New Year’s Resolution: More Local Art Education Opportunities
Cary Jurriaans of Whidbey Fine Arts Studio is starting off the new year with a couple of community-minded projects, and a wish for more community involvement in promoting art education.
On Friday, January 22 at 6 p.m. at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA’s) Zech Hall, Jurriaans has invited Seattle artist and art critic Gary Faigin for a lively discussion of 10 not-to-be-missed European art experiences. The talk is titled: “10 European Art Masterworks That Everyone Should See Before They Die.”
Cost for the talk is $25 per person, with students receiving a 25% off discount. Tickets can be purchased through the WIFAS website www.whidbeyislandfas.com or at Prima Bistro restaurant on First Street in Langley.
“Faigin is a good speaker and knows his material well,” said Jurriaans. “He’s also the author of The Artists Complete Guide to Facial Expression, and is the Artistic Director and co-founder of the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle.”
Jurriaans is especially interested in attracting younger students to this lecture as well as to her art classes. One of her community outreach projects is the weekly Figure Drawing Group, which offers a live model each week and has a student-friendly price of just $15 per session. The group meets Saturdays at the Island County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about this weekly group, click here. (http://www.meetup.com/South-Whidbey-Island-Figure-Drawing-Group/events/227462765)
“The figure drawing group is my community service,” said Jurriaans. “I want more opportunities for young people to be exposed to classical art and art history, but I need help to get the word out and raise the funds to bring other expert speakers and teachers to Langley.”
Community members who are interested in expanding local art educational opportunities are welcome to contact Jurriaans through her website www.whidbeyislandfas.com.