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July 26, 2002Workspace provides studio for artists, novices
The Workspace is not the sort of place people stumble across. Located in the Memorial Union basement (below the ground level), it can be accessed only from the east entrance. "The Workspace is kind of a secret on campus," said its new director, Letitia Hansen. "But it has wonderful resources and it's really inexpensive. We have a range of people, from those who just come to take a class, to professionals who use it as a place to work and teach. We have artists and students and non-students." The Workspace is the only "pay as you go" open studio in Ames. Drop by and you may find working artists throwing pots, faculty and staff developing photographs, students screen printing T-shirts and Ames residents sanding their latest woodworking projects. Artists and novices The experienced work alongside the novices, Hansen said. And for those who need some help, classes are offered, usually in the evenings. "It's an unbelievable deal," Hansen said. "I don't know where you would find anything like this for less, especially with the amount of equipment that is available." The Workspace includes several electric pottery wheels, electric kilns, a screen printing press, complete woodworking shop, photography lab and a mat cutter. Use of the studio is $3 a day or $25 a semester (ISU students receive a discount). A tuition and supply fee is charged for classes, Hansen added. Craft center beginnings The Workspace (originally called the Union Craft Center) was created in 1969 by the ISU Student Union Board in a small room behind the bowling alley. There was no schedule of classes, although two "mini-classes" were held for nine students. Over the years, the studio grew, was relocated and in 1984, renamed the Workspace. The Workspace now offers about 20 classes a semester. More than 2,500 peopled used the Workspace last year (for classes and open studio time), Hansen said. Standbys and new offerings Hansen, who has been on the job only three weeks, is busy setting the schedule for fall semester. In addition to offering the "standbys," Hansen hopes over time to add a few new classes, such as mosaics or mixed media. She also hopes to bring back favorites, like yoga and beginning guitar. But first, she needs to find instructors to teach the classes. Many classes are taught by working artists or Iowa State students in design or other areas. She also hopes to draw in her contacts from her previous position as curator and development assistant at The Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames. Hansen, who graduated from Iowa State in 1996 with a bachelor of fine arts degree, also will manage the exhibits in the Gallery and Pioneer Room (with a student art assistant), as well as the Union's permanent art collection, and work with the Student Union Board on its projects. New opportunities One of the reasons Hansen came to Iowa State was the opportunity to work with students. "It's fun working with students," she said. "They're interested in new things. They don't say, 'I tried that and it didn't work.' The students are excited and it's fun to help them make their visions a reality." And, Hansen intends to become a "student" herself. "This fall," she said, "I'm going to take some of our classes myself. I think it will be good for me. I'm excited about the opportunity to get back into creating art." Workspace hours
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Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111 Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu Copyright © 1995-2001, Iowa State University. All rights reserved. |