Entering Morgan Hill Art School , founder and director Anthony Stenberg offers a warm greeting . Right off , his energy and passion for the school and art is evident . Classroom style tables and chairs are set around various art projects in progress . Windows cover the northern wall allowing natural light to splash into the classroom .

After over ten years as a full-time art teacher , Stenberg was ready for a change and laid out plans to open an art school that he describes as “ the culmination of a dream .” In September 2017 , the dream became reality when he inked the lease at 1295 East Dunne Avenue . The Morgan Hill Art School was born a mere two blocks from the home he and his wife Amy purchased six years earlier .

“ I was a contracted , credentialed art teacher for multiple grades ,” Stenberg explained . “ I wanted to feel more in control of what I did for my professional life .”

Stenberg ’ s interest in art came at an early age . He recalls drawing clowns with his great grandmother and getting drawing lessons from his grandfather , who was a practicing artist . His interest grew at James Lick High School where he took as many art classes as could before graduating in 1993 . Like so many aspiring artists before him , Stenberg found that if he wanted to practice art , he would have to build a career around it . He chose teaching .

He took art courses at Evergreen Valley College and Mission College before attending San Jose State University where in 2001 he received a bachelor ’ s degree in general studio practice . He said he could have graduated sooner but repeated classes to “ master his skill .” He went on to earn his master ’ s degree in education from National University in 2004 .

Following graduation , he painted for two years while teaching part-time at Saratoga High School . By necessity , Stenberg pursued full-time employment and in 2007 landed a position teaching art in the Mount Pleasant School District . During this time , he also taught K-8 classes at Ida Jew Academy , a charter school in San Jose , where he taught visual and performing arts and created curriculum for special needs and children with behavioral health issues .

“ I enjoy teaching in that it not only enables me to practice my art , but I am constantly learning from my students .”

In its initial two-plus years , Morgan Hill Art School grew beyond his expectations . The school was awarded a series of grants and contracted with the Santa Clara County Library and San Jose School District to provide countywide mobile art classes . He set up a monthly arts and crafts workshop at the Morgan Hill Farmer ’ s Market providing children an opportunity to create art projects .

At its peak , the art school employed three instructors teaching over a hundred classes per year at the school and in off-site classrooms . Donations , grants , and proceeds from on-site classes were returning to the community in the form of free art education classes for low-income families , assisted-living residents , and disabled students .

The future looked bright . “ We were moving forward very strongly , our classes were full , and we were working with community groups providing art instruction for free based on grants we won .”

It all came to a halt however when on March 16 , 2020 shelter in place orders were issued by order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara to “ combat the spread and harms of COVID-19 .” The school scrambled to set up online class formats . Community outreach projects were suspended . Additionally , critical funding sources from grants and contracts were placed on hold . Stenberg was optimistic in late 2020 when the initial restrictions eased and the school was again conducting on-site art classes .

Classes began to fill back up , and he received private commissions as an artist , which helped to promote the art school itself .

He was commissioned by the newly open Sunsweet Apartments to install a twenty-four-foot mural on the Fourth Street wall and electrical boxes along Depot Street . Working with Boy Scout Troops 492 and 688 and Exploring Post 1295 he also completed a mural at the Cal Fires station on Monterey Road .

Going forward , Stenberg is hopeful restrictions will once again ease , allowing for increased classes and public works projects , resuming community groups for in-person instruction , and resurrecting contracts they had before the lockdown .

With the upheaval of the pandemic and challenges facing the South Valley community and beyond the arts and creativity may be more important than ever . It ’ s encouraging to know that Anthony Stenberg is up to the task .

To find more information on the Morgan Hill Art School and its programs visit its web site at morganhillartschool . org .

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN WINTER 2021 gmhtoday . com

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