Camp Wonderland: Art Beast Winter Camps for Children 4 to 7 Years Old!

Our Winter Camps will celebrate the arrival of Winter in proper Art Beast fashion with lots of creating, storytelling, and movement activities. The children will use art, dance, and dramatic play to explore the world of Winter as we consider the magic of the changing seasons, the coming of a new year, and the busy animals preparing for the cold.

As always, Art Beast welcomes all so the camps will center on the joy of the season rather than specific holidays.

Two sessions of Camp are offered. The first session runs from December 27 to December 30 and the second from January 2 to January 6. Each session will be unique. Camps will start at 9 am each day and end at 1 pm. We ask that children bring a lunch.

The first week's camp is led by Erin Tinney. A few of the activities include the following:

-Cozy Corner in the classroom devoted to story telling, writing and winter themed books.

-Frosty Friends Mural: Cool blue, silver and white paper will be hung on the wall and campers can collaborate throughout the week on the mural by creating winter inspired artwork!

-Gourd penguin painting with dried out gourds.

Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch leads the second week with an emphasis on Amazing Arctic Animals! A couple of projects planned for this week include:

-Branch Antlers: craft a set of antlers using branches from nature.

-Scrimshaw work using plaster 'walrus tusks'.

The first week running from December 27 to December 30 (a 4 day camp) is $150 and our second week running from January 2 to January 6 (a 5 day camp) is $170. Siblings enrolled in the same week receive a 15% discount. To register, please follow this link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?944583-2ddj6s8Xgc.

You can also register in studio or over the phone at 916-441-1233.

Art Beast camps are art drenched and energetic camps designed for children 4 to 7 years old. We create a space that honors children by offering activities and environments suited to their age range. No trying to keep up with the 10 year olds at this camp!

Our camps are about exploring art and self expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise a range of arts integration with movement, song, story, and art.

After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a residential community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fees is tax deductible.

ArtBeast will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in honor of the holiday.

Have a safe and happy holiday! 

A workshop series for children 5 – 8 years old!  During these workshops, children will discover new places and learn about amazing animals that thrive all over the world.  With each session, children will study a different location, learning its position on a map, as well as some interesting facts about what makes this part of the world unique.  Using that setting as our jumping off point, children will create a work of art based on a native animal.

Week 1: African Savanna

Week 2: Amazon Jungle

Week 3: American West

Week 4: Australian Outback

Dates & Times

Mondays in November, 3:30-4:30pm.  November 7, 14, 21 & 28

Cost: $40 - Includes studio play the day of class

About the Teacher:  Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch loves making art, cooking play dough, crafting fairy wings and building forts for her daughter, Lily.  She has also spent the last 15 years teaching art for children of all ages in public and private schools, as well as museums and galleries.  Brenda is originally from South Dakota, though she has traveled and taught in many different places, and has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art Education, Curriculum, and Instruction.

Call the studio to sign up today, 916-441-1233!

 Come visit ArtBeast during the month of October for some forbidding fun!  All month, we will celebrate Dia de los Muertos.  Help us build a collaborative altar in our front entry by leaving art work or other mementos to honor friends and family.  On Oct 15, Sugar Skull Art will be onsite from 10 to 5 offering huge sugar skulls for sale for $10 along with a buffet of embellishments to decorate them. ArtBeast will also be offering some Halloween themed activities in the days before Halloween.

In addition, we’ll have special crafts happening all month long…

October 2 – 8      Paper Plate Skull Masks in the Open Studio

October 9-15       Pasta Skeleton in the Open Studio

October 16-22     Fabric Ghosts in the Open Studio

October 23-29     Harvest Bowling in the Courtyard

Friday Workshops

October 7     Mexican Painted Tin Folk Art

Folk artists in Mexico have found tin to be an adaptable resource for creating decorative, fun and colorful items. Their skills in tin punching and etching allow them to create detailed works of art.   

October 14    Day-of-the-Dead Skeleton Dioramas

Day of the Dead dioramas are miniature skeleton scenes created in a box. These fun and festive scenes are created in shoeboxes with clay figures and are hand painted with fabric, sequins, and other embellishments.  

