Newsroom
Welcome to the latest news and updates about Gage.
Gage in the News:
Gage Academy of Art Seeks to Expand Award-Winning Teen Program
Gage Academy of Art, February 2008Venetian-themed Masquerade Ball & Benefit this March will help fund the effort.
Seattle, WA | February 11, 2008 — Unlike most schools, Friday night at Gage Academy of Art isn’t the time when lights are turned off and doors locked up. Just the contrary in fact — that’s when things really cook at Gage.
Every Friday night, around 40 teens from all over Seattle meet up to kick back, gear up and create art at Teen Art Studios. The free program — supplies and pizza included — draws teens from all over Seattle and as far away as Port Angeles, Tacoma and Bellingham. Teens come for different reasons — some to develop their portfolios, some to meet up with fellow artists and some as a safe haven on a Friday night.
Each month, a different professional artist teaches a specific art form, engaging teens to learn new skills, make art and develop new friendships in a supportive, social environment. The art varies widely; for example, this month features collage art, March sees bookmaking, and April goes big with large-scale drawing projects.
Teen Art Studios, now in year six at Gage, is more than just popular with teens, though. The program received a 2008 Youth Arts Award from the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and for overall arts education Gage won a 2007 Governor’s Arts Award.
Because of this success and the program’s growing demand, Gage is working to open a second Teen Art Studios program this fall in the Rainer Valley neighborhood. The area is burgeoning with youth who will be well served by a community arts program such as Teen Art Studios that encourages youth of all backgrounds to work together in a positive environment. To assist the professional art instructors, Gage will provide translators for students who speak Chinese and Spanish.
“We are thrilled to expand this free program that encourages students to explore new materials and techniques, develop creative problem solving and celebrate self-expression,” said Gage Executive Director Pamela Belyea.
This expansion, however, is contingent on reaching financial goals. Grants and individual contributions are key to the new program. This expansion is a major impetus behind the Gage Academy of Art Masquerade Ball & Benefit, to be held Saturday, March 29. This rousing party seeks to raise $75,000 to fund the Youth Programs and augment the school’s annual fund. The Venetian-themed ball will feature a decadent four-course meal, sweet Venetian champagne and wild dancing all evening long. Amidst the rollick and revelry, guests will have the opportunity to bid on delectable treats and exotic art experiences.
“With the help of this fundraiser, Gage will continue to provide free Friday night programs for teens in Seattle and move one step closer to opening a second location for this popular program, allowing twice as many teens to participate in art in a safe, structured environment every week,” said Gage Youth Program Manager Olivia Britt.
Learn more about the Masquerade Ball & Benefit.
Gage Academy of Art Receives 2007 Governor’s Arts Award
Gage Academy of Art, December 2007Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Arts Commission have recognized Gage Academy of Art for our outstanding work in arts education with a 2007 Governor’s Arts Award. This accolade recognizes individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the creativity and culture of Washington.
“We commend Gage Academy of Art for their strong commitment to life-long learning in the arts, and the rigorous training they provide to children, youth and adults,” said Kris Tucker, executive director, Washington State Arts Commission.
“Being recognized for our commitment to teaching artists of all ages and levels of proficiency is an outstanding honor,” said Pamela Belyea, Gage Academy of Art executive director and cofounder. “This speaks to the heart of what Gage is—a school that believes anyone can learn to see through the artist’s lens and learn the skills to realize that vision. The Gage mission is to encourage a passion for arts learning in artists young and old. That Gov. Gregoire and the Washington State Arts Commission recognizes Gage for just such efforts is a significant distinction.”
Gov. Gregoire will present the 2007 Governor’s Arts Award recipients with an original art work and a certificate at a ceremony in the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia in late January.
Since 1966, the Governor’s Arts Awards have recognized 153 individuals for their artwork, community service, leadership in the arts and teaching and mentorship. For more information about the Governor’s Arts Awards visit www.arts.wa.gov.
8th Annual DRAWING JAM Breaks Attendance Record
Gage Academy of Art, December 2007Despite blustery winds and accumulating snow, more artists than ever before arrived for our 8th Annual DRAWING JAM on Saturday, December 1, 2007.
This year’s JAM welcomed back popular guest models such as Sylvia O’Staformore and Teatro Zanzani’s Christine Deaver and also introduced Gage artists to the Seafair Pirates, the Stranger’s Dan Savage, the Daughters of Norway, Flamenco Gitana and Mama Lou American Strongwoman. These “Stars of Seattle” were joined by nearly 100 other models and musicians, keeping this year’s event (jam) packed with excitement.
Free art supplies and delicious food and drink kept artists energized and drawing from 10am to 10pm, fueling fantastic works of art all day long. Artists enjoyed drawing, sculpting and printmaking as well as took in professional artist demonstrations by Gary Faigin, Geoff Flack and Larine Chung. Thank you so much to all of the models, musicians, artists and sponsors who made this day possible!
