Events
Workshop: Collective Quilt, What Is Home?
Participants reflect on the prompt “What is home?” to create a mixed-media collage. Each collage will be connected to create a multifaceted, intergenerational, culturally rich idea of “home” from the different perspectives of the communities of Altadena and Pasadena. This will be displayed in our Mezzanine gallery for Going Up the Hill: A Community Art Experience. Join Armory Teaching Artists Aldonia Bailey, Ruzanna Hanesyan, Heather Hilliard, and Brandi Mack-Khalfani, for this workshop.
The event is free to attend and RSVP is required.
Aldonia R. Bailey is an interdisciplinary artist of fine arts, fashion, sculpting, photography, poetry, and music. Aldonia has worked as an Arts Enrichment Educator and Arts Instructor for over 20 years. She received her degree in Visual Arts. She is also the creator of the Simply Aldonia Talk Show at Pasadena Media which showcases creative artists.
Aldonia collaborates with Arroyo Arts Network, Pasadena Altadena Collaborative Transformative Leadership Organization, Pasadena City Recreation Department, The Arts Academy in Covina, and founded Young At Arts Project and Artistic Art Journeys. She is currently a community arts advocate, a Compassionate Arts In Action at Karaokepalooza, and a lead Teaching Artist at Armory Center for the Arts. Learn more on aldoniabailey.com.
Heather Hilliard Bonds is an artist from the Altadena and Pasadena areas. Through an internship with the Armory Center for the Arts, she realized she could combine her enjoyment of working with children with her other passion in life, art. Heather received a degree in Arts Education and attended college at Texas Southern University, Pasadena City College, and Cal State, Los Angeles.
She teaches art for the Etiwanda school district, Fontana Art Depot, and ARTS Academy in Covina. She also works with children and adults with special needs and disabilities and is a certified Art Therapist. She is currently a Teaching Artist at the Armory Center for the Arts. Learn more here.
Ruzanna Hanesyan is an experienced artist with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry and non-profit. Skilled in English, Russian, and Armenian, collaborative projects, conservation, research, Armenian embroidery, and creative writing. She has a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from ArtCenter College of Design and is an Armory Teaching Artist, teaching embroidery in our Studio program as well as leading school field trips in our See Art Make Art program. Learn more here.
Brandi Mack-Khalfani is a talented artist and doll maker whose passion for creativity has flourished alongside her roles as a devoted wife and mother. She is a Southern California native, with Southern roots. She has honed her passion of teaching art while working at Pasadena Armory Center for the Arts over the past 20 years. Formerly an Artist’s Assistant, she now teaches at the Armory, along with the schools where the center has programs. Her experience also includes time with the Field Trip Programs, and the Children Investigate the Environment classes where children get to explore art and nature.
In 1996, she was inspired by her childhood memories of her love for dolls. She began making dolls for her mother and grandmother during the holidays. With years of experience designing unique, handcrafted dolls, she blends traditional techniques with contemporary artistry, creating pieces that tell stories and evoke emotions. She continues to display many of her inspired collections at the annual William Grant Still Art Gallery Black Doll Show and Exhibition. She has sold pieces that are now across the world, hopefully inspiring little children, just as they did for her.
Through teaching art, she continues to inspire others to cherish imagination and creativity. Her work not only showcases her skill but also reflects her deep appreciation for the magic of childhood. Art as an expression, will always be a passion of this artist that she will share with others, but especially the children.