Search Results

Wednesdays, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM July 2nd - Wednesday August 6th (6 sessions) Pack a lunch and strap in your little one, we are heading to the park! Michelle Palmer brings her bag of tricks to the park to sing, dance, play music, and do arts and crafts while playing at the playground. Michelle leads and organizes activities for children ages 2-5 with a caregiver, meeting at a different park in western Montgomery (and sometimes beyond) each week. Bring a sack and earn your nap! For more information email michelle@riverworksart.org 1. 7/2 Black Hill regional Park picnic shelter B. 20930 Lake Ridge Dr., Boyds, MD 20841 Musical instrument making craft 2. 7/9 Alden Farms Sculpture Garden. 19215 Beallsville Rd., Beallsville, MD 20839 Washing and painting rocks 3. 7/16 South Germantown Recreation Park adventure playground. (the castle park) 17631 Germantown Park Dr., Germantown, MD 20874 “Bring your Wheels” 4. 7/23 KPC Buddhist Temple 18400 River Rd. Poolesville MD 20837 Tour of farm animals, and craft 5. 7/30 TBD 6. 8/6 Darnestown Park. 14211 Darnestown Rd. Darnestown, MD 20874. Coloring craft

Date and time TBD! $50 for supplies/concert fee per semester (scholarships available, please select pay in person on registration page) The Riverworks Children's Choir is a vibrant and inclusive program designed to foster a multigenerational sense of community through the joy of music. Directed with care and expertise, our choir brings children together to explore their voices, build foundational musical skills, and experience the magic of group singing in a fun and supportive environment. Target Audience: While our primary focus is on children ages 8-12, we welcome singers of other ages who are eager to join in the fun and creativity of making music together. What We Offer: Musical Growth: Through engaging rehearsals, children develop vocal technique, rhythm, pitch, harmony, and confidence in performing. Collaborative Opportunities: We work closely with Yunique Music School, allowing choir members to benefit from a dynamic partnership with other talented musicians and ensembles. Performance Experiences: The choir participates in several performances throughout the year, giving children opportunities to share their hard work and talent with the community. A Sense of Belonging: Singing in a choir encourages teamwork, empathy, and connection, fostering bonds that reach across generations and strengthen our local community. Our Directors: The choir is directed by Christina Carr, a Juilliard-trained opera singer and an active member of the Poolesville community since 2018, and Sarah Paksima, a dedicated Poolesville Town Commissioner and active community leader. Christina and Sarah are both inaugural members of the Riverworks Reserve Wind Ensemble, bringing their deep love for music and their commitment to enriching the local arts scene into every rehearsal. Our Commitment: At the Riverworks Children's Choir, we believe in creating a welcoming, inclusive space where all children feel valued and inspired. Our goal is to spark a lifelong love of music while having fun and making cherished memories along the way. Whether your child is an experienced singer or simply loves to hum along to their favorite songs, the Riverworks Children's Choir invites them to join us in a journey of learning, growth, and joy. Let’s make music together!

Riverworks Summer Arts Week: Session 2 August 4th-8th, 9am-12pm (longer last session) Ages 12-15 Our youth instructors are collaborating to create a multidisciplinary artistic exploration to celebrate the natural world, taking advantage of the beautiful grounds and sculpture garden around the Alden Farms Studio. Get ready for art, theater, music and movement with our youth instructors! This program will be lead by music teacher Michelle Palmer, visual arts teacher Talia Rizzo and theater teacher Jennifer Ridgway, each bringing their expertise to the table, with help from Riverworks staff. These sessions will run 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., culminating in a longer final session, with time to use the pool at Alden Farms, a picnic catered by Locals Farm Market, and the opportunity for campers to share their work with parents and family.

Have you gotten stuck in a creative rut? Writer's block got you down? Or maybe you've always wanted to nurture your creativity but somehow it always gets pushed off your to-do list? Riverworks has an exciting summer opportunity for you! "The Artist's Way is a 12-week course that helps people unlock their capacity for creativity — whether in art, at work, or in life. At its core, it's a great practice to access more delight, curiosity, and creative inquiry within your daily life." (taken from this NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1193447515/the-artists-way) Whether you have gone on the journey of the Artist's Way before, or this is your first time, you will be sure to gain new insight and inspiration at this unique stage in your life, as we are constantly evolving! Associate Artist, Christine Hubbard will be guiding this experience with weekly Zoom calls on Monday mornings and weekly in-person field trips on Wednesday to local sites to spark inspiration, connect with our ecosystems, learn local history, and dive deeper into the amazing Ag Reserve! Not all sessions are mandatory, as we know summer is a busy time for people! The book itself is self guided, so if you can't attend a session, there is still a lot you can do on your own time! The purpose of the group is to create more accountability, support to stay the course, create community, and add local inspiration. Participants will need to purchase their own copy of the book as well as any art supplies of choice. For field trips, the group will meet at Riverworks and then carpool/caravan to the field trip sites. All sites will be in or near the NW Ag Reserve. There will be an optional in-person orientation session ahead of time and students will be sent instructions/homework before the first official session so you can hit the ground running. The final field trip will double as an end celebration! Monday Sessions will meet on Zoom from 9-10am and Wednesday Sessions will be the in person field trips from 9:30-11:30am. Make this summer one of memorable growth and meaningful experiences, join this Artist's Way cohort rooted right here in the Ag Reserve. Artists, writers, photographers, and anyone who wants to explore and nurture their creativity is welcome!

