San Miguel de Allende , Mexico
October 28 – November 3 , 2017
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS : San Miguel de Allende Traditional Talavera Decoration
Holly Hughes & Doug Casebeer
SKILL LEVEL : Open to All
CONCEPT : Our setting , San Miguel de Allende , is a Unesco World Heritage Site rich in history and authentic Mexican culture . Día de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead ) is simultaneously a very personal yet widely celebrated Mexican tradition that can be traced back to a pre-Columbian past . Integrating both Catholic and indigenous traditions , the Day of the Dead is easily one of Mexico ’ s most fascinating and well-known festivals . This three-day celebration that includes Halloween , Día los Niños and All Souls ’ Day is filled with a variety of time-honored traditions . San Miguel is known for an intense cultural and artistic life as well as stunning colonial architecture . In addition to working in San Miguel , we will visit the famous Spanish sanctuary in nearby Atononilco . During our stay , San Miguel will be alive in preparations for Día de los Muertos .
During our week in San Miguel , painters and ceramic artists will delve into decorating tiles and plates — this class will encourage the development of a visual vocabulary of marks and imagery . Sources in nature as well as Mexican culture and history will serve as starting points . Participants will be encouraged to experiment , moving between the improvisational and the planned , between abstract and descriptive imagery . The emphasis will be on individual style and discovery . Drawing inspiration from the local culture , we proceed to make test tiles of our own . Sketching , drawing and painting on paper , students work individually on projects and try things from a menu of suggested options . Holly and Doug give one-on-one guidance and lead group brainstorming sessions . We strike a balance between studio work and critiques and the freedom to explore this spectacular region .
The host studio for our workshop is Barro Clay in the section of town called San Antonio . Deluxe accommodations are available throughout San Miguel . Please contact the Ranch for more information and suggestions . There are many hotels , b & b ’ s and rentals available at a variety of prices and comfort levels . Tuition includes instruction , studio supplies , local field trip , as well as both a welcome and a farewell dinner . Airfare , housing and meals not included .
FACULTY : Holly Hughes makes paintings , prints and ceramics with imagery drawn from nature and sources in the decorative arts . This will be Holly ’ s second time teaching our workshop in San Miguel . She paints tiles and plates in Mexico , France and Italy , enjoying Talavera , Faience and Maiolica ’ s color palette and painterly history . She lives in New York and is currently Professor of Painting and Drawing at the Rhode Island School of Design .
www . hollyhughesartist . com
Doug Casebeer is the Associate Director and Artistic Director of Ceramics at Anderson Ranch . He has been teaching and organizing workshops for 32 years and exhibits nationally and internationally . He received his M . F . A . at Alfred University and is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics .
www . harveymeadows . com
See page 94 in Destination Workshops for detailed description and pricing information . student feedback from 2016 workshops
“ The faculty , interns and staff were so welcoming and this place breathes the opportunity for creativity ! The environment created here is something quite special . I really hope to return .”
Tuition : $ 1,850 Deposit : $ 500 Registration Fee : $ 175 Payment in full by September 1 , 2017 Code : FMEX1017C Enrollment Limit 12
Arrival Date : Friday , October 27 , 2017 by 5PM ; Departure Date : Saturday , November 4 , 2017
14 andersonranch . org 970 / 923-3181 info @ andersonranch . org