Turn over a new leaf this fall at the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain (OFAI). Educators and artists of all ability levels can attend 4-day weekend retreats taught by nationally-renowned artists in the visual, literary and performing arts. Oklahoma public school educators automatically receive full scholarships to the program, including tuition, room and board, funded by the State Department of Education and private donors.

“Attending Quartz Mountain is a delight for my soul,” said Cindy Pauchey, an educator from Lawton who attended last year's workshops. “It renews my spirit and increases my knowledge on a new subject area while at the same time being surrounded by nature and wonderful friends.”

Some may think OFAI is only for art teachers or professional artists, but OFAI offers workshops for beginners and core curriculum teachers as well. If you've ever wanted to explore photography, theater, poetry, sculpture, ballroom dance or storytelling, there's an OFAI workshop for you. School, church, and community choir directors can take the choral conducting class, and core curriculum teachers are encouraged to attend the arts integration workshop.

“The Fall Arts Institute provides a wonderful opportunity for public school teachers to gain creative inspiration that they can take back to their classrooms,” said Julie Cohen, Oklahoma Arts Institute president. “Because every public school educator receives a full scholarship to attend and earns 18 hours of professional development credits, this is an opportunity that should not be missed.”

OFAI occurs during select October and November weekends at the Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center in southwest Oklahoma. An ideal location for arts immersion, the resort offers the amenities and comforts of a fine hotel inside a scenic state park. OFAI participants gain inspiration from the natural setting while learning from nationally-renowned artists.

This year's faculty artists include actress Regina Saisi of San Francisco, Calif. Saisi has an international reputation as one of the foremost improvisation teachers and performers in the world. She has performed and taught across Europe and the United States, and she is an instructor at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Saisi will teach the OFAI improvisational theater workshop, Oct. 11-14.

Online enrollment and scholarship applications are available now at www.oaiquartz.org or by calling 405-321-9000.

Workshop space and educator scholarships are administered on a first come, first served basis. Private citizens receive tuition, room and board for a total cost of $580.

OFAI is administered by the Oklahoma Arts Institute, a private, non-profit organization developed in 1977 with a vision to cultivate established and emerging artists and educators through art workshops, immersion and awareness.

2007 Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute

Workshop Schedule

Weekend One:

Oct. 11-14

* Darkroom Fundamentals with Konrad Eek

* Beginning Ballroom for the Classroom with Kate Linkous

* Intermediate/Advanced Ballroom for the Classroom with John Swick

* Field Drawing & Nature Journaling with Debby Kaspari

* Improvisational Theater with Regina Saisi

Weekend Two:

Oct. 25-28

* Monotype Extravaganza with Marwin Begaye

* Landscape Oil Painting with Rick McClure

* Sculpting in Stone with Jesús Moroles

Educator scholarships are not available for this workshop.

* Writing for Children and Teenagers with Anna Myers

* Watercolor with Michael Crespo

* Digital Photography with Ben Long

Weekend Three:

Nov. 1-4

* Unique Prints: Monotypes & More with John Hitchcock

* Show, Don't Tell: Illustration with Kim Doner

* Conducting High School Voices with Jerry McCoy

* Poetry with David Biespiel

* Digital Photography with Jack Kotz

Weekend Four:

Nov. 8-11

* Monotype with Benjamin Harjo, Jr.

* Oklahoma Storytelling with Tim Tingle & Doc Moore

* Ceramics with Brandon Reese

* Intermediate Darkroom with Luther Smith

* Arts Integration with Christina Pickard, Patrick Riley, Cindy Scarberry, and Sharon McColl