Saturday, October 11th, 1-4pm Join us to explore an artistic medium that is making a comeback! Come and immerse yourself in the art of paper quilling. During this class , you will learn the foundations of quilling, including paper rolling, shaping and gluing. We will explore the different types of shapes in quilling, use of color, paper types and how to bring it all together to make a beautiful piece of art! Quilling is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, woven, shaped and glued together to create decorative images. Quilling is also known as paper rolling or paper scrolling. The origins are not recorded but some think it began with the origin of paper in China in 105 AD. There are records of French and Italian nuns using torn edges of holy books from the 1200-1600s for decoration of holy pictures. There are sources that also claim it as a suitable pastime for genteel ladies during the Edwardian , Regency and Victorian eras in Britain. Quilling is enjoying a world-wide resurgence in our modern era. It can be used for decorating wedding invitations, birth announcements and ornaments. It also has a place in art galleries in the USA and Europe and is an art form that is practiced around the world. Thank you for your interest! Alison Armour is a self taught paper artist, living locally in Dickerson. She stumbled upon quilling during the pandemic and an obsession was born! She loves “painting” with paper and enjoys sharing her love of this unique art form with others.

Friday October 3rd, 1-4pm Join clinical herbalist Serda Ozbenian for a gentle, creative journey into the plant realm through collage. We’ll begin by creating soft backgrounds using plant-based tea washes, then layer pressed plant materials to build intuitive, textured works of art. Paints, pens, and markers will be available for those who wish to add drawn elements to their piece. This process invites intuitive expression, storytelling, and a deeper connection with the plants we often pass by. All materials are provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own pressed plant material. Come slow down, make beauty, and let the wild guide your hands. Serda Ozbenian is a clinical herbalist, medicine maker, experienced forager, and wild food enthusiast. She’s passionate about helping others reconnect with the plant world in ways that are both accessible and deeply meaningful. Serda also teaches seasonal classes on herbal medicine, plant connection, and creative earth-based practices. Learn more at www.collaborativeherbalhealing.com.

Saturday September 13th, 1-4pm Learn how to paint with wool! Wool painting is a fiber arts technique using sheep's wool fibers layered and "painted" onto a base felt fabric using a felting needle. Participants will create a textured, vibrant, and unique artwork, displayed in an embroidery hoop frame. Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is the author of the Earth Folk Tales Series, a seasonal collection of children's mushroom-foraging fairy tales. Kypriana has facilitated nature based educational and arts programs for children for 15 years. The programs focus on her passions: honey bees, mushrooms, creative writing, wool needle felting and storytelling. She wild-schools her daughter in their home in the Appalachian foothills

Thursdays from 1:00-4:00PM October 23rd - November 6th Unlock your creativity and deepen your understanding of color in this engaging, hands-on painting class for adults. Through the process of creating abstract artwork on canvas, you’ll explore the foundational principles of color theory in a relaxed, inspiring setting. We’ll cover the essentials—like identifying and mixing primary and secondary colors, how to recreate specific hues, and understanding the emotional and visual impact of color combinations. You’ll experiment with blending and layering techniques to discover how color can evoke mood, create harmony, or add dynamic contrast to your work. Whether you're new to painting or looking to refresh your skills, this class offers a low-pressure space to play with color and form. With guided instruction and plenty of room for personal expression, you'll leave with a completed abstract painting—and a deeper appreciation for the art of color. No experience necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to experiment! About Dianne: Dianne Bugash was born into a family of artists. Her mother, a graduate of The Corcoran School of Art, was chosen to represent that school at the opening of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C and always kept materials on hand for her girls to “play with”. Her father, a builder and sculptor, taught her to use tools. “I grew up with a passion for living a creative life”, she says. It’s driven her to maintain a vibrant studio and pass on the joy of creativity by teaching painting and drawing, not only to art school students, but also to adults who wish to be creative. An unexpected outcome of her years teaching has been the invigorating and stimulating discussions that carry over and support the ideas embedded in her own work. Dianne’s interest in demystifying the art world for the public has guided her to teach and lecture as opportunities arose. She has served on the faculty of the Corcoran College of Art and Design and the Maryland College of Art and Design. She’s also designed and presented workshops: "Doodling Towards Art" for non-artists at the Washington Project for the Arts. As her desire to open the doors of creativity to the public strengthened, she was accepted to the Golden Acrylic Working Artist Program where she gave lectures and workshops on how to use acrylic paints and mediums, color theory, and the origins of pigments and their inherent qualities.

