​Last week I introduced classes taught by Alexandra Burnside, Teri Y. Diggs, Jane McCaulley, Kahlie Jones, Tom Jones, Tiffany Kunkler, Nicole Meyer-Foresman and Sarah Serio. Today I’ll tell you about a few more classes led by some of these teachers as well as classes taught by other teachers, too.
 
Always a favorite, returning teacher April Brunner-Davis is offering two acrylic painting classes. In Baby Animal Friends young painters will learn to sketch and draw a furry baby animal using photo images. Then they’ll paint their friend with acrylics on canvas. In Winged Flying Friends artCampers will sketch and draw a bird or bat or butterfly using photo images then paint their friend with acrylics on canvas.
 
Another teacher with an impressive artCamp history, Anne-Marie Gailey, is offering a Dioramas class where young artists create a 3-D magical forest, an island of mythological creatures, a flower kingdom or a dragon machine planet; in Llama Love they’ll draw a whimsical llama and add embellishments with pastels, color pencils, paints, sequins, yarns and beads; and in Fashion Design artCampers will study clothing designs, illustrate outfits, build a portfolio with pencils, paints, paper and fabric then throw a studio fashion party.
 
In Alexandra Burnside’s Painter’s Tape Pandemonium imaginations are encouraged to run free to create wildly different artworks using painters tape, acrylic and spray paint. In her Make Your Own Pillow Pal, with fabric markers artCampers will design a creature on fabric, then transform their creation into a pillow.
 
The artCampers signing up for classes with Tiffany Kunkler will Weave, Weave, Weave as they design and construct a bag, purse or wallet using colored duct tape and weaving and fabric techniques. They can also choose to Get Organized with Tiffany’s guidance as they use cardboard and fabric to design, build and bind a notebook organizer for school or for art projects and pencils. In Tiffany’s About Beads class, kids will design colorful clay necklaces and bracelets using a variety of techniques, tools and textures.
 
In addition to her mermaid class, Kahlie Jones will teach how to make stained glass using different types of paper to create a kaleidoscope of colors for artCampers to hang in their windows.
 
Sara Serio will have a Go Galaxy class where young artists can blast off into art by creating their own unique rocket ship sculpture, then design and construct a retro robot. In her Star Wars Extravaganza Sarah’s artCampers will build a light saber and other paraphernalia needed to be a member of the Force. She’ll also teach Carry Art Everywhere for kids to explore design and color interaction while stenciling an original fabric tote bag and more.
 
            As you can see, this year’s artCamp curriculum is loaded with creativity possibilities. Check in with me next week. I’ll have lots of fun experiences to share with you!
           
 

Our generous Underwriters make possible artCentral’s art-centric, community-oriented exhibitions as well as our diverse programs including artCamp. The good folks of the Carthage Community Foundation are awarding a grant of $2,500.00 for artCentral’s artCamp program. The Carthage Council on the Arts and S&S Computers are also making generous contributions for artCamp and the awarding of artCamp scholarships.

In just a few days young wanna-be artists, guided by a splendid staff, will have the opportunity to explore their creativity surrounded with the Membership Exhibition’s real art by artCentral’s real artists. What an inspiring learning environment for our aspiring young art makers.
 
For now Hyde House and the campus of artCentral are all a flurry. Final artCamp preparations are happening every day. The teachers have created and delivered terrific samples of their unique class projects which are displayed as a vibrant assemblage of colorful creative possibilities in the Hyde House foyer. Our eleven art educators and a bevy of interns attended a recent Saturday orientation. Supplies are being gathered as classrooms are being prepared.
 
Today and next week I’ll share with you many of the classes available for our 2017 artCampers.
 
With Alexandra Burnside, artCampers will make Ceramic Tile Coaster Creations as well as Colorful Glue Creations using glue, salt and food coloring.
 
Teri Y. Diggs will guide young creatives in painting mandala designs on large rocks, weaving dream catchers and turning their doodles into Zentangle art.
 
With Jane McCaulley kids, ages 10-14, have choices of four different colorful glass classes where they use specialized tools and wire to make creatures like lizards and birds; spiders, butterflies and ladybugs on leaves; glass signs with their names; mosaic mirrors; and glass faves like glass suncatchers and dishes.
 
With Kahlie Jones, in Paper Curled Creatures, artCampers explore the world of paper quilling as they sculpt different creatures like seahorses, dragonflies, sharks and much more.
 
