Member Registration for Summer Youth and Teen Workshops at the Wex Opens March 1

Public Registration Period Opens March 15

Registration for the Wexner Center’s popular summer workshops for youth and teens opens March 1 for Wexner Center members at the Household level and above, and March 15 for the general public.

These innovative half-day, weeklong courses are led by talented, practicing artists from The Ohio State University and community, including M.F.A. and Ph.D. graduates and candidates in art, art education, art history, dance, and theater, as well as other accomplished artists and educators. This year, the classes are inspired by the Wexner Center’s summer exhibition featuring the interdisciplinary work of L.A.-based artist Mark Bradford, which is steeped in contemporary urban collage.

Notes Wexner Center’s Jean Pitman, educator for youth programs, “Essential life skills can be readily gained through contemporary art practices. This year we’re offering a diverse menu of classes—from digital photography and music video-making to painting and performance poetry— that teach children or teens to think for themselves, engage in community building, explore art/design career options, and step up to participate creatively in our rapidly changing world. We recommend acting quickly because some workshops fill up before member registration is closed.”

Details for the Summer Kids workshops (divided into age-appropriate classes for youth entering grades 1–8 in the fall) are now available at www.wexarts.org/summerkids, and Teen Arts Fusion workshops (for teens entering grades 9–12) at www.wexarts.org/teenartsfusion.

Classes are held in venues at The Ohio State University (main campus), including Sullivant Hall, outdoors at Chadwick Arboretum, and elsewhere on campus.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL ART CAMPS

Summer Kids workshops include Make Video Games (grades 3–5), in which video mastermind Gordon Gavin shows kids how to build their own Mario Brothers–style video games; What a Relief! (grades 1–2), a “weeklong buffet” of printmaking, low-relief mold-making, and mosaics; Take It to the Street (grades 6–8), with mural artist Keturah Bobo introducing students to the history and power of public murals; a series at Ohio State’s Chadwick Arboretum called “Super Natural” (workshops dealing with mud, food, and bugs); and more. Teen Arts Fusion workshops, held in July and August, include Shout Out, an opportunity to work with national prizewinning poetry slam artist Barbara Fant; Graphic Novels and Comics; SingleShot Music Video, led by Ryan Schlagbaum who has worked with MTV; Mixed Media/Digital Photography Self-Portrait; and more.

The registration fee per workshop is $95 for the general public and $75 for Wexner Center members. The Wexner Center is offering a 10% savings on new or renewed memberships ($67.50) at the Household level when registering for any summer workshop. More information about becoming a member can be found at www.wexarts.org/get_involved/members/general.

A limited number of scholarships are available for families requiring financial assistance (application forms: www.wexarts.org/ed/pdf/scholarship2010.pdf).

Many workshops fill up fast; advanced registration is highly recommended.

The public can call (614) 292-6493 or e-mail edweb@wexarts.org for questions about the workshops.

SUPPORT

Major support for the Wexner Center’s 2009–10 education season is generously provided by Battelle.

Youth and family programs are presented with support from Bob Evans Farms, Cardinal Health, Target, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream.

All education programs and events also receive support from the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members, as well as from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council.