Blog

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

Erin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:13:30 -0600

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 Closed November 24th & November 25th for Thanksgiving.

Erin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:50:49 -0600

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

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Around the World Animal Adventure Workshop Series with Brenda!

Erin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:35:52 -0500

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!

ArtBeast Celebrates Day of the Dead!

Erin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:57:42 -0500

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.

The Festival of Little Houses: 35 Things to Do Sept 23-25

Bridget Alexander — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:10:53 -0500

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

Imagine Me!

Erin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:05:00 -0500

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.

Camp BEAST

Erin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:46:57 -0500

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.

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.

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.

Two Great Children's Authors Coming to Art Beast

Erin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:15:11 -0500

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.

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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

January Workshops for Elementary Kids: Insect Inspectors and The More We Sing Together

Erin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:51:09 -0600

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.

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.

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

Erin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:46:37 -0600

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.

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.

Art Beast Annual Contract: $38 a month for unlimited visits and weekly class

Bridget Alexander — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:40:00 -0500

Art Beast is introducing a one year membership contract that lowers the price of a monthly membership by over 35%. To qualify, members agree to a one year term and set up automatic monthly payments.

Under this arrangement, a Child and Adult Membership which is $60 a month at the counter drops to $38 a month. The Family Membership ($75 at the counter) drops to $48 a month.

These memberships include all the benefits of regular membership: unlimited visits, 4 classes a month for each child under 7, and a 5% discount off birthdays and special events. In addition, members can purchase additional classes for only $4 a class.

Come when you want and take 52 classes in the year ahead for only $38 a month! When you consider that the average price of one weekly art class adds up to $600 a year, your child gets hundreds of hours more arts exploration while you pay much less.

Fall classes include Baby and Me Music and Art, Great Artists, Ballet and Tap Combo, Exploring Art, Children's Glee, Drum Circle, All Ages Yoga and Creative Movement, Song Circle, Spanish Song and Play, and a Fitness Dance class.

Throughout the Fall, Art Beast will also have daily story time and Friday Workshops that highlight parent/child art experiences in ceramics, batik, and other arts. Messy arts will fill the courtyard and the Open Studio will continue to invite come-anytime space and supplies to create.

Don't let the end of Summer mean the end of regular exploration of the arts! Activate your membership so you don't miss a bit of the fun! Ask at the front desk about starting your membership today.

Camp Beast Registration Form

Bridget Alexander — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:25:00 -0500

We have a great series of week long camps led by teachers who know art and know kids! If you're ready to register, click this link and begin:
http://www.formstack.com/forms/?944583-2ddj6s8Xgc

If you'd like an electronic copy of our camp catalog, download it here. The catalog features pricing info, complete camp descriptions, and teacher biographies.

We are grateful for the many people that offered feedback and submitted interest forms. Your input absolutely shaped the design and the camp offerings. We heard your requests for week long camps that centered on arts integration and small group size. Every camp, no matter the theme, will offer a range of arts exploration.

Below is a list of camps and basic information:

CAMP BEAST: Week Long * Arts Infused * Camps for Children 4 to 6 Years Old
Art Beast Camps are Different! We’ve designed our camps with certain goals in mind. First off, our camps serve children between 4 and 6 years old. We want to 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 15 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 not replicating someone else’s craft. Children will explore a range 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 will be tax deductible.

CAMP SESSIONS AND PRICING

Camps will run from June 14, 2010 through August 20th, 2010.
Session Times: Morning Camps: 9 am to 1 pm (Children bring lunch)
Afternoon Camps: 1:30 to 5:30 pm (Children bring snack)

Pricing: $160 a week includes all supplies except dance shoes. Additional siblings enrolled in the same week receive a 15% discount off the camp fee.

OVERVIEW OF CAMP SESSION

Opening Circle: Songs, sharing circle, or stories
Circle Play: Movement, rhyme, and team building games
Structured Arts Exploration: Children create and explore a range of arts in a project or activity guided by our teachers. Session topics are detailed in the following pages.
Lunch or Snack Break: In the outside courtyard or classroom
Free Play: Child directed play throughout Art Beast as teachers carefully supervise children to ensure safety and fun.
Closing Circle: A song, poem, or story to celebrate our day together

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Will Art Beast still be open during the camps?
Absolutely. The camps will add 15 children at a time to the building and they will be in the classroom for over half that time. We will have all the regular classes and activities happening along with the camps.

