Let's Talk About Art: Art for home-schoolers
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Young artists take part in a portraiture class at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. The PCA is launching an art program for home-schooled students next month.
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Encouraging creativity in children through art instruction improves problem-solving abilities and promotes learning through kinesthetic exploration, most teachers agree.
"Kids have fun, but they are learning in the process," says Jena Robbins Schieb, children's program manager and camp director at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Shadyside.
Beginning this January, PCA launches an art program for home-schoolers -- offered during a time of year when getting out of the house does everybody some good -- and children can interact with other home-schooled students in an arts environment. And while at PCA they can visit the galleries and see examples of contemporary art.
"Clay Play" introduces the fundamentals of ceramics to students ages 5-7. The class focuses on free form handbuilding and exploring relief techniques, while creating a fired ceramic piece. "They really get to experiment and push the boundaries of form," she says.
"Art Stories," for ages 8-10, combines creative writing and visual arts. Students work on developing characters, constructing a story line, and experimenting with a variety of art materials and processes, including bookbinding. "They can really unleash their imaginations in this class, using their own images and words to create a fairy tale or madcap adventure story."
Both classes are four sessions, running Jan. 26-Feb. 16, and the registration deadline is Jan. 19.
"We hope to see this program grow so that in the future we can offer a class for every age group and extend the number of sessions," explains Mrs. Schieb. "Our goal is to foster a program in which a student could begin at age 5 and continue through high school."
These classes are offered for both home-schooled and cyber school students and are taught by artist educators from the Pittsburgh community. The curriculum meets Pennsylvania academic standards in art while focusing on student-centered experimentation and discovery.
More information about home-school classes or any of the other 35 classes, camps and workshops for children, teens and families this winter at PCA, is available online at pittsburgharts.org; or by calling 412-361-0455.
First Published December 27, 2011 12:00 am
