Please join us! JC Fridays | December 6, 2019 6–8 pm
30 Days: One Month of Training in The Da Vinci Initiative Atelier
Curated by Kristin J. DeAngelis
Friday, December 6, 2019, 6-8pm
The Majestic Theatre Condominiums
222 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
On exhibition until February 22, 2020
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Mandy Theis and Kara Lysandra Ross co-founded The Da Vinci Initiative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in 2014. “After acquiring atelier training myself, I wanted to share the knowledge with other educators looking to expand their skillsets for what they could teach.” Mandy Theis said. “30 Days: One Month of Training in The Da Vinci Initiative Atelier” highlights not only the process, but the students who have dedicated long hours to the process.
The Initiative is an education foundation that supports skill-based learning in K-12 art classrooms. The Da Vinci Initiative believes that the most creative artists are those with the most tools at their disposal for making artwork, and provides atelier training and resources to students in order to help them incorporate skill-based methods into their practices. The Da Vinci Initiative works with teachers nationally and internationally through online classes, art education conferences, keynote speaker services, weekend retreats, district-wide workshops, and more.
Mandy moved to Jersey City in 2018 to bring her program to the NYC metro area. “After bouncing around the country pursuing my own training and sharing it with art teachers in more than 20 states, I developed a close working relationship with many art teachers in the NYC area who were ready to take their training to the next level. I decided to moved to Jersey City to meet the demand of the local art education community for learning atelier skills.”
Lisa Von Schwichtenberg, Jersey City Art Teacher is thrilled to be a part of the the program. “Training with the Da Vinci Initiative Instructors has not only improved my personal practice exponentially, but has drastically changed my classroom approach to teaching painting techniques. I am better able to instruct my students and better equipped to push for higher standards or work.”
“Art exhibition and art education are intertwined for me. I had been trying to find a way to create a show to demonstrate this. Upon meeting Mandy and touring her studio in Jersey City in Fall 2018, I knew this was the show! Her dedication, professionalism and her talent are inspiring”, said Kristin J. DeAngelis, Curator for SILVERMAN Buildings. “This show highlights art teachers from Jersey City and beyond. I am so pleased to be able to celebrate them!”
Participating artists in this exhibition include:
James Andrews
Stephany Arias
Caitlin Bludgus
Alexandra Cassaro
Lois Chattin
Nancy Conde
Holly Davis
Nina DiRienzo
Milene Fernandez
Kelsea Fischer
Martha Garcia
Diana Gonzalez
Willow Kosbab
Ann Marley
Alex Martinez
Aubrey Nibert
Kara Ross
Terry Simpson
Eric Sosa
Angela Tardiff
Mandy Theis
Lisa Von Schwichtenberg
Geralyn Zink
Mandy Theis a classically trained artist graduated from the Aristides Atelier in Seattle, Washington. She has also studied with Kamille Corry, Jeffrey Mims, and Paul Ingbretson. She holds a B.A. degree in Art Education. She regularly travels the country exhibiting her artwork and hosting workshops for art teachers in order to bring atelier training into K-12 art classrooms. “What matters for learning these skills is that you have a desire to draw and paint realistically, and you are willing to put in the work to master your craft.”
The Da Vinci Initiative Atelier offers training in an “apprenticeship” system with a subscription enrollment policy. Students pay a monthly fee of $720 and are welcome to attend the studio hours of their choosing, with critiques available from an atelier-trained artist on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The studio is open Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. One weekend workshop (runs 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) each month is included for all enrolled participants.
In Summer 2019, the NJCU Division of Professional Education and Lifelong Learning (PELL) announced a new partnership with the Da Vinci Initiative to offer a non-credit certificate in art.
The exhibition will be on view at The Majestic through February 22, 2020. For further information, please visit us at SILVERMAN or call (201) 435-8000. The exhibition will be on view during regular business hours and by appointment. To schedule a viewing, please contact curator, Kristin J. DeAngelis: (201) 280-4821 or [email protected]. The Majestic is located at 222 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“30 Days: One Month of Training in The Da Vinci Initiative Atelier” is the ninth exhibition that artist/curator Kristin J. DeAngelis will organize for SILVERMAN. For information on the initiative, please visit www.davinciiniative.org For additional information on the curator, please visit: www.107bowersgallery.com
Directions:
The Majestic Theatre Condominiums is located at 222 Montgomery Street, in the heart of the Jersey City’s downtown district filled with beautiful retail stores and unique restaurant locations. It is just blocks away from the Grove Street PATH Station, the Waterway Ferry and the Light Rail — making it an easy destination from anywhere in the greater Manhattan and North Jersey areas!
(PATH to GROVE St stop: PATH Trains from WTC, 33rd St, 23rd St, 14th St, 9th St, and Christopher St)
