Getting creative
Getting creative
Three participants in the Summer Creativity Camp talk as they're set to begin. Their group had just finished the 3D owl paintings and started working on the sunset painting.
Kay Brunett Martin walks around to help participants with their paintings. Examples are shown on a board to give students a reference point.
Ed Fornberg displays an in-progress 3D owl project as he provides guidance and advice.
Three participants in the Summer Creativity Camp talk as they're set to begin. Their group had just finished the 3D owl paintings and started working on the sunset painting.
Kay Brunett Martin walks around to help participants with their paintings. Examples are shown on a board to give students a reference point.
Ed Fornberg displays an in-progress 3D owl project as he provides guidance and advice.
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NEW ULM -- Youths in grades K-7 were able to explore through art at the Summer Creativity Camp Tuesday through Thursday.
The camp is in its eighth year of operation and runs through New Ulm Community Education. It allows younger kids to explore their artistic creativity through several different mediums. The students were split up, with K-3 participating in the morning and 4-7 in the afternoon.
Through the three days students explored printmaking, mosaic tiles, painting, and creating art using a canvas and reused wood.
Nolan Jewison found his favorite art form from the week was the wood planks used in printmaking.
"I get to do something that's entertaining." he said.
Becca Nelson's favorite art form of the week was painting. She also found making paintings to be the best part of her camp experience.
Camp counselor Kay Brunett Martin worked with one group of kids on creating their paintings. With examples on a board, she led students through the process of recreating an ocean view sunset complete with boats.
Instructor Ed Fornberg led another group downstarts in the printing studio. They worked on painting with a 3D element. Using recycled wood, they glued pieces together into the shape of an owl in the center of their canvas. Then, the students painted on the space around the owl using watercolors.
Halfway through, the groups switched places so both could experience the different types of painting.
Marketing Director Tamara Furth finds the camp is a good opportunity to extend art education opportunities.
"The whole premise of the camp is to give students an opportunity to be creative and try different art projects that they maybe aren’t doing in the schools." Furth said. "For example, we always do pottery on a pottery wheel, a lot of kids don’t have access to that."
Furth has found that several kids take the program year after year, continuing to develop their artistic skills through the various activities. She also believes it's good in developing non-artistic skills.
"For kids it’s important to have social activities over the summer too." Furth said. A lot of them don't see their friends as much and so a lot of them enjoy the social aspect too."
The organizers and instructors attempt to vary the activities as much as possible so students who come back are not doing the same thing over again.
"We really try to look at 'What would be something fun?' 'What’s age appropriate?'" Furth said.
Future art camps include the FiberArts camp for students in 5-12 grade and a second Summer Creativity camp. FiberArts runs through July 17-20 and Summer Creativity through July 31-August 3.
Registration is open for both camps. Those interested can contact The Grand or New Ulm Community Education.