What if my child doesn’t enjoy camp?
We know that our camps may be the first camp experience for many children. We will work hard to make it amazing! That said, some children may struggle with time away from family. We suggest you visit Art Beast to play and try a few classes in the months ahead. Many are taught by our camp instructors. Though we can’t refund a camp, we can credit the amount toward a membership, gift card, or punch card.

My child is not quite 4 or just over 6. Can they attend?
We honor parents and caregivers as the best qualified to determine if their child would enjoy an Art Beast camp. We recommend a visit to Art Beast to try out a couple classes to decide if the camp is a good fit.

Can a caregiver stay and play with a younger sibling while the other sibling is in camp?
Yes! We will be giving one “grown up gets in free” card to the caregiver bringing the child to camp. The sibling will just pay the drop in price unless you’re a member.

My child is slow to warm. Can I stay during the camp?
We strongly believe that our environments must be comfortable for all children. We always welcome parents to join a camp or class, or stay nearby if that helps their child ease into a new experience.

Can my child take two sessions a week?
This would probably be too long a day for many children. That said, we respect caregivers’ right to decide.

CAMP CALENDAR

June 14 to June 18: Morning Camp: Acting and Storytelling Afternoon Camp: Rocket Camp
June 21 to June 25: Morning Camp: Exploring Art Afternoon Camp: Camp Gizmo
June 28 to July 2: Morning Camp: Garden Camp Afternoon Camp: Yoga and Eco Art
July 5 to July 9: Morning Camp: Exploring Textiles
July 12 to July 16: Morning Camp: Puppet Making Afternoon Camp: Dance Camp
July 19 to July 23: Morning Camp: Camp Gizmo Afternoon Camp: Acting and Storytelling
July 26 to July 30: Morning Camp: Exploring Art Afternoon Camp: Yoga and Eco Art
August 2 to August 6: Morning Camp: Dance Camp
August 9 to Aug 13: Morning Camp: Puppet MakinG Afternoon Camp: Yoga and Dance
Aug 16 to Aug 20 Morning Camp: Drum and Movement

Art Beast reserves the right to cancel any sessions that do not register at least 12 campers. A full refund will be given.

Camps will be filled on a first come, first served basis. If demand exceeds a session, we will maintain a wait list in the event that futher sessions open.

To register, complete the camp registration form and submit your deposit. A camp registration form is also available online at www.artbeaststudio.com.

CAMP DESCRIPTIONS AND TEACHER BIOS

Great Art Time Machine: Exploring Art’s Many Mediums
Take a trip back in time to study with the great artists! Each day, campers will explore an artist’s work and the medium s/he used, creating their own masterpieces in the same medium. Campers will play games, solve mysteries, make paints, and create! On the last day of camp, families will be invited to an art show featuring our week of creating art.

Teacher Bio: Sonja White is an artist who lives in a shoe with so many children, she knows what to do. She gives them paint, brushes and pads, praises their efforts, and adds helpful tads. She sings to them sweetly, tells stories all day, teaches the masters, and finds new ways to play. She’s a teacher, a dancer, a mom and she’s glad, because this is the best life a person can have! Sonja is an enthusiastic artist who enjoys drawing, 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. 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.

Who’s in Rabbit’s House? An Acting and Storytelling Camp
Through the practice of storytelling, movement, rhythm, and song, we will work together to play “Who’s in Rabbit’s House?” This is a wonderful folk¬tale from the Masai adapted by Verna Ardema. Each day we will explore the rhythms and movements our body can make. Traditional songs and instruments will be introduced. This folktale will be told as the children begin to make it their own and bring the story to life. During the week a variety of stories, songs, and animals from different places in Africa will also be introduced. At week’s end, families will be invited to watch our production of the folktale.

Camp Gizmo
Camp Gizmo is all about taking things apart, using tools, exploring building materials, and creating something new! Forget legos, step-by-step instructions, and the hunt for the yellow block. Camp Gizmo invites each child to dig into an array of doodads and tidbits to build a car, a boat, a robot, or a one-of-a-kind creation. Two teachers will be on hand to inspire and develop an understanding of the basic rules that make things roll, fly, and stand tall. They will model and guide use of tools and help each child move from vision to gizmo. As with all camps, storytelling, movement, and games will be integrated into the session to teach concepts and welcome wiggles.

