To help encourage you to take art classes, we'd like to introduce you to one of our most dedicated students, Mr. Randy Olsen who has taken several courses at our center in a variety of subjects and art styles. We asked Randy to speak about his experience at our center and why he chooses Mesa Arts Center over other institutions.
You can learn more about what we offer on our website Mesa Arts Center.
Q: What inspired you to take art classes?
A: I had been working too much and needed something else too.
Q: Why did you choose to take classes at Mesa Arts Center?
A: I did photography as a hobby and had taken some pictures of glass blowing in the past. I searched online for glass blowing and Google brought up the classes being taught at the Mesa Arts Center. I checked out the website and then called to get more information. There were some workshops that were for one day only, so I signed up for some - paperweights, flowers, etc.. I enjoyed them (there were some excellent teachers that made sure the students were successful and had a good experience) and saw there were some weekly classes. It was fun and got me interested in taking more classes.
Q: How many classes have you taken at Mesa Arts Center and what is your favorite medium of art?
A: I've taken a number of classes - sometimes only one a term and sometimes up to four classes in a term. I first just took glass blowing classes. Then during one class, I saw how instead of picking up the colors from the frit or using a chunk of color the color could be fused together before and then used to make the final item. That interested me, so I signed up for one of he glass fusing and slumping classes at MAC. Besides doing what I'd originally wanted, I learned how to do many other things with glass - from putting sepia colored copies of photographs and other art in glass to making a final glass object (plate, bowl, vase, etc.) that was one solid piece of glass. I saw more things that could be used and give more options in what I wanted to make - flame work could make stringers or other patterned things that could be added to the fused / slumped object. Slumping glass uses molds and forms to control the shape of the finished object. I thought of things I wanted to do, but there weren't molds around to do them - so, I checked with the ceramics department and took a class to make molds. While taking all those classes, I also saw some cast class and signed up for the class to make molds and melt glass into them. MAC also offered a class in blowing class into a mold, so I took that and found that molds could be made of many things, with reusable ones being made from metal. That lead to taking the metal foundry class where I learned to make molds from metal (making a mold and pouring molten metal into it / cutting metal sheets and rods and welding them into position / etc.). One thing lead to another and each adds to the options available. While I've tried several different medium, my main interests revolt around glass (at least for now).
Q: Is creating art a hobby or profession for you?
A: I enjoy creating things as a hobby and way to get away from the stress and demands of "regular work." That gives me the opportunity to do things that I want - to learn and experiment without having to worry about satisfying anyone else or making money to survive. I respect those that do it professionally, but for me it is a hobby and fun.
Q: Tell us about the piece you’re most proud of creating?
A: I enjoy learning and trying things. I'm more interested in trying new things than in doing something "safe and perfect." The one thing that I do make repeatedly is some glass flowers in the glass hot shop (where we blow glass) that I will use in my photography. Otherwise, I try different things and even if they don't come out the way I'd imagined, I learn from them and can do other things based on the knowledge.
Q: Do you have any advice for new or potential students who are unfamiliar with the center?
A: Ask people there - almost everyone is very helpful and will make you feel at home. Try things - don't be afraid to check new things and expand what you do. Even if you decide not to do more in an area, it can provide ideas and creativity for the medium you prefer. Be open to everything and get involved.
