WRITTEN BY CARA BOWYER, EVENTS & PROGRAMMING
Thursday, December 8
6 to 8 p.m. | Members $30, Non-Members $40
Registration required
Join us for a unique craft class led by local artist, Sharla Valeski. Sharla is a professional artist with a BFA in Studio Art from Jacksonville University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1994. At JU, she was the recipient of several awards, including the Award of Excellence in Painting and the Whatley-Nied Art Award for Outstanding Merit. She has more than 20 years experience working in multi-media practices such as drawing, painting, cloth sculpture, and installation.
Valeski also has 10 years experience managing gallery spaces and organizing art exhibitions. She facilitated events for the Beaches Fine Arts Guild “Ocean Gallery” (1994-96), the Ponte Vedra Community Center (1997-99), her own gallery “The Next Gallery” downtown Jacksonville on Laura Street (2009-11), and CoRK Arts District, West Gallery (2011 – present). At CoRK, she’s been the innovator of several ground-breaking art exhibitions, most notably “Cut, Paint, Draw” in 2013.
Presently, Valeski has a studio at CoRK Arts District, where she has spent the past four years creating large-scale, cloth sculptures utilizing traditional quilting techniques. These sculptures are soft and 3-dimensional. Valeski hangs her large sculptural spheres from the ceiling, and they are designed to be stuffed or inflated on site.
In the class, Sharla will demonstrate how to make her special plushies (fabric designed, cloth sculptures). All supplies will be available along with wine, beer, and light nibbles. Sign up today HERE; we are looking forward to seeing you!
