Discover the stories behind Curious Constructs / Digital Dreams with artist Dena Mara Kuhn. In this interactive talk and guided tour, Dena will share how she blends traditional and digital craftsmanship across photography, digital painting, writing, and 3D sculpting and printing.

Highlights include:

• 3D Curious Cabinets — playful, one-of-a-kind boxes designed for jewelry, chocolate, or phone “detox,” each accompanied by an Artist Book and reflecting themes of duality, memory, and mystery.

• Creators On & Beyond the Central Coast — twelve double-sided panels inspired by Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, celebrating the creative lives of regional artists and makers.

• Still Lifes with stories — contemporary compositions in the style of Dutch Masters, paired with short written vignettes and displayed in custom 3D-printed frames.

The talk will give visitors a deeper view into Dena’s process—how ideas move from concept to digital canvas, and from design to tangible 3D-printed objects—while inviting conversation about the intersection of tradition and technology in contemporary art.

DenaMaraKuhn.com

Fee: $10 - CCA members Free

We'll wrap beautiful fabric strips around a cotton core, and then use fancy yarns and strings to secure and coil it all into an elaborate basket, creating any shape that you choose. We'll decorate the piece with embellishments, handles, or anything that excites your aesthetic sensibilities. No art or basket-making experience is necessary and all levels are most welcome. 

Instructor: 
Vicki is an experimental and innovative fiber artist and instructor, always finding new and unique ways to work with textiles and fibers. Through her creative process, she explores many ways to weave, layer, attach, coil, tie, knot, twist, build and develop her pieces so they are vibrant and engaging. She then shares all of her techniques with her students, supporting and inspiring them to fully engage in their own creative process of discovery and expression. Vicki teaches at art schools and retreats around the country as well as teaching groups privately. She has exhibited and sold her work at galleries, businesses, health centers, restaurants, community centers, museums, and open studio events.

Fee: $250.00 for members, $275 for non-members

Materials: Instructor will provide all materials and tools for a $40 fee to be collected the morning of the class. In addition to the included materials, you're welcome to bring your own stash of fabrics, yarns and decorative elements to add to your basket. Please also bring fabric scissors (if you have them), and sewing needles and thread.

In a peaceful setting in the coastal town of Cambria, find time to write in a relaxed and supportive group environment.

With three half days dedicated to writing and reflection, you will cultivate your inner voice while crafting stories that are important to you.  All are welcome––those new to writing, as well as those who yearn to rekindle their  writing practice.

​At the end of our retreats, participants have noted the following...do any sound familiar?

I used to think I didn't know what to do with my mother's letters, but now I think I have a place to start with them.

I used to think I could write alone, but now I think I love being among friends.

I used to think that important change only happens slowly, but now I think that it can jump start almost overnight.

I used to think, "See Spot run," but now I think, "The dust kicked up on a country road as my little beagle chased ducks."

I used to think that I had to know the whole story in my head before I could write it, but now I think that real and powerful stories can spill out of me and tell themselves in fifteen minutes!

As a writer and an educator, I have enjoyed years of writing and workshopping, witnessing how we can each find our own voice through story.  I have been a writer for years, both professionally and for leisure. Publications include a NYT Reader’s article about Thanksgiving (MAF, Delaware), another about Carthusian Monks, and a Delmarva Public Radio reading of one of my memoir pieces in progress (to hear my story, begin at 49:50).  Recently, I co-authored a book for educators called,  Boosting Executive Skills in the Classroom: A Practical Guide for Educator. and have produced an educational column in MedCentral called Mental Health Matters in the Classroom. Catchy little titles, eh?

But enough about me––come write your stories one weekend in January nestled in the town of Cambria.

$250 for members and $275 for non-members

This course invites you to slow down, tune in, and reconnect—with yourself and your creativity—through the grounding, meditative act of drawing. Each session combines mindful attention with art-making, offering guidance in traditional techniques and intuitive, expressive mark-making.

You’ll work with a variety of tools and techniques—from pencil and charcoal to ink and brush—using drawing as a practice of meditation, reflection, learning, and creative exploration. Along the way, you’ll build confidence, skills, and discover how drawing can support clarity, calm, and well-being in a supportive community. 

The last session of the series, we will work together to prepare and install an exhibition of our work at the Cambria Center for the Arts. We will have a show the weekend following the last class, providing an opportunity to share our work with the larger community. 

No prior experience necessary—all levels welcome. I look forward to seeing those of you who have been to my past workshops and to welcoming new participants to join us. Bring curiosity, openness, and a willingness to pause and make your mark.

Cost: $175 for members, $200 for non-members for 6 week series

Lynda Monick-Isenberg is a visual artist and educator on equal terms. Minneapolis College of Art and Design professor emeritus Lynda taught Foundational Drawing and created their Teaching Artist Programming during her tenure. Her work is included in a number of collections including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Minnesota Historical Society and Weisman Art Museum. She continues to teach, mentor and maintain an active studio practice while participating in the development and implementation of community-based teaching residencies and curriculum development for organizations and communities throughout the United States.

www.lyndamonickisenberg.com

Weaving invites us into a world where color, pattern, and texture speak to our senses. It engages the eyes with colorful hues and expressive designs, the hands through tactile making, the mind through learning and problem-solving, and the heart as simple threads are transformed into beauty, connecting us to the rich and long history of textiles.