Follow this link to view a scrapbook of the event and see a full list of Gage guests and sponsors.
Tacoma School of the Arts Students Fund
Teen Art Studios at Gage Academy
Gage Academy of Art, May 2007Students from Tacoma School of the Arts presented Gage Academy of Art a $6400 gift to fund Teen Art Studios at Gage. The gift comes as part of a major project students completed for “Learning to Give,” a program that teaches students about nonprofit management and philanthropy. As part of the program, students researched several Puget Sound arts organizations that offer teen art programs. They then invited ten area organizations to apply for funding; Gage was one of two organizations selected for an award.
Issaquah-based Robert B. McMillen Foundation provided the funding for the “Learning to Give” program, an elective course piloted at the Tacoma School of the Arts to teach students about building nonprofit
organizations. Seven students in the program created the mission and vision for a nonprofit organization that would provide funding for after-school arts education.
Teen Art Studios is a free weekly program that provides a safe, inspiring and productive environment for young artists 13 to 18 years old. Each month, studio sessions feature a different professional artist and theme. Materials are free, and all students receive focused instruction and the chance to explore a range of media and skills.
After presenting the check to Gage, students from Tacoma High School of the Arts, pictured here, participated in the studios, which are available to all teens on a drop-in basis.
Art School Confidential by Jen Graves
The Stranger, April 2007"Founded to teach what artists don't learn in art school—old-fashioned skills—Gage Academy's classical atelier attracts students from around the world. But Gage Academy's founders see the need to modernize. Welcome to the art school dilemma."
Gage Teens Lead Public Art Project for Local Charity
Gage Academy of Art, November 2006Sixty 6.5'-tall decorated nutcrackers added holiday cheer to the streets of downtown Seattle in the Nutcracker March, a holiday-themed public art display. Young artists from the Gage Academy Teen Art Studios (TAS) program led a team effort to paint two sponsored nutcrackers, a king courtesy of the Pacific Northwest Ballet and a prince donated by Fifth Avenue Theater. After the holiday season, both nutcrackers were donated to the Northwest Center as part of an auction to raise funds for their programs serving children and adults with disabilities.
Lead artists on the project were TAS students Max Badger and Sydney Pertl, who guided a team of 13-18 year old TAS artists. Max designed “Lotus King” for the ballet, while Sydney painted “White Christmas” for Fifth Avenue Theatre.
Paint for the project was donated Daly’s Home Decorating Centers and Golden Artists Colors.
More information, including an audio tour of the Nutcrackers, games and purchasing options can be found at www.nutcrackermarch.org.
A Virtual Visit to an Artist’s Studio
Microsoft Live Labs, November 2006
Gage Academy’s Artistic Director Gary Faigin Featured in Launch of
Microsoft’s New Imaging Technology
SEATTLE – On Thursday morning, November 9, at the Web 2.0 Conference in San Francisco, the world got the first view of Microsoft’s new imaging system, Photosynth as well as a peek into the private studio of Seattle artist Gary Faigin. The Faigin Studio visit is the opening segment of the worldwide Photosynth launch, along with several other intriguing Seattle sights used to show of this groundbreaking new technology.
Photosynth is a new technology from Microsoft Live Labs that takes a large collection of photos of a place or object, analyzes them for similarities and displays them in a reconstructed 3-dimensional space. Drawing on the collection of photos, Photosynth allows viewers to examine photos from any angle, zoom in or out of photographs, see where pictures were taken in relation to one another, find similar photos to the one viewed or create a custom tour.
To show off the capabilities of Photosynth, a team of photographers recorded a few intriguing Seattle spots, including the studio of Gage Academy of Art’s Artistic Director Gary Faigin in Ballard. The studio is filled to the brim with his wacky self-portraits, exploding/vanishing still-life paintings and signature surreal landscapes. This unique photo-shoot location was intended to provide a fascinating glimpse into the image potential of Photosynth and the artistic output of this classically trained painter.
Please click here for more information about Gary Faigin.
Gage Student Jesse Edwards breaks all art rules except one: He can paint
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 2006Jesse Edwards, a self-described "ex-thug" and graffiti artist, is making a name for himself in the Seattle art community with his undeniable talent and unconventional ways. A scholarship student at Gage Academy, Edwards' diverse paintings range in subject matter from skate parks and still lifes to classical landscapes. His signature style and impressive technical abilities are getting noticed.
Lot's Tribe: Gage Instructor's Memorial for the Post-9/11 World
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 2006A father rushes forward, carrying the lifeless body of his son. A small boy squats, blindfolded, hands tied behind his back. A seated man leans backward, his contorted face a mask of grief.
Like the many other images of war and its devastation, these figures will melt from public consciousness in surprisingly little time. Downtown Seattle's Occidental Square is their final resting place; these life-sized sculptures, cast in salt, will dissolve in the next good rain.