October 21    Mexican Folk Art Masks

Throughout Mexico's history, masks have been used in dances, festivals and ceremonies. These folk art masks were seen as a means of influencing powerful forces in nature.   

October 28    Sugar Skulls

Sugar skulls are decorated and displayed to honor friends and family during Day of the Dead.

Art Beast Presents: The Festival of Little Houses
A weekend of whimsy and wonder as families create,explore, and play in nature

Join us as we gather next to the American River to claim the joy of being together in a shady green place where the river comes close. Come for the day or camp for the weekend.  We will offer ample opportunity to dance, sing, wander, discover, nourish, and create.   We also offer space to pitch a tent, artists to inspire, supplies for creating, opportunities to gather, and a river running right by.

Each family is invited to create their own little house using the offerings of nature.  Sticks, grasses, mud, bamboo, leaves, stones and mosses will be on hand, inviting children and adults to join in building fairy houses, altars, or land art to remind ourselves that all of us need to make art. 

The little houses also remind us of the blessings of a home and family. All the proceeds of this event are dedicated to Tubman House, a home and community for young, homeless parents and their children.
Join us September 23 - 25th as we:
Create and Explore Crafts at 9 Free Creation Stations
Hand Sand and Paint a Set of Blocks
Make a Wind Wand
Sew a Lavender Dream Pillow
Tie Dye a Shirt
Build from Cob
Wet Felt a Jingle Ball
Make a Fishing Set with Felt Fish and Magnet Pole
Dip a Candle
Make a Toy Bamboo Raft
Meet Artists and Crafters and Explore their Art
Make a Sugar Skull
Create Garden Flags
Make a Wooden Toy in a Bus Converted into a Woodworking Shop
Hand Build a Clay Bowl
Learn to Knit or Felt
 Create Henna Art
Come Together with Other Families for Song and Movement
Family Yoga
Song Circle
Drum Circle
Cooperative Jujitsu Games
Storytelling
Join a Walk with a Naturalist
Evening Campfire Circle
Outdoor Movie Night featuring "My Neighbor Totoro"
International Dance Circle
Enjoy Performances by Local Musicians and Performers
Heather Frederick
Amy Reed
Tyehimba Kokayi
Joaquin Fioresi
SubliminalMsg Dance Troupe
Ross Hammond
International Dance and Storytelling with Sonja White
Puppet Shows from Rainbow Bridge Preschool
Parie Wood
MOMO
Dylan Page
John Cummings
Richie Lawrence and Katie Thomas
Nourish and Care for Yourself
Healthy Meals and Snacks from an Affordable Outdoor Kitchen
Beer, Wine, and Cider Tasting
Massage Stations
Shade and River Abound
Create a Little House
Use Nature’s Offerings and Whimsy to Build a Home or other Land Art
Support
The Creative Spirit of Children
The Community of Families
The Daily Work of Tubman House, a Community of Young Parents and their Children Overcoming Homelessness
Event Schedule
Friday Night:
Stage:  Amy Reed and Ross Hammond
Group Space: Guitars and Banjo Campfire
Activity: Outdoor Movie: My Neighbor Totoro
Saturday:
Stage: Amy Reed, Parie Wood, Subliminal MSG Dance Troupe, MOMO, Dylan Page, John Cummings, Tyehimba, Heather Frederick, Richie Lawrence, Katie Thomas, Joaquin Fioresi

Creation Stations (included with admission): Little House Land Art, Fishing Set with Felt Fish and Pole, Toy Boat Making, Tie Dye, Cob Sculptures, and Candle Dipping

Group Space: Family Yoga, Drum Circle, Jujitsu Games,  International Storytelling and Dance, Guitar and Music Circle, Campfire
 
Activities: River Bird Stories and Bird Walk with Naturalist, Puppet Shows, Storytelling Circle, Cooperative Games
 
Artist/Vendors: Artists offering crafts for a small fee
Willie's Woodshop: Make a wooden toy in Willie's woodworking bus
Garden Songs: Make garden flags
Wonderwul:    Learn how to wet felt wool
Sugar Skull Art:    Decorate sugar skulls to create sugar skull art
Forever Knits:   Learn simple knitting
Forum Boutique:  Handmake soap
Craftology:  Offering a variety of handwork arts
Serabhi Gupta: Henna art
 