Sarah Serio will teach young creatives how to build rocket ships, practice green upcycle sculpting, explore printmaking adventures and make kinetic mobiles.
 
With Tom Jones kids can create a cut-paper mosaic of brightly colored paper. They can explore painting watercolor landscapes or use animal designs and symbolism to learn Australian outback dot painting with colored paint and sticks. In Tom’s Candyland to Catan class, they design their own board games and learn game play and mechanics (dice, cards and spinners).
 
Tiffany Kunkler will teach slab and hand building clay techniques for mug making. She’ll show young artists how to construct silly bird marionettes with feathers and chenille.
 
With Nicole Meyer-Foresman artCampers, ages 10-14, will learn the art of needle felting as they create wearable pins, earrings or necklaces.
 
Stay tuned. Next week I’ll share with you more of the fantastic classes waiting for artCampers.

and play and provide a nurturing learning environment. They all have spent lots of time helping kids develop their young inner artists as they  explore and discover and think outside the box.

Every summer I hear adults say, “I wish you offered an artCamp for grownups!” “Well, maybe someday”, but for now I’m all in for artCamp 2017 for kids, and I’m over-the-top happy to have our outstanding lineup of artCamp educators. I introduced six artCamp staffers last week. Today you get to meet six more.
 
KAHLIE JONES – Kahlie attends Missouri Southern State University and enjoys crafting and making art in her free time.  She was first an artCamper then an artCamp aide at artCentral. This will be Kahlie’s third year as an artCamp instructor. She loves giving artCampers the tools and the techniques to create.
 
TOM JONES – Tom is an accomplished and prolific artist in many media and holds both Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Art Education. He’s won several state and national awards for his cartoons and has instructed at many artCamps. Tom is well known for his watercolors of snowmen among Carthage landmarks.
 
TIFFANY KUNKLER – Tiffany grew up with artistic parents and is married to a ceramic artist. Originally from Springfield, she has a BFA from Missouri State University and a MFA from the University of Iowa. A popular teacher at her first artCamp last year, Tiffany knows how to teach and make learning fun!
 
JANE McCAULLEY – Jane taught elementary art for 35 years in Indiana before moving with her husband to Missouri eight years ago. She holds bachelors and master’s degrees from Ball State University. Currently she teaches classes in glass art at Spiva, in her home studio and at artCentral.
 
NICOLE MEYER-FORESMAN – A Kansas native and first time artCamp teacher with a BSED in Art Therapy, Nicole is in her 20th year teaching art at Girard High School. She enjoys participating in her hometown art community of Pittsburg and is inspired by the positive, magical vibe she finds at Hyde House.
 
SARAH SERIO – A native of Neosho, Sarah is a professional artist/printmaker and returning artCamp teacher who enjoys teaching kids to be creative thinkers. Sarah’s prints are shown regionally and exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. She serves on the Neosho Arts Council Board of Directors.
 
artCamp has great teachers and outstanding interns, too, who have special parts in artCamp’s big picture. With teacher guidance they offer assistance in artCamp classes and act as art-loving role models for artCampers. We have cool returning interns this year and cool new ones, too. I’ll tell you all about them soon.
 
When you’re looking for a cool weekend outing, be sure to visit the galleries at Hyde House, 1110 East Thirteenth Street. Come see artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition during gallery hours through July 30.Information: (417) 358-4404 and www.artcentralcarthage.org.

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out ​some more with their artCampers. Sometimes they join in a game or two of kickball or tag. At the end of the day, after they tidy classrooms with the help of artCampers and interns, they go home knowing they’ve done their best and made an artful difference in the lives of these kids we cherish.
 
artCamp 2017,  July 10-14 and 17-21, will have eleven teachers who’ve helped me build an awesome curriculum with forty unique classes. This is going to be the best artCamp ever! I’m delighted to introduce you to half of our staff today. Next week I’ll introduce you to all the others.

ALEXANDRA BURNSIDE – Alexandra grew up in El Paso. She loves her musical husband, cats and playing with clay! She teaches elementary art at Fairview Elementary and loves making art with kids and watching their creative minds at work. For Alexandra, drawing and doodling are fun and relaxing.
 
APRIL BRUNNER-DAVIS – Well known in and around Carthage as an accomplished painter and experienced teacher in oil and acrylic, April exhibits and teaches frequently throughout southwest Missouri. She is one of the seven artists contributing to the mural on artCentral’s Great Wall.
 
