Berkeleyan

Left: "Papilionidae Papilio ulysses: Reflecting the Sea" by Jo Whaley (2000; chromogenic print, 23 x 19 inches); Right: installation view of "Pura Vida,"1,000 butterflies of various materials, by Nancy Mizuno Elliott (2004). These artists will teach small groups of advanced art students in a series of workshops coordinated by ASUC Art Studio staffer John Ferdico.

ASUC Art Studio's 'Masters Series' to be led by noted artists

By Cathy Cockrell, Public Affairs | 09 November 2005

Under manager Erica Terman, who came to campus a year ago, the ASUC Art Studio has been exploring new ways to serve the campus, the public, and the larger arts community. This week the arts-education center unveils a new program, its Masters Series of weekend workshops taught by mid-career, nationally recognized Bay Area artists.

While the majority of the studio's classes - in ceramics, photography, drawing, and other media - are geared toward beginners, "a portion of our audience is ready for more advanced study," Terman says. The Masters Series will serve this group by tapping the expertise of professional artists in the community, who will serve as teachers. "We draw attention to local Bay Area artists, some of whom started here," she says. "It's nice to bring some of these people back into the fold after many years."

Art Studio staffer John Ferdico worked closely with Masters Series presenters to design the workshops. The first in the series will be led by Jo Whaley, an award-winning fine-art photographer and long-time educator who studied at Berkeley and started her career at the ASUC Art Studio; prior to that she was a set painter for Cal Performances. Whaley's course - "From the Painter's Perspective: A Workshop in Advanced Color Photography" - will consist of three daylong Saturday sessions beginning Jan. 28. The price for the series is $695.

Bay Area artist Nancy Mizuno Elliot, former exhibition director at Richmond Art Center, will teach an eight-week course, "Beyond White Walls: A Public Art Laboratory," starting Saturday, Feb. 4. Mizuno Elliot's recent work includes "Pura Vida," an installation of more than 1,000 handmade butterflies in various media that were displayed in City of Oakland recreation centers. "Beyond White Walls" will unpack the process of creating public artworks - from fundraising and developing a strong proposal to developing ideas as an individual or part of group, scouting sites, and doing community outreach. As part of the workshop, students will collaborate to create a temporary indoor public-art installation. The fee for this workshop is $695 as well.

Oakland-based photographer Katherine Westerhout - known for her arresting architectural images of derelict buildings and her tapestry-like images-on-fabric - will lead a daylong workshop, "Toward a Photographic Vision: Honing Your Personal Aesthetic," on Sunday, March 5. The class is limited to eight intermediate or advanced students, accepted on a first-come, first served basis. The $295 fee includes a catered lunch.

Registration information: The ASUC Art Studio anticipates strong interest in the Masters Series. To enroll by mail, send payment with name, address, course title, and a valid e-mail address; make checks out to UC Regents. It is also possible to register in person at the studio, located on the lower-level plaza of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, or online. The latter option will be available after Thanksgiving on the ASUC Art Studio website (www.asucartstudio.org). For information, call 642-3065 or 642-6161.