Western Avenue Studios

Sculpture and Ceramics Class at Lores Studio
2019-09-11 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | MA
Students can expect a relaxed and individualized experience where they will be guided and challenged according to their level of development and personal goals. Ceramics and Sculpture will cover hand building techniques designed to focus on your area of interest including: portrait, figurative, and functional art as well as jewelry.
This class is an Open Studio format and features regular mini-lectures, short demonstrations and coaching to help you explore and learn hand building techniques.

Class is held in a professional studio setting (Alés Lores Studio – Studio A413)
Basic Tools and Clay will be provided for beginners
Students are expected to purchase additional clay, glazes, and special tools and materials required for their projects.
Enrollment is open year-round depending on availability.
Free parking available.

Classes Available:
Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm (Instructor: Roneld Lores)

Stitched
2020-03-04 12:00 - 17:30 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Come and enjoy a delightful cavalcade of contemporary textiles as you explore the vision of eight area fiber artists in an exhibit of work that uses of texture, color, line, and quilting to create a wide away of textile art.
Although all of the artists use fiber, each has developed her own unique voice and style ranging from the abstract to the representational. The artists achieve those goals through a variety of techniques, some beginning with hand-dyeing, printing, painting or even felting the fabric, while others using the evocative commercial fabrics available today. All use machine stitching in their work but some add hand stitching as a design element.
The artists are members of a the SAQA, the international Studio Art Quilt Associates, formed a local critique group called Joined by a Stitch, and meet monthly to support each other in their work. The artists include Betsy Abbott of North Andover, Agusta Agustsson of Melrose, Tarja Cockell of North Andover, Sue Colozzi of Reading, Janis Doucette of North Reading, Anne Kimball of Lexington, Madalene Axford Murphy of Amesbury, and Alanna Nelson of Melrose
The opening reception for the show is Saturday March 7, 2020 from 4-6pm at the end of Western Avenue’s First Saturday Open Studios event. Please join us and meet the artists in this show. The show runs March 4th through March 29thth.
The Showcase Gallery for this month features the art of Linda Hefner and Noel Soucy.
The Loading Dock Gallery is a program of Loading Dock Arts, Inc, a 501( c)3 nonprofit.

Drawing and Painting Class with Roneld Lores
2019-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | MA
For artists of all levels who wish to learn and master painting fundamentals, this class helps you with friendly, one-on-one coaching as well as inspiration from others. You will explore different mediums and techniques, color theory, conceptual developments and composition. Students will receive expert instruction in a low-stress and welcoming atmosphere.
This class is an Open Studio format and features regular mini-lectures, short demonstrations and coaching to help you explore concept development, learn how to mix paint, create new compositions, and textures.
My mission for you is simple: I want you to create paintings, not pictures. I want to get you comfortable with the creative process. If I can help you make your own artwork using best practices in technique and composition, and get you further along the path of art through a wider appreciation of art history, even better. It is about finding your unique artistic voice.

Class is held in a professional studio setting (Alés Lores Studio – Loft 216)
Easel will be provided. List of materials needed is listed on the website www.alesloresstudio.com
Enrollment is open year-round depending on availability.
Free parking available.

Classes Available:
Tuesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm (Instructor: Roneld Lores)

Stitched
2020-03-08 12:00 - 16:30, 2020-03-07 12:00 - 17:30, 2020-03-06 12:00 - 17:30, 2020-03-05 12:00 - 17:30 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Come and enjoy a delightful cavalcade of contemporary textiles as you explore the vision of eight area fiber artists in an exhibit of work that uses of texture, color, line, and quilting to create a wide away of textile art.
Although all of the artists use fiber, each has developed her own unique voice and style ranging from the abstract to the representational. The artists achieve those goals through a variety of techniques, some beginning with hand-dyeing, printing, painting or even felting the fabric, while others using the evocative commercial fabrics available today. All use machine stitching in their work but some add hand stitching as a design element.
The artists are members of a the SAQA, the international Studio Art Quilt Associates, formed a local critique group called Joined by a Stitch, and meet monthly to support each other in their work. The artists include Betsy Abbott of North Andover, Agusta Agustsson of Melrose, Tarja Cockell of North Andover, Sue Colozzi of Reading, Janis Doucette of North Reading, Anne Kimball of Lexington, Madalene Axford Murphy of Amesbury, and Alanna Nelson of Melrose.

The opening reception for the show is Saturday March 7, 2020 from 4-6pm at the end of Western Avenue’s First Saturday Open Studios event. Please join us and meet the artists in this show. The show runs March 4th through March 29thth.

The Showcase Gallery for this month features the art of Linda Hefner and Noel Soucy.

The Loading Dock Gallery is a program of Loading Dock Arts, Inc, a 501( c)3 nonprofit.

