Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Westminster College Preschool Lab presented its third annual summer camp for kids June 25-29. The hands-on camp program encouraged children to learn about the arts through visiting with guest artisans, experimenting with different media, and creatively expressing themselves through art.
The Summer Arts Camp for Kids was sponsored by the Grable Foundation of Pittsburgh and the Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the Westminster College Education Department Summer Teachers Academy. The camp was taught by preschool teachers Diana Reed, Debi Roud, and college aide Ali Szabo, a senior elementary education major from Sharon.
Day one of the camp highlighted tie-dye art with local "expert" Stephanie Corrette-Bennett of Westminster College. She demonstrated different methods of dipping cloth and explained how dyes work. The children tie-dyed scarves, created stained glass lanterns, and began a week-long ocean art project.
Day two was a day of carpentry with Jim Moose of Moose Wood Furniture. After showing the children his craft he led them in making their own hand-made stools from sassafras wood. Plenty of hammering happened at the woodworking table to make nail collages.
The third day highlighted ceramic art with Pat Logue of Kingfisher Studio in Volant. A field trip to the College's ceramics department allowed the children to watch Pat demonstrate throwing pots on a wheel and to create their own ceramic face sculptures.
On day four the artist was Laura Stuart-Smith. "Miss Laura" displays her work at the Blue Heron Gallery in Volant and offered her creative mixed media artwork to the camp. Follow-up activities included recycled jewelry and jewelry boxes, and CD-ROM fish art.
Day five concluded the week with local artist Tom McNickel. His beautiful watercolor paintings have been nationally displayed and the children had the opportunity to learn from his expertise.
Contact Reed at (724) 946-7174 or e-mail reedd@westminster.edu for additional information.
