| footnotes | may 2022 | letter from the editor
“Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings.” — Jane Jacobs, advocate for community-centered urban development
The month of May has proven to be a quiet one at the Foothills Arts Center. Planned events, exhibitions, and classes have been delayed, canceled, or relocated after a recent inspection uncovered electrical repairs that require a temporary closure of the building. It’s certainly not the way we had hoped to celebrate the eightieth birthday of the elegant Gilvin Roth YMCA building, but after all this time, work is in order. Anyone who has ever embarked on the renovation or restoration of a historic building knows that the path forward is oftentimes riddled with surprises, but we’re addressing the issues and look forward to welcoming staff, students, and visitors back to the facility soon. (Want to learn more? Click here to read about the history of our beloved building.)
Thankfully, our Plein Air Painters Group excursions are not limited to a physical structure, and we are excited to move forward with our excursion to the Historic Kapps Mill Estate on Sunday, May 29 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the art of painting en plein air, we encourage you to join us for community, creativity, and coffee. Bring a sketchbook, pencils, and a watercolor or acrylic paint set, and enjoy a morning spent in a picturesque setting layering colors on your canvas. Be sure to purchase a ticket for entry to the estate.
We are also thrilled to announce that we are still offering Summer Art Adventures for youth, and we’ve expanded the offerings to include a full week of classes from June 20-24 at a studio retreat in Traphill. Parents and guardians can choose to enroll their rising 1st-12th grade children in the morning session from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, or the afternoon session from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM. Sessions are limited to a dozen students and will feature both indoor and outdoor art enrichment activities. Registration closes June 1, so please don’t hesitate to reserve a spot for your favorite young artists!
Sydney Sieviec, Assistant Director