Armory Center For the Arts

Great place for those who love art and community! Ask about art classes for kids. Its a great place!

I have many fond childhood memories at The Armory both in taking art classes, and attending exhibitions. I feel so lucky that my own child is now able to experience The Armory in the same way. It provides a wonderful introduction to studio art and my daughter is loving it as much as I once did. Not to mention that it is an incredible organization that I am happy to support.

The Director of Studio Programs read my review and wrote a kind, professional email where she offered to refund the money I spent on the class. I think that’s a really nice gesture, and should factor into my previous review.

Although there a few galleries, there was only one that truly functioned as a museum space. The gallery in the front had art done by children and the upstairs gallery has some nice pieces, but seemed like a lunch break room. The main gallery on the first floor had some large works during my visit that were moderately interesting.
As a community arts center and arts classroom, this place looks fantastic. I have no first-​hand knowledge of these services and don’t have the necessary background to properly evaluate, but would guess that this is a superlative arts facility.
There is 90 minutes free parking north on Raymond in a city garage. $ 5 suggested donation to view the galleries.

A few months ago I took an introduction to black & white photography class at the Armory. It was a small evening class of six students and we learned the ins and outs of composition, the darkroom, various camera functions, and took a walking field trip around Pasadena during one session to take photographs. Their facilities are pretty impressive and well-​taken care of, with several rooms devoted to specific art genres.
If you are an adult looking to take up a hobby or two, I recommend checking out the Armory. It’s in the heart of Pasadena (across from the park and near all the shopping) and offers a wide array of courses from letterpress to watercolors. The instructors are often teaching at other schools in those fields and are friendly and ready to assist. Fellow classmates were women looking to take up a new interest or refine their skills. I’ve always looked for creative classes but didn’t necessarily need course credit or the high price of taking it at a traditional art school– I just wanted to learn– so this was a solid option to experiment with photography for around $ 250 for the 10-​week course, camera and rolls of film provided too!
If you are an Armory member ($ 30 a year I believe), you get a discount on all classes too. You simply register online and you’re signed up, as long as the class isn’t full. One drawback is they don’t remind you that you registered for a course or anything, so be sure to mark it in your calendar.
I always found street parking a couple blocks away, and you can get a free permit to park in a nearby church’s lot.

Had a good time. Recommendation is get a tour. Learned about some contemporary art. The female contemporary artist took pictures of various places… From a LasVegas Mobil home park to the city of Dubai. Saw a video of a seal in Antarctica and learned a little bit about the seal. Experience was very interesting and eye opening. Everyone was helpful, informative, and friendly. It is a Great place for kids! Kids can do hands on crafts. This place is thumbs up :)

Came here with a friend during ArtNight Pasadena. We enjoyed the various exhibits as well as the booze provided by a local brewery. Interesting art, comfortable environment, nice people. Good times.
Unfortunately, I didn’t realize until after closing that I somehow managed to leave my wallet AND phone in the Center amid the merriment and culture (I blame it on the booze). I returned the next day and was happy to find they were both waiting for me safely in the office (wallet minus the «finder’s fee», of course). So to the slightly-​richer samaritan and friendly Armory Center staff, thanks for an enjoyable evening and a day after that was less painful than it could have been. Now to go buy myself a wallet chain…

If you are thinking of taking a class here-DON’T! It’s a waste of time, money, and energy. I took a four week beginners ceramics class here and it was the worst class I’ve ever taken.
Ruby, I think that was the instructor’s name, seemed irritated and disgusted with being there. She taught the students nothing. She literally handed us lumps of clay and let us have at it. That would be fine if I had signed up for open studio, but I signed on for a class. If you were one of those unfortunate students, like myself, that didn’t show natural talent, then she wouldn’t even speak to you let alone teach you anything. Ceramics terminology was spit out left and right but no one ever explained what «putting a bisque piece that is glazed next to the kiln on the wedge table, and using slip on my greenware» means. WHAT?! The instructor came whenever she felt like it, and on the last class she was 45 minutes late. She never effectively hid her disdain for teaching.
After the last class, we were told we could come back next week and finish glazing our pieces that weren’t done yet. When I returned a week later, the next class instructor said I couldn’t glazes my pieces and my other pieces from 2weeks prior were still waiting to be fired. When I came back yet another week later to pick up my maybe finished pieces, an event was going on and I had to sneak in to the ceramics room were I was not allowed in to pick up my pieces. Now I know why the class fee includes the cost of clay– you never get to leave the building with it.
$ 250 dollars and 6 weeks later and I have nothing to show for this class. (and parking sucks).
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! GO SOMEPLACE ELSE!
Addendum: After posting this scathing review, I did get a phone call from the director with an apology which was appreciated.

Hmmm… It seems as if every studio my kids take art at is located near a wine store…
Anyway, I have to speak to how great a teaching and gallery resource the Armory is. Process-​based art classes. Great offering for adults and children alike.
I took an adult print making class a few years ago and I’ve got to say, it was really well taught with high expectations that we all ended up meeting. My kids have been taking art here for years. We love the different themes they choose for kids– which the kids in turn freak-​out over with enthusiasm.
Really nice center, with an active and well curated gallery, lots of events, Summer camps and family events.
You can take the metro goldline practically to The Armory’s door step.

