Participants from a previous year’s camp at Art Happens Here work on their creations.Signal Mountain resident Thankful Davis is joining Tracy Sprout at Art Happens Here to offer several art-related camps this summer.
Both current or former high school art teachers (Davis teaches at Ivy Academy), the two met at the Signal Mountain Town Pool and decided to partner up on a few camps this summer.
“She’s excited to teach on the mountain,” said Sprout of Davis, who also teaches at the Hunter Museum of American Art.
With all her teaching experience, Davis contributed a lot of unique ideas for the camps, said Sprout.
“One of the good things about our camps is you can sign up for all of them and not have to worry about doing the same project,” Sprout added.
She said she had a few parents request an all-girls camp, so she and Davis came up with the Creative Chica’s Art Extravaganza, being held July 15-19. Participants will make their own jewelry from felt and wool as well as create a sequence of paintings. The girls will also learn the fashionable art of modern batik tye-dying and will be able to enjoy their creations long after camp is over.
Kids will see the connections between art, science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the Imaginative Invention and Interaction camp set for July 22-26. Participants will explore the role art plays in the world, from the Middle Ages to modern engineering.
As a “last hurrah” to summer, Art Happens Here is holding a Color Explosion camp July 29 through Aug. 2. Participants will look at artists who have changed the art world over the years, while exploring ways to use colors. Activities will include the creation of wire and clay sculptures as well as painting with balloons.
“I think it’s good for all kids to be exposed to art,” said Sprout. “[The camps] are a great opportunity for kids to have a week of creativity and make a big mess, and moms don’t have to deal with it.”
Camps are intended for all elementary school-aged children.
“A lot of projects can be taken a step further,” she said. “If kids catch on quickly, there’s other stuff they can do.”
Each camp is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The cost of the Creative Chica’s camp is $95, and the cost of the Imaginative Invention and Interaction and Color Explosion camps is $115 each. All supplies are included.