Grow with ArtsQuest!?

Written by Ethan Deater, ArtsQuest Digital Marketing Intern

Want to learn something new? Discover skills you never knew you had? Or improve skills you already have? We developed a list of upcoming events happening at ArtsQuest that will have you making leaps and bounds in personal improvement!

1. Don’t Be a Showoff, Unless You’re Coming to Open Mic Night!

Bring your acoustics and singing voice, as there is an opportunity for you to show us what you’ve got! This event will give you the chance to sing your heart out and show off your talents in a positive and uplifting group setting! Open Mic Night will be held February 17th & 24th at 7:00 pm in the ArtsQuest Center.

2. Let’s Break Some Glass! – Glass Fusing

Do you feel angry? Maybe a little tense? Well let’s break some glass and make some art out of it to fix that! Resulting in great pieces of art, all you have to do is break a piece of glass and fuse it back together to make something new. Have a smashing experience by coming to the one-day workshop at the Banana Factory, February 19th, at 11:00am.

3. Marvel & more! Learn How to Draw Cartoons (All Ages)

You’re never too old to draw! In this class, you will learn how to draw cartoons both old and new from Warner Bros., Disney, Marvel, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Anime. While drawing these cartoons, you will learn everything from volume and line proportion to color. These skills will be taught by Cotty Kilbanks who worked as a cartoonist at the studios listed above, in addition to South Park and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of drawing, happening February 20th, at the Banana Factory.

4. Free Jokes! Stand Up Open Mic

Happening February 24th, the ArtsQuest Center is offering a FREE hour-long stand-up comedy show consisting of local comedians from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas! Want to be in the show? There are sign ups at the door for anyone who is interested. Spend your night laughing while you support local upcoming standup comedians.

5. Let’s Play with Molten Glass!

In this weekend beginner course, you will learn how to turn molten glass into objects, how cool! There is no experience required. You will learn how to SAFELY gather molten glass from a furnace, which you will then manipulate in both solid and blown forms. Come learn a new awesome skill that you never knew you had at the Banana Factory, February 26th & 27th.

6. Build a Book for your Creations!

In this three-hour workshop for creative writers and poets, students will learn how to generate text for artist books using conceptual techniques including “text as image,” “text as narrative,” and “text as lyrical expression.” Participants will also experiment with Dada and Surrealist approaches, mark-making, and using stencils and stamping. Students will have the chance to apply these techniques in a simple accordion-structured book of their own making.

7. Want to Become a Black Belt in Hot Glass Skills?

Already have some experience working with hot glass? If you have 25+ instructed hours within a hot shop you have the ability to improve your skills even further! This class is great for a student transitioning from intro class to an independent glass maker as well as the more experienced artist who is looking to spend some time improving their skills in the hot shop. The 4-week course will be taking place on Mondays from February 28th to March 21st at the Banana Factory.

8. This Is My Camera, There Are Many Like It, But This One Is Mine

In this 6-week course you will get to know your DSLR or MILC camera. There will be several types of cameras covered in addition to common shooting functions, and how to use the important manual method. Learning about your camera will allow you to take your artistic and photographic abilities and fully apply them. Discover your full potential by taking this course at the Banana Factory, starting March 1st!

9. Okay I Like it, Picasso! Paint Your Fury Friend

Who wouldn’t want a portrait of their furry best friend? This one-day workshop, taught by artist Michelle Geipel, will allow you to paint your own colorful version! You must provide a high-quality image of your pet 5 days prior to the start date in order for printouts to be edited to help guide you. All supplies and colors of the rainbow will be provided to paint your pet’s colorful personality. Come to the Banana Factory on Sunday, March 6th, to show off not only your pet but your painting abilities!