Wallace Berman and Robert Heineken opened today at noon. I got there at 11:45AM.
It’s free to get in but you can donate $ 5 if you’re awesome.

What a wonderful gem in Pasadena!!! This place is so full of creativity that you feel it as soon as you walk in the door. I have taken two classes here; a printing class with Carrie and a painting class with Patricia Liverman that I am currently taking. These teachers are so talented and intelligent. I have and I am thouroughly enjoying my classes. While in art school I had two excellent teachers, and I have never been able to find others who motivate/​instruct me the way that they did. That was until I attended the Armory. Patricia really understands painting and I am actually working on my first abstract. She has been so helpful. This is a great place for classes and exhibitions!

Had a little time to kill in old town so I popped into the Armory to check out the international mail art show. It’s a cute little space – well utilized and curated. The highlight of the place is clearly all of their course offerings for kids. It’s a true community arts center – accessible, cheerful, friendly. Speaking of friendliness, one of the staff there practically took me by the arm, walked me around the exhibits, and invited me to their next opening. It was cute.

What a great resource for the community. Terrific exhibits, loads of great classes for kids and adults offered at reasonable prices, plus a really warm and helpful staff.
Wish I lived in the area so I could take a bigger part in the artistic community they have built here.

We weren’t sure what to expect. When we arrived, we were just in time for the opening of an exhibit. This one was «Eyes of Deafness», which featured photographs taken by hearing impaired folks with disposable cameras. The vibe was great and people were friendly. There were free refreshments. Oh yeah, and the art was cool too! :) Me and my museum buddy were stoked!
Around the back was another exhibit featuring a modern artist who made silkscreen prints and mixed media sculptures. This one was a decent size and the quality was impressive. Upstairs was a photography exhibit. Also quality stuff, but not mainstream. There is a nice little lounge area with books and wifi.
Best of all: it’s free. Yup, a real treat in these hard economic times. Go there and check it out!

#69 in
A crocodile ottoman, a giant pork rind, and a room filled with numbered feathers falling from the sky are just a few of the modern art pieces displayed at the Armory Arts Center in Pasadena.
Usually when I go to an art exhibit, this is what goes on in my head:
oooh perrty!
wut?!
oh-​em-​gee!
So when my friend Laura who is in art school right now decided to teach me a thing or two about art appreciation, I was so thankful. The biggest tip she had was to ask a lot of questions and see things from the artist’s perspective. For example, «Why is there just the skeleton of a canoe hanging from the wall and not a fully made one?» «Why is this a red candle and not an orange one?» or «Was this humongous tapestry made by hand or a machine?». It’s the details that make a world of difference.
The Armory Center is free, and it also features installations around Pasadena. We caught the last day of the Rainbow In The Sky exhibit a few blocks down. This museum is a hidden gem in the heart of Pasadena. They also offer adult and children classes in various arts including photography, ceramics and print making.

The Armory Center for the Arts is basically my home. I’ve taken Painting & Drawing and Photography here. This place is AMAZING for middle school and high school students. Aside from the $ 30 registration fee, the classes are free!
The Armory basically introduced me to everything I know now. I took classes at the Armory when I was in eighth grade in Painting & Drawing, and took two film photography courses my freshman and sophomore year.
I can’t rave enough about the Armory, honestly, how could this place get less than five stars? I met my two best friends at the Armory, and I’m now a senior applying for art schools.

I think this is next to a wine shop. I thought the classroom spaces were charming. I was here for the Calarts MFA show. Their satellite location looks like a warehouse. There was a darkroom that artists can pay to use.

I go way back with these guys. I think I was still in high school or just out of high school when I took my first class here.
It was a Letterpress class. They have these gigantic old school presses that are about 100 years old. They teach you how to set up type, the old school type. They’re these gigantic fonts that have to be set backwards in order for the roller to print them right side up – yes, it’s a bit technical, tedious, etc…
After I finished up with Letterpress, I dove into Life Drawing. Again, you learn to draw from real naked models – male/​female. This was also a very cool class with a great instructor. I remember lunch was always on her from Il Fornaio.-very cool.
It looks like I will be re-​visiting these guys within the next few weeks, because they have a very cheap beginners/​intermediate Photoshop class.
I’ll report back if it’s any good.

Short Version: Great place for art with the kids.
Long Version: I went on a trip with a bunch of elementary-​aged kids and this place was the best. They take the kids on a tour of the current exhibit, carefully covering up works that might be too much for their young sensibilities, and then they have a workspace where the museum employees actually lead them in creating an art project. It was a great experience all around! The staff is all very relaxed yet professional and friendly, the exhibit itself was really interesting and engaging, and the kids were all happy to be there. If you have some little ones, you might want to consider bringing them here for a little art and culture. Plus, there’s a park across the street where you can have a picnic afterward. Check it out.

Yay!