Young People's Program - 2011

A multi-arts program for ages 5-13 offering an opportunity to work with highly experienced staff in a low key nurturing environment.

* indicates a series of workshops which provides a reduced fee per workshop

Scholarships

Scholarships are limited and are for full-time Hilltown residents.
Please inquire at the office.

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9^th Annual Young People’s Arts FestivalTuesday, August 9^th  • 3:00 pm

Becket Arts Center

Enjoy art work created in the Young People’s workshops:
Go Figure: From Me to Power Figures &  I Love Art

and see a performance by the
Marmalade Production’s Big Puppet Day puppeteers

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Go Figure: From Me to Power Figures
Tuesdays July 5, 12, 19 • 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Ages 8-13
This is a FREE series. Please register in advance

Students use found, natural and art materials to create figures that represent themselves, their dreams and their power. Figures will be inspired by examining superheroes and figures constructed in other cultures. Exhibitions at the Becket Arts Center and reproductions of artist’s work, drawing from observation, student writing and individual and group reflection will be the basis for personal imagery.

Joan L. Davidson, artist and art educator (K-College) for over 30 years has taught Art in NYC Public Schools, and at New York University.  Joan is President of the Becket Arts Center.

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I Love Art
Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19  • 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Ages 5 - 7
at the Becket Federation Church - meet at the Becket Arts Center
This is a FREE series. Please register in advance

Every child can be creative and produce artwork that they can be proud of. This class offers the opportunity to explore a wide variety of materials while learning about famous artists. Children will experiment with paint, oil pastel, collage, and construction.

Abby DuBow is a practicing artist and art educator for over 30 years and has taught all ages from 3 year olds to adults. She was the Head of the Art Department at the Lenox School in NYC.

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Marmalade Production’s Big Puppet Day
Tuesday, August 9 • 9:30am-noon and 1-4pm
(lunch break 12-1pm; performance/sharing 3-4pm)

Ages 8+
Workshop Fee for the whole day!!!! 
Family = one household
One Child $10; Non-member $12
Two children $15; Non–members $20
Three + children $20; Non-members $25
Adult $10; Non-members $15

Creative Cardboard Creatures take to the streets and explore the Becket Woods! Learn how to mold cardboard and paper to create your own creature in the morning workshop with Meredyth Babcock and Michael Wolski of Marmalade Production. All afternoon we will develop short improvised stories about these creatures’ lives, habits and mysterious ways to share with community members who dare to attend the Cardboard Creatures Parade of Dreams at 3pm. Parents encouraged to participate all day. Bring your lunch!

Meredyth Babcock Is the Artistic Director of Marmalade Productions www.marmaladeproductions.com

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*William Shakespeare : His Words, His Wit, His Wisdom, The Bawd Of The Bard
A multigenerational program for ages 8 to 80+
Saturday & Sunday, August 6 & 7 • 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Site: Becket Arts Center Upstairs Gallery
Bring: Water, snack
Fee $12; Non-members $15
Series of two days Fee: $20; Non-members $25
Scholarships available for year-round Hilltown residents - please ask.

Is “All the world a stage”? Are all mortals fools?

In this workshop, participants will explore Shakespeare’s wit and wisdom through his more famous words and phrases. They will get some training in voice, character study and movement as well as a brief historical overview. Weather permitting, there will be an outdoor showing for an audience on the second day.

Debra Walsh has over 25 years of professional work as an actor, producer and theatre arts educator. She performs Shakespeare outdoors and implemented programs teaching Shakespeare in the Hartford public school system.

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*Families Dance Together at the Pillow
Thursdays, July 14, 21, 28 and August 4, 11, 18 • 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Ages: 5-12 accompanied by an adult.

Site: Meet at Jacob's Pillow at the Tea Garden. 
Wear loose clothing, bring water and a snack.

Member: One child with one adult $10, series of 6 - $50
Non-member: One child with one adult $15, series of 6 - $80
Additional adult (without a child): $5

Discover how simple movements can create an exciting dance.  Following class, attend the free Inside/Out Performance at 6:15pm.

Jeff Bliss was a faculty member of Lincoln Center Institute’s Program in the Schools.  He is a founding artist with the Wolftrap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts, teaches and performs Contact Improvisation throughout the US.

