by Audra H. Anders for The Aha! Connection
I’ve known Alan Mothner, the CEO of Spruill Center for the Arts, since our kids played Little League baseball at Murphey Candler park and I’ve lived in Dunwoody since 2002 but I’ve never taken an art class at Spruill! Well, until last week that is….
Alan invited Peggy, Lauren, their daughters, and me to a jewelry making class taught by Amy Gresens. Alan had been reading about all our latest AHA! adventures as we have slowly emerged from quarantine and predicted correctly that we would enjoy a class at the Spruill Education Center.
We had a great time! Amy was such a fun teacher with tons of patience and a knack for creating beautiful jewelry. We each started out making a wrap bracelet. We utilized copper and jewelry brass, hammers, measuring tape, a ginormous wire cutter and all sorts of other tools to create individual beautiful wrap bracelets. Once we completed our first masterpieces, we increased the difficulty level a notch and made hammered/soldered bracelets that involved a mini blow torch! Now, talk about exciting! The following pictures tell the story of a fun evening….we all look so serious but we were having a blast listening and learning!
I’m so thankful we had this experience because now I realize the Spruill Education Center offers day, evening, and weekend art courses for Adults, Teens, and Children across all of their departments, including: Jewelry, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Glass, Decorative Arts, Photography and more. I’m thinking about signing up for a course with my Aunt! Use the following links to explore the class schedules:
Spruill also hosts Children’s Birthday Parties, Corporate Team-building events and Parties for Adults whereby each party guest leaves with a completed project!
I’m also fascinated with Spruill’s gift shop located in the historic 1867-1905 home on Ashford Dunwoody Road, the Spruill Gallery. Visit the Gift Shop to find unique/one of a kind gifts handmade by Atlanta area artists.
Spruill’s summer camps are very popular….Click here to view camps. Peggy’s daughter LOVED the Spruill Camp she attended last summer.
Following is a list of upcoming available courses just to give you an idea of all the art you could explore right here in Dunwoody!
| “Make and Take” Workshops
(29 courses available)
Take a quick workshop to revive an old hobby or try something new. See how much fun art can be. |
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| 1 and 2 Day Workshops
(81 courses available)
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| All Things New!
(17 courses available)
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| Ceramics and Pottery
(51 courses available)
Wheel, Hand building, Raku, Glazing & Surface Decoration |
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| Community Programs and Events
(7 courses available)
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| Decorative Arts
(18 courses available)
Calligraphy, Soap making, Flower Arranging, Natural Hand lotions & Toiletries, Decorative Items for the Home |
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| Drawing Classes and Workshops
(25 courses available)
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| Fiber Arts
(9 courses available)
Felting, Knitting, Millinery, Sewing, Basketry, Fabric Arts |
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| Glass Classes and Workshops
(14 courses available)
Stained Glass, Glass Kilnforming, Glass Beadmaking, Glass Blowing |
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| Jewelry and Metalsmithing
(59 courses available)
Jewelry Making, Metalsmithing, Silver Metal Clay, Beadweaving, Glass Beadmaking |
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| Metal Working, Welding, and Blacksmithing Classes
(8 courses available)
Blacksmithing, Welding, and Metal Sculpture Classes |
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| Mixed Media
(14 courses available)
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| Mosaics
(14 courses available)
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| Painting Classes and Workshops
(58 courses available)
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| Photography
(9 courses available)
Digital Photography, Film & Darkroom Techniques, Image Enhancement |
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| Sculpture
(8 courses available)
Figure or Portrait Sculpture in Clay, Metal Sculpture, Blacksmithing |
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| Virtual Classes
(4 courses available)
New virtual and on-line courses. |
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Spruill Center for the Arts Education Center
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338
770-394-3447
Website
Spruill Gallery/Gift Shop
4681 Ashford DunwoodyRoad
Dunwoody, GA 30338
770-394-4019
I was so excited to be invited to this class AND the opportunity to bring my 11 year old daughter Ella who loves all things art-related. She is already asking when she can do another class or camp. I thought for sure bracelet making would be way out of my comfort zone but Amy was a super instructor that made the process simple and fun to learn. I especially liked being able to choose my material and form it for myself. I would definitely do another class or workshop at Spruill … it was a great thing I could do with my daughter!