The Strange Shrines of Saint Someone

$1600 Class price to include 6 nights lodging, 5 days of instruction, breakfast and lunch on workshop days.
Trip insurance is strongly advised.

Mexico isn’t just drinking Margaritas, basking in the sun, and swimming in the pool.

When I’m involved it also must entail some art-making…but don’t worry there will be plenty of time for the other stuff. All work and no play….you know the rest. With that said, one of my favorite parts about visiting Mexico is seeing all the shrines and retablos for the various Saints and Virgins.

So in this class we will be playing with this idea in a contemporary, assemblage-ish sort of way. We will be creating structure to house saints, deities or effigies of the students choosing. We will also creating and or modifying the residents of these structures using actual statuettes, photographs, and other random objects. Using the processes of assemblage simple boxes or piece of wood will be transformed “into something rich and strange” (to quote Shakespeare). Mexico has always been a great inspiration for my art…I’ll be surprised if you don’t feel the same way.

1. A box you would like to use as the structure…this can be as big as you want but remember that you have to get it back home with you. If you work smaller, bring a few of them.
2. A figurine, doll, effigy or object that you want to enshrine. Make sure it will fit in the boxes you bring. You could also wait and hit some of the religious shops for figures in Puerto Vallarta.
3. Aves Apoxie Clay ¼ lbs or more.
4. Variety of found objects that might be interesting additions to the nicho or figurine. Items like watch parts, gears, typewriter parts….just about anything, really.
5. Paint Brushes (a couple small detail brushes, and some cheap brushes (½ inch to 1 inch in size).
6. Wire a couple of different gauges.
7. Basic Tools…pliers, scissors,
8. Paint (acrylic…preferably Golden brand…either fluid or heavy body will work)
1. Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold
2. Nickel Azo Yellow
3. Black (Mars or Carbon)
4. Titanium White
5. Pthalo Green (blue shade)
6. Dioxazine Purple
7. Van Dyke Brown
8. Anthraquinone Blue
9. Quinacridone Crimson
9. Sand paper or sanding sponge
10. Adhesives.
1. Dap Kwik Seal for kitchen and bath -White. Should say paintable or water base acrylic or latex.
2. E6000
11. Optional Paints
1. Graphite Gray
2. Interference Colors (blue, violet or any others)
3. Iridescent colors (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, etc)
4. Micaceous Iron Oxide
12. Optional Tools
1. Heat gun
2. Dremel with cut off wheel and engraving bit

Visit Web Site:
www.michaeldemeng.com

For questions about lodging
contact Sam @