Paint and Pour Landscape

Join us for a paint and pour class inspired by the paintings of Shirley VanBenschoten. A fine arts graduate of Siena Heights University she resided in Tecumseh and was president of the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts when it became the Adrian Center for the Arts.Using acrylic paint mixed with pour medium you will create an abstracted landscape. This class is perfect for those who love nature and thinking outside the box.Shirley’s paintings will be on display in the ACA’s Gallery May 3rd-31st

Date: Sunday May 17, 2-4 pm

 Ages 13 and up

Dorodango: Japanese mud balls

Explore a natural, down- to- earth art that looks beautiful, is surprisingly easy and calms your soul. We will create together a sphere made from dirt which holds together on its own and resembles shiny marble. This class is great for all ages and ability levels. Class participants will create a one- of- a kind meditative mud ball.

May 23, 2026

10:00 to 12:00

One Fish, Two Fish, Green Fish, Blue Fish with Joe Rupley

Tuesday, May 26th & Thursday May 28th * 6:00pm - 8:00pm

The first was a blast so we're adding another class! In this funny fish class, you will learn to cut tin, hand paint eyes, body and fins using basic tools such as vice grips and tin snips. Most of all you will have fun giving your one-of-a-kind fish life and decking out your house with your creation.

Embellished Boxes

In conjunction with Claudia Wallace’s exhibit “Embellished Boxes” at the Adrian District Library she will teach a class on collage. Using a wealth of provided materials and both paper ephemera and small objects you bring you will create a tag and begin transforming a cigar box into a place to keep your treasures. Glues, adding color, painting, and content inspired by words or phrases in addition to material choices will be addressed.

Date: Tuesday, June 16th, 5:30-7:30pm

Location: Adrian District Library

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian, MI 49221

Step into a night where creativity shines as brightly as the stars. Starry Starry Night for the Arts is an enchanting fundraising evening inspired by Van Gogh’s iconic masterpiece—celebrating imagination, community, and the transformative power of the arts. Join us beneath a swirl of lights as we raise vital support for programs that spark inspiration, nurture artists of all ages, and keep our creative community thriving.

Thursday, June 18th 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm 

Lecture: From Math to Muddy Waters: The History of the Cigar Box Guitar with Mike Mouradian 

Saturday, June 20th * 11:00am - 12:00pm

Cost: Free

Join us for a fascinating journey into the soul of American music as we trace the unlikely evolution of the cigar box guitar. This lecture explores how ancient mathematics, wartime necessity, and the birth of the Blues converged to create one of the most resilient symbols of musical ingenuity.

What to Expect:

 The Ancient Foundation: We begin with Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher who first decoded the mathematical relationship between string length and pitch.

 Necessity is the Mother of Invention: While high-society luthiers spent centuries refining sophisticated violins and lutes, "folk" instruments remained the heartbeat of the common people. We’ll examine the hunting bow, likely the world's first stringed instrument, and how its design persisted through time.

 A Perfect Storm of History: Discover how 19th-century tax laws inadvertently revolutionized instrument making. When the U.S. government mandated that cigars be packed in standardized wooden boxes, they provided a free, resonant "body" for anyone with a stick and a piece of wire.

 The Sound of Resistance and Resilience: We will explore the vital role these instruments played for enslaved people in the South and Civil War soldiers on the front lines. These humble boxes became the primary vehicles for the early Blues, later influencing rock legends like The Rolling Stones.

Lecture Highlights:

 Live Demonstrations: See and hear the raw, acoustic power of various homemade instruments.

 Visual History: View rare photos of the 19th-century cigar boxes that started it all.

 The Science of Sound: A simple breakdown of the math that makes a three-string guitar sing.

"If you can't buy it, build it." This lecture is a tribute to the spirit of the makers who proved that you don't need a golden instrument to play the music of the soul.

Bio: Mike Mouradian is a folk instrument maker driven by the belief that music should be accessible to everyone. Instrument making is about reclaiming the spirit of DIY folk history. Moving away from store-bought commercialism, Mike builds stringed instruments the way people have for centuries: with simple materials and a lot of heart. Drawing inspiration from historical traditions where instruments were crafted from everyday materials, Mike specializes in building soulful, handmade guitars and “canjos." His work has been showcased at the Ann Arbor Artisan’s Market, WSG Gallery, Detroit Artists Market, and the Ann Arbor Art Center. A career educator, Mike served as a public school teacher and a Clinical Professor of Education at the University of Michigan, and he now brings that lifelong passion for teaching to the art of instrument making.

Canjo Workshop Craft, Create & Play with Mike Mouradian

Saturday, June 20th

1:30pm to 3:00pm

Discover the roots of American folk music in this hands-on, single-session workshop. Guided by instrument maker Mike Mouradian, you will build your very own Canjo—a simple yet soulful stringed instrument (traditionally known as a Diddlybow) crafted from a tin can and wire.

After assembling your instrument, you’ll have the chance to decorate it, learn its fascinating history, and join the class in playing your first song. No experience is necessary, and all tools and materials are provided. You’ll head home with a finished Canjo, a music and history pamphlet, and the satisfaction of having made your own music.

2026 Teen Camp at the ACA

June 22-26

Times 9:30-4pm

Ages 12 and up 

Is your teen always drawing, begging for more supplies and making things? Are you dealing with a creative kid? 

Your teen can be immersed in a fun-filled week of creativity at the Adrian Center for the Arts.  They will be inspired as they work in different studios on the ACA campus and learn from a variety of talented artists, using a wide range of art media. Participants will have an opportunity to experience new things, expand their art knowledge and skills, all while surrounded by others just like them.

Participants should bring a packed lunch, we provide water and snacks daily.