Exploring Watercolors Through Botanical Forms: Senior Series

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Exploring Watercolor Through Botanical Forms is an eight-week series for participants ages 55+, that will take inspiration from the magnificent living plant collections of the Conservatory. The series will cover traditional watercolor techniques but also explore and experiment with other materials, such as Japanese rice paper, colored Mulberry paper, found papers and gouache. All ability levels are encouraged to participate in this class and the teaching artist, Sharon Bladholm, will work with each student to develop upon current skills.

This program is partially funded through Aroha Philanthropies. Through this grant, we are able to offer partial and full scholarships for this series. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this application (opens in new link) or contact Mattie Wilson at 773-638-1766 ext. 16 or mwilson@garfieldpark.org. Priority is given for applications in by October 15.

Full link for the scholarship application: https://bit.ly/2lCSJez

About the Teaching Artist: Sharon Bladholm’s work has been profoundly influenced by her participation as artist, on scientific expeditions to remote and biologically diverse ecosystems of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon on expeditions with the Field Museum, Conservation International and Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program. She has long explored the interfaces of art, science, conservation and nature in her many series of artworks in diverse mediums including glass, bronze and ceramic, as well as works on paper.

Concurrently she has run Opal Glass Studios since 1983 and continues to complete many important commissions and show her art work in numerous galleries and museums. Sharon has created many temporary installations at Conservatories and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bordeaux, France, as well as Suite Home Chicago, Amazon Rising for Shedd Aquarium, and a Cool Globe sponsored by the Chicago Botanical Garden that is still traveling the world.

She has completed sculptural works in glass and bronze for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. 2011 saw her permanent public art piece “Soil:Alive With Life”, based on soil microorganisms, installed at Openlands new 73 acre Lakeshore Preserve. This piece is featured in “City Creatures”, a book recently published by University of Chicago Press.

Cancellation Policy: If you find this class no longer works for you, we will gladly refund your money if it is more than two weeks prior to the class date. If it is within two weeks, we can either move your registration to a different class date (if applicable) or you can use the money as a credit towards another class offering before the end of our fiscal year (June 30).

Thank you to Aroha Philanthropies for supporting this program. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.