Like a blank canvas, the Frontier Art Center is a space where an infinite array of captivating creations can come to life!

Located in the heart of downtown Burns (405 N. Broadway Ave.), the Frontier Art Center aims to offer a variety of cultural experiences to community members of all ages, including workshops, classes, art shows, performances, and more.

Sandwiched between Shepherd Graphics and Gallery 15, the art center occupies the business space that was previously home to the martial arts studio. The spot had been vacant since spring, and the owner of the building (which houses all three business spaces) offered to rent the unused area to Kate Marsh at an incredibly affordable rate. Marsh, who directs and helped found the adjacent art gallery, said she couldn’t resist the offer. Marsh added that she immediately knew she wanted to create a place for people to practice their craft and/or share their skills with the community.

The Frontier Art Center opened its doors in September and started hosting workshops in October.

Cork & Canvas

Connie Robbins got the ball rolling with a Cork & Canvas workshop on Oct. 24, which offered an evening of painting and wine tasting. Adult artists of all experience levels got to unwind with some wine while Robbins guided them through the painting process. Additional Cork & Canvas workshops will be held at the center Dec. 5 and Jan. 16 from 6-9 p.m.

Artist Showcase

On Nov. 14, Robbins returned to the center to kick off the Artist Showcase series. The first workshop in the series featured works by John James Audubon and Albert Bierstadt, American artists whose bird and landscape paintings helped inspire the expansion of the American West. After learning about the artists’ paintings, participants created a related project using acrylic paints and wildlife cutouts.

Additional Artist Showcases will be held Dec. 21 and Jan. 23 from 6-9 p.m.

Robbins, who teachers art at Crane Union High School, is just one of many instructors who are sharing their skills at the center.

Watercolor class

Local painter MaryLou Wilhelm started a six-session watercolor class on Nov. 6. Limited to six participants, the popular class is already full.

Artsy-Fartsy

Instructed by Burns High School (BHS) student Alicyn Hoke, the first Artsy-Fartsy workshop was held at the center on Nov. 16.

Similar in format to the adults-only Cork & Canvas workshop, Artsy-Fartsy provides a painting tutorial. However, unlike Cork & Canvas, Artsy-Fartsy offers nonalcoholic beverages and is appropriate for artists ages 12 and older.

BHS student Lucy Baron will lead the center’s next Artsy-Fartsy workshop on Friday, Nov. 30, from 5-8 p.m.

Writing Out Loud

The Writers Guild is using the Frontier Art Center for its Writing Out Loud workshops, which provide participants with an opportunity to script and produce a play. The workshops got under way Nov. 17 and will continue Dec. 8 and Jan. 12 from 1-5 p.m.

Play with Clay

Amos Burk moved his Play with Clay workshop to the art center. This pottery open studio will be held the first and third Sunday of each month from 12-3 p.m., and next month’s sessions will be on Dec. 2 and 16.

Pay to play

Most of the Frontier Art Center’s workshops are fee based to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and instruction. However, Marsh said the center strives to keep costs as low as possible, and open studio and free-paint days will be scheduled throughout the year.

Blank canvas

Marsh said the center  can offer an assortment of artistic and cultural experiences to the community, and she’s seeking instructors who want to share their knowledge with aspiring artists. Workshops could include beading, calligraphy, weaving, painting on silk…the possibilities are endless!

The Frontier Art Center is outfitted with chairs, 6-foot work tables, art supplies, and pottery equipment and materials, which could be used for a variety of projects. Thanks to the previous tenants, the center’s floor is covered with gym mats, which would work well for dancing, gymnastics, and theatrical performances.

Goals

One of Marsh’s goals is to engage local youth, and she aims to make Friday afternoons or evenings a time for kids and teenagers to enjoy the art center. Ideas for activities include karaoke sing-alongs and tie-dye workshops.

“Having a place where they know they can come and just hang out is worth its weight in gold,” she said.

Other goals include decorating the interior and exterior of the art center. Marsh said she’d like to host a free paint day, during which community members can paint a mural inside the center. She also aspires to adorn the exterior wall between the art center and gallery with large, removable paintings. Similar to Bend’s Tin Pan Alley Art Collection, the pieces would be painted on giant boards and hung on wrought-iron bars. The paintings could be updated periodically to add variety and account for weather damage. Marsh said Baron is pitching the project to the BHS art club.

A long-term goal is to hire a part-time employee to inventory art supplies, set up before and clean up after workshops, and process payments.

Marsh said she’d also like to create a website so participants can register and pay for workshops online.

Ultimately, the center aims to promote awareness of the arts, schedule affordable activities for all age groups, and provide a variety of classes and instructive studio time that’s educational and promotes self-expression.

Reach out

Teaching artists, both formal and informal, local and otherwise, are encouraged to contact Marsh with ideas for workshops. Marsh said she’d also like to know what community members are interested in learning.

To share your ideas, register for workshops, or for more information, call Kate Marsh at 541-573-7204 (home) or 360-301-2236 (cellphone). You can also email her at katemarsh2236@gmail.com