Art Matrix Fetes New Digs at Marina Pacifica Mall

Art Matrix, a Long Beach-based, nonprofit community arts center, is celebrating its move into new quarters with an open house this afternoon. Moving from makeshift space at a local park to its own space at Marina Pacifica Mall, Art Matrix will have expanded workshop and exhibition facilities.

Today families will have a chance to help make an official banner for the center, meet the instructors and sign up for classes. A mime will entertain visitors and there will be refreshments.

Art Matrix offers quarter-long classes for ages from preschool through adult, with the most offerings for elementary school children. There are parent-and-me classes for toddlers, mixed-media classes for first- and second-graders and drawing, painting, ceramics and fiber arts for third- through sixth-graders.

Free 2-hour family workshops on mask making, kite making, print making and such are scheduled most Saturdays. Parents are encouraged to work on their own projects, side by side with their children. Reservations are required for these workshops. On Feb. 20, participants will work on a mural for the mall; on Feb. 27, it’s creative dramatics.

Art Matrix is near O’Keefe’s Cafe in the mall, on Pacific Coast Highway near 2nd Street. The open house runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Call (213) 434-2098.