ENC Spring Faire 2012 Featured Artists - Sylvia Marson

Sylvia Marson's Gourd Art – “I love the whole process of growing, cleaning, cutting, wood burning and carving gourds. They are natures substitute for wood and I can create a beautiful object of art by transforming a dirty, moldy ornamental plant into something shiny and beautiful. I’m an environmental, health & safety professional by trade and an artist by heart. I started working with gourds around 1996 when I took my first class and was hooked. There is an old legend that says: If you give or receive a gourd, with it goes all the best in life – health, happiness and other good things. Gourds have been used by many cultures for thousands of years. Now I hope you enjoy my gourd art and pass it on. Good things will come”.

Sylvia Marson works in Costa Mesa, CA and spends weekends and holidays in Morro Bay. Her gourd art is also sold at the Muth Interpretive Center and the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach. Take a calling card, visit her website and enjoy the photos of her gourd art.

949-645-9348

http://www.funpetpals.com/gourdart1.htm

ENC Spring Faire 2012 Featured Artists - Circe

The Environmental Nature Center's Spring Faire 2012 will take place on May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the ENC located at 1601 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

Wildlife artist Circe began her love of Nature and animals in early childhood while on hikes with her grandfather in the Pennsylvania woods. Later her family moved to Florida where as a teenager, she explored the seashore and lagoons while sketching and observing the natural world around her. Rescuing strays and injured wildlife, and caring for horses allowed her the opportunity to sketch and sculpt animals firsthand. Using natural clay deposits found near the beach, she began her first sculptures in clay.

During her college years she moved to the Southwest to study ceramic sculpture and began carving animals in wood under the mentorship of a master Hopi artist and carver. She contiued sculpting in clay as well. Her carvings gained recognition for their detailed realism.

Since the early 1990’s, she has been professionally sculpting animals for the home décor industry.

Currently living in Southern California, Circe enjoys making one-of-a-kind ceramic wildlife sculptures and vessels, and limited edition bronzes.

www.circestudio.com

ENC Spring Faire 2012 Featured Artists - Janet Inez Adams

The Environmental Nature Center's Spring Faire 2012 will take place on May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the ENC located at 1601 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

Janet Inez Adams lives in Southern California where she has taught art to all ages - university to kindergarten. She has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the City University of New York, and a Master of Fine Arts from Cal State University, Fullerton. Adams won a $5,000 Grant from the State for Innovative Art Instruction.

Her artwork has been exhibited nationally, both her paintings on paper and the Wood Assemblage Series. She has received many awards and is included in numerous public and private collections. Adams was chosen to design the Freeway Art Panels for Orange County, CA.

Artist Statement: Nature is the best storyteller and I have been taking notes. This simple idea holds all of my beliefs in the divinity of our earth and all of us living here. EARTH AIR FIRE WATER - these four sacred elements continue to be the basis of my art. Visit the artist's website below.

http://janetadams.typepad.com

ENC Spring Faire 2012 Featured Artists - Brynne Cogorno

The Environmental Nature Center's Spring Faire 2012 will take place on May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the ENC located at 1601 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

Local Laguna Beach artist, Brynne Cogorno, has been creating art all her life. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 2007, where she received her bachelor of fine arts in painting and drawing. Boulder is where Brynne learned the importance of living a sustainable life through the friends she met, and the people she worked with.

Backward Prints was created in August 2008, with all intentions of reminding people to smile and laugh. Ms. Cogorno shows love for life and attention for our planet through her cards and her wall art. Backward prints uses tree-free paper made from plant fibers and organic cotton that is embedded with wildflower seeds. Each print is hand drawn and hand printed using the block printing technique, for the final product is biodegradable and recyclable. "Backward explains me as an artist . . . the name to me, means someone who follows their dreams. I hope to show people that they can make a difference by how they choose to live their lives, and the decisions they make day to day,” she said. If you would like to check out Brynne’s card line, please visit her website.

www.backwardprints.com

The Best Henna Workshop in Town

Are you in the mood to do something a little different? If so, you should come do it with the ENC!

