MIXED MEDIA ART RETREAT IN WEST WALES
Instructor: Ron Pokrasso
Saturday 18th June 2011 – Sunday 26th June 2011
Glaspant Manor and Glaspant farmhouse lies tucked away down a bridle track in the small village of Capel Iwan, Carmarthenshire and offers a beautiful and peaceful location as a home base for this week long workshop led by Ron Pokrasso. Glaspant Manor is a Georgian property and is set within 7 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds. The original farmhouse building dates back to the 17th Century and was originally a 235 acre farm that was last worked in the 1950’s. The property is surrounded by pastureland and open country side with views to the Preseli Mountains. There are tracks and bridle-paths that give direct access to miles of walks in the woods and valleys that surround us. It is truly a delightful place to spend time away immersing your-self in this week long workshop.
Paper To Panel- An Adventure In Mixed Media
This course is truly an adventure in mixed media. It is essentially the combination of two workshops, The Monotype Mark and The Constructed Mark.
In the first 3 days we will cover a wide range of techniques possible in the monotype process including additive and subtractive approaches, ink rolling methods, stencils and templates, the use of the ghost, contact monotype, viscosity, plate and paper registration, printing techniques- with and without a press and continue through the use of chine colle and collage, drawing, and multiple plate projects. Through several demonstrations and lectures beginning and advanced participants will learn to find color, modify, layer, and mix inks using all non-toxic waterbased Akua products.
In the last 3 days we will focus on the transformation of our works on paper to panels that can then be handled as paintings, collages, and assemblages. Using woodworking tools participants will learn how to construct their own substrates for furthering their compositions. Collage plays a major role and the various uses of acrylic sealers and glues will be demonstrated. The workshop is open-ended and dictated somewhat by the needs and experience of the participants. The notion of the "artist as an inventor" will be stressed, as problem solving such as creating supports for assemblage and cutting into surfaces become the challenge of how best to express each individual’s artistic vision.
The dynamic of experimenting, using what works, and taking it to the next level is what has moved Ron Pokrasso to create intriguing, increasingly sophisticated compositions. As a great recycler of both materials and ideas, Pokrasso will share his methods and concepts which have driven him to use any object - guitar strings, joist hangers, paintbrushes, plexiglas palettes, whatever works - to create his highly colorful constructed artworks.
Ron Pokrasso has been an exhibiting mixed-media artist for more than 25 years. He received his MFA degree from Pratt Institute in 1975 and has had over 40 solo exhibitions and more than 150 group shows. His work is in public, private, and corporate collections throughout the U.S. and abroad as well as being featured in several books. For 11 years Pokrasso owned and directed Graphics Workshop (gifted to The College of Santa Fe in 1993). He is an originator of the printmaking event "Monothon" and has been an ardent supporter of arts programs for youth. His teaching experience includes universities, museums, public schools and private workshops, as well as Artist Residencies in the U.S., Scotland, Ireland and Italy. In 2000 Ron Pokrasso received the Mayor's Recognition Award For Visual Arts citing his artistic and educational contribution to the city of Santa Fe. You can learn more about Ron, his workshop program and process as well as view his work by visiting his website www.ronpokrasso.com
The Programme
Participants arrive on Saturday 18th June 2011. A welcome dinner and informal slide show set the stage for the weeks activity: 3 days instruction, 1 day off for touring/relaxation/ visit to the local food festival, 3 days instruction, Saturday the 25th will be our last day with a farewell dinner and celebration.
Tuition
The tuition for the program, $725 should be sent immediately to secure one of the few remaining spaces. Checks should be made payable to Ron Pokrasso and sent to 24 Timberwick Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87508. You may also pay with Visa or MasterCard; however a 3% processing fee will be added to all credit card payments. Call 505 984 0827 or email pokrasso@shaening.com to be sure space is still available.
Room and Board
Note: prices for room and board are in British pounds (currently at $1.57). Within the structure of the 8 night stay and 6 day workshop your accommodation and food has been designed to offer you flexibility and variety. Prices range from £315- 430- depending on your lodging choice and include meals and materials for the workshop. For local participants not requiring any accommodation and evening meals the fee is £100 to cover lunch, refreshments and materials for the programme.
This is payable to Philippa Sibert: mail to: philippa.sibert@glaspant.co.uk to make your arrangements.
This is payable to Philippa Sibert: mail to: philippa.sibert@glaspant.co.uk to make your arrangements.
There are 2 options for accommodation:
The farmhouse is attached to the Manor house and offers very comfortable accommodation in 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with bath and shower and one shower room. There are 2 doubles 2 singles and 1 twin. Two of the bathrooms are located on the first floor and one on the ground floor. The 2 double rooms can be used for single use. The farmhouse is full of character and charm with a very large fully equipped kitchen, spacious cosy lounge and a second lounge that houses a library of art related books for you to browse. Linen and towels are provided.
The Watermill is situated a few miles from us and offers 3 lovely quiet apartments. Each apartment sleeps up to 4 people. There is a comfortable lounge, bathroom and fully fitted kitchen. Linen and towels are provided. During your stay you will be provided with transport to and from Glaspant Manor each day and evening. There is also a cosy comfortable log cabin with an outdoor hot tub for guests use and will be available to all participants on the course.
Food:
Your stay here will provide us with an opportunity to showcase all that Wales offers in terms of locally sourced meats and produce. Many of our local producers have won accolades and awards and we will be delighted to provide you with the opportunity to sample these products.
You will be provided with a breakfast starter pack in the farmhouse and the watermill. You will then be responsible for your own breakfasts with the opportunity for you to visit the village of Newcastle Emlyn that has plenty of bakeries, delicatessens, health food shops and butchers to stock up with local produce. Throughout the day there will be refreshments and tea and cake in the afternoon. We will start the programme with a welcome dinner on Saturday evening. All lunches and dinners will be served in the kitchen of Glaspant Manor or in the garden patio areas. There will be 2 ‘chef’s night off’. This will give you the opportunity to explore further afield and sample award winning, restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels. On the final Saturday we will finish with a farewell dinner and celebration. You will depart on Sunday morning after breakfast.
Travel
Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangement to Wales. There are flights to Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham. We can advise you on car hire from these airports. There are main line train services to Carmarthen station which is 30 minutes away by car. If you prefer not to travel by car we can arrange transport to and from the station.
For students who have traveled from abroad we can arrange for any artwork to be shipped home at your own cost.
