Summer 2012 – Clay Crazy Camper Interviews
Each summer, campers in the Clay Crazy and Clay Works camp at the Living Arts Centre have a chance to explore a variety of clay hand-building and design techniques, as well as trying their hand on the potter’s wheel. This summer we had a chance to catch up with two young artists in Clay Crazy. They gave us some advice on what they love about clay and how to keep cool in tricky situations!
LAC: So which projects have you enjoyed the most in Clay Crazy so far?
Camper1: Learning how to use potters wheel! And making butterfly tiles.
Camper2: I like learning how to work with clay and how to use tools to make designs and patterns. We did cool stuff like make frog sculptures, and pots to use in the kitchen.
LAC: Sounds like you’ve been busy! What is working on the potters wheel like?
Camper1: It is fun and difficult! It’s hard to “cone-up” but fun because you get dirty and can make so many awesome things!
Camper2: Definitely fun and difficult. It’s hard to keep the clay thick and not fall over! But you get to keep everything you make which is great!
LAC: What would you say is the most important thing you learned when using the potter’s wheel?
Camper1: Don’t panic! Just follow all of the steps and you’ll get the hang of it.
Camper2: Don’t make the walls too thin!
LAC: Would you recommend the potter’s wheel to other people? What would you tell someone interested in trying it for the first time?
Camper1: Yes! It gives you a chance to learn new things
Camper2: It’s fun, it’s kind of like driving and learning the pedals!
Check out our Summer Camp offerings for more great visual and performing arts programs. Click here
Creative Camps for Kids at the LAC
Thank you to all the campers, parents, and staff for an amazing summer camp 2011! July and August were filled with fun, creativity, and imagination. Check out some of the highlights from this summer!
Join us for Winter Break (Jan 3 - 6, 2012), March Break (Mar 12 – 16, 2012) and Summer 2012 (Jul 3 – Aug 24, 2012).
CLICK HERE for programme information and 2012 camps registration.
Each Friday, campers aged 6 – 7 in All About Art prepared an exhibition for friends and family, showcasing all their hard work and creative ideas from the week. This week’s theme was “The Great Outdoors” and campers were busy constructing their favourite snacks out of papier-mâché. The end product looks convincingly tasty wouldn’t you agree?
This year’s Bravo Broadway was another smash hit! While the 8-10 year old’s refined their sweet tooth in the production of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, the 11-14 year olds worked hard to get by with just a few of their favourite things in the production of The Sound of Music! This camp is always a sell-out so don’t miss out!
Campers in Clay Crazy (ages 8 – 10) had a great time creating everything out of clay! From frog sculptures to functional serving dishes, campers learned a variety of hand building and decorating techniques, as well as trying their hand at the potter’s wheel! Stay tuned for the forthcoming interview with two of our campers as they explain why clay is so much fun and how using the potter’s wheel is kind of like learning how to drive a car!
Campers in Creative Couture were busy designing, measuring, cutting, styling, and sewing unique and functional fashion pieces! In addition to showcasing their new creations down the runway at the Friday fashion show, campers also learned how to screen print and create other stylish accessories.
And an extra thank you goes out to all the volunteer assistants who woke up early each day and helped make each camper’s week a memorable one! Good luck in the new school year!
Summer Camp 2012 ONSALE NOW!
Register early to avoid disappointment!
http://www.livingartscentre.ca/index.php/how-to-register.html
Happy Birthday Valerie!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VALERIE!
Valerie celebrated her 6th birthday with friends and family at the Living Arts Centre on December 5th. The birthday girl and her very excited friends participated in a ceramics workshop hand-building personalized cookie plates.
The girls were given a slab of clay and using a paper plate template outlined their cookie plate. Using the paper plate as a mould the girls pressed their clay into it to give shape to their creation.
Once the cookie plates were shaped the participants started decorating. Using a variety of cookie cutters participants began placing their cut out shapes on their plates to create unique designs.
When the girls finished placing their shapes onto the plates they painted their creations using coloured slip glazes.
After the pieces are painted they must dry for a couple days before they can be fired in our on site kilns.
The plates are bisque fired first. Bisque firing causes permanent chemical and physical changes to occur in the clay pieces making them much harder and more resilient.
Once the plates have been bisque fired the instructor uses a clear glaze to coat the pieces. The glaze makes the pieces strong and waterproof. If the plates were not glazed the ceramics would remain porous and would be unsuitable for holding liquids. The ceramics then go through a second firing which gives them an attractive and durable glossy finish.
In just a few days these beautiful cookie plates will be ready to go home and used to serve tasty holiday cookies!
Pictures of the final pieces will be posted shortly!
It’s December and Summer Camp is officially on Sale!
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