By Jay Wilson
Art in the Park fundraiser – Oct. 10
Enjoy an exciting, fun-filled evening at the fourth annual Art in the Park fundraising event on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Visitor Center. The evening will include exceptional nature-themed art for purchase as well as an elegant assortment of hors d’oeuvres, wine, craft beer, scrumptious desserts and a fabulous silent auction. Live entertainment will be provided by renowned contemporary guitarist Fred Benedetti. All proceeds benefit the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation. Tickets are $50 per guest and may be purchased at the Visitor Center or online at mtrp.org.
Private special events at the Visitor Center
The MTRP Visitor Center and terrace is a great venue for an after-hours special event such as a wedding, corporate event, retirement party or celebration of life. Contact Maggie Holloway at 619-668-3280 for more information.
Amateur photo contest
Our 23rd amateur photo contest ends Aug. 31. Entries will be on display Sept. 12 through Oct. 9. Children 12 and under are encouraged to participate. Categories are: scenic views; people; flora and fauna; and black and white. There will be a category for digitally-enhanced color and black and white entries. For the entry form and more details, go to the “More News” section at mtrp.org.
Children’s educational programs
Children’s “Nature Tales and Trails” classes for ages 4 and up will be held from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 13 and Oct. 20.
“We will take a close look at our San Diego treasures through stories, songs, inquisitive thinking, scientific investigations, trail activities and artistic expression,” says naturalist Cindy Christ, who leads the classes.
The theme for the Sept. 15 class is “Native Land, Kumeyaay Nation.” Students will engage in the tradition of grinding acorns, scraping yucca for fiber, painting pictographs and shaping pottery with red clay.
On Sept. 29, the theme is “Young Chaparralian.” Students will take a close look at native plants composing the habitat we call chaparral.
On Oct. 13, the theme is “Mammal Tracks,” and on Oct. 20, it is “Arachnids: 8 Legs are Great!”
Art Smarts presents art classes for young people and adult beginners starting Sept. 5. The classes are led by artist and instructor Bette Ann Pierce.
“We will engage with the gorgeous landscape, our doors for both inspiration and subject matter,” Pierce said. “I will be teaching students some of the important techniques used in classical fine art to create a three-dimensional look on a two-dimensional surface. All my class subject themes are based on nature and even blend in a little science.”
All beginner art classes are open to young people ages 7 and up from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
On Sept. 5, the theme is “Sea Shells / Aqua Pastels.” Using pencil markers and watercolor pastels, students will draw sea shells and render them with aqua pastels.
On. Sept. 26, the theme is “Clown Fish / Aqua Pencils.” Students will have fun learning how to draw clown fish with pencils and markers.
On Oct. 3, the theme is “Sunsets / Water Color.” Students will learn the magic of “watercolor wash” in creating colorful sunset paintings.
On Oct. 24, the theme is “Pumpkins and Gourds / Oil Pastels.” The concepts of rendering and shading will be explored in creating bright, seasonal pumpkin paintings.
All advanced art classes are open to young people ages 7 and up as well as adult beginners from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.
On Sept. 5, the theme is “One- and Two-Point Perspective / Charcoal.” Create the illusion of making a flat surface “pop out” and appear to be three-dimensional.
On Sept. 26, the theme is “Rendering in Still Life / Charcoal.” We will be creating art work from a still life set up in the classroom.
On Oct. 3, the theme is “White Sage / Water Color.” Explore how to draw and use watercolor to render and shade while creating paintings of the white sage plant that grows in Mission Trails Regional Park.
On Oct. 24, the theme is “Pumpkins / Oil Pastels.” This class will expand on the techniques learned in the Sept. 26 “Rendering in Still Life” class.
For more information on the art and nature classes — including cost and reservation forms — go to the “More News” section at mtrp.org.
Art exhibition
“In the Wild” is the exhibit on display at the Visitor Center through Sept. 11. It features the exquisite photography of Dolwain Green.
Music in the park
All concerts begin at 3 p.m. in the Visitor Center theater. On Aug. 23, we will have Celtic harpist Amy Kanner. On Aug. 29, we will feature the world percussion sounds of N. Scott Robinson. On Sept. 6, we will host guitarist Peter Pupping.
—Jay Wilson is executive director of the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation. Write to him at [email protected].