Sunday
Stage: Amy Reed, Parie Wood, Dylan Page, and Joaquin Fioresi
 
Creation Stations: Sand and paint a set of wooden blocks, Wind Wands, Lavendar Dream Pillows, Wet Felted Jingle Ball, Little Houses Land Art
 
Group Space: Drum Circle, Jujitsu Games, International Dance and Storytelling
 
Activity: Bird Walk with Naturalist, Puppet Show
 
 Artist/Vendors: Artists offering crafts for a small fee
Willie's Woodshop: Make a wooden toy in Willie's woodworking bus
 Sugar Skull Art:    Decorate sugar skulls to create sugar skull art
 Forever Knits:   Learn simple knitting
 Serabhi Gupta: Henna art

For more details:
 Website: www.littlehousesfestival.com
Website includes link to purchase tickets.
 
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Festival-of-Little-Houses/244393945573375
 
Tickets:
One Day:  $25 adult and $10 child (12 and under)
 
Weekend Pass (includes camping): $50 adult and $15 child
 
Every penny supports Tubman House, a transitional community
for young, homeless parents and their children

Brenda is back to lead a 5-part series as children celebrate their uniqueness and explore the art of capturing one’s self in a portrait. Each week, children will explore a different medium, creating themselves in clay, paper collage, soft sculpture, sketches and watercolor. Children will learn to study what makes each face unique. They will learn to observe and recreate the distinct shapes of their own eyes, noses, mouths, ears, and heads. Looking into the mirror, they will discover how eyes change when you frown and how mouths change when you smile.

The children will also study famous artists and their depictions of self in each session. As with any session with Brenda, these workshops will be about creating a warm, joyful environment to teach children about artists, artistic mediums, and techniques that develop skills in a fun, gentle way.

The workshops will also include exploring the books : My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil and Other Funny Classroom Portraits, Just Like Me: Stories and Self-Portraits by Fourteen Artists, Marvelous Me: Inside and Out, The Skin You Live In, and It’s Okay To Be Different.
The last session of the class will include a presentation of each child’s creations and a celebration of the community of artists.

Session Times and Dates: Monday from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

8/22 Drawing & Painting
8/29 Clay
9/5 No Class: Labor Day
9/12 Paper Collage
9/19 Soft Sculpture
9/26 Class Presentation

Ages: This session is recommended for children 4 to 8 years old

Teacher Bio: Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch loves making art, cooking play dough, crafting fairy wings and building forts for her daughter, Lily. She has also spent the last 15 years teaching art for children of all ages in public and private schools, as well as museums and galleries. Brenda is originally from South Dakota, though she has traveled and taught in many different places, and has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art Education, Curriculum, and Instruction.

Cost: $50 for the session (Members receive a 10% discount.)

Registration: Please call the studio at 916-441-1233 to register for the session. Class will cap at 12 students.

Each session fills at 16 children and is led by two teachers, promising a group that can grow close. The camps offer a blend of structured arts exploration in the classroom and free play within the building, always under close supervision by the camp teachers.

Our camps are about exploring art and self expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise a range of arts integration with movement, song, story, and art.  After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fee is tax deductible. 

Sessions are filling quickly. Some sessions have only 5 spaces remaining so we encourage folks to register early.

Session Times:   9 am to 2 pm

Please Bring: Lunch, snack, and a bottle of water

Pricing:   $175 a week includes all supplies except dance shoes. Additional siblings enrolled the same week receive a 15% discount.  The 4 day session in early July will be discounted $30.  $75 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space.

Every camp is taught by Art Beast teachers. All are committed artists and experienced teachers.  

We have been lucky to have our favorite teachers from last Summer’s camps agree to return for new sessions of fun, creation, and friend making! 

