EVENTS

CLASSES¬

Summer & Fall Class Registration Opens Soon!

June 8: Member Registration
June 9: Open Registration

No matter your age or experience, we’re here to help you embrace your inner artist and enjoy exceptional and exciting hands-on art experiences inspired by the art and techniques in our current exhibitions. Engage with a variety of artists, creative media, techniques, and themes to produce contemporary artworks filled with meaning.

Jun 10

Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

CLASSES
1st Art: Clay

AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
One session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

CLASS FULL; please join waitlist.

In this workshop, your little one will learn all about the human face as we use texture tools to animate a clay slab. After adding all the facial details, we’ll then learn how to slump our clay over a mold to create the perfect trinket dish! All artworks created during this class will be glazed, kiln-fired, and treasured for years to come. Museum staff will contact you for pickup when your final artwork is ready for pickup!

Saturday, June 10, 2023
10:30–11:30 AM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Jul 15
CLASSES
1st Art: Building Blocks

AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
One Session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

Explore shapes and colors as we create colorful wooden block sculptures inspired by Collector’s Edition artist, Andrew Zimmerman. Students will select and paint their own wooden shapes and then assemble on to a wooden frame.

Saturday, July 15
10:30–11:30 AM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Jul 22
CLASSES
Screen Printing: Limited Edition

AGES 13–17
1 Session
Instructor: Jeff Robertson

Create your own print variation of an original work of art while learning about the purpose and value of art prints. Students will discover the step-by-step process that leads to a successful silkscreen print and explore various techniques to personalize images, infusing them with their own artistic voice.

Saturday, July 22
11:00 AM–2:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Jul 27

Anna Freeman, Evaporated/Saturated II, 2023. Porcelain with glaze. Courtesy of the artist.

CLASSES
Ceramics: Hand-building a Collection

ADULTS
Three sessions
Instructor: Anna Freeman

Explore hand-building techniques to create a collection of three to five small forms, such as vases, bowls, jars, or small sculptures. Learn to balance variety and unity within your collection and select a personal theme.

Thursdays, July 27–August 17
10:45 AM–2:45 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Aug 05

Photo courtesy of Lewis Hazen.

CLASSES
Canvas Stretching Workshop

ADULTS
One session
Instructor: Lewis Hazen

Stretch your very own canvas for professional quality artwork. This workshop is for those who want to hand-craft every aspect of their artwork and a perfect opportunity for those looking to save money by avoiding the cost markup of ready-to-use canvases.

Saturday, August 5
10:00 AM–12:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Aug 12

Photo courtesy of Brittany Johnson.

CLASSES
Drawing: Scratchboard

ADULTS
One session
Instructor: Brittany Johnson

Scratchboard is a subtractive drawing process that involves scraping away at a dark surface with a sharp tool to reveal a lighter layer beneath. This dynamic drawing method can be used to achieve stunning levels of contrast and detail.

Saturday, August 12
10:00 AM–4:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Aug 19

Photo courtesy of Christiana Yapnayon.

CLASSES
Character Creation: Trading Stickers

AGES 6–8
Two Sessions
Instructor: Jeff Robertson

Dive into the world of character design and collectibles as you create your own unique characters to be transformed into trading stickers. We’ll discuss our favorite characters, exploring their attributes and characteristics and then draw our own original designs. These designs will then be transformed into stencils, allowing us to bring our characters to life using marker airbrush techniques for final sticker creation. At the end of the class, you will have a collection of personalized trading stickers.

Saturdays, August 19 & 26
1:00–3:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Aug 27
CLASSES
1st Art: Textile Treasures

AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
One Session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

Discover different types of textiles and build fine motor skills as young artists cut and paste pieces of fabric onto paper. Once complete, we will then practice weaving pieces of fabric into our weaving frame. We will also look to the artwork of Collector’s Edition artist Asa Jackson who uses textiles to explore time, people, and culture.

Sunday, August 27
1:00–2:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 10

Photo courtesy of Rachel Jaffe

CLASSES
Handbuilt Homeware Collection

AGES 9–12
Four Sessions
Instructor: Rachel Jaffe

Repurpose your grandma’s lace and crochet doilies! Create a collection of unique homewares with texture. Rolling lace or crochet doilies into clay and then peeling them away leaves behind a beautiful impression. Using different designs and techniques, learn to create bowls, mugs, trinket dishes, spoon rests, and other useful homewares. Students are encouraged to take creative freedom with their new skills and bring in found patterns and textures to incorporate into their work.

Sundays, September 10–October 1
10:00 AM–12:30 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 14

Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

CLASSES
Abstract Painting: Collections in Color

ADULTS
3 sessions
Instructor: Marlowe Emerson

Experience the Collector’s Edition exhibition from the perspective of color. Examine how different artists use color in their work and how color impacts a collection. Mix your own colors based on your observations and use abstract mixed media processes to experiment with color techniques. Materials are provided though students are also welcome to bring their preferred painting supplies if desired.

