Community Calendar

“Paul is a treasure! He shares a wealth of knowledge.” ~ glass student

Wednesdays, September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 / 1:00 – 3:30 pm / $150, plus $35 materials

Learn the copper foil method of stained glass designed for the creation of Tiffany lampshades. It is a lighter, stronger, and simpler way to work with glass. Each student will finish one project.

Paul Schmidt, previously a partner at Imagine That! has been creating stained glass for 40 years. He loves sharing his passion with others because, “Stained Glass is my thing!”

Preregistration required. Class size is limited.

Wednesdays, 1:00 – 3:00 pm / Sept 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct 7 / $100 per person

Choose one medium to focus on or try both!

For drawing, learn the fundamentals of observational drawing with an introduction to materials and their functions, perspective, proportion, composition, shading and more.

For painting, you may be an absolute beginner or be well versed in the acrylic medium. Cyd will provide an understanding of the principles and elements of art, color mixing, composition, and adding mediums to explore the versatility of acrylics. There will be project flexibility depending on your artistic needs with in-depth tailored instruction.

With Cynthia Keefe, MFA, Creative 360 Co-Founder. No experience necessary! Ages 16 and up.

Please pre-register. Materials List provided upon registration.

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 ties to the tribe affords our region a rich history of cultural traditions and a variety of art forms. Art Reach presents a series of classes in hopes of broadening our worldview and providing an avenue for sharing this cultural tradition.

Anishinaabe artist and instructor Chyann Haas will explore the art and history of the beadwork tradition of the Anishinaabe people. Students will be able to select their chosen pattern. Utilizing glass seed beads, students will learn the process to sew beads onto a foundation fabric, creating artful beadwork designs. Basic sewing techniques will be taught, but students should be comfortable with needles. All supplies are provided.

This four-week course will be held from 4-5:30 pm on Wednesday, September 9-30 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.

Teens looking to further hone their acting skills in theater, improv, and more are invited to join Mount Pleasant’s own Tena Gilbreath, a professional actress in Hollywood theatre and Second City improv. Students ages 13-18 who have completed the first course in this series can gain further insight into the theater world and practice the fundamentals of acting through improvisation, scene work, voice acting, character development, and performance techniques. Actors will continue their practice by improving on techniques learned in the first course and build performance experience through creative exercises and theater games.

This 6-week course will be held from 6-9 pm on Wednesdays, September 2-October 7, 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.

This is the second course of four in the Fundamentals of Drawing series with award-winning artist and instructor Julie Tyslicky. This course will build upon the skills learned in course 1 to further advance your technical art skills. Participants will learn how to utilize tools to sharpen their skills in drawing. You will learn more about observation with site measuring. Students will also learn technical skills in using grids, their many uses as a tool, and how it assists in portrait drawing, as well as one & two-point perspective drawing.

Fundamentals of Drawing 1 is required before taking Fundamentals of Drawing 2.

This 12-week course will be held 6-9 pm, Wednesday, September 16-December 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.

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.

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.

Thursday, September 24 / 7:00-8:00 / $10
Bring your own hairbrush, all other materials will be supplied!

Do you stress about having to do your own hair for themed parties or shows? Fear no more!

Learn how to give yourself Victory Rolls and Finger Waves, some of the most frequently used period hair styles, in this workshop with Laurene Franjione.

Laurene has been a professional stylist for 42 years, has been involved with theatre since 1987. She's worked on many shows but most recently in the area: Clue (HATH Players), Kiss Me Kate (Creative 360), The Prom (Midland Center for the Arts) and The Music Man.

Teen Open Studio is a relaxed, creative night just for teens—perfect for hanging out, making art, and enjoying some pizza. Whether you're into painting, drawing, or want to try something new, this is a great space to explore your creativity and meet other teen artists. Bring a project you’re working on or use our supplies to create something new. Open to all media!

If you’d like to participate in a peer-led project, each month will feature a different craft led by the Art Reach TAG. September’s project will be bracelet making. A $5 fee will cover materials to participate in this project. Payment can be made in cash at the open studio or pre-pay online.

Teen Open Studio runs from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday, September 26, and takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month.

This program is a Teen Advisory Group (TAG) initiative designed to give teens space and support to explore their creativity. A suggested donation of $5 may be made in person for those attending. Assorted supplies are free for use, including acrylic & watercolor paints, markers, colored pencils, pastels, paper, and collage materials.

Recommended age: 13-19

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.

Discover the luminous and versatile world of encaustic painting in this beginner-friendly workshop. Learn the fundamentals of working with heated beeswax, pigment, and mixed media to create captivating works of art.

No prior experience is necessary – just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore! Returning students are also welcome in this session and can expect open-studio style freedom, use of equipment, supplies and instructor support. All materials are provided.

Night 1: The Foundations of Encaustic Collage
Night 2: Unveiling Photo Transfers & Mixed Media
Night 3: Mastering Hot Tools & Creative Freedom

With Kristianne Tefft, an award-winning artist whose work has been featured in exhibits locally and nationally, showcasing her unique approach to encaustics.

Mondays, Sept 28, Oct 5, 12 / 6:00 - 8:30 pm / $90, plus $45 materials / Ages 16+

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.

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+