Dear Community,
In this year of Covid the Hoffman Wonder Garden became a sanctuary for all of Manzanita. The gratitude expressed was overwhelming. “We’re so glad you are here, where else would we go?” “We love being surrounded by so much beauty.” So much delight in the midst of so many challenges.
Nearly 100 images of paintings, poems, songs, and films “Created in Place” by the community were posted to our website for all to enjoy in the first few months of shutdown. By May, to inspire everyone to wear masks, we sponsored artists to design flyers for local merchants to display at their doors.
As we realized things would not soon return to “normal,” we shifted classes and events on-line. A sampling includes writing classes “Playing with Perspective” and “Creating Non-human Characters” and Intro to poetry; Classical Keyboard Music Appreciation; Color & Concepts in Watercolor for Beginners and Sketchbook Journaling. Artists and authors, including photographer Ron van Dongen and authors Apricot Irving, Lori Tobias, and Deborah Reed, shared their art and creative processes. Horticulture enthusiasts learned about the sculptural shrub family of Manzanita and much more. Some of our online offerings have had more than 100 registrants which is heartening.
Volunteers stepped forward to enable us to safely offer in-person activities: hosting lunch discussions about aging and dying through the summer in the garden, reopening the gallery to limited visitors in July, and offering kiln services to potters in August.
All of this is made possible by the support of so many volunteers and donors. We simply cannot thank you all enough. Caring people make all the difference to ensuring the Hoffman offers this community quality opportunities to explore arts, culture, and creativity.
If you have not yet given, your gift of any size enables the Hoffman Center to continue its life-affirming work providing abundant, joyous and easy access to the Arts. How to donate
Announcing new scholarship program
The Hoffman Center for the Arts is pleased to offer scholarships to individuals who require financial assistance to participate in classes or workshops offered here. Seed funding for this program comes from reserved funds from generous donors in our community and art donated by artist Ron van Dongen which was raffled this summer. Adults over 18 years of age who reside within a 50-mile radius of the HCA are eligible to apply. Criteria for selection are financial need..
Look for more details on the website and please pass the word along. Our goal is to bring the joy of art and creativity to our entire community. Scholarship Program
Finally, visit the Hoffman Calendar for events and classes –every week year-round.
From all of us at the Hoffman Center for the Arts,
Mary Roberts
Board Chair
