Community Calendar

Join artist and instructor Cheryl Meyer in this three-week course for teens and adults, and begin your journey in the artistry of watercolor painting. This beginner course will guide you in various brushstrokes and techniques to control your water and pigment, allowing students to play with mixing colors and color theory. You will explore hard versus soft edges, wet on wet, wet on dry, pouring, glazing, spritzing, & masking techniques. This course is suited for beginners or those with prior experience; the goal is experimentation and enjoying the process! The small class size is perfectly suited for one-on-one help and achieving your watercolor goals.

This three-week course will be held from 1-3 pm on Thursdays, September 10-24, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Recommended age: 13 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Mini Masters is a delightful monthly acrylic painting class designed to inspire creativity in young artists. With step-by-step guidance, participants will create an 8x10 canvas masterpiece to take home. Perfect for beginners, this class offers a welcoming environment with no experience required and all supplies included. Whether you’re discovering art for the first time or nurturing a growing passion, Mini Masters is a wonderful way to enjoy a fun and fulfilling creative experience.

Mini Masters will be held from 5:30-7 pm, Thursday, September 17, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 6 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Explore the world of theater, improv, and more with Mount Pleasant’s own Tena Gilbreath, a professional actress in Hollywood theatre and Second City improv. Students ages 13-18 can gain insight into the theater world and learn the fundamentals of acting through improvisation, scene work, voice acting, character development, and performance techniques. You’ll gain confidence in public speaking, storytelling, and exercising creativity while having fun in a supportive environment. Expect to improve your acting technique and build performance experience through creative exercises and theater games, culminating in a showcase of your skills at the final session.

This 6-week course will be held from 6-9 pm on Thursdays, September 10-October 15, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Recommended age: 13-18

A snack will be provided midway through each session. Students with food sensitivities should bring a snack from home.

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Figure Drawing Club allows students the opportunity to work at their own discretion in the presence of a live model. This gives students the ability to experiment with their work or simply practice at their own pace. Artist and club monitor Matthew Grimmer will also be available to answer any questions from students as well as provide individual instruction as requested.
Sessions will work with a clothed model who will strike a variety of poses throughout the club and end with a long pose for a final, more detailed drawing.
Students are expected to bring their own drawing supplies and are welcome to work either large or small (most students work from a sketchbook). Additional supplies can also be provided from the classroom upon request. The classroom will be set with easels, chairs, and tables so that students have the option to sit or stand.

A minimum of 4 pre-registered students is required for this class to run.

This open studio will be held from 5:30-8 pm, Friday, September 18, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant

Recommended age: 14 and up

Dinosaur Dimensions: Expedition is a high-energy, family-friendly adventure that brings dinosaurs roaring to life! Animatronic puppets and robotic dinos, wild special effects, and hands-on science experiments make for an unforgettable expedition for explorers of all ages!

Unwind with an evening of watercolor painting led by Cheryl Meyer! Bring your favorite wine, a friend, and your creativity for this relaxing Saturday workshop. Participants will learn watercolor techniques while painting a guided landscape composition. All instruction and art supplies are provided, making it the perfect opportunity to embrace your creativity.

Wine & Watercolors will be held 6-8:30 pm, Saturday, September 19, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: Adults 21+

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Explore colored pencil drawing in an in-depth, skill-building course with award-winning artist and instructor Julie Tyslicky. She will teach you how to effectively use artist-quality colored pencils by exploring layering and blending, with color theory as the backbone of the techniques learned. This course does not specifically teach basic drawing techniques (other than how to shade a sphere); therefore, an understanding of basic drawing and greyscale values is advised. Students will learn to draw spheres and eggs primarily as subject matter in a hands-on and in-depth manner through assignments and in-class discussions. Students will be provided supplies for the first session and instructed on required supplies for future sessions.

This 8-week course will be held 3:30-5:30 pm, Monday, September 14-November 2, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: Adults only

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Students who have completed the Beginner Colored Pencil course are invited to join us for this four-week course to further hone their colored pencil skills with award-winning artist and instructor Julie Tyslicky. This recurring monthly course is dedicated to advanced ideas and rotating projects, as well as critique for serious students building a portfolio and looking to exhibit their work. Students MUST have completed Intro to Colored Pencils with Julie to enroll in this course.

