Markham Vineyards presents “Mask Italia and In Your Face Pastel” by distinguished artists from Mask Italia and highly regarded artist Joy Waters. The show opens with a reception Saturday, 4:30-7:30 p.m.  

Waters, a resident of Idaho, is a self-taught pastel artist, who uses only her fingers when creating a drawing.  She focuses on the human face, which she feels is an ever-changing inspiration for subject material.

 She became disabled in 2001; she finds great relief from her disability in her art work. Waters can only draw for short times, but she makes up for it in her passion for life, art and drawing. She has developed her own style of art, focusing on the soft and subtle, filled with human emotions. 

She has donated several murals and art pieces to churches and schools. To see a complete catalogue of her art, visit www.inyourfacepastel.com or www.washingtonphoto.com or call (208) 818-9339.

 

Napa Valley Contra Dancing begins Saturday and continue the first Saturday of each month at the Tucker Farm Center in Calistoga. Contra Dance is New England-style folk dancing, similar to square dancing, partner dancing, not line dancing. No partner or experience is necessary. Come at 7:45 p.m. for a beginner’s lesson. The dance starts  at 8 and runs until 11 p.m. Eric Anderson and friends will provide the music, and Lynn Ackerson will be calling the dances. The cost is $10, supervised children are welcome. Info, Celia Ramsay at 963-5667.

Studio Arts Napa Valley has added four new instructors for the new year. Carlos Lazaro Hernandez will be teaching Salsa Cubana Dance Classes on Thursdays beginning Jan. 11, at 6:45 p.m. for beginners and 7:45 p.m. for advanced dancers. He  has performed throughout Mexico and Cuba as a percussionist and trombone player with salsa groups and has taught salsa to people of all ages and abilities throughout Cuba and Mexico.

Leslie Timm will be offering classes to children in Hula and Belly Dance on Fridays beginning Jan. 12 at 4 and 5 p.m., and Artist in Depth on Saturdays at 10 a.m. She has worked with children for more than eight years and owned and operated a pre-school in the Bay Area.

Ann Yates will be teaching Cuvee — A Blended Workout for adults on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 10.  This creative workout,  designed by Yates, combines aerobic dance activities with Pilates ball workouts.

Renee Puckett, director and choreographer of Ballet Lisagna West African Performing Arts Company joins the staff at Studio Arts on a monthly basis offering classes in West African Dance on the second Saturday of each month beginning Jan.13 at 6:30 p.m. She began African dance with Fua dia Congo Congolese Dance Company from 1977 to  2003. In 1987 Renee joined Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company. Puckett’s performances include Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals, Africans Are Coming, Jacobs Pillow, as well as in M.C. Hammer and Stevie Wonder music videos.

Info, 251-9200 or ww.studioartsnapavalley.com. Studio Arts Napa Valley is at 2931 Solano Ave., Napa.