Past Programs and Workshops.
SPRING 2023 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
April 29: 10-4pm
COLOR THEORY with LENA WOLFF
Explore the wonderful weird magic of color theory with Bay Area artists Lena Wolff through the inspirational palette of Western Hills Garden. This workshop offers an interactive crash course in color for beginners and practicing artists alike, diving into basic color properties, the bizarre nature of color relativity, and the science behind color perception through hands-on exercises in paint-mixing and collage. While mostly focusing on art exercises, an in-depth color theory presentation is shown, with examples from the early mid-century color theorists like Johannes Itten and Joseph Albers, combined with images from folk art, textiles and contemporary Bay Area artists.
$125. All materials Included.
Snacks and a simple vegan lunch served. Bring your own if you have dietary restrictions.
Instructor Bio: Lena Wolff is an interdisciplinary visual artist, craftswoman and activist for democracy who has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area since the early 1990’s. Her work includes drawing, collage, sculpture, text-based works, music, and public projects. In recent years, she generated several projects that contribute to civic engagement, including a widespread anti-hate poster campaign and a public art initiative to boost voter participation that has gained national reach in the past three election cycles in the US. Her work has been exhibited nationally and collected by ONE National Lesbian and Gay Archives, the Berkeley Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Oakland Museum of California, the San Francisco History Collection at San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Arts Commission, Alameda County Arts Commission, Cleveland Clinic, University of Iowa Museum and the Zuckerman Museum of Art, among others. She has taught color studies at Pixar Animation Studios, Kala Art Institute, Disney Animation Studios, Nike and independently out of her studio in Berkeley, California for over a decade.
April 22: 10-2pm
BOTANICAL OBSERVATION THROUGH PAINTED COLLAGE with KIM BENNETT
Plant Love, Form Witness, Garden History: Focus on Mary Delany
Mary Delany (1700-1788) was an English gardener, writer, and artist known for her intricate floral paper-cuttings which she called ‘Paper Mosaiks”. She invented her decoupage technique at age 70 by carefully observing and deconstructing plant specimens and then layering cut and painted paper to represent the various parts of the plant. Her artworks were extraordinarily accurate and sensitive. She made 985 of them before her eyesight failed her. In this class, we’ll borrow Delany’s technique: first by walking the garden to closely observe the plant and flowers in their natural habitat. Then we’ll dissect cuttings on a specimen table and inspect each botanical element. We’ll mix colors and paint paper carefully, hold the plant cuttings to feel their texture and shape, and then cut and arrange paper shapes into a collage of the original plant. While we are doing this we can discuss how gardens have changed since Mary Delany’s time and what we can express about our hopes for the future when we represent the world around us.
$75. All materials included.
Snacks and a simple vegan lunch served. Bring your own if you have dietary restrictions.
Instructor Bio: Kim Bennett has a BFA from the Cooper Union and an MFA from California College of the Arts, where she is an Adjunct Professor. She has exhibited her work in the Bay Area at Stephen Wirtz Gallery, pied-à-terre, and Interface Gallery, as well as Transmitter Gallery in New York and Conduit Gallery in Dallas. She is the recipient of a Creative Time commission, a Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship, and a Kala Parent Artist Fellowship.
May 7: 10-2pm
BIOEUPHORIA with JESSICA ABBOTT WILLIAMS AND DEBI GOLLAN
Contemplation and Mark Making in Nature
This workshop is for beginning and experienced artists alike. The day will start with a guided meditation lead by mediation coach, Debi Gollan. We will land in the beautiful Western Hills Garden, ground ourselves in present time and set our intentions. This will be followed by a walking meditation as each participant explores the garden in search of specimens to observe and draw.
We will use ink and vine charcoal to demonstrate and review the fundamentals of observation and drawing – including continuous line contour, negative space, balance, harmony, and types of mark making including tools from the natural world. This is not about creating a perfect rendering of the plants we observe but rather a record of time spent in connection with nature.
The term Bioeuphoria is a protologism (not yet in common use) that refers to the very particular relationship artists have in direct, sustained observation of nature, one that with practice can build a sense of a true reciprocal relationship. The artistic and meditation practices used in this workshop help foster deep connections with the natural world and can become a part of your daily practice.
$75. All materials Included.
Snacks and a simple vegan lunch served. Bring your own if you have dietary restrictions.