This 4-week course will be held from 6-8 pm, Monday, September 14-October 5, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: Adults only

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Explore the practice of abstract painting with artist and instructor Tena Gilbreath. Regardless of painting experience, students can delve into acrylics while engaging in a variety of methods to experiment, consider, and create abstract art. We’ll approach each week with a new concept and project, intended to force you to reconsider how you create, regardless of your usual chosen media. Expect a new exercise each week, addressing themes such as sound map painting, gesture painting, collaborative improvisation painting, and more. All skill levels are welcome, and all supplies are provided!

This 4-week course will be held weekly from 1-4 pm, Tuesdays, September 22-October 13 in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 14 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Using artistic expression, introspection, and easily accessible tools, enable your ability to reduce stress and address problems with compassion, creativity, and calm. Led by instructor Deborah Clark, participants will learn three techniques individually designed to help them 1) name and describe issues; 2) create a safe space for reflection; and 3) find their inner, compassionate voice for empathy and solutions – all using the simple, free-flowing artistic methods of junk journaling (ie., glue-booking). Zero artistic training or abilities needed.

Participants will each receive a journal and work through the exercises using provided mixed media and creative ephemera during each session. Materials fee is included in the cost of tuition. Minimum of 5 students required for class to run.

This 3-week course will be held 5:30-7:30 pm, Tuesday, September 8-22, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 16 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Indigenous arts comprise a wide variety of art forms from varied original peoples from around the world. Mt. Pleasant is the home to the modern-day Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the ancestral lands of the Anishinabek people. This tie to the tribe affords our region a rich history of cultural traditions, as well as a variety of art forms. Art Reach presents a series of classes with the hope of widening our worldview and offering an avenue for sharing this cultural tradition.

Anishinaabe artist and instructor Chyann Haas will cover the local history of basketmaking and guide you through the Anishinabek art form of coiled grass baskets. Utilizing long pine needles or dried grasses, students will be guided in creating a coiled basket from natural materials, formed around a base vessel of their choosing. Students will spend the 4 sessions of this course building up their form, and finish with decorative embellishments to make each project unique. Students will leave with a fully completed project and the skills to delve into more advanced baskets. All supplies are provided.

This four-week course will be held weekly from 5:30-7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 15-October 6, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 13 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Sep 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20 / $100

You don’t need to be funny . . . you just need to be there!

Improv is a lively, active, team sport that encourages us to live in the moment! Connect with teammates and explore the spaces outside of your comfort zones with coach Ariel Rak who will get you up and playing right from the start. Through games and exercises we develop creativity, flexibility, friendships, and thinking skills in a safe and nurturing environment. For those with no improv experience or those who just miss it.

Engage in dynamic games and exercises fostering teamwork, trust, and spontaneity in a supportive environment. Embrace failure as you develop your ability to stay present and seize the unexpected.

Coach Ariel Rak studied and performed short and long form improv with Magnet Theater (NYC) and the N.J. School of Dramatic Arts and was a member of ComedySportz before moving to Midland. Ages 18+

Club Create is a program created in partnership with Michigan Arts Access for adults with disabilities. Club Create offers adults with disabilities hands-on experiences in the arts, led by professional artists. Club members participate in an art experience at each meeting and also have time to socialize with other club members. Club Create of Mid Michigan meets 10:30 am-12 pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Caregivers are welcome to participate as well.

Club Create of Mid Michigan members will meet from 10:30 am-12 pm, Wednesday, September 23, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Join us for an Introduction to Linocut course and explore the world of relief printing! In this three-week course, you’ll learn how to carve designs into linoleum blocks and turn your creations into beautiful prints. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, instructor Kristena Gilbreath will guide you step-by-step through carving, inking, and printing. By the end of the course, you’ll have your own unique art pieces and the skills to keep exploring this expressive medium.

Students with poor grip strength can be provided with safety linocut pull tools for better accommodation in dexterity.

This three-week course will be held from 1-3 pm on Wednesday, September 9-23, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant

Recommended age: 14 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.

Join us for an Introduction to Linocut course and explore the world of relief printing! In this three-week course, you’ll learn how to carve designs into linoleum blocks and turn your creations into beautiful prints. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, instructor Kristena Gilbreath will guide you step-by-step through carving, inking, and printing. By the end of the course, you’ll have your own unique art pieces and the skills to keep exploring this expressive medium.

Students with poor grip strength can be provided with safety linocut pull tools for better accommodation in dexterity.

This three-week course will be held from 1-3 pm on Wednesday, September 9-23, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant

Recommended age: 14 and up

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.