One of the ENC's resident Traveling Naturalists and Henna Body Art extraordinaire, Sama Wareh, will be teaching a Henna Workshop where participants will learn the history of henna, symbolism attached to the design, as well as a solid foundation for creating designs and applying the paste. Participants will not only leave the course with their own henna cone and henna tattoo, but will also take home their very own design book built on symmetry, intricacy and simplicity, composition, and balance: the fundamental elements of design. The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This course is intended for all drawing levels. Enjoy Turkish coffee and sweets while you learn!

Henna is a flowering plant (Lawsonia Alba) that has been used for over 6,000 years to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk, and wool. After making the henna leaves into a dry powder, it is mixed with lemon juice, strong tea, or other mildly acidic liquids to make a paste-like compound, which then can be used to make the finely detailed body art.

What was once primarily a wedding tradition that would involve the application of henna in a ceremonial way, is becoming an everyday treat in America due to its health benefits and temporary attributes.

For more information about the workshop, contact Sama Wareh at the ENC at 949-645-8489.

Bring Out the Butterflies

Want to spend some time enjoying the butterflies in our Butterfly House, while teaching others about these important animals?

Butterfly House Docents help monitor the butterfly house, greet the public, provide casual interpretation, clarify rules and answer questions. Docents commit to volunteer approximately three hours per month or more if desired, during butterfly season (May through October). Docents staff the House on Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM or from 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM. Weekday docents are occasionally needed.

Docents must complete the Butterfly Docent training workshop, offered at the Environmental Nature Center or posses similar training or experience. Training includes an overview of frequently asked questions, a description of the host and nectar plants in the ENC’s butterfly house, and the butterflies likely to be found in the House over the coming season.

This Saturday, April 7th, the ENC is hosting a butterfly house docent training session at 10 to 12 AM. Docents will view a 1.5 hour presentation, and tour the ENC’s butterfly house.

Call Lori at 949-645-8489 ext 103 or email Lori to RSVP or inquire for information about training.

See you there!

Spring Break Camp is Finally Here!

The environmental nature center is once again offering its annual spring break camp from April 9-12. Featuring an array of fun activities tailored for young children in grades K – 6th grade, this year’s Spring Break Camp will highlight the themes “Wonderful Water,” “Habitat Heroes,” and “Science Cuisine.” Camp is from 9AM to 1PM, and “After Camp” is offered from 1-3PM

Spring Break Themes @ ENC:

Habitat Heroes - Campers will get involved in all the ways one can help out our planet Earth. Through hands-on games, eco-friendly crafts and exciting experiments, kids will learn about all 5 R’s, our friends the decomposers, discover some ways to help endangered species, and bust some non-natives.

Wonderful Water - Campers will immerse themselves in the wonders of water as they take a voyage through the water cycle, travel through time with “Freddy the Fish”, and fly with the “Birds of the Air” along the Pacific Flyway. Campers will become water connoisseurs and more during this fun week of water wisdom.

Science Cuisine - Campers will spend the week learning about the sensational science of food. They will experiment, concoct, measure and taste their way through food experiments to learn more about edibles and the science behind all that we consume.

After Camp: Space Cadets (3-6th grade)

Campers will join Naturalist Alex Lane in building, playing, and working to better understand the unknown frontiers of space. They will explore facts about space, experiment with gravity, build some "space bound" vehicles, and create their own constellations.

After Camp: Eco-Fun (K – 2nd grade)

Campers will become scientists and conduct experiments to test the world around them. They will test air, water, plants and soil. At the culmination of the week, campers will create their very own “mini forest” in a jar to take home to show family and friends.

For more information, check out encenter.org or the link below. Hope to see you there!

http://www.encenter.org/programs/naturecamp.shtml