Emerge from your winter hibernation and learn something new this Spring with comedy classes at SteelStacks, art classes at The Banana Factory Arts Center and film appreciation classes!
Not only will you explore subjects you’ve always wanted to learn while meeting new friends, but the creativity and skills you develop will benefit aspects of your everyday life! Below, we’ve hand-picked the introductory-level courses to start you off on a new path of exciting studies!
COMEDY CLASSES AT STEELSTACKS!
Improv 101 – Starts 5/6 or 6/7 or 7/1
Improv 101 focuses on the 3 core principles of comedic improvisation: agreement, being active, and justification. We designed our classes to create an energetic and supportive environment for play. Whether you never took the stage before or you’re a seasoned improviser, you’ll get a lot from this class.
Intro to Comedy Writing – Starts 4/14
Intro to Comedy Writing is a six-week class that focuses on writing comedy for non-performance applications like short stories, satire, essays, monologue jokes, desk pieces, and other forms with a focus on getting students to generate ongoing work and create a sample writing packet. Taught by comedian Glen Tickle.
FILM APPRECIATION CLASSES!
Classic Musicals with Paul McEwan – Starts 5/1
As soon as movies could talk, they also started to sing. The golden age of Hollywood musicals from the 30’s to the 60’s is rich with song and dance films that featured complicated stories and offered social commentary with an air of escapism. This course explores the richness of this period by considering the ways in which musicals reflected and affected America.
Intro to Film Appreciation – Starts 6/8
Intro to Film Appreciation will examine how meaning and feeling is created via established cinematic techniques, as well as the ongoing innovation of directors, cinematographers, editors and others involved in the creative process.
ART CLASSES AT THE BANANA FACTORY ARTS CENTER!
Photo by Dani Nightlinger
Hot Glass Experiences – First Fridays, Second Sundays & Festivals
Start your glass making adventure by doing a Hot Glass Experience. Each month features a different item to make. With the guidance of one of our artists, you’ll work one-on one to create your own glass artwork. Each session takes 20 minutes. Ages 6 and up are welcome.
Intro to Flame Working Weekend – Starts 4/14 or 5/5
Learn how to transform glass rods and tubes into works of art. Students melt borosilicate glass with an oxy/propane torch to create pendants and other small objects with the molten material. All necessary tools and supplies are provided. Ages 16 and up are welcome.
Discover Printmaking Workshop – 4/14-15
Over this two-day Print-A-Thon, students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of relief printmaking, the oldest method of printing imagery.
Drawing & Painting – Starts 4/15
Explore various techniques and methods of painting and drawing! This class will instruct students on how to use a variety of materials such as graphite, charcoal, watercolor and acrylics.
Watercolor Painting – Level 1 – 4/18
Explore the beauty of watercolor painting. Students will learn basic painting techniques and color mixing as well as incorporate pen and ink to create beautiful works of art!
Discovering Photo Encaustics – 4/22
Discover how to create mixed media paintings using photography imagery, beeswax, oil pigments, collage and text.
Portrait Drawing – Starts 4/23
Learn the secrets to capture a likeness in pencil sketch drawings.
Film & Darkroom Photography – Starts 4/24
Shooting film is an incredible experience for any photographer. Taking the actual photo is only the beginning. This class will help you learn how film cameras work, the types of cameras, lenses, and their applications. Open to individuals 18 or older.
Screen Printing – Starts 4/25
Screen Printing is an artistic process where layers of images are applied to a surface like paper or fabric using a screen and ink to create an amazing finished print.
Introduction to Lightroom – Starts 4/25
Stop searching through the hundred of files looking for a particular photograph! Skip the hours of opening each individual file, and edit whole batches of photos with a single click!
Wine’d Down Workshop: Fluid Acrylics – 4/25
Use fluid acrylic paint to create one of a kind, poured painting. A voucher for a glass of wine or beer will be provided to students to get the creative juices flowing! This class is for students aged 21 and older.
Drawing Realistically – Starts 4/26
This course is designed to teach students how to create a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface. Students will learn to recognize the effect of light on four basic forms – the sphere, cylinder, cone and cube.
Drawing & Painting – Starts 4/27
Explore various techniques and methods of painting and drawing! This class will instruct students on how to use a variety of materials such as graphite, charcoal, watercolor and acrylics.
Intro to Glassblowing Weekend – Starts 4/28 or 5/19 or 6/23 or 7/14
This fun and educational weekend class is offered as a 6-hour program. Students will create works of art from molten glass in a variety of forms, using solid working and glass blowing techniques. Ages 13 and up are welcome.
Discovering Weaving – Starts 5/2
Weaving is one of simplest and most enjoyable ways to begin exploring fiber art. A few simple techniques is all that is needed to make beautiful one-of-kind pieces.
Discover Workshop: Paper Marbling – 5/6
Marbling is the art of floating and designing watercolors on a base fluid then permanently transferring the design to paper, fabric and other fibrous material.
Mosaics – Starts 5/22
Students will learn how to safely handle and break glass and learn all the skills needed to create your own mosaics.
Intro to Glassblowing – Starts 5/23
Start your glass making experience with an introduction to “Furnace Working”. This fun and educational 4-week class is offered as a 12-hour program. Students will create works of art from molten glass in a variety of forms, using solid working and glass blowing techniques. Ages 13 and up are welcome.
