“Healthy At Home” Art Programming

ACB

News release

Summer is traditionally the busiest season for the Art Center of the Bluegrass and this year will be no exception, says Executive Director Niki Kinkade. There will just be one difference. “This year, instead of the creativity being concentrated inside our building – it’ll be happening in homes throughout the region!”

In response to the ongoing public health concerns presented by the COVID-19 virus, the Art Center has unveiled a robust lineup of online and take-home summer art programming for children and adults. “Our number one priority is the safety of our patrons,” says Kinkade. 

While the Art Center is tentatively planning to reopen the building in June, pending further guidance from Governor Beshear, they will not be running in-house art camps for children this summer. 

“One of the Art Center’s key strengths is flexibility,” says Kinkade. “Thanks to the support of our Gold Sponsors – Danville Pediatric Dentistry and Webster Orthodontics – we were able to adapt quickly and put together a whole new lineup of summer programs that maintain social distancing.” 

 

Art for Kids

 

• The Art Center’s summer programming for kids will be presented in several formats, designed to meet the varied needs of families. For young children (ages 3-7), the Art Center has designed a series of Themed Art Crates that are available for purchase for $40 each.
  

  Mary Rives McCrosky builds her very own fairy garden with a kit from the Art Center of the Bluegrass. (Photo submitted)

  The crates include art projects, creativity activities, and games all focused around a fun theme – such as Piggy Power or Rainforest Art. Crates are available for pre-registration on the Art Center website, with pickup beginning June 1. “The art crates are all about creative play,” says Kinkade. “The projects are simple enough for very young children, but open-ended to appeal to older children.”

 

• Slightly older children will have the opportunity to register for three week-long Take-Home Art Camps, with themes of Mermaid Magic, Beautiful Bugs, and Wizard Art. Art Camps will include a range of projects, with supplies and instructions provided, along with daily video check-ins with the instructor and other campers. The camps are designed for elementary students. 

 

• The Art Center is also offering four online art classes for students ages 8 to 11: Cross-Training for Artists, Street Art, Fabulous Food Art, and Intro to Drawing. Online classes involve more in-depth instruction and each class will include four sessions, meeting twice a week for two weeks. All supplies are provided. Full details and online registration can be found at www.artcenterky.org/camp. 

 

Art for Adults

 

Kids won’t be the only ones unleashing their creativity this summer. The Art Center also plans to offer online programs for adults. “We want to provide a mix of learning and doing with our adult programs,” explains Kinkade. For adults looking to gain new skills in art-making, the Art Center will offer online workshops in painting and mosaics, as well as multi-week classes in colored pencil art and pen and ink drawing.

The Art Center has also launched a virtual version of its popular Lunch with the Arts series, starting with a live video tour of Josephine Sculpture Park next Wednesday, May 20th. A virtual book club discussion of The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo is scheduled for Friday, May 22nd. Additional arts appreciation programs  are being planned for the summer, with details coming soon.

 

Community Programs

 

• In addition to a full line-up of classes and camps, the Art Center is looking forward to two new community programs this summer. Starting June 1, the Art Center begins a new art and literacy collaboration with The Gladys Project, with funding provided by the Boyle County Community Early Childhood Council. The Art Center will be developing art activities to accompany videos of children’s books, produced by The Gladys Project. Supplies for the activities will be distributed via the Art Box, located in front of the Art Center’s building. More details will be coming soon!

 

• In an effort to spread joy through art, the Art Center is also hosting a Community Kindness Week from June 15 to 19. Director Niki Kinkade describes Community Kindness Week as “a celebration of kindness and empathy through creative, artistic experiences.” The event will be hosted on Facebook, with daily posts and projects suggestions that bring joy to others in the community through acts of kindness. Participation is free and interested community members should RSVP to the Community Kindness Week Facebook event to receive updates.

 

So You Know

Visit the Art Center’s website for information and registration details for summer programming. www.artcenterky.org

 

Coming Up

 

Lunch with the Arts: Josephine Sculpture Park

Wednesday, May 20 at 12 p.m. via Facebook Live

Melanie Van Houten, Executive Director of Josephine Sculpture Park, will give a LIVE introduction to the park – its history, mission, and programming – plus a tour of the grounds.

 

Online Book Club

Friday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for a free, virtual discussion of The Secret Book of Friday Kahlo by F. G. Haghenbeck. Read the book on your own, prior to the meeting, then join us to discuss. Contact Kate Snyder (kate@artcenterky.org) to request the meeting access information.

 

Starry Night Studio: Van Gogh’s Starry Night

Thursday, June 4 | 7 – 9 p.m.

$30 per person

Learn to paint what is arguably the most iconic masterpiece of all time – right from the comfort of your own home! In this acrylic painting workshop, a professional artist will guide you via live video feed, from blank canvas to finished masterpiece. Your registration fee includes a 16” x 20” stretched canvas, paint, and use of our brushes, which can be picked up from the Art Center on Wednesday, June 3rd or Thursday, June 4th. Register online at www.artcenterky.org 

 

Mosaic Mandala Workshop

Wednesday, June 10 | 6 – 8 p.m.

$50 per person

Create a beautiful 12” circular mandala using an array of glass tiles. Your registration fee includes all supplies along with video instruction and an invitation to live ‘office hours’ with the instructor. Register online at www.artcenterky.org 

 

Colored Pencil Drawing for Adults

Mondays & Thursdays, 7 – 8 p.m.

June 15, 18, 22, & 25 | $40 per person

Combine drawing with COLOR! It’s like painting, but without the mess. In this four-session class, instructor Brandon Long will teach you how to enrich your drawings with colored pencils as we learn to create realistic shading, blend colors, add texture, and more. Register online at www.artcenterky.org