Fivesparks

Artist Speaking Event: The Making of a Field Artist - An Illustrated Talk by Barry Van Dusen
2024-05-18 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Fivesparks Gallery, 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard, MA, 01451, United States
The Making of a Field Artist: a one hour illustrated talk by Barry Van Dusen
Barry Van Dusen’s art and his career took on an exciting new dimension when he decided to devote himself to drawing and painting nature subjects outdoors – direct from life.
Hear about his inspirations and influences, his challenges and set-backs, as well as his progress and successes as he learned the art of working directly from his natural subjects.
Admission: $10. Please complete your reservation and payment below.
Barry Van Dusen is an internationally recognized artist living in central Massachusetts. Barry has illustrated many publications for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and his bird illustrations have appeared in books published by the American Birding Association, HarperCollins, Princeton University Press and Cornell University (Comstock). His book FINDING SANCTUARY was published by Mass Audubon in 2020.
He is currently the featured artist of the Fivesparks exhibit Natural Inspirations.

Drawing Lessons by the Green: All Levels
2024-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Fivesparks Cove
Come have fun drawing with us at Fivesparks in Harvard’s town center. Enjoy the camaraderie of other drawing enthusiasts while learning and growing your art at your own pace, thoughtfully guided by award-winning professional artist and art educator, Mara Levin.
Beginners will start with traditional basic drawing lessons, while more advanced artists can work on projects in progress from home or begin new works inspired by Mara’s demonstrations and samples in graphite, charcoal, conte crayon, pastel, markers, ink wash, etc.
We will cover basic shapes, light, shadows, and shading. We will talk about perspective, texture, composition, focal points, thumbnail drawings, and more. Mara will bring a tablet so we can look at drawings by great artists for information and inspiration. Realistic and abstract drawings will both be encouraged and all subject matter is allowed.
Students are responsible for bringing all their own references (such as photographs), materials, and supplies.
REGISTER BELOW.
Questions for Mara: info@maralevin.com
Please bring the following supplies to the first class (Amazon examples shown).
Drawing pad or loose sheets Strathmore 400 series Medium Drawing Spiral Paper Pad 11×14 24 Sheets or other size(s)
A few basic drawing pencils HB – 6B or pencil leads in holders, such as:  Faber-Castell Graphite Sketch Pencil Set – 6 Graphite Pencils (2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B)
OR, buy HB, 2B, 4B, 6B pencils or leads and holders separately (these will be shown in the first class)
Knife or sharpener for pencils
Kneaded Eraser
A drawing board with clip is very handy, but not required. Make sure the board is big enough to hold your pad. Example: ALVIN Artist Sketch Board with Cutout Handle 15″ x 16″ Model SB1516 – Portable Drawing Board
Tuition: $200 for ten 2-hour sessions

Village Nursery School - Children's Art Show
2024-05-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Fivesparks
Village Nursery School (VNS), located in Harvard, MA, is a small, private, non-profit preschool educating children ages 2-5. We focus on a child-centered approach and plan our curriculum around literature and children’s books. Teachers thoughtfully plan their art projects from the inspiration they get from the wonderful books their classrooms focus on.
VNS has a long standing tradition of displaying the artwork that the students create throughout the year. This art show has evolved over the years, first beginning with a famous artist unit in a pre-k classroom. It soon became a school-wide event with all the classrooms displaying artwork for families to see. Most recently, it was an outdoor art walk around the VNS property.
We are thrilled to be showcasing the children’s artwork at Fivesparks this year. We hope you enjoy viewing this amazing work created by our 2-5 year old students.
Open to the public Tuesday-Thursday, May 14-16 during Fivesparks Open Hours (10am-4pm).

