Calling all young artists.
Back by popular demand, the Barrhead Public Library is once again holding its annual Sparks: Fine Arts Camp starting on Aug. 17.
Although the five-day camp is designed for young people from ages 11 to 15 years-old who are interested in art, children younger than 11 years-old are considered, depending on their maturity level.
Amy Lechelt, summer student at the library, said she is very excited to be heading up this year’s version of the camp.
“This year will be the camp’s sixth year,” she said, adding that it has always been well attended in the past. “I remember the library running it as a teen.”
Lechelt, who grew up in Barrhead, is a psychology student at the University of Alberta.
One of the reasons Lechelt believes the camp has been so popular over the years is that it differs from many other art camps, parents may remember from their youth.
“People really appreciate the fact that we use real, professional art materials,” she said. “We use real canvas and acrylic and not the same supplies students may use in their school’s art class.”
Another reason for the camp’s popularity, Lechelt said, is due to the wide variety of art forms and mediums students tackle.
Every day, the budding artists receive instruction on various art forms as they create two different art works.
“We always have something that focuses on painting and strokes. We also have something that is 3D, like a sculpture, where the campers can get a little bit messy,” she said, adding that she tries to sneak in an art history component into every session. “The camp and the variety of what we do is all encompassing.”
By the end of the camp, students will have nine projects to take home, but not before the library hosts an art show for all campers’ friends and relatives. As part of the art show, there will be one special art project that the students have worked on as a group.
One project Lechelt is especially excited about is a Jackson Pollock inspired piece. Pollock was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, most known for his unique drip style of painting.
“Instead of using canvas, we will be using T-shirts to create our own unique Jackson Pollock style artwork,” she said. “So they can wear their art and show everyone what they have been doing and have it linked to art history.”
In addition to Lechelt, the camp will also be bringing in special guest artists to help instruct the course, one of them being Rochfort Bridge artist Jacquie Paul. Although Paul works in a number of different mediums from painting to sculpture and masks, area residents may know her best as a face painter.
“I am so excited about it,” Lechelt said. “We have never done body and face painting before and to have an artist of Jacquie Paul’s calibre come in and help us is really great.”
Another project the artists will have a chance to create is a 3D sculpture using a new medium called Paverpol. By treating materials in the substance, a textile hardener, it allows artists to use other materials that one normally doesn’t associate with sculpture, such as cloth or leather.
By the end of the camp, Lechelt hopes the budding artists will not only have learned new techniques, and information about art history, but also gained more of an appreciation for art, but perhaps they will have made some new friends in the process.
“I and the group really get to gel and know each other really well and by the end of the week hopefully, we have all gotten a chance to become friends,” she said.
Sparks: Fine Art Camp runs from Aug. 17 to 21. Registration is $125. For more information about the program contact Lechelt at 780-674-8519 or [email protected].
