JOHN DAY — Wire, leather and paint — oh my!

Got a crafting passion? Maybe you want to hone current skills or learn a new craft. Chances are mighty good that you’ll find a class or workshop for it at Painted Sky Center for the Arts in John Day.

And in addition to a wide array of art offerings, Painted Sky is the place for music lessons, literary arts classes, visual arts and much more.

April classes

Here’s what’s on the class schedule for April:

Beginner Bracelets: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Learn the basics of wire-wrapping to create a personalized piece of jewelry using a variety of wire gauges and beads.
“Moon Over the Falls” Paint Party: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5. In this class, suitable for all skill levels, participants use acrylic paints to create a scenic and serene work on a 16” by 20” canvas.
Make a Bronc Halter with Leon: 5:30-7:30 p.m. for three sessions – Mondays, April 7, 14 and 21. Create a one-of-a-kind halter with a leather noseband, by tooling or carving your design onto high-quality leather.
“Squishy Plush” Paint Party: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Perfect for families and friends, participants will get a keepsake 5-inch Squishmallow to use as a model to create an 11” by 14” canvas painting. The class includes a Squishmallow game!
Introduction to Stained Glass: 1-3:30 p.m. for two sessions — Saturdays, April 12 and 26. Choose from three designs to create a stained-glass suncatcher in this beginner class. Space is full, but anyone interested can get on a waiting list.
Beginner Wire-Wrapped Rings: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19. Created custom-sized wire-wrap rings using beads, stones and other decorative items.
All classes scheduled for April will be held at Painted Sky, 116 NW Bridge St. in John Day. Call ahead for cost, space availability and class age levels.

Memberships

Consider a Painted Sky membership — just $50 per year for individuals and $100 per year for families. Membership perks include 10% off classes and workshops, admission to “members only” events and free meeting room use. Advanced levels of membership are also available with even more perks.

Need a place to hold a meeting or a creative event for your group? Got a skill you’d love to teach and share with others? Painted Sky can handle that, too!

Instructors needed

Painted Sky is gearing up for the summer term of classes that run from June through August, and instructors are needed in a variety of areas. Classrooms are geared toward different types of art, including drawing and painting, leatherworking, fiber arts, ceramics, literature, knitting, mixed media and a gym for movement classes.

Anyone interested in teaching can contact Amanda Moss at ampaintedsky@gmail.com. Submissions are due Saturday, April 5.

About

Painted Sky Center for the Arts, launched in 2019, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and advance arts education and entertainment in Grant County.

To register for a class, learn more about teaching one or for information on becoming a member, contact 541-575-1335 or paintedskycenter@gmail.com, or visit the Facebook page.

Fundraiser

The ceramics department is planning a chili cookoff fundraiser on Sunday, April 6, from 4-7 p.m.

A ticket of $25 includes a ceramic bowl, chili and one drink ticket. A $10 ticket includes a non-ceramic bowl, chili and one drink ticket, while a child’s ticket for chili is a $5 suggested donation. Purchase tickets at paintedskycenter.com

Each guest will receive three beans to vote for their favorite chili varieties.