Expressions in the Abstract November 10 - December 2, 2018 Gallery Hours : Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 4:00 |
About UsThe Borrego Art Institute (BAI) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with the goal to inspire and enrich the community of Borrego Springs by offering a venue for the public to experience, create, and enjoy all forms of art. Our distinctive campus features the Gallery, the Pottery studio and workshop, the ArtFarm gardens, the KidsArt programs and our on-site Restaurant, Kesling's Kitchen all in the heart of Borrego Springs’ core business district at Christmas Circle and Palm Canyon Drive. A community resource and gathering place, The BAI is an important catalyst for adult and children's education, participation, art appreciation, and a great meal. Please join us for classes, shows and other events, and as a member. If you are an artist, a resident, a visitor, a family, an art lover, or simply a curious explorer, we look forward to welcoming you! Introducing Joan Anson, Executive Director of the Borrego Art Institute!
What's New at BAI?
Middle/High School Students Learn Fashion Design. Estonian artist and fashion  designer Vera Ostrowski was in Borrego visiting for several months and, to help fill her time, offered to teach a one day class in fashion design to interested Borrego students. Operating on short notice, three girls from the middle and high school signed up and needed materials and supplies were gathered. Using pen and ink, brushes and watercolors, the students discovered talents they didn't know they had and were able to take home some beautiful designs that they had created. Kesling's stepped up and provided fresh baked cinnamon buns to the class.
Congratulations to Janell Hughey of Hesperia, CA our Customer Appreciation winner for October!
 Expressions in the Abstract opened Saturday, November 10
Expressions in the Abstract, featuring the work of five acclaimed artists, opened November 10th to a good crowd and sales. The artists, Kim Chasen, Theresa Vandenberg Donche, Nicholas Foschi, Gerald Patrick, and Philip Vaughan, are represented by a number of examples of their highly acclaimed work. The opening reception was catered by Kesling's Kitchen. Visitors were amazed and pleased at not only the venue, but also the quality of work that is on display. Our Gift Shop has a new look. New glass display shelves have been added, replacing the pedestals and black shelves to give the area a bright, open look. As a result, we are able to display more of the unique one-of-a-kind art pieces for which we have become known. And it's not too early to start shopping for Christmas.
We are accepting memberships. For Members, artist's entry fees for entering shows are waived except for the Plein Air Invitational. Members also receive discounts on gallery workshops, and free admission to seminars and demonstrations. To become a member, go to Join Us in the menu at the top, click on Become a Member.
This coming season in January, in conjunction with the Latino Art show, will be a showing for the month of the beautiful photographs of Mongolia by acclaimed La Jolla photographer Nick Agelidis. Nick's new book, "Under the Eternal Blue Sky" will also be available and is the title of a program to be held on January 26 at BAI celebrating Borrego Springs becoming a partner city with Khvod, Mongolia. In attendance will not only be local dignitaries but also the Consul General of Mongolia. Our local elementary art students will be participating in the event as well as some of the High School students. As details unfold, updates on the event will be announced. Sculpture artist Lynn Creighton , who had a showing of her bronzes of women in conjunction with the Plein Air Invitational last Spring, will return in March 2019 for a showing of her new series of bronzes.
NEW ARTFARM DIRECTOR TASKED TO OVERSEE THE DEVELOPING PROJECT
To learn more about the ArtFarm's plans for the 2018/2019 season, click on ArtFarm News The Orchard is In!
Over 40 fruit trees, varieties especially selected for desert growing, have been planted in the ArtFarm Orchard and Garden. They include nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, pomegranates, peaches, plums and kumquats. Available in the Gallery - ArtFarm T-shirts. These are for sale in the Gallery store for $20 each plus tax. Proceeds will go toward continued funding for the ArtFarm.
| Current and Upcoming Events at BAI
Kesling's Kitchen is OPEN EVERY DAY. To see the current menu, go to the restaurant tab and click on current menu in the drop down menu. The restaurant is open Monday - Friday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 am to 9:00 pm. 760-767-7600. Kesling's Kitchen is now doing Weekend Brunch. With the start of the season, Kessling is now serving "Not Quite Lunch" on Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 am to 11:00 am. To see their wonderful and delicious offering, go to their menu at Not Quite Lunch Menu Kesling's Kitchen Catering: Book your party trays from our great catering menu. Go to the Restaurant tab and click on Kesling's Catering in the drop down menu. Be sure to check out Kesling's Art Wall. Each month a new artist will be featured in the restaurant on the wall between the gallery and the restaurant. Our Featured Artist for the month of November is local artist Barbara Nickerson.
