Community-based, hands-on, art education experiences for adults 55+
Join us for a summer of creation, imagination, and transformation as we turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!
Natalya Khorover, Whale of a Tale (2023)
Repurpose with Purpose!
Our NEU Vitality Art Summer 2024 Intensive Workshops, Collage + Mixed Media and Sculptural Assemblage, will meet twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Both are open for individuals of all skill levels—from beginners to experienced artists—looking to explore new dimensions in their artistic craft.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, these workshops will offer a supportive, inspiring environment to develop your skills and express your artistic vision. Each session will offer guided instruction, hands-on practice, and plenty of artistic freedom. Come join us to connect with fellow art enthusiasts, learn new techniques, and create unique, expressive artworks using everyday upcycled materials.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will take an exciting journey into the world of collage and mixed media. Learn the fundamentals of composition and balance while exploring the techniques of gluing and hand stitching to create textured, layered artworks.
Drawing inspiration from the Museum’s collection, workshop participants will delve into how celebrated artists have used similar materials and techniques to tell powerful visual stories. For example:
Romare Bearden, best known for his abstract paintings and figurative mixed media depictions, translated his experiences and observations into expression using color, shapes, illustration, and storytelling.
Anne Ryan juxtaposed small squares of different materials against one another to highlight the distinct textures and densities of each.
The workshop will incorporate mixed-use materials such as paper, canvas, fabrics, and repurposed items. There will also be an element of hand stitching providing a connection to Faith Ringgold’s narrative quilts.
Course Dates, Times, and Location
The eight-session workshop series will meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00am—11:30am in the Museum’s third floor Skylight Gallery.
Class Size
Limited to twelve (12) registrants.
Course dates
June 18, 20, 25, 27 July 2, 9, 11, 16 (no session on July 4th)
The workshops will culminate with an art showcase on Wednesday, July 24th, in the Museum’s Open Classroom gallery. The gallery viewing and reception will feature the projects produced by participants during the workshop.
Registration Fee per workshop
$350 (inclusive of all course materials) No refunds for missed sessions.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to breathe new life into everyday materials, transforming them into complex, beautifully constructed works of art. Engage in design preparation while exploring the selection and arrangement of various materials to create harmonious and engaging compositions.
Under the guidance of an experienced teaching artist, participants will learn assembly techniques such as wiring and adhering while creating their own unique sculptural assemblages. The technique of modular construction will also be explored while building adaptable structures that reflect dynamic and evolving artistic concepts.
Drawing inspiration from renowned artists like Arthur Simms, Nancy Graves, and Louise Nevelson, who have each transformed ordinary materials into extraordinary pieces of art, this workshop encourages a fresh perspective on the objects around us. Participants will discover the artistic potential hidden within a variety of found objects, ranging from household items to elements of nature.
This workshop will delve into the principles of color coordination, applying color theory to enhance the visual impact of your sculptures.
Course Dates, Times, and Location
The eight-session workshop series will meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30pm—2:00pm in the Museum’s third floor Skylight Gallery.
Class Size
Limited to twelve (12) registrants.
Course dates
June 18, 20, 25, 27 July 2, 9, 11, 16 (no session on July 4th)
The workshops will culminate with an art showcase on Wednesday, July 24th, in the Museum’s Open Classroom gallery. The gallery viewing and reception will feature the projects produced by participants during the workshop.
Registration Fee per workshop
$350 (inclusive of all course materials) No refunds for missed sessions.
Teaching Artist Natalya Khorover Repurposed media artist
Natalya Khorover’s art practice stems from a need to create beauty from that which has been discarded.
Striving to lessen plastic pollution and overconsumption drives her creativity. Sewing, layering and stitching repurposed materials provides an additional level of uniqueness.
Khorover earned her BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Following careers in the New York City fashion and film industries, she embarked on her solo journey as a studio artist. Her work has been exhibited in Dairy Barn’s biennial Quilt National exhibition thrice, and Quilts=Art=Quilts at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. Her site-specific installations from single-use plastic waste have been exhibited at ArtsWestchester in White Plains, NY and Tilly Foster Farm Museum in Putnam County, NY. She is a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), Surface Design Association (SDA), the Katonah Museum Artist Association (KMAA) and the Silvermine Guild of Artists.
Sharing her expertise by teaching and lecturing on mixed-media art techniques, the creative process and inspiration is Khorover’s way of making sure art and craft is accessible to everyone.
Spots are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Upon successful completion of your secure online transaction, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with details about your participation. NEU Vitality Arts project manager Bliss Burrell will then follow up with additional information in the days leading up to the first session of each workshop.
Individuals requiring accommodations for equal access to this program are encouraged to contact Bliss Burrell so that a good-faith effort can be made to meet the identified needs.