To Register:  Call the studio anytime to register over the phone at 916-441-1233. You can register right now online at:  http://www.formstack.com/forms/?944583-2ddj6s8Xgc

Full Camp Descriptions and Calendar:   

June 20 - 24:   Playful and Peaceful: Celebrating Life and Friendship with Yoga, Art, and Dance

Children connect with mind, body, and community through the practices of yoga, dance, group share, story time, and team building games. They will also tap into self expression while creating art in a variety of mediums each day.   This camp aims to provide tools that will benefit for a lifetime: respect of individual differences, peaceful ways of listening and speaking, and the importance of self-expression, taking care of the earth, and loving and honoring yourself!  Yoga for children is designed to welcome giggles, silly ideas, playfulness, and spirit. This camp will be energetic and great fun as it develops important skills.

Teacher Bio: Jenna Maggard is dedicated to practicing and teaching yoga, raising her son, studying early child­hood education, buying local, eating healthy, riding her bike, making art with friends, playing the guitar, working for non-profits, and being an integral part of her midtown Sacramento community. Jenna’s been working with children for 6 years and sees no end to this journey. Her long term goal is to become a child therapist, but in the meantime, providing ArtBeast and Center of Movement with yoga, creative movement, and art classes for kids is an honor.

June 27 – July 1:  Camp Mud: A Journey into Sculpting and Creating with All Things Ooey Gooey

Get creative with all things that squish and ooze!  Each day we will explore and create with a new type of modeling medium.  We will play, build, and wonder at clay, sand, mud, cob, and a variety of homemade doughs and slimes.  Among our projects will be sandcastles that never wash away and volcanoes that bubble with lava. 

Teacher Bio: Whether she is leading a group of children in a parade around the block or dancing and acting out stories, Melinda Quick believes dancing, singing and creating should be a part of every child’s and every adult’s daily life. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary/early childhood education, and she has spent her life finding ways to include music and art in all learning.  Melinda believes that stimulating learning and creativity in children is her calling in life.

July 5 – 8:   Printmaking Party: Explore Every Possibility of Printmaking

This camp is specially designed to introduce kids to the fun and versatility of printmaking.  Campers will experience a variety of printmaking methods such as mono type, lithograph, silkscreen, stencil, and numerous stamping mediums to produce brilliant works of art. Each child will bring home a stunning portfolio at the end of the week, as well as some wearable art! 

Due to the shortened week, this camp will be discounted $30 to $145 a session.

Teacher Bio:  Sonja White is an enthusiastic artist who en­joys drawing, watercolor and acrylic painting, multi-media projects, and textile design. She is co-owner of Lydia’s Kids, a children’s clothing line, as well as a private art Instructor. Sonja has been dancing for over 30 years. Although she was raised on Russian Ballet, her current affair is with Cultural Folkdance. She performs all over the greater Sacramento area with Lincoln Village Dancers, celebrating culture, and sharing the joy of dance! Sonja has a great passion for sto­rytelling. She’ll spin a story whenever given the opportunity- from the Waldorf- inspired education she shares with her six children, to performing at local events.

July 11 – 15:   Imaginary Worlds: Travel into the Realm of Magical Animals, Fairytales and Folklore with Art and Dramatic Play

We will share traditional folk songs, games, and act out storytelling that is found in all its richness both in our region and around the world. Together, we will share stories of turtle, beetle, and coyote.  We will bring to life fairytales and folklore as we create costumes, masks, and art to bring each magical world to life.  We will dance, sing, and create each day!

Teacher Bio:  Amy Reed is a painter, musician, writer, and naturalist. She has collaborated with artists across this country and Internationally. She currently teaches painting and drawing in Oak Park at the Language Academy, a two-way, Spanish Immersion, Charter school. You can find her with her students painting under the orchard trees or singing ‘Abiyoyo’ in the garden.

July 18 – 22:   Dinosaur Discovery: Create a Prehistoric World with Science, Art, Story, and Play

This camp is all about the dinosaurs! Children will create a prehistoric world and explore art and science through dino sculpture, volcano eruptions, fossil casting, collage, mosaic, and much more. Games, stories, and playtime are all part of this wonderful camp.

Teacher Bio:  Sonja White is an enthusiastic artist who en­joys drawing, watercolor and acrylic painting, multi-media projects, and textile design. She is co-owner of Lydia’s Kids, a children’s clothing line, as well as a private art Instructor. Sonja has been dancing for over 30 years. Although she was raised on Russian Ballet, her current affair is with Cultural Folkdance. She performs all over the greater Sacramento area with Lincoln Village Dancers, celebrating culture, and sharing the joy of dance! Sonja has a great passion for sto­rytelling. She’ll spin a story whenever given the opportunity- from the Waldorf- inspired education she shares with her six children, to performing at local events.