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*Clay Work Basics
Thursdays, July 14, 28 and August 11, 25 • 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm

Fee (includes clay) $30 Adult Member, + $10 for one child/$90 series of 4;
$35 Non-member + $15 for one child/$115 series of 4.

Hand working in clay is one of the most rewarding creative experiences. In this workshop we will explore three basic techniques for making decorative pottery: slab, coil and pinch. You will follow your own bliss choosing what you create and how you make it. Build and decorate objects such as memory tiles, candleholders, cornucopias, slab pots/vases and or bowls. Each participant will have a completed project at the end of each class. This is a multi-generational class, children 8 and older welcome with parent (reduced child fee - ask when registering.) Bring burlap, screening, random small objects for texturing, any carving tools you may want to experiment with.

Michele Klemaszewski, BFA from SUNY Purchase, School of Visual Art, and MEd from Westfield State University. Michele has been and artist and art educator for over 25 years, working in and teaching a variety of media to both children and adults. She is currently the owner of Functional Art, manufacturing custom made  Thermal Insulated Window Treatments in Chester, MA (www.ArtwithanRvalue.com).

 

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Camp Imagination
2011 World Culture & World Travel
Monday, August 1 - Friday, August 5 • 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Fee: $90 Members, $105 Non-members
For young people in two groups (5-7) and (8-13) who love to play with their imagination and be engaged in a different art form each day of the week. Bring a snack and drink.

Extended Camp for Ages 8-14 - 1-4pm Library Summer Reading Camp (Campers must pre-register at the Becket Athenaeum for the Library Camp)
In a collaborative effort, Camp Imagination and the Becket Athenaeum Free Library Camp for ages 8-14 will be held the same week!
Each program will explore the statewide Summer Reading theme of World Travel and World Cultures.

The Arts Center will supervise lunch for children who will be attending both camps - bring your lunch.

MultiCultural Celebrations:
Friday, August 5
12:30pm - 1:15pm
The Arts Center lunch time festival will include drumming by Aimee Gelinas, tastes of  campers' international cooking and presentations of their personal interpretations of global world traditions created during the camp.  Bring lunch.

4pm - 7pm
The Athenaeum's Summer Library Camp celebrates with a community potluck and performances by story tellers and musicians Davis Bates and Roger Trincknell.

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Art Making Around The World
Monday August 1 • 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 5-7
Site: Becket Federation Church

Based on art making methods used from a variety of cultures around the world, students will have fun experimenting with a variety of media and methods such as resist methods, printing, stenciling, paper weaving and painting on fabric and more.

Abby Dubow is a practicing artist and art educator

Theatre & Video Project
Monday August 1 • 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 8-13

Students will engage in theatre warm-ups, improvisational exercises and storytelling.
Selected parts of the process and scenes will be videotaped.

Jonathan Davidson is an actor, writer, and producer in theatre and film.  He taught acting and playwriting in NYC Public Schools and at the Becket Arts Center and founded and coordinated the Becket Playwrights Festival at the BAC.

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Marmalade Puppet Creations
Tuesday, August 2 •  9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 5-7
Site: Becket Federation Church

Rod puppets take the Art Center by storm as the hands of young puppeteers explore the world around them through the limbs, paws, claws, snouts and eyes of their new puppet creations.

Meredyth Babcock is the Artistic Director of Marmalade Productions based in Becket. She is a puppeteer, performer, writer and teacher who creates stories and builds puppets, props and sets to convey a sense of wonder and playfulness.


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The Art Of The Story
Tuesday, August 2 •  9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 8-13

Based on the principles of age old storytelling traditions from around the world, this program will help guide students in creating vivid and meaningful stories.   Students attending this workshop will receive practical knowledge related to the fundamental principals of storytelling, and a better understanding of the creative storytelling process.  Using basic storytelling approaches, students will craft spoken word stories from everyday life, and share them with others.  In developing their story, students will be invited to deepen the process through crossover art methods such as story boards, music access, automatic writing exercises, and non traditional outlining.

Darlene White is a certified teacher who received a degree in English Literature from Smith College. Her stories and essays have been published in various reviews, and she has written numerous columns for the Berkshire Eagle. On radio, her stories have been featured on WAMC and "All Things Considered."

