saturday soiree, free creative gatherings, guild meetings & more

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Read about our AWESOME INSTRUCTORS HERE!!!

** BEACH, PLEASE! **
Monroe is turning up the heat with a citywide **Beach Please** celebration on *Saturday, July 12** — and we’re making a splash at the art center!
DROP-IN WORKSHOPS HERE AT MWCA:
drop in during the listed times, no registration needed
*Jellyfish Painting Workshop with Amy
Drop in from 10:30-2:30 – a fun, colorful make-and-take art activity for *all ages*!
$15
* Macrame creation of your choice — a fish or mermaid tail keychain with Brooke!
Create magic with beginner-friendly macrame. Make a fish or mermaid tail
Drop in between 11am-3pm - fun for all ages 9 to adult.
$20 per keychain.
* Paint a Seashell with Jennifer
Paint a beach scene on a seashell
Drop in between 10 - 3 Fun for *all ages*!
Kids - 2-3" $8 adults 4-5" $10.
* Paradise Beach Painting Workshop with Laura
Drop in from 10:00am-3:00pm – choose 🦩Flamingo, 🏄♂️Surf Boards, 🎏Fish, or Heron
Make-and-take for *all ages*!
Per Board: 1 Side $12 and 2 Sides $17
~~~
Don’t forget to explore our gallery show, "A Day at the Beach," featuring stunning coastal-inspired art. It’s the perfect seaside escape (with A/C!) and it’s on view through **July 22**.
from the City ...
Beach, please...let's go shopping! Join us on Saturday, July 12th for our Second Saturday shopping event! Our downtown merchants will be channeling their inner resort vibes with colorful, fun and tropical decor and drinks. On Court Street you'll find music, beach balls and great prizes along with a shopping passport
Monroe is turning up the heat with a citywide **Beach Please** celebration on *Saturday, July 12** — and we’re making a splash at the art center!
DROP-IN WORKSHOPS HERE AT MWCA:
drop in during the listed times, no registration needed
*Jellyfish Painting Workshop with Amy
Drop in from 10:30-2:30 – a fun, colorful make-and-take art activity for *all ages*!
$15
* Macrame creation of your choice — a fish or mermaid tail keychain with Brooke!
Create magic with beginner-friendly macrame. Make a fish or mermaid tail
Drop in between 11am-3pm - fun for all ages 9 to adult.
$20 per keychain.
* Paint a Seashell with Jennifer
Paint a beach scene on a seashell
Drop in between 10 - 3 Fun for *all ages*!
Kids - 2-3" $8 adults 4-5" $10.
* Paradise Beach Painting Workshop with Laura
Drop in from 10:00am-3:00pm – choose 🦩Flamingo, 🏄♂️Surf Boards, 🎏Fish, or Heron
Make-and-take for *all ages*!
Per Board: 1 Side $12 and 2 Sides $17
~~~
Don’t forget to explore our gallery show, "A Day at the Beach," featuring stunning coastal-inspired art. It’s the perfect seaside escape (with A/C!) and it’s on view through **July 22**.
from the City ...
Beach, please...let's go shopping! Join us on Saturday, July 12th for our Second Saturday shopping event! Our downtown merchants will be channeling their inner resort vibes with colorful, fun and tropical decor and drinks. On Court Street you'll find music, beach balls and great prizes along with a shopping passport

A Very Special Day of Art with Guest Artist Debra Yaun
Saturday, July 26
Register HERE - seats are very limited
We are *thrilled* to welcome acclaimed artist and educator Debra Yaun to Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts for a one-day-only creative experience you won’t want to miss!
Debra is a professional artist and Art Ambassador for Holbein (world-renowned paints) and Ampersand (premium art surfaces) — and she’s bringing her talent, expertise, and top-tier materials straight to us!
🎨 What to Expect:
✨ Try top-tier art supplies from world-class brands
🌊 NEW: Watch Debra demo granulating watercolors
🎨 Create your own unique piece — no paint-along, just free-flowing fun!
🙋♀️ Debra's there to guide, assist & introduce you to these professional artist-grade supplies
🎁 Go home with free samples!
✨ **Choose one or the other or BOTH amazing classes:**
🖌️ Watercolor Wonders | 10 AM – 12 PM | $25
🎨 Awesome Acrylics | 1 – 3 PM | $25
🌟 Take both the Watercolor *and* Acrylic sessions for just $40!
🧰 **All supplies included** — just bring your curiosity and creative spirit!
Spots are *very limited*, so don’t wait — this is a rare opportunity to learn from a nationally recognized artist using some of the finest materials in the world.
ABOUT DEBRA:
Debra Kauffman Yaun discovered that she had a knack for drawing people when she was a young girl growing up in Tampa, Florida. After graduating from the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, Debra worked as a fashion illustrator. She has drawn and painted many commissioned portraits, several of which have been of children--her favorite subject to draw. Debra's artwork has been published in several art magazines and books, and she has won numerous awards, including an international award. She is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, having served as president of the Atlanta chapter, and she is a juried member of the Portrait Society of Atlanta. She also enjoys teaching classes and workshops.
Saturday, July 26
Register HERE - seats are very limited
We are *thrilled* to welcome acclaimed artist and educator Debra Yaun to Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts for a one-day-only creative experience you won’t want to miss!
Debra is a professional artist and Art Ambassador for Holbein (world-renowned paints) and Ampersand (premium art surfaces) — and she’s bringing her talent, expertise, and top-tier materials straight to us!
🎨 What to Expect:
✨ Try top-tier art supplies from world-class brands
🌊 NEW: Watch Debra demo granulating watercolors
🎨 Create your own unique piece — no paint-along, just free-flowing fun!
🙋♀️ Debra's there to guide, assist & introduce you to these professional artist-grade supplies
🎁 Go home with free samples!
✨ **Choose one or the other or BOTH amazing classes:**
🖌️ Watercolor Wonders | 10 AM – 12 PM | $25
🎨 Awesome Acrylics | 1 – 3 PM | $25
🌟 Take both the Watercolor *and* Acrylic sessions for just $40!
🧰 **All supplies included** — just bring your curiosity and creative spirit!
Spots are *very limited*, so don’t wait — this is a rare opportunity to learn from a nationally recognized artist using some of the finest materials in the world.
ABOUT DEBRA:
Debra Kauffman Yaun discovered that she had a knack for drawing people when she was a young girl growing up in Tampa, Florida. After graduating from the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, Debra worked as a fashion illustrator. She has drawn and painted many commissioned portraits, several of which have been of children--her favorite subject to draw. Debra's artwork has been published in several art magazines and books, and she has won numerous awards, including an international award. She is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, having served as president of the Atlanta chapter, and she is a juried member of the Portrait Society of Atlanta. She also enjoys teaching classes and workshops.

