Summer’s done; now, new fun! Community Arts Center announces fall class lineup after summer lineup ends

Published 6:15 am Tuesday, August 21, 2018

By KATE SNYDER

Community Arts Center

Fresh off a successful summer of art camps, the Community Arts Center is pleased to announce an action-packed lineup of fall classes and events.

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“I think that energy generates more energy,” says CAC’s director, Niki Kinkade. “We have gotten tremendous feedback on our spring and summer programs; that support and engagement has really inspired us to keep developing new and exciting programming.”

Classes for adults

The Arts Center will offer several multi-week classes for adults, including an introduction class on printmaking;  beginners’ painting and classes; and wheel-thrown pottery.

Newly offered this fall will be group voice lessons with former Centre College professor Barbara Hall. Singers will get a one-on-one lesson before a small closing recital at the Arts Center.

Hall stresses that the ability to read music is not required.

Charlotta Bright Norby of Danville shows off the zebra print she created during a fall 2017 Printmaking 101 class.

She says, “This course is for adults who love to sing and want to learn more about the basic techniques of singing to improve their vocal range, breathing, resonance and tone quality.”

The Arts Center also plans to offer several workshops for adults, including a two-day dollhouse workshop.

“We heard from so many adults that they wanted to participate in the summer Dollhouse Camp that we decided — why not?” says Kinkade.

Weekly ballroom dance classes kicked off last week, with a four-week session on West Coast Swing. Drop-in students are welcome, or dancers can join the next session, starting September 13, which will focus on beginner Salsa.

A beginner class meets 6-7p.m. on Thursdays, with an intermediate class meeting 7-8 p.m.. Classes are $10 each, payable at the door. Dancers may also pre-register for any of the four-week sessions on the Arts Center website.

Classes for Kids

The 2018-2019 includes favorite classes from last year as well as a few new surprises. The Arts Center’s popular Munchkin & Me class will move to 11 on Friday mornings, thanks to a new partnership with the Boyle County Extension Service. In addition to hands-on art activities, the new Munchkin class will also include literacy activities as well as a healthy snack. The class is ideal for children ages 18 months to 3 years, with an adult caregiver. No registration is required for this free program.

This fall, there are also weekly drop-off classes available for children from 3 years old three through eighth-graders. Art Adventures is an introductory class for children ages 3-5. The focus is on exploration and basic skill-building, says Kinkade.

“Many of the foundational skills of art — gripping a paint brush, using scissors, etc. — are also kindergarten-readiness skills. This class is a great way for young artists to be creative while also practicing for school.”

Elle Ahnquist and CAC Director Niki Kinkade strum on dulcimers during an Art Adventures class earlier this year.

Kids Visual Arts returns on Wednesday afternoons, is open to pre-kindergarten through third grade and introduces students to a wide range of artists, techniques and mediums. The 12-week semester is divided into four-week sections, allowing flexibility for families. Over the course of the semester, students will explore painting, drawing, collage, pottery, printmaking and more.

For students in grades fourth through eighth, Creative Director Brandon Long is offering a series of classes, including Street Art , How to Draw People and Kids Sculpture.

“I love classes that give students a chance to push themselves, creatively,” says Long. “I try to allow for a lot of flexibility and freedom in my classes so that students can incorporate their interests and passions.”

The Arts Center’s homeschool classes for 2018-2019 include Greek and Roman Art History, Elements of Art, Music and Famous Women Artists. Classes meet 11 a.m. Thursdays, with two sections available to accommodate students in grades K-12.

High school students are welcome to enroll in any of the Arts Center’s adult classes.

Ceramics and painting classes for all ages

“We often hear from parents and grandparents who want to do a class with their child,” says Kinkade. “Making art together is a wonderful bonding experience.”

The fall class lineup includes several workshops that are open to artists of all ages. Dionna Baker will offer ceramic workshops to create leaf bowls and pumpkins in October, as well as a series of nativity workshops in November and December. For each of the two-week workshops, participants create their piece the first week and return to glaze it during the second week.

The Arts Center’s Starry Night Studio painting workshops are another opportunity for artists of all ages to create together. In these two- or three-hour classes, a professional artists provides step-by-step instructions to students, guiding them from blank canvas to completed painting in a single class session.

The fall lineup includes seasonal-themed paintings as well as a recreation of Vincent van Gogh’s “Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun.” A more whimsical addition to the lineup is a vibrant painting of a cheerful yellow rubber duck, created by Long.

Brady Rogers concentrates on his wheel during an introductory pottery class.

In keeping with the Arts Center’s commitment to overcoming barriers to the arts, need-based scholarships are available for most classes. Visit www.communityartscenter.net/scholarship to download and print a scholarship application or call Kinkade at (859) 236-4054.

Full class details and online registration are also available on the Arts Center website.