Summer camps are set to kick off at the Averitt Center for the Arts at the end of this month, with new instructors and new camps. New visual arts camps include Creative Critters, Eco Art, Art Around the World, All About Color, Super Heroes of the Art World, Advanced Sculpture, Adult Clay Camp, Sewing and Fashion Camp, Read Set Create, Fiesta Camp, Fun with Fibers, Ocean Week and Artsy Animals.
Camps are offered in the morning and the afternoon at a cost of $125 each, and all day camps are $175.The first camps are set to be held May 31 through June 4. Kids can participate in dance, music and arts camps that week. Camps run weekly through the end of July.
Visual Arts Director Kim Riner says new instructors this year include Sam Sheffield, Shaniah Sheffield and Jackie Bolton.
Bolton, who will be teaching Creative Critters, Artsy Animals, Eco Art, Art Around the World, Super Heroes of the Art World and Fun with Fiber, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in December 2019, and she says the company she worked for was sold to a corporation that same month. The change was a blessing in disguise.
“After 41 years of working, I had time to myself and to visit family and friends until the COVID stuff happened,” she said. “I applied to a master’s program across the country and I am so happy I was accepted to Georgia Southern.”
Bolton is a painter who loves to draw with pastels, charcoal and graphite pencils. She says she has worked mostly in watercolor and oils when it comes to painting, but she also loves textiles like beads, yarn and fiber.
“I am now painting with fabrics. I have been creating works in new and vintage textiles, found objects, and bits and pieces scooped up from my studio floor. I love to work with my hands in all forms of arts and crafts. I am happy as long as I am creating,” she said.
Bolton says she loves to make something out of nothing, or “next to nothing.” She gave some thought to a class for kids, and has always encouraged her younger family members to continue to create. She has many years of teaching art and craft classes under her belt as well.
“There is so much freedom and purpose in creating and unfortunately creativity is not always championed once kids get in school. Children and adults benefit from using their hands to make things whether it is art, crafts, music, woodwork, food,” she said.
Bolton enjoys trying to be as eco-friendly as possible in her artwork, and she wants to pass that along to her students.
“Once you start looking at things a little differently, you can imagine how found objects and even trash can be made into art. And with a little imagination and repurposing, you can make art without spending a lot of money,” she said. “All my classes have been designed for maximum fun and creativity, and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone.”
Sheffield will be teaching the Sewing and Fashion Fun camp. She became involved in that particular camp through her sister, who is also teaching.
Sheffield is at the end of her junior year at Georgia Southern, where she is studying Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. She has been sewing most of her life, and learned at a young age from her grandmother, who also had a degree in Fashion Design.
As for her camp, Sheffield says that students can expect to build a portfolio of design sketches, and they’ll learn how to cut out patterns.
“One of our projects will be hand sewing a face mask,” she said. “I’ll be teaching the students all the techniques of hand sewing including hemming, sewing up a hole, reattaching a button and much more.”
Sheffield says students will be able to take home at least five finished projects to use on a daily basis.
“Besides the projects, I anticipate to host a very fun and energetic class because fashion is all about fun and creativity,” she said.
To register for camp or for more information, call Tony Phillips at 912-259-9228. CDC guidelines for social distancing and wearing of masks will be observed, and there will be health screenings, temperature checks and hand sanitizing stations.
You can view full camp descriptions at www.averittcenterforthearts.org/summer-camps. Please note that Space Camp is already sold out.
