To champion art as essential to life and give our community
a creative voice
From the President’s Desk
The current Winter Faire exhibit takes us into the holidays with lots of fine art and crafts, and the Square Art Shop, designed for (members only), is packed with fabulous yet affordable pieces. Our customers will have plenty of great gift ideas to choose from! There is no entry fee for this exhibit!
Thank you's to all who helped with this current art exchange: John Klippenstein, Barbara Sitar, Carolyn Chambers, Susan Jonas, Bob Rodger, Paula Landis, Larry Kappen, Phillip Lope, Colleen Ray, Sharon Westray, Anne Grannis, Marty Azevedo, Nancy Johnson, Ann Brown and Gail Martin!
It’s time to vote for your 2020 MBAA Board Members! Look in your email soon, for Art Center Morro Bay’s ELECTION BUDDY and get your votes in!
The annual MBAA Board Installation and Holiday dinner party will be at Windows on the Water Restaurant. Members, you are invited!!! It’s a fun celebration for members to meet their board of directors and enjoy an exciting evening. Dinner choices are on the MBAA website (shop page). This fun filled evening includes songs in a cappella, by the Morro Bay High School Choir, a slide show in retrospect and a great way to meet fellow artists! You may make your reservations online or by calling the gallery!
The RTA bus stop will thankfully remain in it’s current location on Harbor Street and we couldn’t be more pleased with the decisions made by city officials! In addition, the city has agreed to schedule work on dates that will not impact the show. Art in the Park is going into it's 65th year and has a great future ahead!
New permit fees for Art in the Park included a recommendation to split the city park into two halves and charging a whopping $9,700. annually. The Morro Bay City Council has been giving the MB Master Fee Schedule plenty of consideration. At this time, the fees will be based upon the entire park and set at $6,789. for the year 2020, an increase of $749. per show.
Many of you have heard about changes made at SLOMA and wondering how we are doing at Art Center Morro Bay. I’m happy to report, MBAA is doing well! Your MBAA Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers, who work hard to ensure that ACMB continues to thrive. Our largest asset, Art Center Morro Bay (the building) has had fire, roof and termite threat inspections. The building was painted on the outside, the deck was replaced with a resilient patio that shouldn’t require constant and expensive upkeep, the front gate was cleaned and resealed and upstairs windows installed for better air flow. A fire door was installed in the rear entrance by Bob Rodger and the lighting indoors and out, are under constant scrutiny by Bob Rodgers and Phillip Lopez. We added electric fans and beautiful seating areas throughout for comfort and the downstairs gallery sports a slide show of artwork for those with mobility challenges. Most recently, Gail Martin and Janet Hillson painted accent walls and pedestals for a more contemporary and updated look to the Main Gallery. Sometime in the future, we would like to see an elevator installed, however, the cost is way too prohibitive at this time, due to building code requirements, labor and permit fees. A fund raiser may be in our future. If you wish to help in this area, please let myself or other board members know.
It takes a huge amount of people donating time and knowledge to make this organization and gallery the vibrant art hub of today. I wish I could acknowledge each and every one of you to say THANK YOU! It’s because of YOU, our members, that Art Center Morro Bay continues to grow and thrive!
In behalf of myself and the MBAA Board of Directors, we wish you all a joyous holiday with the love of family and friends for a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Patricia Newton
NOVEMBER DEMO
Finding Inspiration in Whatever You Love
with Giselle Massey
November 11, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
During this demonstration, Giselle will engage participants in a lively discussion about ways to find inspiration in our environment, and share the process of her intricately carved designs and inlaid glazes.
“One of my passions is to bring art into everyday moments of life with functional ceramics like mugs, planters, and bowls. I carve and texture nearly every piece I make, often leaving portions of clay bare as a part of the design to be enjoyed by hands as well as eyes”.
If you’ve wondered how to create functional ceramics that are beautiful too, don’t miss this opportunity to see how it’s done!
The Board of the Morro Bay Art Association cordially invites you to join us at (L to R: Pat Newton, Gail Martin, Michael Costa, Sue Palmer, Cynthia Bunting
Bob Azevedo, Janet Hillson)
Morro Bay Art Association's
Annual Holiday Dinner at Windows on the Water on December 12, 2019
Cocktails – No Host bar at 5:00 pm
Dinner at 6:00pm
Please arrive by 5:00pm to enjoy Christmas carols by
the Morro Bay High School Choir!
