Art lovers of all ages can enjoy some special events April 13 during Waterworks Visual Art Center’s Second Saturday classes.

For the young artists, ages 4-5, Messy Art: Spring into Spring will be held at the center, 123 E. Liberty St., Salisbury. Led by Debbie Hoffman, the class will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during which time, participants can join her in creating miniature gardens.

Hoffman is a retired teacher, having worked with the Rowan/Salisbury school system for nearly 20 years with exceptional children. She has also taught dance for more than 45 years.

“Affectionately known as Ms. Debbie, she has taught at WVAC nearly 20 years,” said Anne Scott Clement, executive director of the center. “She is loved by her students, volunteers and the staff.”

Clement shared that Hoffman’s favorite age group to teach are toddlers through first grade and “was instrumental in helping Waterworks start our Toddler Time program for ages 18 months-3 years old, six years ago.”

A Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduate, Hoffman, as was noted on the center’s website, “was the recipient of Waterworks’ 2009 Lucile P. and Edwin O. Norvell Family Art of Teaching Award for her significant and selfless contributions and outstanding work in art education through Waterworks’ children’s educational programming.”

Cost is $40 for non-members and $32 for members. Class size is limited to 10 participants.

For artists ages 13 through adults, a one day workshop, entitled, Gel Prints, Layers and Patterns, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., led by Nichole Pequeno.

During this workshop, which is designed for all skill levels, participants will play with found and organic shapes and objects to produce a series of one-off prints called monotypes.

Originally from Chicago, Ill., Pequeno currently resides in Salisbury. She studied printmaking, wearable arts and design in college. As noted on the website, Pequeno is “influenced by her culture, and historical nostalgia with the present, incorporates photography in some of her printmaking techniques and enjoys sharing and teaching printmaking with others to make printmaking more accessible to the community.”

In sharing about Pequeno’s upcoming one-day workshop, Clement said that it is “an opportunity for youth ages 13-adult to experiment and experience this fascinating and FUN art form to create unique one-of-a-kind pieces.” 

Cost is $100 for nonmembers and $80 for members with a limit of 12 in the class.

Those wishing to learn more about the center and its instructors or to register for these and other classes, go to http://www.waterworks.org, click on Make, and go to either the Youth and Family Workshops or Adult Studio Classes and sign up online.