October at MVMC: Shining Light

October is here, and with it comes a whirlwind of events and opportunities to shine. The seasons are shifting, the calendar is full, and we're excited to gather with you in the glow of creativity and connection. Our theme this month is Shining Light, inspired by the color-of-the-month, Amber Glow.

Event Spotlight:

With so many wonderful events coming up (and some that are not on our regular session calendar), we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the fun things we'll be participating in this month:

Mask Making for F1rst Friday

This month, the Arts Consortium's F1rst Friday event (Oct 3rd 5-8pm) invites you to explore creativity through mask-making. Masks can be playful, expressive, or symbolic, and they're a wonderful way to share a piece of yourself that you might normally keep hidden or masked. Your finished mask can become part of a collaborative artwork that will be included in November's Community Art Show at the Arts Consortium's Peter Carey Gallery! For MVMC participants who are not Arts Consortium members, this is your chance to have your work featured in the Peter Carey Gallery - we hope to see you this Friday!

(Click HERE for more information about the Community Art Show, including how to submit your own personal work, too!)

TedX at the Visalia Fox Theater

MVMC has been commissioned by the Visalia Fox Theater to create a beautiful tree sculpture to be featured in the lobby of this historic theater during a special TEDX community event, happening on October 12th. Thank you to all our participants who lent their creativity, perspective, and talent in designing, building, and painting this breathtaking sculpture! If you are interested in purchasing tickets, or learning more about this event, visit the Visalia Fox's website, HERE.

Taste the Arts Festival in Downtown Visalia

Taste The Arts is an annual festival presented by the Arts Consortium — the official arts council of Tulare County. This annual event in downtown Visalia is a celebration of the rich cultural and artistic heritage of our community.

Be sure to stop by "The Art Cafe", a collaborative interactive booth brought to you by the My Voice Media Center and the Visalia Wellness Center, where we'll be offering snacks, shade, and creative activities. The event will be packed with beautiful art, talented creators, delicious food, fun performances, and free interactive activities!

See you at Taste the Arts on October 18th from 10-5pm. More info HERE

At-Home Activity: Paper Bag Lanterns

Bring a little glow into your home with a simple lantern.

1. Grab a plain paper lunch bag.

2. Cut or punch shapes - stars, leaves, hearts, or anything that inspires you.

3. Decorate the bag with markers or paint.

4. Place an LED tea light inside the bag (no real candles, please!)

   
   

Enjoy the warm amber light shining through your design.

Upcoming Events

October 3rd - F1rst Friday (Arts Consortium) 5-8pm

October 12th - MVMC Art Showcase TedX Talks @ Visalia Fox Theater (paid event - tickets here)

October 14th - Community Meeting (Arts Consortium) 5:30pm

October 18th - Taste the Arts Festival Downtown Visalia - Bridge St. 10am-5pm

October 20-24th - MVMC CLOSED this week. See you next week!

We can't wait to see you at our MVMC sessions and out in the community this month! Together, we'll continue growing and finding new ways to shine!