Article and Photographs by Rebecca Cook  

Imagine a life where the freedom and pleasure you may have felt in art-making as a child stays with you through adulthood. A life where the act of self-expression in putting ink or paint to paper is as familiar as tying your shoes.

The Umbrella Arts Center is pleased to share a round-up of visual and performing arts events, educational programs, and more coming up this 2024/25 season! For more information, see the event links below.

• Jan 29: Summer Camp Registration Opens

• Feb 7: Sheryl Crow feat. Salt Lick Sessions

• Feb 8: Free Family Day

In recognition of Thanksgiving and National Native American Heritage Day, The Umbrella Arts Center offices will be closed starting at 1PM on Wednesday, Nov.  27 and reopen on Monday, Dec. 2.

No classes will be held on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The building and galleries will be closed Thursday and Friday.

We look forward to welcoming you back next week. Meanwhile, we hope you and your loved ones enjoy relaxing, rejuvenating and safe holidays!

Image: Painting from The Ambiguities series by Thorpe Feidt, on view through Dec. 16, 2025

Following opening weekend, we sat down with Alex Boyle, Liliane Klein and Katie Pickett, three of the cast members of the musical Now. Here. This., running through November 17, 2024 in The Umbrella's Black Box Theater. 

Your character names are your own. What's it feel like playing yourselves and not yourselves?

A regular member of The Umbrella Stage Company design team, SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal began this season as Lighting & Projections Designer on Network, and later on Now. Here. This. which runs in rotation in the Black Box. We caught up with him to ask him about the especially dzzling use of multimedia and projection on Network, under the direction of Ashley Kelly Tata.

On the eve of opening weekend, we sat down on the set of Network with director Ashley Kelly Tata to discuss the show, the classic Chayefsky film that inspired the stage adaptation, and their longstanding interest in immersive multimedia and theatrical experiences.

Mark MacKenzie of Capturing Wisdom Photography has been a volunteer photographer at The Umbrella for a number of years, capturing stunning photos of Umbrella events and most recently, the excitement of summer camp. Recently, we were able to chat with Mark about how he got involved with photography, The Umbrella, and what he hopes to brings to life through his lens.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Once again, we are pleased to continue our "Take 5" series with some of the amazing siblings who are exploring creativity, friendships and fun at camp this year.

Jasper is attending our Summer Arts Under The Umbrella camp this year, while Abby is a part of our Summer Classroom Volunteer program, in which high school aged students volunteer their time for community service hours.

Last week, we were able to sit down with Beckett and Myles, two teens helping out with Summer Arts Under The Umbrella 2024. Beckett is a part of our Summer Classroom Volunteer program, in which high school aged students volunteer their time for community service hours. Myles is from our teen program, where teens aged 13 to 14 spend part of their camp day gaining leadership experience and the other part of the day taking art classes. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?