The Feed & Seed: Our Community Events Space
The Feed & Seed is a warehouse loft space above Mountain Lights & Funky Mutt at 30 N Lexington Ave in downtown Asheville. The community space is open and airy with lots of natural light from both overhead and west-facing windows. It also houses the Costume Shop's Sewing Studio and Mountain Lights' Workshop. "Feed & Seed" got its name from the old painted signage on one wall that was once an advertisement for the Pioneer Seed Company. We will soon have a photo album for the Feed & Seed under the PHOTOS tab. Stay tuned.
To access the Feed & Seed, go to Mountain Lights or Funky Mutt and ask Susan to point out the staircase for your use. It is only open for events or by appointment. See EVENTS tab for the current listing of our classes and sessions.
The Feed & Seed invites you to use this historic space for your class or event. Simply contact Susan Durrence for information, a tour of the facility and rates: 828-253-0080 during shop hours and 828-215-6323 after hours. The space has such a wonderful energy and is very affordable!
To access the Feed & Seed, go to Mountain Lights or Funky Mutt and ask Susan to point out the staircase for your use. It is only open for events or by appointment. See EVENTS tab for the current listing of our classes and sessions.
The Feed & Seed invites you to use this historic space for your class or event. Simply contact Susan Durrence for information, a tour of the facility and rates: 828-253-0080 during shop hours and 828-215-6323 after hours. The space has such a wonderful energy and is very affordable!
The Versatile Dog Series
Gwen and Chief from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue take a moment during class for a hug. Both are recent graduates of The Versatile Dog Series.
Instructor: Kim Stimpson (see her auto-bio below)
Instructor: Kim Stimpson (see her auto-bio below)
Biscuit contemplating the obstacle course during a session of
The Versatile Dog Series at the Feed & Seed.
The Versatile Dog Series at the Feed & Seed.
Instructor Profile: Kim Stimpson
"Kim is a talented and engaging instructor with ability to peel back the layers of behavior dynamics and reveal the bare essentials of creating positive change. Her nuts-and-bolts approach enables her students to tap into their natural creativity."
- Susan Durrence
Owner, Mountain Lights and Funky Mutt
KIM STIMPSON - A BIT OF STORY ABOUT ME
When I was a kid I spent a lot of my time outside in my dad's workshop making art and playing with Mojo the family dog. I am sure these childhood experiences have had a huge influence on work choices that have allowed me to work with people, art and dogs.
MY WORK ----> “Potential: Art & Dog"
After teaching art in the public schools, I wanted to do work that integrated people, art and communication. I created a company and called it Potential because that is what I am interested in -- the potential that we all possess.
My company provides innovative programs that use Art & Dog as tools to get each of us to look at our own potential.
The programs are built around creating a painting. Yep... a painting. I meet the participants where they are and, in a supportive environment, ask them move to the next level. Interwoven into the creative process are topics of trust, teamwork, motivation, utilization of resources, working with limitations, perception, communication, choice, limited thinking, problem solving and creativity. Whew! A lot of stuff to think about... or more simply... to discover! The mere presence of Dog motivates people to participate, makes them feel comfortable, and provides visual and tactile stimulation. Studies have shown petting animals do the body well!
In my twenty plus years of experience in education and the arts I have worked with populations of all ages and abilities in both the public and private sectors. My experiences include working with groups and individuals in community, human and health services, staff development and cultural affairs. I have also worked extensively with individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. I have spent my life teaching because it is the root of positive change. I enjoy teaching through discovery based education and focus on process rather than product.
MY DOG TRAINING -----> "The Versatile Dog"
In the spring of 2006 a puppy picked me. The puppy, who was born on St. Patrick's Day and named after gin, was Tanqueray, a 10 week old Australian Shepherd. I learned very quickly that "Aussies" are bred to think and move all day long. And so.... my path of teaching began overlapping with dog training.
Dog Training and Teaching are very similar -- you are asking for behaviors, rewarding those behaviors when they happen and managing behaviors. I applied all of my experience of managing people to managing dogs. We hit the ground running-- training randomly and constantly everyday of the last four years! We took obedience classes, agility classes, instinct tests for herding dogs, fly ball classes, Frisbee and worked intensive one-on-one private lessons. I volunteered to help the Country Club with their geese problem so I could train him to run the geese off the course. Tanqueray and I waited in line for 3 hours with 85 dogs in 95 degree temperatures (which is a test in itself) and he earned the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Award and his certification with Therapy Dog International. He knows over 300 words and phrases and will blink when asked. My training has been hands-on and experiential. And so was created "The Versatile Dog"!
Simple Concepts : Dedicated Investment Required
In order for a dog to DO what is expected, he must first UNDERSTAND what is expected. Building a vocabulary with a dog with which you have a trusting, mutually beneficial relationship, using positive reinforcement at the most opportune time and unexpectedly rewarding good behaviors creates a very, versatile dog. When training, the desired goal is accumulating successes. Each success provides a stepping stone to the next. Learn one behavior in a quiet confined space and build successes until the behavior will eventually occur in a high energy, unconfined space. Not magic... it just feels like MAGIC!
Behaviors are easier to create than to extinguish. The Versatile Dog's Canine Confidence Course is designed to prevent problematic behaviors. By using your available resources to expose your dog regularly to a variety of stimuli, environments and situations you ensure your friend is adaptable and versatile --happy and able to tackle most anything!
*The Versatile Dog is based on the AKC's Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International Tests, both of which require good manners and versatility in your best friend's behavior.