Thursdays, September 14–28
6:00–7:30 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 17
CLASSES
1st Art: Micro Masterpieces

AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
One Session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

Through magnification, discover a hidden world teeming with fascinating life forms. Inspired by the works of Collector's Edition artist Kelsey Brookes, young artists will observe and create drawings inspired by the extraordinary organisms they encounter.

Sunday, September 17
10:30–11:30 AM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 21

Photo by Lauren Keim. Courtesy of the artist.

CLASSES
Photography: Creating and Curating a Collection

ADULTS
4 sessions
Instructor: Lauren Keim

Photographers, by their very nature, are collectors. Whether making images of birds or sunsets or people, photographers use their cameras to collect the things they notice about their lives. In this multi-week class, students will become archaeologists of their own work. Using weekly prompts as well as exploring the themes that already exist within their camera rolls, students will unearth the motifs, ideas, and subjects that make up the work they create.

Thursdays, September 21–October 12
10:00 AM–12:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 30

Photo by Anastasia Gorshkova.

CLASSES
The Golden Mean

AGES 6–8
Four Sessions Instructor: Renee Calway

What is the Golden Mean, and why is it so important? Patterns that repeat in nature, like this one, have helped artists to create balanced, harmonious, and proportioned works of art for centuries. We’ll explore this artful ratio and take inspiration from the artwork of Collector’s Edition artist Kelsey Brookes. Students will identify the sequence in nature using microscopes, play with paint, and get creative with color in the studio using modeling clay.

Saturdays, September 30–October 21
10:00–11:30 AM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Sep 30
CLASSES
Pieces of Mind

AGES 9–12
4 Sessions
Instructor: Renee Calway

Dive into the world of art, science, and community inspired by Collector’s Edition artists Washington Silvera, Do Ho Suh, and Asa Jackson. Explore landscapes, water, and the mysteries of nature's relationship with humanity, and design your own treasure box containing a secret terrarium. Using gel slabs, students will also create cyanotype prints in vibrant rainbow colors, incorporating typography to express individuality and memory. We’ll also collaborate on a large tapestry representing our Hampton Roads community by cutting stitching, collage, and painting.

Saturdays, September 30–October 21
1:00–2:30 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Oct 15

Anna Freeman, Shifting Balance, 2020. Porcelain clay with glaze. Courtesy of the artist.

CLASSES
Ceramics: Making an Impression

ADULTS
1 session
Instructor: Anna Freeman

Explore the art of ceramics while connecting with nature and create a tray or tile with textured surfaces created using natural materials. We will begin by visiting the Collector’s Edition exhibition for inspiration and then take a short outdoor walk around the Museum to collect natural materials while embracing the practice of ethical and respectful collection. Back in the studio, we will delve into the art of composition and design and explore slab-building techniques to craft a beautiful tray or tile.

Sunday, October 15
1:00–4:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Oct 15

Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

CLASSES
1st Art: Landscape Love

AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
One Session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

Explore the fascinating world of landscapes inspired by the incredible artwork of Collector's Edition artist Rachel Burgess. Using colorful card stock paper, scissors, and glue, we'll bring our own unique landscapes to life. From rolling hills to magnificent trees, let your imagination soar.

Sunday, October 15
10:30–11:30 AM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Oct 28

Photo courtesy of Rachel Jaffe

CLASSES
Ceramics: Tealight Houses

AGES 13–17
Four Sessions
Instructor: Rachel Jaffe

Brighten your home with ceramic tealight houses. Tap into your “inner architect” by creating a collection of luminaries.

Saturdays, October 28–November 18
10:00 AM–12:30 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Nov 05
CLASSES
Artful Supporter: Mixed Media Portrait

AGES 6–8
1 Session
Instructor: Bria Tyler

Create vibrant, mix-media portrait drawings inspired by Collector's Edition artist Maizelle using oil pastels, paper, and tissue paper, Then, decorate a wooden photo frame to display your artwork as a cherished keepsake. Join us on this artistic adventure where we'll unleash our creativity, express gratitude, and celebrate those who uplift and inspire us through the power of art!

Sunday, November 5
12:30–2:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Nov 18

Photo by Daniel Olah

CLASSES
The Secrets of Sensory

AGES 9–12
One Session
Instructor: Renee Calway

Explore the connection between mindfulness and creativity. Inspired by the sensory art of Jesse Fleming and the conceptual assemblage style of Asa Jackson, students will study these Collector’s Edition artists and work together to create an immersive sensory space, designed to ignite your senses. Through the interplay of light, color, sound, touch, and even smell, we'll elevate the artistic experience to new heights.

Saturday, November 18
10:00 AM–12:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA

Nov 18
CLASSES
Screen Printing: Limited Edition

AGES 13–17
1 Session
Instructor: Jeff Robertson

Create your own print variation of an original work of art while learning about the purpose and value of art prints. Students will discover the step-by-step process that leads to a successful silkscreen print and explore various techniques to personalize images, infusing them with their own artistic voice.

Saturday, November 18
11:00 AM–2:00 PM

VIRGINIA MOCA