LAUREN BECKER DOWNEY I was born an artist. When it was time to receive my college education, I decided to earn a BFA in Weaving and Textile Design from Tyler School of Art of Temple University in Philadelphia. I also studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Utah. For many years, I exhibited woven tapestries and painted fabrics of abstract, nonrepresentational imagery. I now use Mosaics and Painted Furniture as the medium for my creative expression. You might say I am an expert in American Craft.

 I was the owner of and a partner in Bravo Gallery in San Diego from 1990 - 1995, where we exhibited Fine Craft and Contemporary Art of local artists. We hosted many exhibitions of local artists’ group. Immediately after closing the gallery, I opened Bravo Workshop, a school of 1-day workshops in art, where I hired and scheduled instructors to teach 30-some art, craft and home decorating workshops for novice and professional artists. I developed, planned, produced, mailed and distributed the quarterly course catalogs. I registered students, maintained the mailing list, did the marketing, interviewed new instructors and generally ran the school. I taught workshops in Weaving, Business of Being an Artist, Painted Fabric, Herbal Vinegar.

 Managing Bravo Gallery, running things at Bravo Workshop and as the former Director of Workshops and Marketing at the Art Academy of San Diego, I have been involved in the arts in San Diego since 1990. I am a great organizer and communicator who enjoys teaching and talking to people about art. I have been teaching art and fine crafts to adults throughout San Diego County since 1992 through Bravo Gallery, Bravo Workshop, the Art Academy of San Diego formerly known as Arts College International, Grossmont Adult School, Coronado Adult School, OASIS and at UCSD Crafts Center. Prior to teaching in San Diego, I taught at the University of Utah and the Salt Lake City Jewish Community Center.

 Bravo Workshop has been waiting to be resurrected in its best incarnation… as a school where adults and children can go and learn to make art in an environment of encouragement, creativity, safety and fun. Bravo School of Art is born!

Bravo School of Art • 2690 Historic Decatur Rd Studio 206 San Diego CA 92106 • 619-223-0058