McGroarty Arts Center

Web site is so out of date that the last «upcoming» event is already over 2 weeks ago. And I can’t find any information about upcoming classes. I know it is probably run by volunteers but I’m still unable to find out anything useful.

I wish I weren’t writing this review as I believe McGroarty Arts Center offers some great classes. I paid for the Ray Yocum tile making workshop to be held on Monday March 16^th and Monday March 23^rd but it was cancelled and I was never notified. I had never been to the center before and was looking forward to it but the entry gate was locked when I went up there on Mar. 16^th. I called and left messages from my cell phone while I was there hoping someone would come open the gate. After weeks of no response to my emails, nor phone messages, a couple of weeks ago, I finally got through by phone. Rachelle said my card had been refunded and I would get 50% off my next class for the inconvenience. She said she would email me to confirm that everything was done and to confirm the 50% offer. To date, my card has not been refunded and I have never received an email from her. I have always left polite messages but feel VERY ignored. I am surprised and annoyed to have been treated this way. All I can say is, it is unfortunate all the way around as I was hoping to take classes there. Suffice it to say there are many other places to take ceramics, tile-​making, and other art classes. After reading about Mr. McGroarty and the history of the Art Center I was also planning on making a VERY generous donation to McGroarty but it will now go to another center. All I can say is I hope everyone else enjoys the classes they offer. Peace!

Came here for a Unilocal event and I loved the atmosphere, the friendliness, and overall presentation of the venue. It was not as secluded as I had imagined it to be, the surrounding neighborhood is well-​populated and the classes offered seem very nice.
The vibe of the place is very gentle, the energy is positive. Unilocal CM Katie did a wonderful job seeking out this venue as the whole event was able to showcase some of the more attractive features of the place — such as the view, the individual rooms of the house — and the projects that they were working on. They have a Chili bowl sale tomorrow, the 6^th of December, 2014 — we definitely plan on going if we can, and would encourage you to do it as well!
Will definitely come back for some more pottery or meditation or art classes with my lo and hubby once the time comes — when she’s older and more manageable.

McGroaty offers small intimate art and music classes. It’s hidden in Tujunga so not a lot of people know about it. That just makes it a little more special.
It was originally a house so don’t expect anything spectacular but it is a charming place with a great view. There are two small parking lots up on the hill and plenty of parking right outside it’s gates.
I came here for the Unilocal Event and all the instructors were out demonstrating their crafts. Pottery, Water Colors, Mixed media art, Ukulele, and Yoga. I took a peek at their class brochure and they have a lot more classes all at affordable prices.
It would be a shame to loose this place so give it a look and take a class.

Thanks to Unilocal for the invite. Apparently, in years gone by, celebrities would stay at this place as it is a bit of a hidden gem. It’s not that far off Foothill Blvd.
I’m not really into this sort of thing, but probably because I live in London (England) and we have MASSIVE amount of art centres, museums and every other thing. Still, I suppose that some of you will like it, but some won’t.

This place is a true hidden gem! We go every year for their amazing chili festival — for about $ 10 you get to pick a handmade ceramic bowl, then fill it with your choice of 6 – 8 homemade chili dishes. It’s delicious and fun! There is an arts sale /​open house at the same time. It’s a beautiful location nestled among the trees — feels like you are in a hidden garden. Just heard that they are opening up as a reception /​wedding venue — would be a beautiful, unique space for special events. Looking forward to taking classes here as soon as I have the time!

I was invited by my Unilocal friend, Paul C., who was a member of the board for the McGroarty Arts Center. He had entrée to the annual gallery opening featuring the works of various local artists. The reception was attended by many of the artists, and an artist/​member lead a docent tour of the works displayed, explaining the most prominent features of each piece.
Besides perusing the local art work and seeing how art is trending, the McGroarty home is worth the visit. In order to take advantage of the 180 degree panorama, the home is fitted with large windows to look out onto the resplendent vista that is the Crescenta Valley & the San Gabriel Mountains.
The home is an organic, elegantly understated structure that uses native rocks as a decorative siding and melds into the rustic hillside where majestic oaks predominate. There is a very Zen-​like feel where harmony with nature is of the utmost since one always loses when we try to dominate it.
McGroarty Arts Center is a beehive of activity that fosters the Arts and all sorts of other life enriching activities. Theater & plays do occur here to be attended by the general public, and many artists come to work here since there are practical work areas such as a place to create ceramics as well as having a kiln on site to fire them.
This Arts Center may be the largest cultural jewel in the diadem that makes up the foothill communities of Tujunga, La Crescenta, & La Canada. However, because of its hidden location, many of us are not made aware of it. I have lived near the area for 24 years and never knew it till now.
I must add that the people attending the reception were all so very convivial & informed. The crowd was a rare mix of down-​to-​earth, nice people with intelligence & warmth. Thoroughly enjoyed the opening. After the reception we went on to another place where the banter is fun & the people are nice… Toriyen was a good way of ending a mellow evening with a bite of Sushi & a touch of Sake (sah keh).

