The Artists Council is well over 300 members strong and supports the museum and local art & artists in a number of ways. The workshop program runs year-round and contains a wide variety of classes where adults can grow in a number of disciplines, from beginning to advanced levels. The AC Members Juried Exhibition and Auction is open to entry for members only, and includes a Silent Auction (in person or online) and a Live Auction of the award-winning work from the show - a lively evening of artistic fun that greatly benefits the museum. Artists in Action is a live demonstration given by artists from a wide cross-section of disciplines. In addition, there are member events including demonstrations and lectures about artistic materials and advances given throughout the year. The Artists Council Center is located on the Lower Level of the museum and is a wonderful site for our workshops and meetings.

Artists Council Member benefits include:

• Discounted fees for AC Art Workshops
• Priority announcements of all upcoming events
• Opportunity to submit original artwork to the annual Artists Council Members Juried Exhibition
• Artists In Action, a series of art demonstrations

For more information, email AC Coordinator Gary Paterson at or call 760.322.4850.

Artists Council Schedule - at - a Glance

Listed below are the major events that the AC has in store for 2008 - 2009. Please call the AC Coordinator at 760.322.4850 for any further information.

AC Workshops - Over 50 adult workshops offered for 2008-09, in AC Center
Artists in Action - Monthly demonstrations of artistic disciplines, in Zone 101 in the Hoover Gallery
Enrique Chagoya Workshop - Master Printmaking Workshop, 11/15/08, AC Center
WorkshopWORK - Two exhibitions of work done in AC Workshops, in Zone 101 in the Hoover Gallery, mid-November and Mid-February
Art Party - Free art instruction and programs for adults and children, 11/29/08, the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery on the fairgrounds in Indio
Lecture - "Open Air Painting: Italian Origins and Modern Implications," By Maddine Insalaco and Joe Vinson, 4/2/09, Lecture Hall
99 Bucks - Anonymous sale of 5 x 7 canvases created by the famous and the infamous, April 9-11, hotel zoso
ACE 2009 - AC members juried exhibition and auction. Exhibition and Silent/Online Auction 2/3-3/13. Live Auction 3/13. Marks Graphics Center and Jorgensen Gallery

Workshops Workshops are offered year-round, with a concentration on classes during the October through May season. Students at every level have an opportunity to begin studies or advance their expertise is classes concentrating on painting (in oils, watercolor or acrylics, with special classes available in landscape, portraiture, still life, and "seeing light"), drawing, printmaking, assemblage, pastels, sculpture, and some "outside the box" specialties. About three times a month, there is a Saturday Life Drawing Class, which is non-instructional; it provides an opportunity for working in one's choice of medium with a live model. Please click on the link above to see the upcoming workshop schedule. Shown: Instructor Kwok Lau teaches “Creative Painting in Watercolor, Acrylic and Oil”

Exhibitions The Artists Council Members Juried Exhibition and Auction will take place from February 2 through March 12, 2009. Featuring works by members of the museum's Artists Council, the exhibition begins with a Silent Auction. During the entire run of the exhibition, bids can be made in the computer in the gallery or online, via the museum's website. On the evening of Thursday, March 12, a Live Auction will take place for all of the award-winning work from the exhibition. The Live Auction features a full reception for the artists and bidders, a celebrity auctioneer, and lots of fun! Shown: Bidders paying close attention during the 2008 Live Auction.

Artists in Action The second Thursday of each month in the museum includes a live demonstration called "Artists in Action." This very popular program features artists from a wide range of disciplines, showing how they create their work. Shown: Cash Baxter demonstrates "Acrylics - the New Oils" in a demonstration in May.