The Metropolitan Arts Institute on 7th Ave & McDowell (right here in the heart of downtown Phoenix) let Bookmans Phoenix borrow teachers/local artists Sue Chenoweth and Koryn Woodward-Wasson for a mixed media card class. Bookmans donated an abundance of crafty odds and ends for the class such as small coin sized mirrors, a variety or ribbons and lace, cork pieces, handmade papers, assorted craft strings and much more so that everyone could get a an idea of how easy it is to take every day random objects to create mixed media art.

The wonderfully fun teachers from Metro Arts brought along a couple students to showcase their artistic talents and help out with any questions. We learned a lot about the local art school while creating a vast array of mixed media cards. The cards that were made during the class either went home with their creators or will be mailed off to randomly picked addresses in the phone book for a surely surprising mail/art experience.

Customers didn’t even know that such a school existed in the valley and were eager to get involved with the Metro Arts programs . Bookmans was very happy to help out a valley school and sent the teachers back to class with loads of donated material from the Phoenix store. Thanks to the teachers and students and to the folks who came out to get crafty with us to celebrate our arts and craft month!

The Phoenix Comicon’ s Comic Create Street Team also set up shop at Bookmans Phoenix for the first part of the Cosplay how-to class. Experts of the costuming craft sat down with cosplay fans individually and gave them tips, tricks and ideas to implement into their designs. We saw everything from old anime and comic book favorites to new characters in upcoming films. It was a brainstorming frenzy and participants left with a solid basis for their designs with the help of Bookmans anime, comic book, and manga resources. The second part of the workshop will take place in Chandler this Saturday and will consist of the actual costume creating and material usage. We hope to see the cosplay fans in their best dressed at the upcoming Phoenix Comicon at the Hyatt Regency May 27-30th and special thanks to the Comic Create Team for volunteering their time and knowledge!