Teacher Bio: Eric Sweet is a pilot who has a lifelong love of flying and science. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot license anf type ratings including the Citation X. He is also the father of three and an active participant in his children’s school. Through his expereince as both a flight and swim instructor, Eric has found that the basic principles of fluid dynamics are all around us. He inspires those around him to look at how things work and why.

Peaceful and Playful: Yoga and Eco Art
Children connect with mind, body, and community through the practices of yoga, group share, storytime, and team building games. They will also tap into self expression while creating art and instruments from reclaimed objects. 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.
The August session combines Yoga with Dance rather than Eco Art, blending Dance Camp with Yoga.

Teacher Bio: Jenna Maggard is dedicated to practicing and teaching yoga, raising her son, studying early child¬hood 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.

So Many Ways of Stepping: Dance Camp
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 Bios: 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 N. California Dance Conservatory. She is a member of their pre-professional company and will perform at the Mondavi Center this summer. Maya was invited to attend dance intensives with Alvin Ailey America Dance Theatre and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Co.
Winter Mason has been dancing since age 5 and was in the Sacramento Ballet’s The Nutcracker four times. Winter has explored dance from ballet and hip hop to ballroom and Polynesian. She currently dances at Step One and is a member of their competitive dance team. Being an older sister, and previously employed at Hidden Treasure Nursery, Winter has lots of experience with children and loves to share her passion with them.

Telling Tales: Puppet Making and Storytelling
Imaginations will soar in this fantasy camp centered on creating puppets and learning the art of storytelling for a puppet theater production. Campers will create many styles of puppets from found and created items to accompany their favorite stories, old and new. On the last day of camp, each child will have the option of presenting their storybook creations to family in a puppet theater presentation. This camp promises great fun and the thrill of creating puppets to every child whether they are eager to perform or prefer to experiment with bringing their puppet fully to life in a quieter space.

Teacher Bio: Sonja White is an enthusiastic artist who en¬joys 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 sto-rytelling. 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.

Drum and Groove: Camp Bang
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.

Unravel: A Camp to Explore Creating with Textiles
Knitting and sewing have an undeserved bad rap! In this camp, children will uncover the mysteries of working with yarn, wool, and fabrics to create true treasures. This will be the camp where your children come home with creations you can’t quite believe they made. You’ll be asking them how they did it. And they will have one proud look on their face as they tell you how it is done.
Campers will learn to finger knit, felt wool, spin wool, weave, dye clothe, and sew as they create satchels, stuffed animals, dolls, and art. Projects include stone felting, felted lady bugs and “paintings,” natural plant dyes, and vegetable painting. Projects are carefully selected so they can be completed by any camper and allow expression of personal aesthetic. These projects will be fun, sensory experiences, and also great for the development of fine motor skills and dexterity.

Rocket Camp
Rocket Camp is an introduction to rockets for your youngest scientists. They will explore the physics of rockets through exciting experiments as well as hands on rocket design and construction. Campers will make and launch a variety of rockets. Each day will also include storytelling and song as children learn how the history of exploring the cosmos is revealed in song and story as we move from “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to the myth of Icarus to our current understanding. This camp will be like a magic show with everything explained. Our goal is to create a fun, exciting and educational experiences that will help spark a lifetime interest in science, math, and physics.

Teacher Bio: Eric Sweet is a pilot who has a lifelong love of flying and science. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot license and type ratings including the Citation X. He is also the father of three and an active participant in his children’s school. Through his expereince as both a flight and swim instructor, Eric has found that the basic principles of fluid dynamics are all around us. He inspires those around him to look at how things work and why.

Project Garden Gnome: Creating a Garden for Butterflies
Through traditional folk songs, art, and movement we will explore the wildflower garden and California’s natural history. We will culminate our exploration in planting a small butterfly and hummingbird garden with native plants such as California Fuchsia, Western Columbine, Wild Gooseberry, and River Willow. As with all our camps, arts exploration will be integrated into the process as children sing songs about planting, paint gardens, watch puppet shows about animals, explore soil and clay, and move their bodies like bumblebees or sprouts reaching toward the sun. In addition to planting a butterfly garden at Art Beast, children will bring home seeds and starts to honor the hummingbirds and butterflies that journey through their neighborhoods.

