Arts Habitat LogoArts Habitat LogoArts Habitat LogoArts Habitat LogoArts Habitat LogoArts Habitat Logo
Third Thursdays with Arts Habitat
In this issue...
Arts in Progress event
Volunteers Wanted
Finding a place for Art
Arts in Progress January 2009
Dear Friend,

Painting by Elizabeth Murray Arts Habitat proudly presents Arts in Progress, a monthly gathering of artists and arts devotees that is free and open to the public.

The Monterey YMCA , located near Lake El Estero in Old Monterey, will join Arts Habitat in hosting the programs on the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, beginning February 19, 2009.  The Y's address is 600 Camino El Estero
Monterey, CA 93940. 

As an organization, Arts Habitat's goals include: developing facilities for a self-sustaining, mixed use art center; providing low cost studio/housing for artists and their families; facilities for patrons and arts organizations; and programs to encourage appreciation of, knowledge about, and skills in the arts.

Arts in Progress, like all Arts Habitat programs, is about "creating a place for creating art". Each month a new artist, group or organization will share an aspect of their art and the creative process.

Arts in Progress will begin and end with time to gather, enjoy refreshments and chat. The guest artists of the evening will share an aspect of work in progress, and the process involved. The audience will be encouraged to participate through discussion or a hands-on experience.

For more information, read below, or email [email protected], or look for our group, Arts in Progress, on Facebook.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Richard Mayer, Executive Director
Arts Habitat
P.O.Box 221487
Carmel, CA 93922-1487
Painting by Elizabeth Murray
Elizabeth Murray
Awakening the Artist Within

 
The first Arts in Progress event features Elizabeth Murray, photographer, painter, author and gardener, best known for helping restore Monet's gardens in Giverny, France.

Elizabeth takes SX-70 Polaroids and renders the soft emulsion like a painting. On enlargements printed on watercolor paper she then hand colors with oils, colored pencils and pastels. This is a technique she has taught as a path to creativity to "awaken the artist within". In a world often too attached to perfection and technology she is teaching softening, non-perfection, playfulness and experimentation.  This lecture and demo will prove to be both fun and inspiring.
 
For more information about Elizabeth Murray and her work, please go to www.elizabethmurray.com.
Painting by Elizabeth Murray
 Volunteers Welcome!
Looking for a project?

Arts Habitat currently has two programs:  Houses Art and Arts in Progress.  Both programs rely on volunteers to make things happen.  We need people to help with everything from marketing to clean up.  We'd love to hear from you as to what you would like to do to help create places for creating art!
 
  A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes?
Megan Havens contemplates the art of finding a place to do art.

After years of working to ensure that arts and studio space for the arts be part of the East Garrison development, Arts Habitat learned earlier this year that the development was indefinitely postponed due to the economic downturn. 

The Mess Halls and other buildings built for military purposes during the 30s and 40s are sitting empty at East Garrison.  Some of them were built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.  Others were constructed by the WPA program.  All these buildings, which will be used for arts purposes when the East Garrison development happens, have a specific architectural purpose and style that no longer serves the purposes for which it was built.  They are ashes waiting for the phoenix to rise.
 
So, while they are waiting, Arts Habitat is looking around for other space to utilize for the purpose of doing art.  Arts Habitat found the Monterey YMCA located near Lake Estero in Old Monterey.  The Y is definitely not empty.  It is in constant use by many organizations, by the Y's children's programs, and as office space for staff.  It is, however, an under-used resource of this community.  

Used during World War II to provide a place to entertain soldiers stationed in the Monterey area, it has a kinship with the buildings of East Garrison and with a time period much like our own when things changed faster than many people knew how to handle, and when people wanted to be together to affirm the nature of being part of a community with a common goal.

The Y is centrally located and perfect for bringing people together to build a community of people interested in the arts.   Using the Y for the new Arts in Progress program is a perfect match.

Moving forward into our current period of economic downturn, it seems as though there will be an increasing number of empty or under-used buildings.  And an increasing number of artists with little or no money looking for space in which to work and present their art.   How can we bring these two groups together in ways that will promote the arts and the growth of community?  Arts Habitat asked itself this question, and Arts in Progress is only one answer to that question.  
Follow-up Link
Arts in Progress has a group on Facebook. 

If you have questions about Arts In Progress, click here.

This newsletter is edited by Megan Havens for Arts Habitat.
Arts Habitat

Administrative Office:
3785 Via Nona Marie
Carmel, CA 93923

Office Hours:
Monday-Thurday
10:30-2:30
Phone: (831) 624-6111

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 64
Monterey, CA 93942
For More Information:  [email protected]