Theatre Opportunities at Primo Art Spa

Primo Art Spa is hosting Laugh at Lunch (a.k.a. Artist’s Support Group) from 11:30 - 12:30 on Thursdays at 323 N 2^nd Street, Brainerd.  Bring a sack lunch, your hopes, fears, and playful spirit. 
Call Joy 503-975-9906.

Puppet Plays!

Coming soon:

                Adults Acting Out – starting March 6,^th 7-8pm. Theatre games and script reading. $5 suggested donation. Drop in at the Primo Art Spa, 323 N. 2nd Street, Thursdays.

                Puppet Plays for grades 1-4.  9-10 am Saturdays April 12^th-May 10^th.  Class to be held at the Franklin Arts Center Elemental Studio.  Performance on May 10^th.  $50 per child.  Email primoartspa@gmail.com to sign up.

                Middle-School Scriptfrenzy for grades 5-8. 10:30-noon Saturdays April 12^th-May 10^th. Class to be held at the Franklin Arts Center Elemental Studio.  Performance on May 10^th.  $55 per child. Email primoartspa@gmail.com to sign up.

Also available: Pottery classes and Voice lessons.  Contact Joy @503-975-9906 for more information.

Puppet Theatre at The Crossing Arts Flipside Class

Today, I taught a class for the Crossing Arts Alliance Flipside class. Flipside is for kids in our area to experience the arts in various ways. Every month on the 2nd Saturday, you can bring your kids to the Franklin Arts Center for an art class or Arty Party. They also offer classes in the summer for art, theatre, and writing. I taught the writing class with Guy Kelm last summer, and we'll be teaching it again this coming June. Can't wait....for the class and summer!

For my class today, I had the kids make puppets out of paper plates or bags. They created characters with the puppets and used large tag board to illustrate the backdrop of their puppet play. They all performed a play at the end of the time. They did all this in less than two hours! Thanks to the parents who stayed and helped their kids create.

Paper, glue, popsicle sticks, pens, pencils, and markers

Getting the setting ready

A director in the making, Cora had many hands helping her!

The art is in the details

In "Erin and Hans meet the Cyclops" by Kaya, Erin and Hans' date takes an abrupt turn when Cloppy, the Cyclops shows up!

In "A Day with a Friend" Dina the Dinosaur and Cookie Monster have an adventure involving a park, a slide, a sleepover, and of course, COOKIES!

The playwright Rilee

I believe the name of this show is "Chocolate Bunnies" by Cora.

What happens when a prince eats too many chocolate bunnies and gets turned into a monster?

Caleb tells the tale of "A Bad Fishing Day."

A tragedy at sea.

He needed assistance from his sister to manipulate all the charaters:

the fisherman, three fish, a shark, and a net!

On a quest for the special macadamia nut, several characters run into trouble, including a cyclops that looks like a lion, and the three-headed monster named Bill BillBob and Bob, in that order.

Playwright Karl already had a detailed plot.

I can't wait to watch the sequel.

As Joy and I are forming classes at the Primo Art Spa, we want to offer experiences in performing arts. If you are interested in classes in acting, puppet plays, and/or writing plays, send us a message.

primoartspa@gmail.com.

Look for a Saturday morning class for elementary age kids this spring on creating your own puppet plays!

Music Party at Primo Art Spa

We had a blast at our Primo Art Spa Music Party, Monday, 12/30/13. Joy and I invited our students and their friends and family to come over for music and cookies to celebrate a great year of music making. They also got in on a photo shoot by Joey Halvorson for the Feb. issue of Her Voice. Sheila Helmberger wrote a story on our Primo Art Spa. Here are a few highlights from our party.

Parker playing, her sister Peyton singing, and Ava looking on.

Joy and I baked cookies for the event.

The kids could decorate their own cookies.

How many can we have, Mom?

The photographer, Joey Halvorson, chatting with piano mom, Rachel Rahn.

I wonder what they're cookin' up for the New Year?

Ava, Peyton, and Parker wanted to keep playing piano all day.

Girls after my own heart.

I love a piano...

Young player, watching, learning, and admiring the advanced player.

A great day to hang at the Primo Art Spa!

What artistic dreams do you have for 2014? Can we offer you space to create, a class, voice lessons? What's your word for the year? My friend JeMA picked brave. I chose Prosper and fun. I'll write about that on my writer's blog, Play off the Page. Joy said she and her friend Genesa want the phrase ridiculously happy!

