River Arts welcomes back two popular instructors for classes in October, Kris Engman, teaching color theory and Andy Seferlis, teaching stone carving. Classes, workshops, and open studios are offered year-round and include ceramics, crafts and a wide variety of other topics.

Color Theory: Kerstin Engman will be back at River Arts in the fall to teach a much sought after and rarely offered, Color Theory class which will run for six Saturdays from October 12 through November 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class is open to artists in all media at all levels. Topics to be covered are: saturation, spacial location, complements, transparency, neutrals, value, interaction, color communities, temperature, nature of white, assimilation, simultaneous contrast, color voice, diads integration, harmony, and light condition. The class size is limited to 12. The fee for the class is $250 members/$275 non-members.

Engman was born in New England, educated at the Maine College of Art, The Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Pennsylvania. She has traveled throughout Europe, living for a time in eastern Europe while teaching in the Hungarian Public Schools. In 1997, she founded Project Kalocsa, a cultural exchange between Kalocsa, Hungary and Belfast, Maine. She now lives in Liberty and teaches in the art department at various levels (drawing, design and painting) at the University of Maine in Orono. Engman has taught several classes at River Arts and students rate her “fabulous.” For more information on Engman visit www.kerstinengman.com.

Stone Carving: River Arts is offering another session of stone carving for students at any level. Andy Seferlis, a second generation stone carver from Washington, D.C. and New Harbor, Maine, continues to conduct this workshop that was originally led by his father, Constantine Seferlis. The class will run five days October 1 through October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $300 for the week.

Students can bring their own stone or select one at River Arts. Limestone and/or marble can be provided at cost. Sizes and shapes will vary. Tools will be provided if you don’t own them: chisels, hammers, power tools, angle grinders, extension cords, small compressors. Bring a pencil, notebook, charcoal, gloves, safety glasses and dust masks, all available at your local hardware store. Stone carving is addictive, tiring and satisfying in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

For almost 20 years Seferlis has been working with the Smithsonian Institution engaged in the ongoing restoration of the headquarters building, the “Castle” on the National Mall in Washington. He demonstrates annually at the National Building Museum’s fall program, “The Big Build,” and is involved with carving and restoration commissions in and around the greater Washington, DC area.  Seferlis also leads art and architectural study tours of many of the east coast’s major cities. The mission of River Arts is to nurture and encourage participation in the arts throughout the region of Midcoast Maine by providing exhibition, studio and performance spaces, classes and workshops, for people of all ages and abilities and support a wide range of activities in artistic disciplines by partnering with other arts and performance organizations to produce program.

River Arts is located at 241 U.S. Route 1 (north) in Damariscotta and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.