Summer Camps at Art Beast

Bridget Alexander — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:20:00 -0500

Art Beast will be offering week long summer camps throughout the summer. Camps we plan to offer include: Yoga and Eco Art, Exploring Art, Clay and Cob Camp, Toy and Puppet Making, Dance Camp, and a Theater Camp that infuses art, music and movement in bringing African folktales to life. We will also have a Gizmo Camp for children who love to build and make things.

Camps will run from June through August and most will last one week. Children can attend the morning session from 9 to 1 or the afternoon session from 1:30 to 5:30. We are also exploring offering 2 day a week camps so let us know what configurations you'd like to see! These camps will allow parents to drop children off. A one week session will be $160 (which includes all camp materials).

We've designed our camps with certain goals in mind. First off, our camps will serve children between 4 and 6 years old. We want to create a space that honors young children by offering activities and environments suited to that age range. Each session will fill at 15 children and be led by two teachers, promising a group that can grow close. Our teachers are primarily current Art Beast teachers. Sonja and Jenna will both be offering camps, as will our dance teachers Winter and Maya. The camps will also offer a blend of structured activity in the classroom and free play within the building, always under close supervision by the camp teachers.

And, as always, when you choose Art Beast camps, the money you pay supports Tubman House, a residential community for young, homeless parents and their children- and a portion of your camp fees will be tax deductible.

Hope to see you this Summer! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Introducing: The Art Beast Annual Membership

Bridget Alexander — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:50:00 -0600

Art Beast is now offering an annual membership that halves the cost of buying monthly memberships. Our Child and Adult Annual Membership is $350 a year. A Family Membership, allowing multiple children in the same family, is $475 annually. The annual membership allows free entry to Art Beast, free Family workshops, and includes a 25 Class Punch Card for each child in the family. Annual memberships can be purchased online at the link below or at Art Beast.

Our class catalog for 2010 will include most our current offerings as well as a new yoga and movement class for toddlers and a movement class for infants. We are also excited to introduce our new Mini-Art Beast Players class. This 8 week session will lead children in putting on a show that will be performed for families and friends. The children will star in the production, create sets, and learn the joy of becoming a team. The first production will be a play following the adventures of the two little pigs as they seek out their lost and beloved friend.

In 2010, we look forward to organizing more events for children of the same age groups to meet at Art Beast. Watch for Toddler Tuesday and Four-Year-Old Friday events where the art activities and play stations are tailored to specific stages of development.

To ensure we do not overcrowd the building and the classes, we will only sell 200 annual memberships. We may offer this promotion again if we find the building could accommodate more families. We are excited to offer families a more affordable way to become a long term member.

As always, all proceeds from Art Beast support Tubman House, a transitional living community for young, homeless parents and their children. This means that after we pay the rent and the utilities, stock the shelves with supplies, and pay our art coaches and teachers every penny remaining sustains homeless families as they work toward self-sufficiency.

Ready to become a member? Click here: http://www.formspring.com/forms/?760760-ybxusLULAV

Celebrating Your Child and Creating Social Change: The Art Beast Birthday Experience

Bridget Alexander — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0600

We are now hosting birthday parties at Art Beast! Invite your child’s friends to a creative, cozy party at Art Beast Studio. Your party includes admission for up to 15 children and 15 adults, exclusive use of our party studio, and open-ended fun in all the play spaces at Art Beast!

Your friends and family will participate in a sweet birthday celebration where an art coach is available to lead a craft and help you host your party. You and your guests will enjoy the homey feel and relaxed environment of Art Beast while the children have free-range to create art, put on a show, move their bodies, and travel where their imaginations will carry them. Guests can come any time before the party and stay afterward to explore all the playrooms at Art Beast.

The party studio is decorated with festive paper lanterns. Tables are set up with table clothes, real plates, clothe napkins, real flatware, glasses and vases. (Paper waste is kept at a minimum to reduce environmental impact.) Children decorate a birthday banner for your child, and make a craft to celebrate the day. As the party begins, the Art Coach leads a birthday circle where the parent passes around a photo of their child at each age, sharing a simple memory of each year to capture the journey to this birthday year. Once the party ends, we take care of the clean up.

Your Art Beast Birthday Party, like all the proceeds from Art Beast, also supports Tubman House. Tubman House provides 18 months of housing and wrap around services to young, homeless parents and their children. Having your party at Art Beast helps us fund the groceries, college textbooks, diapers, and dedicated staff that support Tubman’s parents and children.

Birthday packages are $275. To reserve your birthday party, click here: http://www.formspring.com/forms/?743818-zWYVuu6lty