Please note: Class time is 1:30-3:30 PM to accommodate late release times from Gov. Winslow, Eames Way and Daniel Webster Schools. However, students are welcome to arrive at 1PM and enjoy snack and journaling time with the teacher from 1-1:30PM.

During the three 10-week sessions, students in grades 1-5 will enrich their artistic expressions in a fun and nurturing environment where children feel comfortable expressing their unique talents to create works of art. Students will work with a wide variety of media including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and more. Art from the world’s varied cultures and the contributions of major artists will serve as inspiration. 

Register siblings for a discount! At registration, add additional children as "guests" and register siblings for discounted price of $220/each. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt THANK YOU to Sue Casey who has taught our Wednesday After School program for the past few years. We are excited to bring in Katherine Twigg to continue this program. Katherine has extensive experience teaching Visual Arts to students K-8. She grew up in Marshfield, taking art lessons with Donna Rossetti-Bailey and Bettina Lesieur. Katherine went on to obtain a BFA and a Visual Arts MA teachers license. She has taught at Shady Hill School, the Museum of Fine Arts, Weymouth Public Schools, Boys and Girls Club and more. She is also a yoga enthusiast and instructor and brings a calming energy into her art practice. 

If you’re curious about this cutting-edge art form, this 3-week class is the perfect introduction! Mosaics are one of the oldest forms of art in history, dating back thousands of years to ancient Rome and ancient Greece. Mosaic artist, Mike DiRado will guide students through the traditions, materials and techniques of this intriguing medium. We will begin with demonstrations of approaches and mosaic materials, then students will have the opportunity to create their own small mosaic (approximately 6”x6” or 5”x7”) using Mexican glass smalti tile mounted on plywood. Students will have the opportunity to select from several designs created by the instructor or create their own drawing/design. Our project theme will be ocean and water inspired and we will be working in a limited color palette.  

Confirmed students will receive an email to discuss design options prior to the start of the workshop.  All materials are included in tuition costs. 

About the Instructor: 

Mike DiRado was born in a small, hill town in Abruzzo Italy.  Mike remembers creating art throughout his childhood, but believes it became a passion during high school. Mike received his BFA from Massachusetts College of Art & Design. While at Mass Art he studied painting with George Nick, Paul Celli, Rob Moore and Richard Yarde. They, along with other professors and the many artists he has met along the way, contributed to his development as an artist. Mike moved to New York City in 1983 where he lived and worked for 10 years. While in NYC, Mike worked as a studio assistant for the artist Al Held. He also completed graduate work in Art Education at Pratt Institute. Eventually Mike, his wife and growing family returned to Massachusetts and settled in Scituate, MA. Upon his return to Massachusetts, Mike began a 29-year long teaching career. First as a teacher in Boston and then in Abington, Mike taught art K-12, but most of his career focused on middle school grades. He eventually became the Director of Art (K-12) for the Abington Public Schools until his retirement in 2020. During both Mike's career as a teacher and as a director, he has been a passionate advocate for quality, innovative art education programs in K-12 schools.  Retirement provided Mike with the gift of time, and he will use this additional time to finally explore artistic ideas that were paused as he gave attention to his family and teaching career. Mike is also looking forward to exploring new directions in his own work and remaining active in art educational advocacy groups.

In this 6-week class, students will learn the basics of clothing construction from threading a sewing machine and reading patterns to sewing seams and hemming a finished garment. This class is perfect for students who are complete beginners or have a few simple sewing projects under their belts and would like to learn more. 

This class is open to adults and high school students, please contact the office with any questions at northriverarts@gmail.com.

Materials List:

• Sewing machine (North River will have a few machines for students to share if you do not have your own machine.)

• Fabric scissors

• Pins

• Seam ripper

• Soft measuring tape

• Pencils/sketchbook

• After students learn the basics, they will be asked to purchase a simple pattern and fabric for a project

Olivia Harvey is an avid sewist and upcycler who first learned how to sew as a kid right here at NRAS with Brooke Stanton — and she hasn’t stopped since! Along with making and embellishing her own clothes, Olivia also sells her upcycled creations through her online shop OHpleeze. She believes that everyone should learn how to sew because it makes life (and your closet) a lot more interesting!

Please note: Class time is 1:30-3:30 PM to accommodate late release times from Gov. Winslow, Eames Way and Daniel Webster Schools. However, students are welcome to arrive at 1PM and enjoy snack and journaling time with the teacher from 1-1:30PM.

During the three 10-week sessions, students in grades 1-5 will enrich their artistic expressions in a fun and nurturing environment where children feel comfortable expressing their unique talents to create works of art. Students will work with a wide variety of media including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and more. Art from the world’s varied cultures and the contributions of major artists will serve as inspiration. 

Register siblings for a discount! At registration, add additional children as "guests" and register siblings for discounted price of $220/each. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt THANK YOU to Sue Casey who has taught our Wednesday After School program for the past few years. We are excited to bring in Katherine Twigg to continue this program. Katherine has extensive experience teaching Visual Arts to students K-8. She grew up in Marshfield, taking art lessons with Donna Rossetti-Bailey and Bettina Lesieur. Katherine went on to obtain a BFA and a Visual Arts MA teachers license. She has taught at Shady Hill School, the Museum of Fine Arts, Weymouth Public Schools, Boys and Girls Club and more. She is also a yoga enthusiast and instructor and brings a calming energy into her art practice.