Open Ground
Studios Gives
Ar tists a
Community
B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D
O
n any given afternoon, resident and co-
op artists at Seaside's Open Ground
Studios (OGS) might be sketching, painting,
making prints, building books, producing fabric
art or discussing their work with other creatives.
It's the real-life version of a vision that founder
Denese Sanders shared with fellow contempo-
rary artists when she opened the arts collective
and community studio in 2013.
Next Februar y, the Ar ts Council for
Monterey County will recognize Open Ground
Studios' impact with a 2019 Champion of the
Ar ts Award in the nonprofit categor y.
Nominations praised the variety of activities,
affordable studio spaces and innovative, sup-
portive approach to empowering local artists,
explains Ar ts Council Executive Director
Paulette Lynch.
"[Sanders] is also an exemplary leader in our
community," Lynch adds, "for her determination
and her passion for connecting artists and com-
munity in unique and powerful ways."
In addition to engaging established and
emerging artists, Sanders encourages neighbors
to explore creative endeavors during OGS
workshops.
"We see adults come in who love their jobs,
but feel something is missing. Here in the studio,
they challenge themselves to find that inner cre-
ative voice. They leave with a new passion, and
they can say, 'I am an artist.' I'm really proud of
that," Sanders says.
Please visit opengroundstudios.com to learn
more. Gala info is at arts4mc.org.
SHORTCUTS
ART
Denese Sanders founded Seaside's Open Ground Studios in 2013 to provide
a collective space and community studio for artists working in many mediums.
54 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8
Photo:
DMT
Imaging