Instructor Bios: Jessica Abbott Williams is an artist and owner of Brushstrokes Studio, a community art space and ceramics studio in Berkeley. She received her BFA in 1997 in ceramics from the California College of the Arts and has sold her line of ceramics at the SFMOMA Museum Store, the Palo Alto Art Center Gallery Shop, and The Gardener. Her fine art painting draws from the natural world, particularly plants and flowers. She has collaborated with the designer Erica Tanov on a floral-inspired clothing line and exhibited her works in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Marin, and Napa Valley. She is currently working on a social practice project called Bioeuphoria: Conversations with Artists in a Time of Climate Chaos.
Debi Gollan is a meditation coach and energy medicine practitioner, who accesses universal tools with potent healing frequencies, through meditation and visualization techniques. With a master certification in Intuition Medicine®, she is a certified Past Life Regression Therapist and a practicing Evolutionary Astrologer. Debi incorporate these modalities in supporting clients through life transitions.
May 13: 12-2pm
CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP - with NATALIE TREMBLAY
Botanical Blue Prints
Learn the basics of cyanotype to create botanical blueprints using foraged foliage from Western Hills Garden. This alternative photography process uses sunshine to develop deep blue images that capture the beauty of nature. Natalie will provide coated cyanotype paper and guide you through the process of finding inspiration and creating a composition. No experience needed, and you will take home your very own piece of original art!
$100. All materials Included.
Snacks and a simple vegan lunch served. Bring your own if you have dietary restrictions.
Instructor Bio: Natalie Tremblay is a cyanotype artist working from her home studio in Santa Rosa, California. Deeply inspired by nature, her art journey has always been centered around botanical design. Over the past few years, she has solely focused on the cyanotype process and using fresh foliage to create unique pieces of original art. Her work has been featured in local galleries and has been collected by admirers across the country.
May 21: 10-2pm
NATURE JOURNALING for GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS with KATE RUTTER
Attention, curiosity and wonder in a lyric blend of science and art
Bring your love of gardens to a whole new level with a nature journal. Nature journaling is the act of putting pen (or pencil) to paper to observe aspects of nature with curiosity and attention. It's a magical blend of science and aesthetics that leads to wonder and a deep connectedness with the living world. At this in-person workshop you’ll learn about establishing (or enhancing) your nature journaling practice in the beautiful environment of the gardens. The focus is on experiencing and visually expressing our curiosity about plants and nature, not about making detailed botanical art. In this practice, “art” is the experience you have while you’re doing it. All skill levels welcome.
After a brief orientation and warm-up learning activities, you'll have hands-on observation and drawing time in the garden. Using words, pictures, and numbers you'll capture the forms, shapes, and textures of the plants of your choice. You will practice foundational techniques such as basic drawing, annotation, and a variety of observations that prompt both deeper questions and a deeper connections to the plants. Kate will be available for questions and individual instruction during the garden journaling time. The group will reconvene toward the close of the workshop to talk about our experiences and to learn from each other.
$75. All basic materials included, including specialized tools for you to use during the session. A full take-home kit of these tools is available for purchase on site for $15 (cash or Venmo.)
Snacks and a simple vegan lunch served. Bring your own if you have dietary restrictions.
Instructor Bio: Kate Rutter is an avid nature journaler, urban naturalist, educator, and native plant enthusiast who enlivens nature-human connection through sketching, observation, and curiosity. Kate has led nature journal workshops at the Ruth Bancroft Gardens, Annie's Annuals and Perennials Nursery, the Wild Wonder International Nature Journaling Conference, and for the California Native Plant Society. She has illustrated three books, and is an adjunct professor in design at the California College of the Arts. Kate holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Wellesley College.
June 3: 10-12pm
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY 101 with JESSICA CHRISTIAN
Join San Francisco Chronicle photojournalist Jessica Christian for a beginner’s class on how to make the most out of your nature photography. We’ll go over the basics of how to use your camera, phones included, as well as what to look for when out and about and what makes a great nature photo. We’ll finish off our time together with a stroll through the gardens to put our skills to the test, discuss our experience, and share our shots
Instructor Bio: Jessica Christian is a photojournalist for the San Francisco Chronicle who was born and raised in the Bay Area. Over the past decade, she has worked for multiple San Francisco publications covering everything from breaking news to stories surrounding issues such as the housing crisis, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She first came to Western Hills on assignment and is delighted to be back sharing her skills..
