Events & Activities

Workshops, Demos, and Discussions

Here you'll find information on our Book Covers Book Club, upcoming workshops, demonstrations and discussions. Workshops, demonstrations and discussions are included with Museum general admission unless otherwise noted.

Book Covers Book Club

Join this discussion group, led by the Museum's librarian Sandra Wiles, where no prior reading of the material is necessary. Free.

Book Covers Book Club: No Kidding!
Tuesday, September 16, 6pm

To entertain you on a warm summer day, we present a Book Covers devoted to “Toys in Art.” Revisit your childhood as we look at artists who lovingly capture their own memories or create works using favorite toys such as Spirograph, Etch-A-Sketch, Lite Brite and View Master.

Book Covers Book Club: A Whopper of a Tale!
Tuesday, October 21, 6pm

The Art Research Library celebrates Phoenix’s 2008 NEA Big Read selection The Maltese Falcon. Join us for tall tales and a taste of malted-milk candies as we look at the design of mystery-book covers, false leads in storytelling and other film noir delights.

This program is planned in conjunction with The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. They are sponsored in partnership by the West Valley Arts Council, the Maricopa County Library District and Phoenix Art Museum.

For more information and a complete schedule, please visit westvalleyarts.org.

Sketching in the Galleries

Pencil media only; no easels. Drawing pads must be 18" × 24" or smaller, or pick them up at the Museum. Facilitated by an artist/teacher.

Pencil Appreciation Day

Saturday, September 13, 10am – 12 Noon

Saturday, October 11, 10am – Noon

Scottsdale Artists' School Workshops

Scottsdale Artists’ School continues its series of weekend workshops at the Museum this summer. Instructors select several Museum masterworks for reference and inspiration on. After viewing and learning about the works, students return to the studio for hands-on experience with the same principles and techniques employed by the masters.

No experience required for any workshop. Materials are included with tuition, but students should bring a sketchpad and pencil.

Cost: $170 for Museum Members, $200 for non-members.

To register, call Scottsdale Artists’ School at (480) 990-1422 or visit their website.

Introduction to Oil Painting
Saturday, August 30 & Sunday, August 31, 10am – 4pm
Instructor: Carrie Curran

Learn the basics of working with oil paints! Students learn the process of creating an oil painting, from composition and blocking in shapes to using colors, values and brushwork to make an image have excitement and depth. Students experiment with mixing colors, painting on a canvas board and creating a simple still life painting.

How Do They Do That? – Western Sculpture
Saturday, October 25 & Sunday, October 26, 10am – 4pm
Instructor: Susan Henningsen

After touring the 43rd Cowboy Artists of America exhibition, students learn how these awe-inspiring sculptures are made. Students experiment with a variety of techniques, and create small, simple sculptures out of clay. The instructor explains the process to take the clay model to the finished bronze. If you have always wanted to know how they do that, find out here!

ASU Workshops

ASU Lifelong Learning: Art Inspiring Art
Thursday, October 9, 23, November 6, 20 and December 4, 1 – 3pm

This five-session workshop considers the effect of art on artists. Participants explore ekphrasis, an ancient device of creating new works of art – fine, decorative or performed – based on others. They visit two special exhibitions, Edward Weston in Mexico and Elihu Vedder’s Drawings for the Rubáiyát, and learn more about a special musical collaboration held at the Museum each year. Finally, class members create their own written works inspired by the masters.

Cost: $50 for Museum Members, $60 for non-members.

This program for adults aged 50+ meets at the Museum and is limited to 20 participants.

For more information or to enroll, contact ASU’s Lifelong Learning program at (602) 543-6440

or visit lifelonglearning.asu.edu.

Demonstrations

Contemporary Impressions/Ancient Medium
Saturday, September 6, 10am – 12 Noon

Li Junyi, whose work features in A Tradition Redefined, leads this demonstration on hand scrolls. Participants learn about the tradition, modern function of the medium and Mr. Li’s innovative stamping technique by observing his method first hand.

Cost: $40 Museum Members, $60 non-members (includes Museum admission).

Class size is extremely limited; registration is required.

Call (602) 307-2054 for more information or to register.