In this weekend workshop, tapestry weaver Lynda Monick-Isenberg will introduce participants to the creative process of simple frame loom weaving. You'll learn to prepare the loom, explore weaving techniques, and weave your own textile piece in a collaborative, supportive environment. Whether you're drawn to pattern or pictorial expression, this hands-on experience offers a delightful entry point into a lifelong practice.

Note: Feb 20, Friday night – 5:00-7:00 pm (Meet and Greet - Enjoy a potluck as Lynda introduces weaving as a craft and art form, and discusses basic weaving vocabulary. Review and prepare materials for the weekend ahead.

No experience necessary. All levels welcome.

Fee: $250 for Members, $275 for non-members

Participants will purchase their own supplies, and a complete materials list is provided here:

At the Threshold Between Impressionism and Realism 

Learn how to paint lively, expressive paintings with a focus on colour accuracy, mark making and the interconnection of all elements. Value, colour mixing, edges, principles of design and composition, as well as concepts of light and shadow are all part of this workshop and considered part of a solid foundation in painting. In this workshop you'll learn Alla Prima/ wet on wet style techniques which will help bring your painting skills to the next level! Frank's classes reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting.He has 15 years of teaching experience around the USA and Europe.

Portfolio: www.frankeber.com

Small class settings only. Please sign up early!

$350 for members, $375 for non members

Learn to create a truly unique and stunning art piece, with multiple layers and textures of fabric. Students will learn many techniques for creating a base, covered with beautiful overlays of fabric, surrounded by shapes that extend outward, giving the piece added shape, dimension and excitement. The final piece will hang on the wall. No sewing involved, no art experience necessary, and perfect for all levels, from beginning through advanced artists. 

Instructor:
Vicki is an experimental and innovative fiber artist and instructor, always finding new and unique ways to work with textiles and fibers. Through her creative process, she exploresmany ways to weave, layer, attach, coil, tie, knot, twist, build and develop her pieces so they are vibrant and engaging. She then shares all of her techniques with her students, supporting and inspiring them to fully engage in their own creative process of discovery and expression. Vicki teaches at art schools and retreats around the country as well asteaching groups privately. She has exhibited and sold her work at galleries, businesses, health centers, restaurants, community centers, museums, and open studio events.

Fee: $350.00 for members, $375 for non-members

Materials: Instructor will provide all materials and tools. $40 Material fee to be collected by the instructor the morning of the class. Students are welcome to bring additional fabrics.

At the Threshold Between Impressionism and Realism 

Learn how to paint lively, expressive paintings with a focus on colour accuracy, mark making and the interconnection of all elements. Value, colour mixing, edges, principles of design and composition, as well as concepts of light and shadow are all part of this workshop and considered part of a solid foundation in painting. In this workshop you'll learn Alla Prima/ wet on wet style techniques which will help bring your painting skills to the next level! Frank's classes reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting.He has 15 years of teaching experience around the USA and Europe.

experience around the USA and Europe.

Portfolio: www.frankeber.com

Small class settings only. Please sign up early!

$350 for members, $375 for non members

Two Day Workshop 

Photos are a terrific tool for a painter. They provide reference and angles that would be difficult to get, including action. 

The key is to know how to work from a photo and the FOCUS of this workshop.

This two day workshop is divided into THREE parts. 

PART ONE. I’ll talk about what type of camera equipment I use, including cell phones, still and video cameras and some things to look out for including taking photographs at night. One tip - most cell phones tend to shoot images that are slightly distorted, very wide angled, creating distortion in your painting if you’re trying to copy it exactly.

PART TWO. In the second part of the workshop I'll be talking about how to prepare the photo, either as a print or working from a computer image. In the workshop we’ll be working from printed still images that I’ll provide. (If you have an image you’d like to paint from that’s fine). I encourage you to try and work from a photo with strong lights and dark values and sufficient color information. Most photographs tend to wash out the color and the dark areas tend to go overly dark. For example, shadow areas in an image have a lot more color in them (from reflected light) than the photographs reveal.

PART THREE. I’ll focus on the actual process of painting from the photograph including tips on transferring the image to your canvas. I’ll also cover probably the biggest problem working from a photo - Focus. Unlike a photograph, which is generally all in focus, the human eye sees roughly 20% in focus and the rest is peripheral vision and slightly blurred so the key is to paint like your eyes see and not what the photograph is telling you.

It’s also best to work from your own photographs. Not only do you own the rights to the image but since you’ve taken the picture, you’ve already pre-composed the image.

I’ll begin the workshop with a short slideshow and a simple demonstration painting from a photo. To see more of George Scribner's work visit: scribnerart.com

$250 for CCA members, $275 for non-members