did this while building a team to expand the program .”
In 2013 , The Park held their first Children ’ s Art Workshops during the summer season . “ The docents built the art gallery in the Red Barn , and we mounted our first show of photographs by the Morgan Hill Photography Club . A children ’ s photography show in the Art Gallery featured photos the children took during the summer workshops . In addition , a monitor displayed scenes of the children and their artwork , and the art docents leading workshops , as well as artists participating in Artist Access Days ,” said Jan .
In 2014 , the core group of art docents doubled in size with new artists becoming interested in the program . This year , in addition to the Artist Access Days and Children ’ s Art Workshops , they have added a full calendar of gallery exhibits , have initiated Artist Demonstration Days , and are holding a Summer Fine Arts Festival featuring Bay Area juried fine artists and live music on Saturday July 5 , 2014 where you can stroll along the bridge to find a beautiful painting to take home . This is planned as an annual event as part of the new vision .
They want visitors to see The Gardens as more than a theme park . Part of the goal of Art in the Park is to add a new dimension so that people see it as a place where you can go to relax by a stream and watch an artist paint while you have lunch and chat with your friends . Or a place to take your mom for a walk around lovely gardens and observe a sketch artist in the gallery , or just bring a book and read under a shady tree or by a cool waterfall and listen to music . Musicians , artists , performers , all potentially have a venue at The Gardens through Art in the Park .
In the future Jan said , “ we would like to expand our Children ’ s Art Workshops so that we could expose more children to art in the natural environment of the Park . Art workshops for adults could be offered . Live music performances throughout the season would add another dimension . The Summer Fine Arts Festival could also be expanded . And more permanent or loaned sculpture installations would add more visibility to our programs .”
They added online visibility this year with a dedicated website just for the Art in the Park program : GilroyGardensArtInThePark . org . The site allows participants to access information about the programs , sign up for Access Days , inquire about participating , and retrieve art from children ’ s workshops .
They would like to find a way to get funding and grants for the artisans who participate as professionals . Finding funds for public art is always a difficult subject , but professional artists – just like any other professional – need to be paid for their work . That would be an ideal scenario . Of course , besides paid artists , it is hard to find a way to credit those who offer their services as volunteers ( some who are also professional artists ).
Jan ’ s proud of the team who has put their time into the program over these past two years . “ Ann Howe has been the inspiration for Art in the Park and if it were not for Ann , Julie Franco , Susan Graeser Memmen and Donna Ferrante for believing in the program , giving freely of their talent and working extremely hard and long hours to make it work … we would not be where we are today ,” said Jan .
From a tiny spark of an idea discussed by friends - fast forward two years later . Art in the Park at Gilroy Gardens is a well designed program with a solid framework that offers something for adults and children , artists , and the community , and will continue to grow as the word gets out that Gilroy Gardens is much more than a theme park with programs like Art in the Park .
July 5th
Art in the Park Summer Fine Arts Festival at Gilroy Gardens featuring juried fine artists and live music .
Gallery in Red Barn Gifts Art
June 6th thru July 31st Art in the Park Artists
August 1st thru September 2nd Art Of The Park
September 6th thru the 28th Docent / Local Artists
October 4th thru November 30th Visiting Clubs
December 1st thru the 30th Children ’ s Art
GilroyGardensArtInThePark . org
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