Rye Arts Center Has Unique Classes For Fall

RYE, N.Y. – The sounds of jazz, visual abstract art and unique classes in fine art, music and performing arts will fill the Rye Arts Center this fall. 

“I think more and more people see the diversity in how you can be artistic,” said Emilia Del Peschio of the Rye Arts Center. “You get a lot of people from Rye and lots and lots of people from other towns in Westchester.”

For children, robotics, fashion design and recycled art are just a few of the new classes beginning Sept.12 and Oct. 1. Check out the center’s drawing monsters class for a scary take on traditional drawing. The art of puppetry will be explored, culminating in an end-of-class performance with the puppeteers and their new “friends.” Kids can also explore media art using Google sketchup for digital architecture or try their hand at computer animation.

Teens and beginner adults can learn watercolor, acrylic, oil or pastel painting in new classes that will cover topics of figure from life, conventional to cutting-edge style and abstraction. For high school artists, a class called Introduction to Advanced Placement Studio Art is a great way to prepare a college portfolio.

In Patti Mollica’s new class, Cupcakes, Candies and Ice Cream-Oh My!, students will paint dessert confections. Those looking to learn traditional stone carving will study under Francesa Noto, who holds a master's of fine arts from the New York Academy of Art and has studied under master sculptor Seiji Saito. Pastel artist Rae Smith will teach workshops, and Joy Tobin will teach painting flowers using watercolors.

Adults can tone their bodies while learning the fundamentals of ballet. Preschoolers can get their bodies moving using the basics of ballet and yoga. Thanks to a grant from ArtsWestchester, the class Dance for Parkinson’s Disease will begin Sept. 12.

Jazz fans should mark their calendars for the Sept. 28 performance of “September Sound Explosion” by the John Fumasoli and Bill Harris sextet, featuring Roger Ball, co-founder of Average White Band.

Finally, in the center’s gallery, curator Katherine Dufault has assembled a collection of some of today’s most talented abstract artists for the show “From Where I Stand,” set to open Nov. 18.

Visit www.ryeartscenter.org for more information or call 914-967-0700 to register.

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