Menu choices include the following:
Local Snapper, Warm Herb & Heirloom Tomato Salsa, Wilted Spinach, Avocado, Prosciutto Caponata
every Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm
at the Morro Bay Recreation Center
1001 Kennedy Way
Tom Dale Dakota Pitts
No registration or sign-up is necessary! Just come and bring your own materials. We provide a live model tables, coffee, lighting and music. It is open to all skill levels, and (almost) any media. The cost is $10.00 per session.
Len Boyle Ardella Swanberg
For further info Call Bob Rodger at 805-528-4248
Art Classes for Kids!!
COST: $20.00 per session
Morro Bay Art Association is proud to present Mandy Covish, Elementary School Teacher for ongoing art classes designed to reach children between Kindergarten and 6th grades.
Mandy has taught primarily 2nd and 3rd grade levels in the Merced City School District and Clovis Unified School district. With her recent relocation to the Central Coast she is eager to begin teaching on the Central Coast. Mandy taught GATE students (Gifted and Talented Education) for seven years, emphasizing on the arts as a vehicle to promote higher thought processes. She worked as the Reading Intervention Teacher and successfully implemented a fluency and comprehension program through Read Naturally, Soar to Success, Seeing Stars utilizing appropriate leveled books for grades K-6.
In the Meet the Masters classes, a new and emerging children’s art program, each session will focus on one of the great art masters. (Dates of featured artist below). Mandy will engage students with short videos and hands on learning.
November 2nd: Vincent van Gogh
November 10th: Paul Klee
Cambria Center for the Arts presents the 2019 Cambria Christmas Home Tour. It will take place on Saturday, December 7th from 10:30 to 3:30 with an event at our Art Center to follow. Tickets are $45 with a discount for members. This includes admission to six decorated homes, wine, and refreshments. Artist will be at each location selling holiday gifts and there will be a raffle at the end of the day. All proceeds benefit Cambria Center for the Arts.
Guest curator, Barbara Sitar, gathered a group of local artists to introduce the Morro Bay Art Association's newest project called the Square Art Shop.
The square art project is a member only exhibition of quickly produced and uniformly sized artwork that is intended to promote sales and enliven the front window.
At the October 18th launch meeting we learned that the sizes of the art can be 6” X 6”, 8”’X 8”, 10” X 10” or 12” X 12” and all must be 1 ½” in thickness. All media will be allowed for the square art project, including photography and 3D pieces attached to appropriately sized canvas.
Members brought in pieces for inclusion into the show and each piece was passed throughout the crowd. Barbara Sitar, gave helpful tips on how to produce varied styles conducive to the square shape. There are no themes to the square art project and each artist is urged to think outside the box and produce energetic pieces with unique viewpoints. Popular subject matter might be Morro rock and the local scenes of the central coast, animals, and colorful eye-catching pictures.
Enthusiasm and creativity were sparked in everyone in attendance. The square art project take-in dates will be the 2nd Monday of each month, coinciding with our demos. Each piece will hang for 2 months.
All artwork to be included in the square art program must be delivered for curating on November 11. 2019, 2-4pm, then stay for the Monday Demo! There is no entry fee for the Square Art Shop!
Here's a glimpse of the first installation of the Square Art Shop
Square Art Shop –
Wine & Paint Party
November 25th 4:00 - 7:00pm
Morro Bay Art Association is proud to present, the Square Art Shop workshop for MBAA members, hosted by Barbara Sitar.
Barbara Sitar, a professional art curator and artist, has curated for galleries in Prague, Republic of Czechoslovakia. She is introducing the Square Art Shop an on-going exhibit at Art Center Morro Bay.
This workshop presents various techniques and approaches to the creative process and is intended to inspire and guide artists toward the creation of their own square art piece.
Expect help, encouragement, clever tips, fun and nonjudgmental sharing of creativity. Artists can expect to expand their creative process, give themselves permission to grow, to push themselves to create better paintings and to be inspired and encouraged by their peers.
Join Barbara, get motivated and learn how to produce and sell a stunning square art to be included in the new Square Art Shop, scheduled for a soft launch after art take-in on November 11, 2:00 - 4:00pm.
