Open Ground Studios

Moving into 2021. It's important to reflect on the impact an opportunities of 2020.

We have space, energy, and heart to help need-based High School and College Art Students energize their remote learning using our studios to learn, practice, and connect. We need your help to make this work. Deadline to Apply is Dec. 6! Spread the word! https://www.opengroundstudios.com/2021-scholarship-fund

One of the #criticalground artists shares a snippet of her work in progress for Courage Within Women Without Shelter project.

Students everywhere are struggling to maintain focus and to rise above the internal and external stress and anxiety created by these extraordinarily difficult times. We know that art has the innate ability to release tension and to reestablish a sense of balance and peace in the present moment. While Open Ground Studios has managed to stay open and viable during this economic crisis, we have more empty space than ever before. And we are witnessing daily, the toll this nation...al crisis is having on the young adults in our community. So we've designed a program to assist local art students by providing space and support for a successful spring semester. We need your help to spread the word and to make this program possible. https://www.opengroundstudios.com/scholarship-program 2021 Art-Student Scholarship Program If you know a young adult who is desperate to succeed in school but faces daunting challenges for learning and practicing at home, please share. If you want to sponsor a student in need, now is the time! DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 6. Early applications encouraged. Visit our website for deails. * artwork by Nell's Tarot

The third and final set of workshops for the Courage Within WOMEN Without Shelter exhibition began in January 2020 at Gathering For Women: a local non-profit that provides a healthy lunch, showers, laundry, clothing, counseling and resources for women to help them with education and employment. The shelter-in-place order arrived just before our final session with the women. The pandemic shut down this project, dispersed the women around the city, and reduced the number of vol...unteers in each of the service providing organizations. Please consider donating clothing or more to Gathering for Women - Monterey and to the Fund for Homeless Women so they can continue their important work supporting the vulnerable and courageous women they serve. This project was funded in part by Arts Council for Monterey County Fund For Homeless Women and Community Foundation for Monterey County

After the last Grounded Within art workshop at each location working with the women experiencing homelessness, we created a tea ceremony to commemorate our time together and for casual social time. Melissa, being a performance artist, brought the group together using pieces of her work. After spending 7 weeks together this moment was special for all of us. The tea service included fancy teacups (from Melissa’s grandmother Lanelle), dainty napkins, and delicious pastries donated by Parker-Lusseau Pastries. We recognize and want to emphasize the women’s innate dignity and desire to connect: woman to woman, artist to artist.