MY ART---->”The Presence of Life Series"
In my own art, I work with acrylic, graphite, collage, gel medium and photographic elements on acid-free ragboard and wood. My subject matter is an element of nature or the human figure. Fresh flowers are a delightful subject to work from but I adore the seeds and pods that are left over.
Within a seed lies the potential to create a million years of life, and their potential to create a million more. A seed.
I am fascinated by the potential of life. My work is about life and the exploration of its parts that are intangible--- thought, love, compassion, energy, self-esteem, dignity, change, potential. The work I create suggests an exposure, acceptance and resolve--natural, earthen and sacred. My work is an exploration that reflects a deep interest in the meaning and value of life and love...with the works containing a sense of discovery of the subject matter, the materials and myself. My works are about complexities and simplicity. They are about fact and mystery, finality and possibility, contrast and texture. They are about the found and the revered. They are about the profound and the absurdly simple. They are about Wonder.
I have exhibited professionally in solo and group exhibitions for over two decades. My work can be found in many private collections throughout the United States.
_____________________________________________________________
- Susan Durrence
Owner, Mountain Lights and Funky Mutt
KIM STIMPSON - A BIT OF STORY ABOUT ME
When I was a kid I spent a lot of my time outside in my dad's workshop making art and playing with Mojo the family dog. I am sure these childhood experiences have had a huge influence on work choices that have allowed me to work with people, art and dogs.
MY WORK ----> “Potential: Art & Dog"
After teaching art in the public schools, I wanted to do work that integrated people, art and communication. I created a company and called it Potential because that is what I am interested in -- the potential that we all possess.
My company provides innovative programs that use Art & Dog as tools to get each of us to look at our own potential.
The programs are built around creating a painting. Yep... a painting. I meet the participants where they are and, in a supportive environment, ask them move to the next level. Interwoven into the creative process are topics of trust, teamwork, motivation, utilization of resources, working with limitations, perception, communication, choice, limited thinking, problem solving and creativity. Whew! A lot of stuff to think about... or more simply... to discover! The mere presence of Dog motivates people to participate, makes them feel comfortable, and provides visual and tactile stimulation. Studies have shown petting animals do the body well!
In my twenty plus years of experience in education and the arts I have worked with populations of all ages and abilities in both the public and private sectors. My experiences include working with groups and individuals in community, human and health services, staff development and cultural affairs. I have also worked extensively with individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. I have spent my life teaching because it is the root of positive change. I enjoy teaching through discovery based education and focus on process rather than product.
MY DOG TRAINING -----> "The Versatile Dog"
In the spring of 2006 a puppy picked me. The puppy, who was born on St. Patrick's Day and named after gin, was Tanqueray, a 10 week old Australian Shepherd. I learned very quickly that "Aussies" are bred to think and move all day long. And so.... my path of teaching began overlapping with dog training.
Dog Training and Teaching are very similar -- you are asking for behaviors, rewarding those behaviors when they happen and managing behaviors. I applied all of my experience of managing people to managing dogs. We hit the ground running-- training randomly and constantly everyday of the last four years! We took obedience classes, agility classes, instinct tests for herding dogs, fly ball classes, Frisbee and worked intensive one-on-one private lessons. I volunteered to help the Country Club with their geese problem so I could train him to run the geese off the course. Tanqueray and I waited in line for 3 hours with 85 dogs in 95 degree temperatures (which is a test in itself) and he earned the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Award and his certification with Therapy Dog International. He knows over 300 words and phrases and will blink when asked. My training has been hands-on and experiential. And so was created "The Versatile Dog"!
Simple Concepts : Dedicated Investment Required
In order for a dog to DO what is expected, he must first UNDERSTAND what is expected. Building a vocabulary with a dog with which you have a trusting, mutually beneficial relationship, using positive reinforcement at the most opportune time and unexpectedly rewarding good behaviors creates a very, versatile dog. When training, the desired goal is accumulating successes. Each success provides a stepping stone to the next. Learn one behavior in a quiet confined space and build successes until the behavior will eventually occur in a high energy, unconfined space. Not magic... it just feels like MAGIC!
Behaviors are easier to create than to extinguish. The Versatile Dog's Canine Confidence Course is designed to prevent problematic behaviors. By using your available resources to expose your dog regularly to a variety of stimuli, environments and situations you ensure your friend is adaptable and versatile --happy and able to tackle most anything!
*The Versatile Dog is based on the AKC's Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International Tests, both of which require good manners and versatility in your best friend's behavior.
MY ART---->”The Presence of Life Series"
In my own art, I work with acrylic, graphite, collage, gel medium and photographic elements on acid-free ragboard and wood. My subject matter is an element of nature or the human figure. Fresh flowers are a delightful subject to work from but I adore the seeds and pods that are left over.
Within a seed lies the potential to create a million years of life, and their potential to create a million more. A seed.
I am fascinated by the potential of life. My work is about life and the exploration of its parts that are intangible--- thought, love, compassion, energy, self-esteem, dignity, change, potential. The work I create suggests an exposure, acceptance and resolve--natural, earthen and sacred. My work is an exploration that reflects a deep interest in the meaning and value of life and love...with the works containing a sense of discovery of the subject matter, the materials and myself. My works are about complexities and simplicity. They are about fact and mystery, finality and possibility, contrast and texture. They are about the found and the revered. They are about the profound and the absurdly simple. They are about Wonder.
I have exhibited professionally in solo and group exhibitions for over two decades. My work can be found in many private collections throughout the United States.
_____________________________________________________________