Please bring your own supplies to this workshop and be prepared with an idea or concept of your square art piece. Given dry time, your square art may go on the wall at the end of the workshop!
Acceptable canvas or panel sizes are 6×6, 8×8, 10×10 and 12×12 squares; 1 ½” deep. All media and techniques welcomed.
COST: $20.00 – Members Only Non-Members may join this workshop by becoming a MBAA Member.
It was Banksy on the big screen October 14th at Art Center Morro Bay. Yes, we had popcorn and movie night for our October demo. Everyone enjoyed the extra-large 5’ X 6’ screen and the fresh hot buttered popcorn too!
As with our last movie night, we had many requests for more. If you have a particular movie in mind please let one of the directors know.
Our next movie isn’t for another year, Cave of Forgotten Dreams; a documentary about the Chauvet Cave in southern France, which contains the oldest human-painted images yet discovered.
Our November 11th demo will feature Giselle Massey ceramicist.
Halloween in Morro Bay
Art Center Morro Bay doled out candy to adorable pirates, lots of Spidermen, princesses, a bubble bee, Little Bo Peep, and a fire captain at the 3rd annual Morro Bay Trick or Treat event.
ONGOING CLASSES
Old World Drawing and Painting
with Jason Mayr
Mondays, 9:00am - 1:00p
Jason Mayr’s oil painting class meets twice a month, usually the 1st and 3rd Mondays 9am - 1pm, and runs in a cyclical cycle so that it is easy to jump in and out of class as needed. Each class is accompanied by 3 videos e-mailed out over the two week period. The three videos are a Lesson, Friday Feedback and Monday Morning Inspiration. A topic will be covered in the Lesson. For Friday Feedback I will look at and digitally work on a student’s work showing ways to incorporate the lesson into the work. Monday Morning Inspiration we take a look at some works by the masters and see how they employed our topic of conversation. In class we paint and I guide each student according to their needs and desires. If you simply want to show up and paint 2 Mondays a month that is fine. Or if you would really like to learn and practice the craft of painting, or take your work to the next level either way you are in the right place.
Cost $35 per class (includes the 3 videos) www.JasonMayr.com
805-234-6941
Creativity Day
Wednesdays, 10:30am - 3:00pm
Join fellow artists in a safe environment to create, to be inspired and to critique each other's work, plus, it's FREE!
Watercolor - Wet and Wild
Thursdays, 9:00am - 12:00pm
A new watercolor class designed for beginner to advanced students. Classes will be ongoing and feature various instructors.
Adult Coloring and
Zen Doodle Group
Fridays, 10:00 - 11:30am
Relax and unwind in the adult coloring group! Anyone can do it, no experience necessary! Bring your own coloring books or get started with a page from ours. It's FREE!
Classes & Workshops
Watercolor Wet & Wild
with Virginia Mack
November 7, 14, 21 9:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for these watercolor classes designed for artists from beginner to advanced. Classes will be ongoing throughout the year, featuring a variety of guest instructors.
Each class is offered as a 3-day or 4-day (block style) course, spanning three to four weeks, held on Thursday mornings from 9am to 12pm.
Virginia Mack is a native Californian. She has been exploring and savoring the wild lands of the state throughout her life. She has been living on the Central Coast for 10 years. She is a part-time instructor at both Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College in the fine arts departments.
COST: Members – $90. 3-day workshop
Non-Members: $105. 3-day workshop.
Joan will bring a huge assortment of shells, colored beach glass and glitter to design your scene. Choose a white frame or two metal necklace bezels for your base. After your scene is complete, you will encase it in glistening resin.
**Pre-registration required for all Joan Fee classes
Donna Anderson, Morro Bay
Cam Arnold, Cambria
Sheila Boyd, Oakhurst
Thomas Dale, Morro Bay
Irene Dolan, Atascadero
Michael Enriquez, Cayucos
Pat Gagala, San Luis Obispo
Kimberly Hempel, Los Osos
Elizabeth Kilimnik, Atascadero
Paula Radke, Morro Bay
Lisa Schott, San Luis Obispo
Lee Anne Vermeulen-Roberts, Morro Bay
Sharon West, Atascadero
Next Board Meeting is November , 2019 12:00 - 3:00pm
November 2019 Newsletter
Creativity Day 
Adult Coloring and