I can’t say enough great things about McGroarty! I’ve been taking ceramics classes here now for over 5 years and it’s fabulous. The community is the best part. You make great friends, laugh, and get to be artistic. It’s wonderful.
There are yearly art shows and art sales and free concerts too!
A wonderful place for all ages to take all kinds of art classes from ceramics to music to painting and drawing. Go check it out!

McGroarty Arts Center was founded in 1953 in the historic home of John Steven McGroarty and his wife Ida Lubrecht McGroarty.
Website:
Mr. and Mrs. McGroarty settled in Tujunga in 1901 in hopes that the clean air would ease John’s asthma. That same year John McGroarty joined the staff of the Los Angeles Times and he wrote for the newspaper for 40 years. John and his wife Ida built this beautiful home in 1924 on the foundation as their previous home which had burned down.
During John’s time with the L.A. Times he wrote a weekly column called, «Seen from the Green Verdugo Hills,» which he continued to write during his two terms in the House of Representatives. In 1933 he was appointed Poet Laureate of California, a position he held until he died in 1944. Check out the Study on the 2^nd Floor. You will see some of his books from his time in the House of Representatives.
The home was inherited by by their niece and she sold it to the City of Los Angeles in 1953. It was then founded as the McGroarty ArtsCenter. The house was declared a historic-​cultural monument (#63) in 1970.
I lived in Tujunga all throughout the 90’s, but I never had the pleasure of visiting this historical landmark until today. You see we just came back from Hawaii at the end of August and my son picked up a Ukulele while we were there. It just so happened that I saw an advertisement in the local paper about a class for learning to play a Ukulele.
When we arrived this morning I couldn’t believe how beautiful this old home is. I just love that it was constructed with all the huge rocks. A lot of homes in the area were constructed the same way. The McGroarty Arts Center offers all sorts of art and other classes as follows:
Model Painting
Watercolor Basics
Adult Drawing
Acrylic Painting
Oil Painting
Classical Figure Sculpting
Ukulele
Piano
Belly Dance
Yoga
Tai Chi Ch’uan
Beachcomber Kate is the instructor for my son’s 4 session Ukulele class. I was able to sit in and now I wished I would have signed up. It is pretty fun and they played two songs the first day. The first one was the «Banana Boat Song» and I had to sing along with this even though I wasn’t the student. The second song they played was hilarious and was called «Tom Dooley». Here are the lyrics which had me laughing the whole way through:
Chrous:
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley. Hang down your head and cry.
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley. Poor boy, you’re bound to die.
Verse 1:
Met her on the mountain. That’s where I took her life.
Met her on the mountain. Stabbed her with my knife.
Chorus
Verse 2:
This time tomorrow. Reckon where I’ll be.
Down in the lonesome valley. Hangin’ from a white oak tree.
Chorus
Verse 3:
Here I am in prison. Down in the county jail.
If I hadn’t killed my girlfriend. She could have made my bail.
Chorus
The End
I must have a really sick sense of humor because I couldn’t stop laughing while singing that one. My teenager gave me a look like I was crazy. I guess you had to be there.
I would highly recommend visiting the McGroarty Art Center and taking a class if the mood strikes.

My haven! My happy place! The reason why I absolutely love living in Sunland-​Tujunga and am a proud member of the community. I have been taking ceramics classes since the beginning of the year with Jim Heuston (who is totally awesome). I feel like I am a part of something magical when I am up there, and the rest of the students and all of the staff are kind and accepting. They offer many different types of art classes at an affordable price. I am so thankful to have the art center available to the community. Mr. McGroarty would be proud indeed!

Located in a historic Tujunga «rock house», the former home of John McGroarty (journalist, playwright, poet laureate, and Congressman), the McGroarty Arts Center provides classes in music, dance, theater, painting, drawing, ceramics, photography and writing. Program levels range from pre-​schoolers to seniors, and all at a very low cost. Check their calendar for their famous art sales and concerts — it’s also just a neat place to visit.
The surrounding park is dotted with ancient oak trees, a perfect spot for picnicking and creative reverie.