The Pottery Mural Project Funded by a matching $10,000 grant, the Pottery is enlisting community involvement in creating a mural on the outside South wall of the Borrego Art Institute building. The mural will celebrate the arts in Borrego Springs and is scheduled for completion in March 2019. To follow along on the progress of the mural, click on The Pottery. 2018/2019 SEASON SCHEDULE The Pottery Studio is located adjacent to the High School swimming pool on Cahuilla Road off of Borrego Springs Road. During school hours, anyone new to the pottery much check in at the school office. Find us under the big blue canopy.
MISS BORREGO PAGEANT SHINES BECAUSE OF KIDSART PROGRAM BAI art teacher Leslie Duncan and the art program kids decorate the Pagaent stage each year. See story under KidsArt PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM Our BAI supported Photography program at the Middle School, taught by Tom Hogan, one of our BAI volunteers and a professional photographer, will continue in the 2018/2019 school year. The class completed a video, Big Little Town, which was shown during the Borrego Film Festival in January 2018. To view the video, turn up your sound and click on https://vimeo.com/246308644
WELCOME NEW and RENEWED MEMBERS: September: Suzanne Pyle...Portland, OR Ellen Finan...Desert Hot Springs, CA Laura Alioto...San Diego, CA Lois Carlson...Alpine, CA Gayle Reynolds...Oakland, CA Kathy Magnum...Pasadena, CA Louise Peelle...Carlsbad, CA Ellen Sweet...La Jolla, CA Timothy Mielcarek...Palm Desert, CA Mary Leahy...Concord, NH Don Britton...Murrieta, CA Kat Tapscott...Borrego Springs Joan & Rick Anson...Borrego Springs Mac & Leslie McQuown...Borrego Springs Jim & Anne Wermers...Borrego Springs Diane Johnson...Borrego Springs Bob Blum...Borrego Springs Kay Levie...Borrego Springs Robin Ten Eyk...Borrego Springs Diana Troncoso...Borrego Springs Leslie Duncan...Borrego Springs Barbara Nickerson...Borrego Springs Martha Deichler...Borrego Springs Ben Nourse...Borrego Springs Sally Linden...Needham, MA Ginger Dunlop Dietz...Borrego Springs Jill Sullivan...Borrego Springs Jack & Joanne Sims...Borrego Springs Elaine McVey...Borrego Springs Warner Graves...San Francisco, CA Jean Volmar...Borrego Springs Jacqueline Larsen...Borrego Springs Laurie Brindle...San Marcos, CA Kathleen Cook...Ramona, CA October: Petar Barbaros...Chula Vista, CA Judy Smith...Borrego Springs, CA Lee Sie...San Diego, CA Beth Hart...Borrego Springs Lois Carlson...Alpine, CA Elizabeth Levins... Somerville, MA Sally Williams...Arcata, CA Jeni Bate...Salton City, CA Robert Higgins...Seattle, WA Kari Koskinen...Jamul, CA Greg Schorer...Borrego Springs Garett Wood...Irvine, CA Katalin Cowan...Escondido, CA Sarah Rogers...El Cajon Xander Keith...Sherman Oaks, CA James Osterberg...La Quinta, CA Debbie Horton...Irvine, CA Kim Chasen...Joshua Tree, CA Liesel Paris...Borrego Springs Sara Vickers...La Mesa, CA Marilyn Regalado...Borrego Springs, CA Vanessa Rusczyk...Poway, CA November: Debra MacArthur...Borrego Springs Kathleen Brigham...Ukiah, CA Anita Offerman...Borrego Springs Susan Boutwell...Borrego Springs Gail Quigg...Joquiam, WA Gordon Taubenheim...Rancho Mirage, CA
DONORS CORNER 2018 Donations: |
We’d like to welcome Joan Anson as team leader and our first executive director for the Borrego Art Institute. A long-time Borrego resident, Joan comes to us with a strong background in office management, finance, and, as an eleven-year BAI Board member (2004-2015), a strong knowledge and understanding of BAI. Joan will be working with all department heads to facilitate a smooth running and strong, sustainable organization. We look forward to exciting growth for BAI and a more involved community presence. 
Introducing Wade Beane, new director for the ArtFarm. After spending hundreds of nights camping under the back-country stars, Wade has made Borrego Springs his full-time home. Growing up in the Midwest, surrounded by farms and childhood memories of picking giant zucchinis from the family garden plus his love of the outdoors, inspired him to teach environmental studies and organic farming for public school and Montessori students. This passion for helping students live responsibly led to Humane Education where he spent 12 years designing non-profit programs, served as executive director for a humane society, and trained thousands of volunteers in caring for animals and people in need. Wade has a BA degrees in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Science Education, and attended Northern Illinois University to receive his Masters of Science in Education. 