Private & Semi-Private Music Lessons for Kids
2024-05-13 15:45 - 18:00 | Fivesparks Movement Room, 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard, MA, 01451, United States
Private/Semi-Private lessons are offered to kids 12 yrs and under on recorder, guitar and/or keyboard. Lessons will be scheduled on Mondays or Tuesdays (after other scheduled music courses taught by Steve, generally after 5pm).
These lessons will help young beginners build a strong foundation for more advanced studies on any of these instruments.
Careful listening and musicianship skills are emphasized. Fourth and fifth-grade recorder students will gain a solid foundation that will allow for rapid progress upon selecting band instruments in sixth grade.
Lessons are reasonably-priced and conveniently located in the center of Harvard. The ability to group kids into semi-private lessons offers the opportunity for middle-low income families to participate in quality music education.
Steve Peisch has taught music at several schools, including the New England Conservatory, Deerfield Academy, Lawrence Academy, The Indian Hill Music School (now called the Groton Hill Music Center) the Bromfield School, and Hildreth Elementary School.
Most recently, he has focused on providing excellent and enjoyable music classes for the youngest elementary school age children, having learned from first-hand experience that providing a strong foundation at this level will strengthen the music programs that follow in both middle and high schools.
Peisch is committed to developing curiosity and creativity in young people, to sequencing instruction carefully and in conversation with other music teachers, to broadcasting high expectations in music and other arts classes, and to encouraging music students to make connections with other subject areas.
Peisch’s music is available on his website, http://hundredsrecords.com/index.html, and his recommendations for arts educators can be found on his company’s website, http://www.newdirectionsinartseducation.com/
Contact Peisch at stevepeisch2@gmail.com with questions, pricing information and to register.

Españolería - A Spanish Song Experience
2024-05-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Fivesparks Gallery, 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard, MA, 01451, United States
Fanny Lora, Mezzo-soprano & Dave McLellan, Guitarist
Españolería is an opportunity for the audience to experience some of the greatest Spanish poetry and classical music for voice and guitar. This musical journey not only celebrates the unique classical music traditions of Spain but also serves as a powerful educational tool, enlightening audiences of all backgrounds about the intricate tapestry woven by centuries of artistic evolution. Through our performances, we aspire to bridge cultural gaps and promote understanding, offering a rare opportunity to savor the culturally diverse repertoire that seldom graces the stage in such an intimate format.
Ticket prices: Adults $25, Seniors and Students $15, Under 12 free.
TICKETS via Eventbrite (or scan the QR code below).

Mezzo-soprano Fanny Lora and guitarist Dave McLellan perform La Tarara from the Canciones Espanolas Antiguas by Federico Garcia Lorca. Recorded at Holliston Town Hall, Holliston, MA, March 2024.

Fanny Lora is a versatile artist with a passion for classical Spanish & Latin American repertoire. Her genuine interpretations breathe life into the music, captivating audiences during her national and international recital tours. Fanny holds Music Performance and Music Education degrees from Ithaca College. She is also a graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Alexander Technique Training Program, where she now teaches. After becoming a mother in 2020, Fanny founded LullaYou, a company that connects parents and babies through personalized and singable nursery songs. She lives with her husband and their two children in Holliston, MA. For more information, please visit: www.FannyLora.com

Dave McLellan is an award-winning classical guitarist and accompanist who has been performing in the U.S., South America, Great Britain, and Europe since 1976. He has appeared in major concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Wigmore Hall (London). Throughout the 1980’s, he gave numerous concerts with duo partner Neil Anderson as the Anderson-McLellan Duo, including two concert tours of Great Britain, performing also for festivals in the US and South America. David McLellan studied classical guitar at the Hartt School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the Aspen Music Festival.

Exhibit: Natural Inspirations - Paintings by Barry Van Dusen
2024-04-06 - 2024-05-25 | Fivesparks
On View: April 6 – May 25
Public Reception: Sunday, April 14, from 3-5pm
Barry Van Dusen is an internationally recognized artist living in central Massachusetts. Barry has illustrated many publications for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and his bird illustrations have appeared in books published by the American Birding Association, HarperCollins, Princeton University Press and Cornell University (Comstock). His book FINDING SANCTUARY was published by Mass Audubon in 2020.
This exhibition showcases his watercolor paintings of New England birds, wildflowers, insects and other animals. You’ll find New England landscapes here too and a special group of paintings from his travels around the world. Some of these pictures were painted on location, while others were created in the studio. Related ‘mini-exhibition’ feature his field sketches and book illustrations, and a special selection of pictures by some of his European colleagues.
150 of Barry’s watercolors and field sketches are included in a new book, “A Year of Birds: Writings on Birds from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau“, available from the Thoreau Society.

Drawing & Painting
Nature Workshop
with Barry Van Dusen
Saturday, April 27: 10am-4pm
Illustrated Talk: The Making of a Field Artist

with Barry Van Dusen
Saturday, May 18: 4-5pm