Led by MSAC Resident Artist, Marcie Wolf-Hubbard and Riverworks Associate Artist, Christine Hubbard, artists are invited to explore a deeper understanding of our sense of place in Poolesville and the surrounding Northwestern Agricultural Reserve. This series will open with a dynamic guided tour of local landmarks and heritage sites in and around Poolesville to learn their history and analyze their roles in the local community and ecosystem. Participants will then learn techniques to construct “tiny houses” using paper mâché and other mixed media techniques inspired by the site visits. The final creations will be an expression of the history and culture of Poolesville and the surrounding Agricultural Reserve. This session is open to all who want to express themselves creatively and delve deeper into local history. The program starts in May and culminates in a Community Roundtable Discussion on June 28 during Heritage Days. Schedule: Session 1 - Field Trip led by C. Hubbard Sat, May 17, 2025, 9:00am-12:00pm Intro, field trip to historic landmarks/heritage sites in the NW Ag Reserve including (1) historic Poolesville core, (2) Martinsburg, and (3) local farmland, including a historical overview, guided analysis through the Place as Text modality, and opportunities to document details via sketch/journal/photography. CRP#4 participant attendance not mandatory; alternative resource materials will be provided for those unable to attend. Session 2 - Tiny House Building Workshop Thurs, May 22, 2025, 2:00-5:30pm Led by M. Wolf-Hubbard, introduction to tiny house building and techniques, brainstorming design and beginning constructing with cardboard and tape. Session 3 - Tiny House Building Workshop, led by M. Wolf-Hubbard Fri, May 23, 2025, 3:00-6:30pm Led by M. Wolf-Hubbard, complete construction, consider environment/placement of building, application of paper mâché. Session 4 - Tiny House Building Workshop M. Wolf-Hubbard Sat, June 7, 2025, 3:00-6:30pm Led by M. Wolf-Hubbard, complete projects, finishing with acrylics, found objects, and/or encaustic painting. Session 5 – Roundtable Presentation at Heritage Days Sat, June 28, 2025, 12:00-4:00pm Led by C. Rai, Exhibit and roundtable discussion about the connection between community, history, heritage, and place. CRP#4 participant participation optional, but strongly encouraged. This artist residency is sponsored in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

Storytime! Bring your children to this interactive storytime workshop. Local Author, Kypriana Daniels, will read her book Autumn Forage! about the local mushrooms, trees and plants we often find around us during this season. Afterwards children will complete an activity and learn how to work with wool to create little fall themed works of art! Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is the author of the Earth Folk Tales Series, a seasonal collection of children's mushroom-foraging fairy tales. Kypriana has facilitated nature based educational and arts programs for children for 15 years. The programs focus on her passions: honey bees, mushrooms, creative writing, wool needle felting and storytelling. She wild-schools her daughter in their home in the Appalachian foothills. The ideal age range for this class is ages 7-10!

Friday November 7th, 1-4pm Join us in learning the art of macramé! In this hands-on class, you'll learn the fundamental macrame knotting techniques to create your own unique wall hanging to adorn your home. All materials will be provided, so just bring your creativity and enthusiasm. By the end of the session, you'll have mastered a range of knots and gained the confidence to embark on your own macramé projects. Come unwind, meet fellow craft enthusiasts, and discover the joy of creating something truly unique! Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is the author of the Earth Folk Tales Series, a seasonal collection of children's mushroom-foraging fairy tales. Kypriana has facilitated nature based educational and arts programs for children for 15 years. The programs focus on her passions: honey bees, mushrooms, creative writing, wool needle felting and storytelling. She wild-schools her daughter in their home in the Appalachian foothills

Friday September 5th, 1-4pm Tales of dystopian futures clog our bookshelves and screens and can make us feel that our destiny is dark and depressed. Cyberpunk sci-fi features a future in which humanity is choked with smog, dimly lit with glitchy neon, and technology is used to oppress and control. In the midst of our current reality, this dim destiny seems like a foregone conclusion. But what if we refused dystopia and instead insisted on and worked toward a brighter, better future for all? This is the ethos of Solarpunk—an approach that centers an egalitarian society, balanced with local ecosystems, and harnesses technology in ways that are restorative and regenerative, not extractive or exploitative. Solarpunk emphasizes low-tech and DIY options and is adaptable to climates and cultures around the world. Associate Artist Christine Hubbard has been teaching a college course with a Solarpunk focus since 2022 and is excited to bring this experience to Riverworks. In this dynamic session, she will introduce the Solarpunk philosophy and share examples of art, architecture, and contemporary communities guided by these transformative principles. Participants will craft a creative product of their choice with self-selected materials inspired by Solarpunk—a multimedia creation, an informative image, an inspirational poster, a short story/poem/essay, or a mix of any of these. The session will close with sharing and discussion of our creations and how we can incorporate Solarpunk into our lives and communities. Participants should bring their preferred creative materials. And in the spirit of Solarpunk’s eco-friendly focus, Riverworks will provide a mix of repurposed and natural materials to incorporate into your creations if you like.