Have a Very Blessed New Year!

In a world of creative constipation, we're here to get things moving!

Engagement Party at Primo Art Spa

Congratulations to Nate and Joy on your engagement. 

Happy Planning!

Christmas Day, 2013, at The Aalgaard Farm

Cheers to the happy couple!

We celebrated with Joy making us a pineapple/chicken stir-fry with jasmine rice.

Genessa, a friend from Portland, tried out her new shortbread pan.

Shortbread cookies with orange zest and chocolate drizzle.

We decided that we don't count calories during the time from Christmas to New Year's!

Fun snowflake pattern to commemorate her time in wintery Minnesota.

Krista and Mary, indulging.

Another friend from Portland, OR, skyped in.

Relaxing together.

The Christmas Tree with special ornaments.

The Primo Art Spa has many wonderful engagements coming up in 2014. Visit often for details, or email us to set up a time for music lessons, art or writing classes, or pottery sessions.

primoartspa@gmail.com

218-232-6069 (Mary)

503-975-9906 (Joy)

We're here to help you get things moving in 2014!

Gift Ideas at Primo Art Spa

Pottery classes for kids and adults are a huge hit at the Primo Art Spa!  Contact us to set up a time to build your own fairy house or other creation.  This is a great time for parents and grandparents to spend time with the kids, or for adults to work on a gift for themselves or others.  Cost is $35 per project.  Requires 2 sessions.  primoartspa@gmail.com 503-975-9906

Creating houses from clay

Food Art: decorating cookies

Joy has pottery houses for sale.

We have gift ideas and certificates available at Primo Art Spa. Book a session for you and the kids or grandkids to make pottery projects, jazzy jars to fill with yummy ingredients, puppets, or painting on small canvases.

Jazzy Jar class, 6:30, December 12, 2013

We'll provide the jars and paint/decorations, and a recipe if want to fill it for a gift. (Candy or decorations are also fun to put inside.)

Other gift ideas: 

Pottery classes, $35 per project which includes two sessions, materials, firing, glazing, instruction, and space to create. Purchase a gift certificate, or book a time to make something yourself.

Voice Lessons: A gift certificate for six lessons with Joy for $175. We could also print a gift certificate indicating that you are gifting someone lessons for a certain amount of time. 

We can also write up certificates with your specific requests, a certain amount of art time/classes, piano lessons, voice lessons, writing lessons.

Blog Set Up and Writing Lessons: Mary offers set up and help with writing blogs for $100. If you have other writing needs, contact Mary, 218-232-6069.

A Spa Experience with the Arts Set up a time with some friends to use our space to create pottery, paint, and relax in the arts.

Contact us at primoartspa@gmail.com.

Art Days, Master Class for Musicians, Jazzy Jars, and More!

The Primo Art Spa is gaining momentum. Last Sunday, we had Kathy and her three granddaughters, age 16, 11, and 7, creating pottery, puppets, and painting. It was wonderful. Thank you for coming to our Art Sunday. If you'd like to use our art space with some friends or family, or some quiet space for yourself, please contact us to schedule a time. primoartspa@gmail.com, or call Joy 503-975-9906 (cell phone, texts accepted).

We'll be making these at Primo Art Spa

Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 pm

Primo Art Spa

The Primo Art Spa located at 323 N 2^nd Street in Brainerd, was co-founded by sisters Mary Aalgaard and Joy Ciaffoni, who are providing workshops, classes, and events in the arts.  We have several events coming up, and are available by appointments as well.  Call to set up a time to write, blog, sing, paint, work with clay, do a Zen Tangle,  jazz up a jar for a gift, or make a puppet!  503-975-9906, or primoartspa@gmail.com

Masterclass for Musicians

Join us for a Master Class for advanced student musicians and adults. You are invited to play any instrument or sing for the group. We will offer positive feedback to enhance your performance, ways to add color and emotion to your songs. Cost $10, includes refreshments. Please let us know if you'll need an accompanist.  503-975-9906, or primoartspa@gmail.com

Jazzy Jars

Thursday, December 12^th, 6:30 pm.  Paint or decoupage a glass jar to fill with ingredients for treats like cocoa, cookies, soup, etc.  Jars, and recipes provided.  Cost $15.  Please RSVP to 503-975-9906 or primoartspa@gmail.com.

