Reconnect with your creativity through Summer Camp at the Stevie, a five-part workshop series that invites adults (age 16+) to experience art making through the senses. Set in the Wende Museum’s Stevie Artist Residence garden oasis, each Sunday workshop explores one of the five senses through a different creative practice, from watercolor painting and basket weaving to ceramics, botanical incense making, and traditional food preservation.

Inspired by the spirit of summer camp, the series encourages participants to slow down, notice the world around them, and engage with natural materials in meaningful ways. Together, we’ll observe the colors of the landscape, listen through handmade instruments, weave with plant fibers, create fragrances from botanicals, and preserve seasonal ingredients, discovering how creativity can deepen our relationship to the environment and one another.

Designed for artists and beginners alike, Summer Camp at the Stevie celebrates making by hand as a pathway to mindfulness, curiosity, and community. Whether you attend a single workshop or join us for the full series, you’ll leave with new skills, meaningful connections, and a renewed appreciation for the beauty found in the natural world.

What is the Stevie?

Tucked away on the southwestern side of the Wende Museum’s Community Center, the Stevie is a “tiny house” turned creative outpost. Surrounded by palms and desert landscaping, it serves as both an artist residency space and an intimate venue for programs, gatherings, and experimental events on its expansive outdoor deck. The Stevie was made possible by a transformative contribution from Steve and Jadwiga Markoff.

Workshop Description: TASTE | Seasonal Pickling Workshop with Jess Wang, Founder, Gu Grocery

Discover the vibrant traditions of Chinese and Taiwanese pickling in this hands-on culinary workshop led by Jess Wang. Participants will learn the fundamentals of fermentation and quick pickling while exploring the cultural histories, family recipes, and everyday rituals surrounding preserved foods. Everyone will prepare their own jar of seasonal pickles to take home, celebrating taste as both nourishment and storytelling. All materials will be provided.

Artist Bio

Jess Wang is the founder of pickling workshop series Picklé and Gu Grocery, a project dedicated to celebrating Chinese and Taiwanese food culture through community workshops, storytelling, and thoughtfully sourced pantry goods. Her work explores food as a vehicle for cultural memory, bringing people together through shared meals, preservation techniques, and everyday traditions.

Photo credit: Scarlett Yaryan