by Melissa Macker, Executive Director
Remember when you were a kid, and you got to go to summer camp and do arts & crafts? When you’re young, you don’t know what art is “supposed to” look like, and there’s a joy in just making. At camp there’s no grading, just pure experience. Maybe you got to try out a new skill at camp that you never tried before. My earliest memory of making pottery was at art camp (and my mom still has the leaf dish I made.)
As you’re making your summer plans, maybe you have a 2-week vacation planned, or maybe just a staycation. Maybe you’re drowning in work and the words “summer vacation” haven’t crossed your mind in a few years. Everyone needs some time off occasionally, though, whether you can take a week or just an hour.
Making art just for yourself, and not for anyone else, is a great way to recapture that kid-who-just-started-summer-vacation feeling. It can be as simple as picking up a pencil and sketching what you see after the kids go to bed (or even stealing a page from your kids’ coloring books if you’re intimidated by the blank page.) If you’re an artist, trying out something new just for the pleasure of creating is a great way to fuel your creative energy.
There are some fun opportunities to make arts & crafts at The 567 this summer, from 2 hour workshops to 2 month classes. Here are a few I’m excited about to jumpstart your summer of arts & crafts.
Intro to Crochet
If you’ve never tried crochet, it can be really relaxing. It takes a little practice to learn the basic stitches, but after that there’s something soothing about the repetitive movements. Plus, you can make all sorts of fun projects once you learn. This two-week class will teach you the basics, give you time to practice, and then come back to make a pretty little “mug rug” to take home, along with your own crochet supplies to keep. It’s at the beginning of June (June 4 & 11), so once you learn, you can crochet all summer!
Adult Summer Camp
If you really want to feel like you’re back in summer camp, we made a pottery camp for you! Every day you’ll make a different fun project, from a sculpture of your pet to lantern for your porch, and even a beer stein. You’ll even get a camp t-shirt! In case you can’t take time off from your day job, this camp is in the evenings. You might even make some new friends at camp. It’s 6 days long, June 13-18.
Acrylic Painting for Beginners
It’s never too late to learn to paint! People tell me all the time that they can’t paint, like it’s a gene you’re born with. Some people have more aptitude than others, but painting is a skill that can be learned, like anything else. You never know until you try! In this 6-week class, you can spend your summer learning to paint portraits, while equipping you with the basic skills to paint anything. It meets on Wednesdays, starting June 1.
Intro to Photography
If you got a digital camera, but all you know how to do with it is set it to automatic, point, and click, this workshop is for you. In two hours, Andy Carter will tell you the secrets to taking a good photo and have you using all the settings on your camera like a pro. I took this workshop before and can personally recommend it! If you’re lucky enough to take a trip this summer, you’ll definitely be taking better vacation photos after taking this class. If not, maybe it will help you to look at your own backyard in a new way. This one is on June 9.
These are just a sampling of the creative classes going on for adults this summer. If you have a kid, we have camp for them, too! See our class calendar to get inspired.