July 25 – 29:   Camp Bang: Drum, Rattle, Stomp, Dance, and Sing to Create a Community of Rhythm

Another camp that promises arts integration, as campers drum, dance, tell stories, sing, create rattles and drums, and explore the world of percussion. Each day children will build a community of rhythm in drum circles, clap and stomp lines, and voices raised.  Stories, poems, movement, and song will be woven into the beats so children fully experience the power of music. Each camper will also create a range of percussion instruments to take home for further rhythm making.

Teacher Bio:  Deborah Cardoza has been a percussionist ever since she played the pots, pans and wooden spoons in her parents' kitchen as a child! She studied Percussion Performance under Dr. Daniel Kennedy at Sacramento State where she earned her B.A. in Child Development and has been a member of the Sacramento State Symphonic Orchestra, the Sacramento State Percussion Ensemble and the Bay Area Women's Percussion Troupe. She currently performs with Gamelan Dharma Santi and enjoys teaching percussion to a wide variety of community members including high school students, developmentally-delayed adults and Art Beasties!

August 1 – 5:   Song and Music Playground: A Week of Playing and Creating with Song and Music

What happens when you take a playful, spirited drummer and a ukulele playing music therapist?  You create a week for children to discover there’s so much more to music than Itsy Bitsy Spiders and dogs named Bingo!  In this camp, children will learn to play, invent and create with a range of percussion instruments, the power of their own voice, and the stomp and snap waiting to burst out.  Campers will play games, build songs, and grow close as they all sing and claim music together.

Teacher Bios:  See Deborah Cardoza above.  Deborah will be joined by Rose.

Rose Fienman feels so lucky that she gets to make music all day, every day! She earned her Bachelor of Music Therapy from Loyola University New Orleans and completed her internship at Music to Grow On in Sacramento. Rose is trained as a singer, and also plays guitar and piano - and even a little ukulele! She has been a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) since May 2010. In her spare time, Rose sings with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra and loves to ride her bike around Midtown.

August 8 - 12:  3D Art Extravaganza: Create Eye Popping Creations to Explore Art in a New Way

In this amazing camp, children will experience the endless possibilities of 3D Art. Mediums such as clay, wire, wax, wood, plaster, paper, and recycled finds will be utilized to model, mold, and build eye-popping creations! Art making will never be the same again.

Teacher Bio:  Sonja White is an enthusiastic artist who en­joys drawing, watercolor and acrylic painting, multi-media projects, and textile design. She is co-owner of Lydia’s Kids, a children’s clothing line, as well as a private art Instructor. Sonja has been dancing for over 30 years. Although she was raised on Russian Ballet, her current affair is with Cultural Folkdance. She performs all over the greater Sacramento area with Lincoln Village Dancers, celebrating culture, and sharing the joy of dance! Sonja has a great passion for sto­rytelling. She’ll spin a story whenever given the opportunity- from the Waldorf- inspired education she shares with her six children, to performing at local events.

August 15 - 19:  Dance Camp: Explore Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop in Dance, Art, and Dramatic Play

Campers will explore ballet, creative movement, tap, jazz, and hip hop with two dedicated, energetic young dancers. Ballet basics provide a base for all the dance styles as the campers develop coordination and balance, and relish the twirls and frills. Creative movement allows children’s inner voices and imaginations to be expressed in original and organic ways. And who doesn’t love to make loud noises with their feet?! Tap is fun and exciting. Tap basics help with feet isolations and articulations in other dance styles and in sports like soccer. For a child looking for a style less formal than ballet but less funky than hip hop, jazz is a happy medium. Finally, hip hop invites inventiveness and beat driven movement. This dance sampler highlights the fun of moving the body and shaking off gravity for a moment, while introducing some of the specific skills a child will develop if s/he plunges into a specific dance genre.

