resin and also enjoy resin pouring – even painting in resin. Yes, I’m still exploring my art style. 

I know there are more and more people and kids who love to paint and create – I’d love to share my skills and fun with everyone. I taught 155 students when I was in North Carolina. 

I love beaches so I create a lot of sea life and seascapes. In Feb 2020, I moved to Florida to explore my art career further. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and hope I can have more students join with me on my creative journey.

https://artcentermanatee.org/tagged/qing-wang/

Classes with Qing Wang

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Sterling Edwards is a contemporary watermedia master who is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He has been a resident of North Carolina since 1973.

In 2007 Sterling was honored to be awarded signature member status in the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC) and in 2010 he was awarded signature membership status in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA).

Sterling was a featured artist in the fall 2001 issue of “Watercolor Magic Magazine’s Ones to Watch” and has been featured in numerous other magazine and newspaper articles. In 2009 he was a featured artist in the book, “Best of America Watermedia Artists”. He is the author of the best selling North Light book “Creating Luminous Watercolor Landscapes, a Four Step Process” and is a featured artist in numerous  other books by various national and international publishers including, “Masters of Watercolor”, published in 2015 by Russian artist and author, Konstantin Sterkhov. Sterling is also the designer of a signature line of multi-media paint brushes and a watercolor palette that are marketed internationally.

In 2013 Sterling was proudly accepted by invitation into the International Watercolor Society (IWS) and in 2015 was awarded a lifetime signature membership into the internationally renowned Whiskey Painters of America (WPA), the most unique and exclusive miniature painting society in the world.  In 2017 he was awarded signature membership status in the National Watercolor Society (NWS).

Highly respected among his peers, Sterling is often commissioned to jury national and international art competitions. His award-winning paintings are in private and corporate collections worldwide. Sterling works from his home studio in Lewisville, North Carolina.

Until further notice, the pottery studio will only be open to students currently enrolled in a class. Students must register in advance to reserve a slot. Each student may take one 3-hour session per week. You may register the first day of your class for that week and on Saturday for the following week. Limit will be 6 students per session.

The Pottery Studio is available for use during regular business hours by ArtCenter Manatee members who have completed one ceramics class at ArtCenter Manatee in the past two years. Open studio is available only when classes are not in session. There is a fee for use of Open Studio if you are not in a ceramics class. Each session is up to 3 hours. A full day is up to 6 hours. If you are currently enrolled in a ceramics class you have a one week grace period after your last class date. You must sign in and out at the front desk at all times. If you do not sign in/out, it will be considered an all day open studio. You must provide your own materials. Clay may be purchased for $35 per 25 lbs. Price includes glazes and firing.

Please call before coming to ensure schedule has not changed.

• • • • • Single Open Studio: $9 for one, 3-hour session
        • 6-pack Open Studio: $42 for six, 3-hour sessions
        • 12-pack Open Studio: $72 for twelve, 3-hour sessions

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Annual Members Show
An all media, juried exhibition

We’re delighted to feature the work of our very talented members in this annual, all media juried exhibit. Each member may enter up to 3 pieces. Cash awards.

Juror: Suzy Schultz

Entry Fees: The Non-Refundable Entry fees support the exhibition program at ArtCenter Manatee and help to keep the arts alive and vibrant in our community. If you are not currently a member, an individual membership is available for $60 for one full year.

1 piece – members $20
2 pieces – members $30
3 pieces – members $35
Diptych –members add $5
Triptych –members add $15

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We will contact you regarding your sponsorship. We appreciate your support.

Bright & Bold Open Juried Exhibition

Exhibit: April 17 – May 11, Kellogg Gallery

Online Entry: Closes April 10, @ 4:00pm EDST
Notify: by April 12, 5:00pm EDST

In-Person Receiving: April 14, 18, 9:00-1:00

Opening Reception:
Thursday, April 18, 5:00-7:00pm
Free – All Welcome

Pick-up: May 12

Bright & Bold is an open, all media, juried exhibit. Each artist may enter up to 3 pieces. The all media work will be displayed in the Kellogg Gallery. All artists welcome. Please see the exhibition requirements

Entry Fees: Entry fees support the exhibition program at ArtCenter Manatee and help to keep the arts alive and vibrant in our community. If you are not currently a member, an individual membership is available for $60 for one full year.

1 piece – members $20
2 pieces – members $30
3 pieces – members $35

1 piece – non-members $30
2 pieces – non-members $50
3 pieces – non-members $65

Diptych – members add $5, non-members add $10,
Triptych –  members add $15, non-members add $30

Exhibition Schedule and Requirements

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Artist’s Choice Open Exhibition

Exhibit: May 23-Jun 23
Searle Gallery

Online Entry: Until May 15, 5:00pm EDST
Notify: by May 18
Receiving: May 20, 9:00-1:00pm

Opening Reception:
Thursday, May 25, 5:00-7:00pm

Pick up Jun 24, 9am – 1pm

Artist’s Choice is an open, all media, juried exhibit. Also showing will be Color Outside the Lines by Artists from the Village of the Arts and our 80th Anniversary Exhibit

Entry Fees: Entry fees support the exhibition program at ArtCenter Manatee and help to keep the arts alive and vibrant in our community. If you are not currently a member, an individual membership is available for $60 for one full year.

1 piece – members $20
2 pieces – members $30
3 pieces – members $35

1 piece – non-members $30
2 pieces – non-members $50
3 pieces – non-members $65

Diptych – members add $5, non-members add $10,
Triptych –  members add $15, non-members add $30

Exhibition Schedule and Requirements

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Pottery Studio Rules

• There is a designated area for clay for students who are in a class. Name, date and instructor must be written in marker on clay package. This is mandatory.
• While in wheel classes, long hair must be tied back & dangling jewelry removed. No open toe shoes are permitted in Raku class.
• Door leading to deck must be closed at all times.
• Please know you leave your clay at your own risk. This is a public studio and ACM is not responsible for missing clay.
• Shelves are exclusively provided for “work in progress” only. No personal storage on shelves please.
• After the class session, any clay left over is to be taken home by the student or it will be removed for recycling. Open Studio participants must take clay home with them.
• All tools, sponges, brushes, containers, etc. are to be washed and put back in designated places. This also applies for the plastic, newspapers, glazes and boards.  Keep countertops free from clutter.
• If you intend to take work in progress home you will need to bring in your own board for transport. Boards are not to leave the premises.
• Bisque and glazed pieces have to be picked up within 30 days of firing. After that, work will become the property of ACM.
• The tables on the deck are not for pottery drying or as a studio workspace.
• Please no sanding on deck & in studio. Sanding is done in raku area.
• Please check with the instructor before adding water to glazes.
• Be considerate of others sharing the studio and clean up after yourself. This includes tables, glazing area, lids on glaze buckets and wheels.
• You must sign in for open studio. You have one week of open studio time after a class ends to complete your project without a fee.
• As of January 1, 2017 only Phoenix clay provided by ACM will be permitted.
• Please be considerate of your fellow students. This is a creative space.

Thank You and Have Fun!