Art Camp a study in expression
Ruth Hunter and Trish Kelly have been responsible for some 28 youngsters in Kilcullen getting down and dirty in the name of art over this week.
At their second annual Art Camp held in the Community Complex, they put the 5-12 year-olds to work learning the rudiments of expressing themselves in paint, papier-mache and clay, and it's not clear whether teachers or pupils had the most fun.
Ruth is from Sligo originally and Trish from Fontstown, and they're both trained artists who teach art in a number of Dublin community centres and last year they decided to put their summer time to use in introducing children to the basics of the discipline.
"We picked Kilcullen because it was close to where Trish is from," Ruth recalls. "And we just couldn't have a better facility, the Complex is such a beautiful place."
Trish says that though there are a number of summer activities in the area for youngsters, there wasn't one around Kilcullen that was particularly arts-based. And there was a very good response to their flyers and local notices in the first instance. There was no problem in getting enough interest for the three days of the workshop.
"We start them the first day with some simple drawings, and some 3-D things, with an eye to the different age groups. Then we do some painting, expressive sort of art, and making 'trophies' with papier-mache, and there's also a day with clay."
The work through the week usually has a theme; last year it was Japan scenes, this year it is Egypt. "And we try to bring in a bit of history and geography as well," Ruth says. "So they're getting a bit more than just painting. There's some culture too, without being academic about it."
The children also get an introduction to a particular famous painter. This year it is Gaugin, whose vivid colours and often uncomplicated scenes make his work very accessible. "We got them do do their interpretation of one of his paintings," Trish says. "Not just a copy, but their own view of what he saw."
Brian Byrne.
