Pterodactyl

Classes begin the week of June 22, 6:30 p.m., $160-$190, 3237 Amber St., fifth floor, 215-501-7158, pterodactylphiladelphia.org.

by Sherri Hospedales

At Pterodactyl, you don't have to be Picasso to get creative. Heck, you don't even have to be a kinda OK art school student. That's because Paul Yavarone Jr. and Catherine Dentino, who named their new creative project space after their love of dinosaurs and their "laid-back attitude toward art," think the artistic playing field should be leveled. "We want to bring the practice of making art into everyday life," says Dentino. "Everyone should be able to make art."

As founder of the Big Art Show, Yavarone Jr. knows a bit about art by the masses — his event allows anyone to display their works for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. Dentino brings her skills as a photographer, as well as the master's degree in arts and cultural management that she's pursuing at Pratt Institute, to Pterodactyl.

Though the space isn't yet exhibiting shows, Yavarone Jr. and Dentino are kicking off its opening with three moderately priced summer classes. In the Introduction to Screen Printing course, students will learn the history of screen printing as well as how to design an image, prepare it for pre-press, make screens and print them. In Back to Basics: Sewing for Everyday Life, students will make simple items like pillows, quilts and handbags.

The Sequence/Structure/Juxtaposition class keeps with the space's theme best, though: After students explore narrative, documentary and poetic approaches to the photographic slideshow for eight weeks, they'll display their work in a public exhibit. Just like real artists.

Classes begin the week of June 22, 6:30 p.m., $160-$190, 3237 Amber St., fifth floor, 215-501-7158, pterodactylphiladelphia.org.