Prickly Pear and Saguaro by Roger Maki

Discover something new to love at one of the upcoming workshops at Dorchester Center for the Arts! A variety of one and two day artful opportunities provide the chance to try several new art forms this fall.

Workshops include:

• Intro to Fused Glass with Paul Winters, Oct. 5, 3 – 5 p.m. This one-day session is for those interested in experiencing kiln formed glass for the first time, or those who want to brush up in preparation for the intermediate sessions. Along with learning the basic elements of the medium, students will create a simple project. $35 DCA members, $75 non-members. $10 materials fee payable to instructor (includes use of tools and two firings)

• Travel Photography with Roger Maki, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This workshop’s objectives are to enable participants to create travel photographs that are better than mere snapshots; to know how to use their camera settings and features to control the photographic process; and to identify opportunities for photographs that may have been overlooked in the past. Photographers of all skill levels and with any type of camera are invited to attend. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their cameras and user manuals. There will be a 30-minute lunch break and participants are asked to bring a bagged lunch and snacks. Admission is free for DCA members, $20 for non-members. Space is limited; reservations advised. Call DCA at 410-228-7782. Roger Maki has been a serious amateur photographer since 1975. He is a winner of several camera club awards, and his works have been published in both regional and national publications.

• Finishing Touches for Musicians & Songwriters with Paul Harrison, Nov. 8, 6 – 8 p.m.

Discuss and apply various techniques to make your musical performances more interesting and appealing, whether you primarily play at home, perform at open mics, or as a paid performer. The workshop will cover tips and tools to give your songs more variety and increase your impact on the audience. Especially for those who sometimes perform more than one song at a time, these techniques will help make your performances more enjoyable...for you and your audience.

Students will “learn by doing.” Willing participants will present the key parts of a song (e.g., a verse and chorus) and the class will consider what changes could make the song more appealing.

Participants will also receive a list of techniques to consider so they can apply them to additional songs after the workshop. Registration is $20 for DCA members, $40 for non-members.

• Tea for Two and Two for Tea with the Dorchester Garden Club, Nov. 9, 2-4 pm.

Begin the holidays early—join the Dorchester Garden Club floral designers as they demonstrate how to create two stunning holiday floral designs for your home or office. Learn while enjoying afternoon tea and scones! What a great gift to give a friend for the holidays when neither of you needs a thing but an afternoon together! Participants will take the materials and tools home with them to create their own arrangements, and a handout outlining the lessons learned in the demo as well as instructions to refresh the arrangements as the holidays continue.

Registration is $55 for DCA members, $65 for non-members. Refreshments provided.

• Yarn Dying with Elissa Crouch, Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Students will be dying a skein of super wash knitting yarn to take home and use for a pair of socks or a shawl or scarf. Emphasis on using the color wheel and painting with the actual dye colors. Learn how colors mix with each other and actually see the magic happen! This is a beginner level class and the process will be very simple “by eye” dyeing. Students will learn the basic 4 color system of dyeing: red, yellow, blue, black. Please bring a bagged lunch.

Registration is $20 for DCA members, $30 for non-members, plus $80 for the materials kit which will produce a complete skein of yarn to take home.

Find out more about all the new fall offerings at the Instructor Open House, part of the Second Saturday Reception at DCA on Sept. 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. For details call 410-228-7782, visit online at dorchesterarts.org, Facebook, or stop by 321 High St. Tuesday through Sunday.

Editor’s note: Spectrum is the weekly column of the Dorchester Arts Center. It is written by Barbara J. Seese, executive director.