"Artopia" - Drawing with Ivan Velez at Pelham Parkway Van-Nest Library

This program will be held in person at the Pelham Parkway Van-Nest Library.

Join us for Artopia! Teaching artist Ivan Velez teaches a 6 session drawing program.

Using cultural touchstones, age-appropriate cultural references and easily mastered art materials and art projects, we focus on the good things of life ( music, joy, films, sweet memories, memorable places, loved ones and more) as we learn about new topics and art-forms and make new connections through our own beautiful creations.

Materials will be provided for this program.

Attendance at all sessions is recommended. Space is limited | Supplies are available on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is recommended.

• Class Format: Hands on
• Skill prerequisites: No prior experience required. This program is perfect for all skill levels.
• Audience: Adults, 50+

Born in the Civil Rights-era South Bronx, Ivan Velez became addicted to comic books at an early age, even though his face was never reflected in his heroes. After college, Velez used cartooning to help create social change. Tales of the Closet, a series of comic books first used as a popular educational tool, was one of the first interventions for LGBT youth. Velez later joined MILESTONE, a company that focused on multicultural superheroes. He designed characters and wrote numerous comic books for Marvel and DC Comics, and has shown his work in galleries in New York and Taipei. Velez is also a teaching artist for the New York Public Library and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. His work has been included in several award-winning comic anthologies.

Creative Aging is a series of free art classes for adults 50 and older. This year, in person programs are available from branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Come discover a new art medium or deepen your skills in a practice you’ve explored before! Visit nypl.org/creativeaging for a full list of programs.

Host or Publisher Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library