TERI Y. DIGGS – Teri holds a BS in Graphic Design. Her original design is the official art for our 2017 Maple Leaf Festival. Teri works as a Mark Twain tutor and teaches art classes and parties for kids and adults in her home studio. She lives in Carthage with her husband, Craig, and their son, Jasper.
               
ANNE-MARIE GAILEY – Anne-Marie is a longtime participant as an artCamp educator. Art was the emphasis of her Bachelor degree with a minor in Art Education. Anne-Marie‘s teaching experience includes high school and elementary art programs in this region and at the Spiva Center.
 
ALICE LYNN GREENWOOD-MATTHEWS – Alice Lynn is an artist and the Director-Curator of artCentral and artCamp. She LOVES artCamp! With her artist husband, David, she likes to go for vintage boat and motorcycle rides to discover inspirations. They travel, garden & share a big, old house filled with their art and their furry and feathered companions. 
 
DAVID GREENWOOD-MATTHEWS – A professional artist and artCentral’s prepitor, David substitute teaches in R9 and R7 during the school year. He holds a BFA from the KC Art Institute, a BS in Education from MSSU and a lifetime teaching certification. Trained in military marching, he’s an experienced Kazoo Band member.
 
Next week I’ll introduce six more fabulous artCamp teachers—Kahlie Jones, Tom Jones, Tiffany Kunkler, Jane McCaulley, Nicole Meyer-Foresman and Sarah Serio. In the meantime artCamp 2017 registration flyers are available for pick up at artCentral, the Carthage Public Library, Cherry’s, Mother Road Coffee and the Deli.
 
Get your artCamper registered today and mark your calendar for a weekend viewing treat. Come see artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition during gallery hours through July 30.

​Information: (417) 358-4404 and www.artcentralcarthage.org.

Wow! What a difference a year makes. With artCentral board members supporting me anything can happen—even the appearance of my new husband, David Matthews. Not only is David a lifelong artist, he’s volunteering as artCentral’s prepitor, aka worker-person who helps me with everything including gallery installations like our fantastic current Membership Exhibition.
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This past weekend at our Annual Membership Exhibition Picnic, generously underwritten by McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, artCentral’s community of members and artists celebrated David’s and my recent nuptials with a surprise wedding cake, hearty congratulations and gift donations to our new Greenwood-Matthews Fund which will be used to foster artCentral Art and Artists. David and I thank you, each and every one, for helping us make a beautiful shared beginning in this art world we love most!

The days before our picnic are filled with “if-y” weather predictions. We speculate, “Rain or no rain? Picnic inside or out?" Undaunted by any uncertainty, genius gourmand and picnic guru, Judy Goff, gathers food and all the fixin’s, directs placement of the tables, decorates our cake with fruit and herbs and flowers from her gardens and harvests magnolia blossoms to garnish the birdbaths. Hearts and hands are given to assist with essential tasks by Pat Goff, Betsy and Bren Flanigan, Jackie and Alec Boyer and Jan Evans.  
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Our jurors arrive and choose award recipients. Beth Simmons, Director of McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, names Karolee Blanchard and her exquisite oil, “Bling and Bing” for the Underwriter Award. Anne-Marie Gailey, artist and art educator with a degree and graduate studies at Augusta State University and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, bestows the Membership Awards: Gold to Emily Rose and her bold and daring oil, “Fire and Eyce II”; Silver to Nicole Meyer-Foresman for her sterling silver “Bowl and Stand”; and Bronze to Brenda Sageng, creator of “Napoleon”, her majestic rooster rendered in oil.

Picnic time arrives and all is ready. Members and guests bring their culinary creations to share on tables dressed in festive, bright colors. Sweet breezes are wafting all around our al fresco dining. David and I give a mini replay of our barn loft wedding as he sings me to him once again with “Oh my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch a long, lonely time…I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me.”

​We celebrate all the artists who’ve given their hearts and souls to each of their creations gracing the walls of Hyde House. Just as I begin to announce the award recipients, John Hacker, our beloved artCentral-member-man-all-about-town-Carthage Press editor-magician strides across the lawn to document David’s handing out artCentral envelopes filled with this year’s cash awards. Our Awards and a Wedding Celebration Picnic is just perfect!
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Come see artCentral’s remarkable Annual Membership Exhibition during weekend gallery hours through July 30. Information: (417) 358-4404 and www.artcentralcarthage.org.