Teacher Bio: Maya Haines loves to dance. She has been taking ballet lessons since she was 6 years old. Maya studies ballet, tap, contemporary and jazz at the Northern California Dance Conservatory. She is a member of their pre-professional company and has performed at the Mondavi Center. Maya was also invited to attend dance intensives with Alvin Ailey America Dance Theatre and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Co.

Reg Down brings his Tiptoe Lightly stories for children 3 to 8 on March 25th. On April 4, Danika Dinsmore leads a workshop and does a reading from her book for children 8 and up, Brigitta of the White Forest. Both books feature strong, resourceful fairies using their wits and courage to face challenge.

Reg Down, author of The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly,will be performing at Art Beast on March 25th at Noon.

The storytelling-puppet show is taken from The Bee who Lost his Buzz, the first adventure in the book The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly. It follows the fairy Tiptoes Lightly and Jeremy Mouse after they find a note on the floor begging them to come to Bee’s rescue. They sail down Running River in Tiptoes’ acorn cap boat and discover that poor Bee has had his buzz snagged by one of grumpy Mr. Cactus’s thorns. After they rescue the unfortunate Buzz they wander on until they come to Soggy Mire and meet Mr. Frog and his adoring fan, little Tadpole.

The event is included with admission. Come early and join in our Family Workshop that day from 10 am to noon. We will be making Kaleidoscopes. It's also included with admission!

On Monday, April 4th, older elementary children can come for an exciting event. Visiting Author and Artist-in-the-Schools Danika Dinsmore will lead her IMAGINARY WORLDS WRITERS WORKSHOP from 4 to 6 pm.

----------

The workshop will be followed by a 7 pm book reading of her new novel about a fearless fairy: Brigetta of the White Forest. The reading is free.

Details about the workshop: You've been lost in the imaginary worlds created by authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Wouldn't it be great to make your own imaginary world? A world with its own rules, history, magic and mysteries? Having an imaginary world of your own gives you a jumping off place for an infinite number of stories and adventures. Whether you're interested in writing your own book or in simply enjoying the creative process, this workshop will give you worldbuilding exercises to complete in workshop and on your own. Workshop designed for children 9 and older.

About the Author: Danika Dinsmore has been working and playing with children in a variety of settings for 18 years. She co-created Washington State’s first youth poetry slam and developed a curriculum guide for teaching poetry in the schools. She also produced the Seattle Poetry Festival’s Emerging Voice spokenword program for teens. She has worked as an artist-in-the-schools for Learning Through the Arts and taught writing courses at Vancouver Film School, Capilano University, and Creative Writing for Children. Her awards include the Washington State Poets Association award for Performance Poetry and the “Best Fresh Voice” Screenwriting Award from the Female Eye Film Festival.

What people are saying about the Imaginary Worlds Workshop:

"Danika brings energy and enthusiasm into the classroom. She instills in children the conviction that they can be empowered by finding their own voices."
~Tony Chursky, teacher, Charles Wright Academy

"[Danika's workshop] was really, really fun . . . it was a bazillion really funs!"
~Olivia, 1st Grade, Loyal Heights Elementary School

"Her ability to bring out the best in writers, give them confidence in their own abilities and instincts is nothing short of remarkable. Her manner is life affirming and transformative."
~Paul Nelson, President, It Plays in Peoria Productions

**Event Details: The Imaginary Worlds Workshop will land at ART BEAST on Monday, April 4.

Time: 4 pm to 6 pm**

Registration: $15 per child. Please call Art Beast at 916-441-1233 to register or register online here.  We recommend registering early to ensure a spot.

The workshop will be followed by a book reading at 7 pm of Danika’s novel Brigitta of the White Forest.
The reading will be free and may be held at Time Tested Books, two blocks from Art Beast

About the Book: ****Brigitta is a young Water Faerie. She’s anxious about going through The Change as she doesn’t see how destiny markings on her wings should determine her life’s path. Before the annual Festival of the Elements, Brigitta is flying with her tag‐a‐long sister when a mysterious curse turns everyone in the White Forest to stone, except for the two of them. They have no idea why they were not cursed, but they do know if they don’t turn everyone back in time, the Hourglass of Protection will run out and so will its protective field around the forest. With no one left to help, they must leave the protected realm to seek an exiled faerie they have only heard about in tales.

