When Featherstone Center for the Arts launched its annual autumn appeal, the focus was on family members of multiple generations who participate in the arts at Featherstone.

Newly nominated board member Andrea Quigley’s granddaughter Ashley Biggs has enjoyed the Magic Garden summer camp for two years. Ms. Quigley herself has participated regularly at gallery openings and watercolor classes.

Featherstone featured the family of Else Membreno in its annual flyer. Ms. Membreno teaches flower design year-round at Featherstone. Her husband Denis attends watercolor workshops, her granddaughter Mariana was an assistant camp counselor this past summer and her grandson Alphonso has been in the summer camp for four years. Artist Joan Fresher attends and has taught classes at Featherstone; her grandchildren Eamonn and Abaigh Flaherty were part of the 3D art camp for three years, plus her granddaughter Molly was an assistant counselor for two years.

Even executive director Francine Kelly represents the multigenerational aspect of Featherstone. Her daughter Janis Gomez co-founded the Art of Chocolate Festival with board advisors Jeanne and Malcolm Campbell. And Ms. Gomez’ daughter Anna has participated in the Magic Garden summer camp for three years and recently graduated to the older group.

For many members of a family to take advantage of Featherstone’s varied courses broadens the reach and extends the grasp of the Island’s only year-round, not-for-profit art center.

And it’s not just families that elevate Featherstone for the Island community. Recently retired Reverend Judy Campbell plans to teach quilting as meditation and offer a writing course over the winter months. Her counterpoint, newly graduated Greg Watson, has already garnered a following in his portrait painting program which blossomed this fall.

Former teachers have returned to Featherstone, bringing expertise and experience to expand the classroom experience. Kyle Carson, former board member, teaches the free after-school creative woodworking arts class for high school students. Former board member Gabby Camilleri, who created the stained glass window in the gallery, will teach both sewing and stained glass this winter. “Teaching’s fun,” she says, and explains, “I’ve taught there before, and basically I let people pick a simple design, take them through the steps to choose glass, make templates, cut and grind the glass. It’s not complicated, but you need to be shown. My goal is that everyone finish a project.”

Poet Don Nitchie returns to Featherstone this winter as teacher rather than student, leading the poetry program. Sarah Young offers a jewelry course; Jay Segal will teach songwriting, and Nick Thayer will once again teach monoprinting. Lani Carney’s preschool program is as busy as ever over the winter months.

It’s part of the well-rounded experience that is Featherstone.

The 2009 schedule for the Virginia Weston Besse Gallery includes a range of new offerings, as well as familiar exhibits like the March high school exhibits and the autumn chocolate and holiday shows. Look for a retrospective of watercolor artist John Holladay in February, illustrations in a children’s book, Watch Out for Wolfgang by Paul Carrick, in April, and a painting retrospective by Jack Greene later this spring. Toward the end of summer, three intriguing shows open: Carousel — The Art Before the Horse, Wood Furniture and a photography retrospective by Max Stern. Nothing is static at Featherstone.

With more students intrigued by Featherstone’s range of classes, and multiple generations of the same families more involved than ever before, with new and returning teachers adding to the depth of the Featherstone professional staff, and a deeper board presence in the workings of the organization, Featherstone is gearing up for a prosperous year ahead.

While the gallery and campus as a whole shuts down in January for renewal and refurbishment, classes begin and will most likely be fully subscribed by the first of February. Participants are urged to register on-line for upcoming classes and make sure needs are met by fully expressing their desires.