When Leslie Patricelli found that one of her favorite pastimes could become a career, she embraced it and made it her passion.
Patricelli will be a visiting artist to The Sun Valley Center for the Arts, from Saturday, April 21, through Tuesday, April 24, where she will impart her knowledge on illustration and book making to both young and old.
"With every program, we try to bring in an artist who can talk about the themes of our current exhibitions," said Britt Udesen director of education and humanities at The Center. "She is successful and confident with her work, so she's not afraid to share her skills and expertise."
Patricelli will teach a free teen workshop on book making as well as a free family day on making faces at The Center in Hailey. In addition, she will teach an adult class for two days on book making.
"Whenever we program, we try and make educational opportunities available for everyone," Udesen said. "It is rare to have an artist who can to do it all."
As part of The Center's "Off the Page" multidisciplinary exhibition in its Ketchum gallery, Patricelli is one of the many disciplines that are being featured.
A "Stage the Page" performance on Saturday, April 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. will conclude the exhibition's series of events at The Center revealing yet another medium in which to tell a story.
"It's another exciting way to explore a story you are telling—and another way to get kids excited about stories—which was written by an eight-grader in town," Udesen said. "In addition, there will be a story on the spot after the performance that requires audience participation in the story-telling project."
The Center's ability to create events throughout the Wood River Valley has given the south valley a great deal more access to their programming.
"We are trying to do more in Hailey, and we hope to expand the hours," Udesen said. "We are extremely busy and have classes in there weekly with after school art classes and Boulder Mountain Clayworks classes. We thought we would take it slow, but the response has been incredible."
The illustrated story
Make a Book, a free teen workshop, will take place at The Center, Hailey, on Saturday, April 21, from 2 to 6 p.m. Making Faces, a free family day, will take place at The Center, Hailey, on Sunday, April 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. A is for Apple, an adult class, will take place Monday through Tuesday, April 23 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Center, Hailey. The class is $135 for members and $185 for non-members with a supply fee of $35.
Patricelli will be at Iconoclast Books in Hailey for Story Time at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. On Sunday, April 22, at 4 p.m., Patricelli will be at Iconoclast Books in Ketchum to celebrate her illustrated book "The Birthday Box." For more information, call 726-1564.
Leslie Patricelli ?s ?Elephants are big? is one of her many popular illustrations.