Also, we offer a package for you and some friends to enjoy A Spa Experience with the Arts. (See above tab). This would also make a great gift for someone!

And, Joy has a few openings for voice or piano students. If you've been considering it for yourself or someone you know, please contact her. She also offers gift certificates.

Franklin Arts Center Sale

The Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd is hosting an Open House and Art Sale this Saturday from 10:00 - 3:00. Along with the many other locations for arts and crafts sales, you can find all your holiday gift needs locally and from local artists. Also, that day, Joy and I, along with other musicians, will be providing entertainment. The Side Dish from Prairie Bay will be in our Parking Lot for lunch. Joy already has many houses on display at the Pottery studio. Here are a few that will be there.

Joy added bling to some of her houses.

I think it works especially well on the house of cards.

They're even cuter in person.

Happy Holidays!

Stop on over and say Hi. We'll also have some goodies to share!

This Sunday, we'll be open for Art Sunday, at 1:00. Come over and make your own holiday gifts, houses, pinch pots, puppets, and painting or drawing on mini canvases. Open to all ages. Young children need to be accompanied by an adult. Let us know what you'd like to see offered at the Primo Art Spa. We're working on dates for puppet theatre for kids this spring, and a play writing class for teens and adults, as well as more classes and jazzy jars/gift jars.

In a world of creative constipation, we're here to get things moving.

First Spooky Night at the Primo Art Spa

The trick-or-treaters ran around like ants on the pavement on All Hallow's Eve in North Brainerd. We worried that we'd run out of treat bags. Some kiddos looked at the bag and said, "Cool, a bag. Thanks!" Some said, "What's this?" Most of them said "Thanks," and ran off to the next house. Some were tiny little bugs scooting up the steps. Some were big kids, well seasoned in the art of trick-or-treating, with extra large pillow cases. My favorite costume was "The Fonz." Wish I'd snapped his picture. I was impressed that a youngster knew about "The Fonz." Super heroes, particularly Captain America, and creepy guys are still popular. Many little girls were princesses or fairies. A few folks were inventive with the costumes. One family looked horrifying in a bloody accident theme. I gestured up the street to the emergency room entrance.

One little spookster said, "This IS a witch house." 

I cackled back at him.

Good witch sister

Evil witch sister

Witch sister is that?

Claude the pumpkin head

Extra creepy pumpkin.

Some dumb trickster knocked this one off the ledge.

That's when we turned off the lights and locked the door.

We were almost out of treats by then, anyway.

"Let me read your fortune."

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween evening. We had a blast greeting the youngsters and waving at the parents. We started making plans for next year, a Friday night haunt. There might be a cauldron and potions involved. Mwa Ha Ha Ha Ha!

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

William Shakespeare

Happy Halloween!

We're getting excited for the spooky holiday. On Sunday, Oct. 26, a few folks stopped by to work on their pottery, decorate cookies, and help us bag up some trick-or-treats!

The process is half the fun!

Cut out shapes for the season, plus a butterfly as our Art Spa logo.

Naked cookies, waiting for the frosting and the frosters!

What are you making?

yum

The butterflies were the most fun to frost.

Meanwhile, the potters were painting

The Red Roof Inn for a Fairy?

Attention to detail

Then, we filled treats bags for the big day!

Our treats bags include: candy, a note about the Art Spa, and a temporary tattoo with our logo.

Stop by for a Halloween Treat!

We aren't too scary, just a coupla sisters with a cackle and a broom!

We'll be open most Saturdays for Art Saturday, starting at 10:00 am. You can work on pottery, painting, puppets, and more. $10/hour per person. Let us know what you'd like to create.

You can also bring your own supplies and use our space as inspiration. We welcome adults and kids. Young children need to be accompanied by an adult. Or, book your own time at the Primo Art Spa! Check our pages (above) for an Art Spa Package for you and some friends.

Next Class for Musicians:

Join us for a Master Class for advanced student musicians and adults. You are invited to play any instrument or sing for the group. We will offer positive feedback to enhance your performance, ways to add color and emotion to your songs. Cost $10, includes refreshments. Please let us know if you'll need an accompanist. 

You can join this class by visiting our facebook page for this event.

To keep current on our class offerings and open art times, keep visiting this blog and like us on facebook. Email us with questions or comments!

primoartspa@gmail.com