Intro To Short-Form Filmmaking
2021-07-07 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Refuge Lowell, 122 Western Ave. Studio #A110, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
STORYTELLING THROUGH SHORT-FORM VIDEOS

Introduction to Short-Form Filmmaking will invite students to incorporate their own personal voices creatively through short-form video as a storytelling outlet. With the rise of smartphones and social media, it has become easier to make short films and share them with the world. In recent years video has emerged as a powerful and engaging medium on social media, that has the capacity to invoke emotion. From motivation to a simple laugh. Students will be taken through the entire process of drafting an idea, developing a storyboard, scouting a location, utilizing tools/props, filming with whatever camera they have at their disposal, editing on a mobile device, and sharing via social media and YouTube.

Henry Marte: Filmmaker, published photographer, founder of Marte Media, Marketing Manager of Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, Documentary Film School at Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Social Media Management certificate at Middlesex Community College, Digital Media Marketing certificate at Middlesex Community College, Refuge Lowell board member.

This program is a traveling class; by registering your child for this class you are giving permission for them to travel on foot to new locations in the city of Lowell each class.

Please let us know what sort of device your child will be using for the class.

Wednesday Mornings: 11-2pm
Instructor: Henry Marte
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11

Required materials: Mobile device (phone or tablet, fully charged), Sunblock, good walking shoes, drinking water, hat
Suggested materials: Battery pack or charger.

Due to new health and safety concerns, we ask that students come to class with a mask. We will provide hand sanitizer and wipe down working areas with disinfectant before and after class. Shields and limited class sizes will also be implemented during this time. We ask that if your child or a household family member does not feel well to be open and communicate with us about your child missing class as a precautionary measure. Restaurant rules apply for snacks and drinks… students will be allowed to eat and drink at their work space but must wear masks when traveling through the studio.

We reserve the right to cancel any classes that do not fill.

Fine Art Camp For Kids: Nature In The Cosmos
2021-08-02 09:00 - 14:30 | Refuge Lowell, 122 Western Ave. Studio #A110, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Refuge is offering a unique week-long session of fully-in-person, socially-distant, art day-camp for young artists ages 6-8!

This summer, your young artist will have the opportunity to create unique and original works of art inspired by the great outdoors! We will explore the foundations of art and design, and develop creative approaches to expressing our ideas, observations, and feelings about the natural environment. Join other young artists as we create and learn together while fostering an appreciation for fine art, sustainability, and the natural world in a safe, affirming environment. This program is designed to keep kids engaged and curious while following the CDC’s recommendations and safety protocols.

Together, we will combine traditional artmaking techniques in combination with recycled materials and found objects. Each day will include reading children’s books, explorative outdoor studio sessions, in-studio working time, crafting workshops, 2 snack sessions and a lunch.

Nature in the Cosmos: Young artists will create works of art inspired by the colors, lights, and patterns found in our natural universe! We will create paintings, sculptures, and drawings while exploring the wonders of the cosmos, such as the Perseid Meteor Showers, which peak every year during early to mid-August. We will paint color-field landscapes inspired by Alma Thomas, illustrate a cloud journal, create our very own James Turrell “skyscapes”, and more!

Required materials: Wear a mask, comfortable closed-toed shoes, and clothes you don’t mind getting messy in. Bring a backpack, an extra mask(s), a sketchbook,*lunch, snacks, and a refillable water bottle.

*Please inform us in advance of any food allergies.

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9-2:30
Instructor: Madelaine Hamilton
August Session – Nature in the Cosmos: 8/2, 8/3, 8/5, 8/6

Ages: 6 – 9

Due to new health and safety concerns, we ask that students come to class with a mask. We will provide hand sanitizer and wipe down working areas with disinfectant before and after class. Shields and limited class sizes will also be implemented during this time. We ask that if your child or a household family member does not feel well to be open and communicate with us about your child missing class as a precautionary measure. Restaurant rules apply for snacks and drinks… students will be allowed to eat and drink at their work space but must wear masks when traveling through the studio.

We reserve the right to cancel any classes that do not fill.

About Face Show at Loading Dock Gallery
2021-08-04 12:00 - 17:30, 2021-08-08 12:00 - 16:00 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Energetic lines and brilliant colors electrify at the Loading Dock Gallery this August. Stephen Beccia and Richard Cross present About Face, a show of contemporary figurative art. Their work explores the human figure and the nature of portraiture. Inspired by Cubism and Pop, About Face experiments with new visual rhythms for the 21st century.

Stephen Beccia lives and works in Hudson Massachusetts. After a career as a musician and writer, he turned his focus to telling stories with images on canvas and paper. “Every painting is a new adventure.” Beccia’s inspirations include such artists as Miro, Basquiat, and Picasso. Expressive geometries and flowing colors are a constant theme. A self-taught painter, Beccia says he’s “searching for a world of design and color that does not yet exist.” Beccia has displayed and sold his art in several New England galleries, businesses, and exhibits.

