Where, oh where, did our summer go? I certainly was not finished relishing the lush green of our lovely, tender spring, when I found us walking unexpectedly into a seemingly interminable tunnel of high temps that kept stretching on and on all the way through back-to-school shopping while teachers readied their classrooms.
Now our students have returned to their desks and I sit slightly dazed at mine realizing I have missed any get-away beach time, as I keep moving fast-forward toward autumn, tapping on my keyboard and making plans for artCentral’s October-November-December HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE. C’est la vie at Hyde House! The twirl of art making blurs the seasons! Shall we take a pause and savor the sweet summer memories that linger on?
After a two year pandemic sabbatical, artCentral hosted our 20th mid-July artCamp for ages 8-14. Partnering with artCentral to create the sweet memories of 2022 artCamp’s success were the Helen S. Boylan Foundation, Carthage Area United Way, Carthage Community Foundation, Carthage Council on the Arts, Leggett & Platt, the Rotary Club of Carthage and S&S Computers. With the generous support of these community partners committed to creating opportunities for the youth of Carthage and of our neighbors, artCamp funds were provided to assist with classroom supplies, teacher stipends, printing, postage, artCamper refreshments and scholarships for teacher-recommended artCampers.
The Carthage Rotary Club president Wayne Wilson, while visiting artCamp, invited me to share artCamp highlights with the Rotarians. I happily accepted his invitation and very much appreciated the slide show of images he put together to companion my comments as I savored artCamp’s sweet summer memories with the Rotary.
In total artCamp offered thirty-two unique classes attended by forty-four artCampers. For several aspiring young artists, the Carthage Rotary Club awarded a grant that helped with their artCamp scholarships. Altogether twenty-four scholarships were given.
This year for artCentral’s artCamp intern training program for high schoolers, we had an amazing team of ten enthusiastic participants. As volunteers, they came early and stayed late. (Many left after camp to go to their summer jobs.) Over two weeks the interns helped with morning preparations and the afternoon wrap ups; assisted the teachers in the classrooms; worked one-on-one with the artCampers; and prepared and attended the closing evening artCamper Exhibition and lemonade-cookie Reception.
Of course, I think our artCamp instructors are the best! We love creating the opportunity that offers them summer income while they share their talents and skills teaching and inspiring our eager young artists to love art and have a fun time while they are learning and creating and making new friends. Thank you! Thank you! to April Davis-Brunner, Alexandra Burnside, Maddie Capps, Teri Y. Diggs and Jane McCaulley. I loved singing your praises at my Rotary presentation!
All art teachers, eager-to-be interns and supporters of aspiring young artists, 8 to 14, mark your calendar for artCamp 2023—The Magical Mystery Tour—where we will study and learn from the works of some famous and truly magical artists.
Art patrons still have time to appreciate the art of two of our well-known regional artists. Make your own sweet end-of-summer memories with an excursion to see SPIRITUAL SPACES in the Hyde House galleries through September 17. Weekend gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00-5:00 p.m. The exhibition artists, Al Gritten and Sandra Parrill, will be in attendance as the gallery docents to happily greet visitors. Make your plans today to come and enjoy a cool afternoon nourishing your soul with this elegant collection. You can preview Al’s and Sandra’s exhibition art at www.artcentralcarthage.org/events and at www.facebook.com/ArtcentralCarthage/photos/.