More info at: www.thewhiteforest.com

Insect Inspectors

Whether they are creeping, crawling, fluttering, or flying, bugs of all kinds are explored throughout this exciting workshop.  We will take out our magnifying glasses to discover insects up close and personal through photographs and illustrations, then recreate them with clay, paint, found objects and beautiful, colorful paper.  Activities include observational drawing of bugs, clay creepy crawler, junk sculpture insects, “stained glass” butterflies, and watercolor painting. Be a part of this series that blends biology and art under the inspiring guidance of Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch, who brings a Masters Degree in Art Education and 15 years teaching experience into the Art Beast classroom.

Teacher Biography:  Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch loves making art, cooking play dough, crafting fairy wings and building forts for her daughter, Lily.  She has also spent the last 15 years teaching art for children of all ages in public and private schools, as well as museums and galleries.  Brenda is originally from South Dakota, though she has traveled and taught in many different places, and has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art Education, Curriculum, and Instruction. 

Cost: $90 for an 8 week session (Members receive a 10% discount.)

Dates and Times:  Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 beginning January 24, 2011 and ending March 21, 2011. (No session on February 21st.)

Ages:  4 to 8 years old

Enroll: To register, visit or call the studio at 441-1233. A $50 deposit will be required to secure your spot.

The More We Sing Together...a class series for every child led by a Board Certified Music Therapist

Come build community through music! This inclusive class will build social skills, including making friends, taking turns and sharing, and early academic skills, such as colors, numbers, and letters. There will always be LOTS of movement and dancing, as well as opportunities for creative expression by all Beasties. The instructor, Rose Fienman, is a Board Certified Music Therapist experienced working with both typically developing children as well as children with special needs.

Rose Fienman feels so lucky that she gets to make music all day, every day! She earned her Bachelor of Music Therapy from Loyola University New Orleans and completed her internship at Music to Grow On in Sacramento. Rose is trained as a singer, and also plays guitar and piano - and even a little ukulele! She has been a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) since May 2010. In her spare time, Rose sings with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra and loves to ride her bike around Midtown.

Cost: $90 for an 8 week session (Members receive a 10% discount.) This is a tremendous bargain for sessions with a certified music therapist.

Dates and Times: Fridays, 2:00pm to 3:00pm. The class will begin January 7, 2011  and end February 25, 2011.

Ages: 3 to 7 years old, limited to 10 participants

Enroll: To register, visit or call the studio at 441-1233.  A $50 deposit will be required to secure your spot.

Our Winter Camps will celebrate the arrival of Winter in proper Art Beast fashion with lots of creating, storytelling, and movement activities. The children will use art, dance, and dramatic play to explore the world of Winter as we consider the magic of the changing seasons, the coming of a new year, and the busy animals preparing for the cold.

As always, Art Beast welcomes all so the camps will center on the joy of the season rather than specific holidays.

Two sessions of Winter Camp are offered, each running from Monday through Thursday. The first session runs from December 20 to the 23rd and the second from December 27 to the 30th. Each session will be unique. Camps will start at 9 am each day and end at 1 pm. We ask that children bring a lunch.

Each session is $150. Siblings receive a 15% discount. To register, please follow this link: Register. If morning sessions fill, we are considering adding afternoon sessions to meet demand. Call at 916-441-1233 to express interest in an afternoon session. We will add sessions if enough children enroll.

Art Beast camps are art drenched and energetic camps designed for children 4 to 7 years old. We create a space that honors children by offering activities and environments suited to their age range. No trying to keep up with the 10 year olds at this camp!

Each session fills at 16 children and is led by two teachers, promising a group that can grow close. The camps offer a blend of structured arts exploration in the classroom and free play within the building, always under close supervision by the camp teachers.

Our camps are about exploring art and self expression. Children dig into an array of mediums and arts in their own way. No matter the theme, we promise a range of arts integration with movement, song, story, and art.

After or before camp each day, you can stay and play at Art Beast with your child as long as you’d like.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast, your money supports Tubman House, a residential community for young, homeless parents and their children. A portion of your camp fees is tax deductible.