Richard Cross works in illustrations, paint, and mixed media. Like Beccia, Cross is self-taught and loves to experiment. Inspired by Pop Art, with a gritty cast, his work is sharp-edged, transforming familiar images with intense color and agitated line. Many of his pieces include a nod to film noir. He combines aggressive color, stark line, and grungy filth with exacting precision to produce pieces that are both off-putting and vulnerable. “My goal is to generate a subtle anxiousness within the viewer.” Cross lives in Billerica and is a member artist at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell. He has shown in galleries around Boston, Somerville, and Worcester.

About Face runs August 4-29, 2021. Meet the artists August 7, 3-5 pm. Find Loading Dock Gallery at 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA 01851. Open Wednesday – Saturday 12-5:30 pm, and Sunday 12-4 pm. For more information, call 978-415-9889 or visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com

August First Saturday Art Market
2021-08-07 12:00 - 17:00 | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Our first event back indoors was a huge success. It felt great having all of you roam our halls with delight and curiosity, after almost a year and a half of no indoor events. We’re back at it in August, so join us at the Creative Soul of Lowell.

Food Truck: TBD

The Loading Dock Gallery kicks off August with their latest show, About Face. Energetic lines and brilliant colors electrify at the Loading Dock Gallery this August. Stephen Beccia and Richard Cross present About Face, a show of contemporary figurative art. Their work explores the human figure and the nature of portraiture. Inspired by Cubism and Pop, About Face experiments with new visual rhythms for the 21st century. The gallery will be open Saturday from 12 pm until 5:30 pm, with an opportunity to meet the artists of About Face from 3 pm to 5 pm. The show runs from August 4th through the 29th.

Covid-19 Guidelines:
– Guests who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms or have been instructed to quarantine by a medical professional should not attend.
– All unvaccinated guests must wear a mask or face covering at all times.
– We will have hand sanitation stations throughout the building.

There is no charge for this event. This event is dog friendly, we just ask that you keep your pup on a leash.

We will post more updates as the event gets closer, so stay tuned in

Rare Earth Show at Loading Dock Gallery
2021-09-01 12:00 - 17:30 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Rare Earth: A Collaboration Between Artist and Mother Nature
This September The Loading Dock Gallery is gathering the talents of six artists who create art through one of the greatest collaborations, that of the artist and Mother Nature. The artists of Rare Earth interpret the world’s beauty through their individual media, some crafting their art via the use of natural materials found in nature. Rare Earth will truly showcase the beauty of this wonderful planet. Our featured artists include:Located at Hudson Art Studios in Hudson, MA, Rainie Barton, took up metalsmithing and jewelry making at the end of her career in education. Inspired by all things natural, she loves the way she can craft something that looks organic and alive from something as rigid as a sheet of silver or other metal. Recently, Rainie has begun using metal to interpret and frame lovely, extraordinary stones that spotlight nature’s artwork and produce unique and elegant wearable art.Windham NH’s John Baumann is a formally trained photographer, loves to explore the world around him, and is inspired by its natural beauty, especially that of the New England shoreline. His images evoke feelings of peace and tranquility while capturing the diverse colors and textures of the natural world. John’s goal is to draw the viewer in, inspire them to explore our natural surroundings, and hopes it will inspire the viewer to fight for their protection.Potter, Nancy Barkman of Burlington, MA is inspired by the beauty of nature. She uses her potter’s wheel, carving and runny glazes to create her elegant, eclectic pieces. Nancy’s use of both brown and white stoneware, a natural, versatile element to create pottery that is both beautiful and functional. Her use of blue, green and brown glazes reflect the organic feel of her work.An artist her entire life, Gillian Frazier’s emotions and life experiences are key influences in her artwork. Her artwork, primarily landscape paintings in oil media, is inspired by nature. She believes that nature is her best teacher, and observation is the first step in understanding her subject. Gillian’s mastery of color and technique make her reflective landscapes depicting the wonders of nature a joy to view.Doreen Moscillo hails from Hudson Art Studios in Hudson, MA and is a graphic designer. Her interests and experimentation in many types of mediums makes her a very versatile and interesting artist. Doreen’s natural curiosity was awakened while exploring New England via kayak. She observed the abstract textures created by the decay of bridges along waterways. Using wooden panels, wire and layers of cement and sand, Doreen experimented and was able to mimic the textures of these structures made of wood and concrete. Her creations are fascinating and a must-see.Bethany Peck is a New England contemporary abstract landscape painter. Bethany harnesses nature as her creative vehicle to express her emotions. Bethany describes it as “a world existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness. The painting process is immediate and direct.” She paints intuitively, creating an effective state where emotions are experienced and translated from oils to various substrates such as copper, wood, & canvas. Her views of land, sea and sky are truly breathtaking.Rare Earth runs September 1 – 26, 2021. Meet the artists September 4, 3-5 pm. Loading Dock Gallery at 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA. Open Wednesday – Saturday from 12-5:30 pm, and Sunday 12-4 pm. Call 978-415-9889 or visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com for details.
