Community Art School Outreach Creative and Expressive Art Classes
The Community Art School provides creative and expressive art classes to various populations throughout the High Country. Two recipients of these sessions are Grandfather Academy in Banner Elk, N.C., and the Adult Day Care Center housed in the Blowing Rock Hospital in Blowing Rock, N.C..
Though each setting differs in its mission and participants—Grandfather Academy is a charter school which serves the residents of the Grandfather Home for Children, and the Adult Day Care serves older or developmentally disabled adults—both enjoy the benefits of a variety of structured art activities which allow for plenty of creativity, selfexpression, learning, sharing and enjoyment. Examples of media and activities include oil and chalk pastels, colored pencils and markers, watercolors, tempera paint, collage, mask making, weaving, printmaking, and bookmaking.
The sessions are planned specifically to provide enriching and successful experiences for the participants and to enhance the program in each setting. At the Grandfather Academy, art sessions are correlated with the four core values (Independence, Mastery, Belonging, and Generosity) from the Circle of Courage, the school's youth empowerment model. The students use the art materials to create their unique expressions of each value. At the Adult Day Care Center, the emphasis is on providing a wide variety of seasonal art experiences which are enjoyably challenging and stimulating, and which encourage a sense of accomplishment and achievement. All individual sessions in both settings conclude with a group sharing and appreciation time.
The sessions are planned and taught by Penny Makris, Creative and Expressive Arts Educator, with assistance from students of Appalachian State University's Art Education and Expressive Arts and Counseling Program. Penny Makris has an undergraduate degree in Art Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is a graduate of Appalachian State University's Masters Degree program in Counseling. In 2004, she completed Appalachian's post-graduate certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy. She has 24 years combined experience in the public schools as an Art Teacher and School Counselor. Currently she provides the outreach classes for the Community Art School of the Turchin Center at Appalachian, and facilitates Art Media Exploration sessions for the Expressive Arts and Counseling students. Penny is also an aspiring photographer, and her work may be seen at www.innersparkphotography.com.
The Community Art School
The mission of the Community Art School is to make the diversity, creativity, and critical thinking found in the visual arts more accessible to the regional Appalachian community.
Core Beliefs
- Educational opportunities in the arts enrich the lives of the participants through experiences that are both educational and therapeutic, and build an audience that recognizes the cultural and personal importance of the arts.
- Programs provide participants with the opportunity to experience the visual arts in a dynamic, meaningful and personal way.
- Programs provide valuable service learning opportunities for students, and develop both campus and community partnerships.
"We offer an array of programming on-site and off to a wide audience—from preschoolers to the elderly to the developmentally disabled. We provide outreach to the public schools and we partner with various community agencies and Appalachian State University academic departments to offer art experiences to the elderly, under-privileged, at-risk youth, and other special populations." - Dr. Gayle Marie Weitz, CAS Director
Programs
Artist residencies, community art workshops, and a strong connection to the university's Department of Art are all part of the center's programming plans. The center's focus on teaching and strengthening a sense of community is exemplified in its dynamic Community Art School programs, which include:
A.S.K. - Art in Support of Kids
In partnership with local agencies like the Appalachian State University Child Development Center, the Watauga Youth Network, and the Watauga County Public Schools, the center develops opportunities for Pre-K, K-12, and special needs children. No matter what age, each program helps students learn more about art, the world around them, and themselves.
Appalachian Summer Festival Workshops & Camps
Appalachian Summer Festival Workshops for Kids
Appalachian Summer Festival Workshops for Teens and Adults
Art After School
Offered in partnership with the Appalachian State University Department of Art, this program is designed to stimulate imagination, encourage creativity, develop perceptual awareness, and nurture a global perspective of visual culture in children ages 6 to 12. Participants experience a wide range of art methods and materials.
At Risk Youth
This program targets at risk youth in Watauga County. Art education students meet with participants in the Watauga Youth Network for visual arts activities.
Express Yourself!
Express Yourself! is a series of workshops sponsored by Turchin Center's Community Art School, the Expressive Arts Therapy Program, and the Art Department designed to help children and adults with developmental disabilities explore their feelings, develop their creativity, build their social network, and have fun through various arts activities. Some sessions focus on the development of art techniques and some focus on the therapeutic aspect of the arts.
Lunch & Learn
This series of lunchtime programs provide an opportunity for community members to gather together, enjoy a bag lunch, and learn more about work in the current exhibitions or related subjects. These informal get-togethers are a fun and friendly way to explore art.
Movement and Dance
Programs for Teens and Adults
Programs for Teens, Adults, and Appalachian Students
Programs for the Developmentally Disabled
Saturday Sessions
Saturday Sessions offer fun and educational information for children ages 4 to 12. Programs build on the exhibitions of the center, and offer students a chance to enjoy a great time with others while learning about art. Classes are taught by Art Education faculty and students.
Saturday Sessions for Teens and Adults
Saturday Sessions for Teens and Adults build on the exhibitions of the center, and offer students a fun and educational opportunity to enjoy a great time with others while learning about art. Classes are taught by Art Education faculty and students.
Spring Workshops
Summer Workshops
Summer Workshops for Adults
Summer workshop fun is not just for kids. This summer, the Community Art School also offers a variety of creative and challenging workshops for older teens, adults and seniors!
TCVA Film Series
Theatre & Dance Workshops for Youth
Workshops for Adults
Workshops for Kids
Workshops for Teens
Young at Art
Young at Art programs often focus on current exhibitions, but also address special topics selected by the participants and workshop leaders. The Turchin Center partners with several local agencies to offer area seniors and other adults a chance to learn more about contemporary art, and to create their own masterpieces. Classes are open for public registration, are held once a month on Mondays and Wednesdays.
In addition, the Community Art School also offers tours, workshops, and support materials for children and adults, which provide an exciting way of viewing and understanding the center's featured exhibitions; an expressive arts therapy program; continuing education programs for community artists, focusing on such topics as grant-writing, portfolio development and art marketing; artist residencies in partnership with local schools and arts councils, which bring the visual arts into the lives of the community, while showcasing the work of area artists; and "Teacher Training in the Arts," a program offering college-level training for the public school teachers of tomorrow, by providing them with training and resources they can bring into their future classrooms.
The Community Art School is supported by a generous grant from the Helen M. Clabough Charitable Foundation.
For more information on The Community Art School, please contact Community Art School Coordinator Dr. Gayle Weitz at 828.262.3017, or email weitzgm@appstate.edu.
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Community Art School Calendar:
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