Monroe Makers
FROM 1 - 3 - free creative gatherings!
Drop-in!
Free drop-in "do your own thing" and/or paint angels with Grace - from 1 - 3. All supplies provided. Bring a snack and hang out, fellowship, make new friends while you paint angels for our ART MD kits! Ages 16+
*You are welcome to bring your own projects and supplies, too, if you'd like to do your own thing.*
FROM 1 - 3 - free creative gatherings!
Drop-in!
Free drop-in "do your own thing" and/or paint angels with Grace - from 1 - 3. All supplies provided. Bring a snack and hang out, fellowship, make new friends while you paint angels for our ART MD kits! Ages 16+
*You are welcome to bring your own projects and supplies, too, if you'd like to do your own thing.*

Artist book club
First Thursday of every month
Thursday, August 7 from 7 - 8:30 (not meeting in July)
with Donna Coffman
read Donna's bio here
Free Creative Gathering
This is a beginner-friendly book club that will meet on the first Thursday of every month. It's not too late to join in! Our selection is "Botanical Mandalas" by Louise Gale. We will break down the chapters into doable low-time commitment projects to work on the during the month and then meet the following month to share our thoughts and discoveries.
Supplies required: a copy of the book and a mixed media journal. Size of the journal does not matter as long as it's mixed media paper.
This is a gathering offered free-of-charge from 7 until about 8 - 8:30pm. If you would like to sign up please email Donna Coffman -- [email protected]
Skill level: all, including beginners
Age: 18+
Looking forward to creating with you!
First Thursday of every month
Thursday, August 7 from 7 - 8:30 (not meeting in July)
with Donna Coffman
read Donna's bio here
Free Creative Gathering
This is a beginner-friendly book club that will meet on the first Thursday of every month. It's not too late to join in! Our selection is "Botanical Mandalas" by Louise Gale. We will break down the chapters into doable low-time commitment projects to work on the during the month and then meet the following month to share our thoughts and discoveries.
Supplies required: a copy of the book and a mixed media journal. Size of the journal does not matter as long as it's mixed media paper.
This is a gathering offered free-of-charge from 7 until about 8 - 8:30pm. If you would like to sign up please email Donna Coffman -- [email protected]
Skill level: all, including beginners
Age: 18+
Looking forward to creating with you!

Members Morning Mingle
taking a break for the summer - see you in the fall!
Come enjoy coffee, light snacks & most importantly fellowship!
Please RSVP for the Mingle by emailing Kamden ([email protected]) or feel free to email her if you'd like more information.
This is a FREE event, open to all current MWCA members.
about the Art Guild...
One of the benefits of MWCA membership is inclusion in our Art Guild -- if you're a Member, you're in the Guild! Our Art Guild sponsors various events throughout the year -- art talks, how-to's, the "business of art" talks, field trips, potlucks etc. All free (unless there's an admittance fee for an outing).
taking a break for the summer - see you in the fall!
Come enjoy coffee, light snacks & most importantly fellowship!
Please RSVP for the Mingle by emailing Kamden ([email protected]) or feel free to email her if you'd like more information.
This is a FREE event, open to all current MWCA members.
about the Art Guild...
One of the benefits of MWCA membership is inclusion in our Art Guild -- if you're a Member, you're in the Guild! Our Art Guild sponsors various events throughout the year -- art talks, how-to's, the "business of art" talks, field trips, potlucks etc. All free (unless there's an admittance fee for an outing).

Old Time Open Music Jam
Third Saturday of each month from 1 - 4 pm.
You're invited to drop by and listen ... or join in and play!
Free and open to the public.
Email Doug Olsen for more information: [email protected]
Old time open jam --- acoustic instruments only: fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bass.
Join in if you'd like -- old time music only.
During pleasant weather, we can jam outdoors in the sculpture garden.
Third Saturday of each month from 1 - 4 pm.
You're invited to drop by and listen ... or join in and play!
Free and open to the public.
Email Doug Olsen for more information: [email protected]
Old time open jam --- acoustic instruments only: fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bass.
Join in if you'd like -- old time music only.
During pleasant weather, we can jam outdoors in the sculpture garden.

Volunteer Orientation is held at your convenience -
Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Robbin Moore, to schedule a time for a brief introduction (about 45 minutes) to MWCA and ways you can help. This will be led usually by Hope Reese, the director of MWCA or by Robbin.
Our volunteer form can also be filled out online. You can find it HERE. Once we receive your form, you will be added out our VOLUNTEER NEWS email list (specifically for volunteers) and Robbin will be in touch.
Thank you for your interest in helping to support local arts!!