Collage Time - Second Sundays
2020-01-12 12:00 - 16:00 | Third Floor of WA, 122 Western Ave., Lowell, Massachusetts, 01851
Work on your art in my sun-filled studio. Bring your project and supplies. Basics will be on had to share, along with tea and treats. Create art, surrounded by the energy of fellow artists. This is always a rich, productive afternoon. $50 for one session, $125 for all three. Space limited to 4.
Contact me via my website to reserve your spot. www.lindabranchdunn.com

March Open Studios
2020-03-07 12:00 - 17:00 | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Spring is on the horizon. Join us for March Open Studios, as we celebrate Jack Kerouac’s birthday and Women’s History Month at The Creative Soul of Lowell. We have live readings featuring members of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Featuring music by Dave Greenwood and a release party for Stephen O’Connor’s new novel This Is No Time To Quit Drinking. So grab a friend and explore our historic mill building, where art is made.
The Loading Dock Gallery kicks off their March art show titled “Artful Stitches” with a reception that celebrates the work the artists put into this show. As part of the reception, you get a unique experience of speaking firsthand to some of the artists who created artwork featured in this show.
As part of Women’s History Month. This month’s guest speaker for the Loading Dock Arts’ Western Avenue Inspires Lecture Series is Betsy Miller. Betsy Miller is a dance artist, educator, and facilitator currently based in Salem, MA, where she is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Salem State University. She specializes in choreographing intimate works that are complex, theatrical, and thoroughly human. Miller will inspire us with a talk about her American / woman project, which explores, through a dancer’s lens, possibilities for what it means to be a woman in America today. The project involves collaborations with women dance artists in all 50 states of the country. This promises to be a lecture you don’t want to miss, starting at 11 am.
Our resident brewers at Navigation Brewing Co. will be open at 2 pm, serving up their craft beers. Come down to see what rotational crafted brews they have to offer this week, as they start releasing their spring beers. Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus will be on hand with a coffee shop pop-up. This month’s food truck is Bobby & Jacks Memphis Barbecue with their mouth watering barbecue.
Western Avenue is a complex of four buildings of artist studios and loft residences that number over 330 artists. We think that makes us the second largest artist community in the U.S. – right here in Lowell MA!! We love having the public visit us and bring some creative exploration to their day.
This is a free event AND we have plenty of free parking. WA is dog friendly too.
Follow us on Facebook for all of the details about this event and on Instagram for fun and funky updates throughout the week. Sign up on our website for our monthly e-newsletter.
We hope to see you here!

Lecture : Betsy Miller - Using Dance to Explore Being a Woman in America
2020-03-07 11:00 - 12:30 | B Mill – 2nd floor, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
BETSY MILLER is a dance artist, educator, and facilitator currently based in Salem, MA, where she is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Salem State University. She specializes in choreographing intimate works that are complex, theatrical, and thoroughly human. Miller will inspire us with a talk about her American / woman project, which explores, through a dancer’s lens, possibilities for what it means to be a woman in America today. The project involves collaborations with women dance artists in all 50 states of the country.

WWW.BETSYMILLERDANCEPROJECTS.COM

Beginning Crochet
2020-02-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Third Floor of WA, 122 Western Ave., Lowell, Massachusetts, 01851
Learn the basic skills of crochet to create a lovely, lacy scarf. You will learn the basic stitches (chain, single, double crochet) and how to read a basic chart.
Yarn and nook for your first project will be provided as part of the class fee of $120.
Please visit www.threadgardens.com to reserve your spot.

Carve a Wooden Serving Spoon
2019-10-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Second Floor WA, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
John Francis Designs Carving Class Series: This class is a great introduction to using carving tools and getting the feel of working with wood. Through making your spoon, we will focus on carving techniques that will allow you to carve safely with confidence, as well as basic tool sharpening and food-safe wood finishing.
Students will carve and finish a serving spoon from a pre-cut blank in either Walnut or Cherry.
Absolute beginners are very welcome. No power tools are used in this class.
18+ only

Intermediate Spoon Carving Class
2020-02-15 13:00 - 18:00 | Second Floor WA, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This class will go more in-depth to the design and carving process than the Intro class. Students will be able to select a piece of wood and draw a spoon of their own design. The blanks will be cut on a bandsaw, then carved and finished using gouges, drawknives, spokeshaves, and carving knives. Tool sharpening and maintenance will be discussed, as well as recommended wood types and local suppliers.
Beginners are welcome!
18+ only please.

Marble Making : The Vortex
2020-02-08 14:00 - 17:00 | Second Floor WA, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Contemporary marbles are much more than just cat’s eyes or aggies. Marble makers today have raised the form to the level of art. Aaron will teach one of the most popular marble designs, the Vortex Marble. Through this and other projects you will learn many of the most important marble making techniques. This class is a great introduction to the more complex designs possible with the contemporary marble. Some previous lampworking experience necessary.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 2 sessions 3 hours each
Price: $145

Studio 216
Registration required.

Introduction to Flamework
2020-02-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Second Floor WA, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This class will be an overview of Flameworking, aka Lampworking. It is a two part class:
Day One: BEADMAKING
This class is where all new students start their flameworking education. We’ll learn the basics of making lampworked beads at the torch or “lamp.” We will be melting glass rods in the flame and forming the beads around metal mandrels. This is a great way to get started with working hot glass in the flame. It’s very fun and quite forgiving (for a molten, hot, and fragile medium).
Day Two: BOROSILICATE GLASS
Moving beyond beads we will explore a different type of glass and many new techniques to utilize in the pursuit of controlling molten glass. We will make marbles, pendants, and small sculpture (time permitting) all in borosilicate or “pyrex” glass. New tools are introduced along with new challenges.
Difficulty: Beginner
Duration: 2 days, 3 hours each
Location at Western Avenue : Studio 216