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Mask Making With Yarn And More
Wednesday, August 3 • 9:30 am - 11 am

Ages 5-7

Students will create masks, neck pieces, head bands, and pins using tapestry needles, assorted yarns, rug and needlepoint canvas.
Found objects such as feathers, shells, buttons, sequins etc. will be utilized.  Photographs of masks and body ornaments from around the world will be offered for inspiration.

Barbara Barron received her BA in Education from Hunter College, NYC and her MA in Education at Columbia Teachers College. NYC.  As an exhibiting artist, her tapestries are in many prominent collections in the United States.

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Theatre Games
Wednesday, August 3 •11 am - 12:30 pm

Age 5-7

Expression through movement, music & voice.

Debra Walsh has over 25 years of professional work as an actor, producer and theatre arts educator. Debra is a member of the HeartBeat Ensemble, she teaches puppetry and movement at The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts magnet school in Hartford CT., where she was the recipient of the Artist/Instructor of the Year Award 2008-2009.

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If I Only Had A Heart: Robot Design
Wednesday, August 3 • 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 8-13

Review state-of-the art global Robot planning, find out how Robots can impact your life. Invent ways to solve problems that require the aid of robots ( health care, games, toys, peace-makers.) Activities include illustration, construction, performing, storytelling and more.

Joe Bosworth, Smart Robots Co. President, Robot Concept Designer and Manufacturer

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Wearable Art: T Shirts  Jewelry, Music & Drum Making
Thursday, August 4 • 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Age 5-7

Students will tie-dye a T-Shirt, make jewelry to be worn at the Multicutural Celebration, sing and time permitting will construct a drum to be played at the celebration.

Jessica Ochs, exhibiting artist, formerly a para at the Crosby School, Pittsfield, MA, native of Becket and mom of a 5 year old.


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The Practical Traveler's Guide To The Universe
Thursday, August 4 • 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Age 8-13

Build a scale model of our solar system, make several distant constellations, a working telescope, and a useful starfinder. Learn some interesting facts about our universe and begin to navigate the night sky.

Michael Hamburg is an Earth and Space Explainer at the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and is on the faculty of New York University supervising graduate students in science education.


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Art & Yoga
Thursday, August 4 • 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

ages 5-7

Animal movements and sounds will be the basis for yoga positions and image making.  The combination of these activities will increase body and mind awareness.

Anna Mattioli is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, NYC. Her art installations have been shown in venues in the US, Europe and Japan .  She is also a dancer who loves to engage young children in Yoga movements


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Personal Pendants & More
Thursday, August 4 • 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Age 8-13

Based on personal crests worn by people of different cultures, students will make a personal pendant  to be worn at the Multicultural Celebration and time permitting will construct a drum to be played at the celebration.

Jessica Ochs, exhibiting artist, formerly a para at the Crosby School, Pittsfield, MA, native of Becket and mom of a 5 year old.


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Cooking What We Like To Eat
Friday, August 5

Age 5-7 • 9:30 am - 11 am
Age 8-13 • 11 am - 12:30 pm

The children will be preparing age appropriate recipes that will be part of the international celebration.
Joan Pankosky has been an educator for over 30 years. She is an enthusiastic cook who collects cookbooks. She has been a summer resident for 40 years.


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Rhythm Dialogues: A Global Music And Dance Conversation
Friday, August 5

Age 5-7 • 11 am - 12:30 pm
Age 8-13 • 9:30 – 11 am

Rhythm Dialogues is a performance/presentation and class structure that utilizes the American vernacular art form of Jazz/Rhythm Tap Dancing (Hoofin’) to communicate broadly across borders and boundaries.  This is done through improvisation and conversation with other musicians and dancers playing instruments that derive from all over the globe.  In addition to American jazz cultural influences, we explore rhythmic patterns found in Cuba, West Africa, Brazil, Southern Italy, and parts of the Middle East and North Africa.  Interacting between students, artists and instruments highlights the value and possibilities of creative communication. Students will be invited to participate and interact.  Instruments will be defined and their geographical and cultural origins will be discussed.

Aimee Gelinas, M.Ed., is a musician, naturalist, and cultural educator who has been performing, teaching facilitating and developing educational programs for over 15 years. www.tamarackhollow.com & www.gaiaroots.com.

Stefanie Weber is a dance artist. She continues to educate, create and study that which she is passionate about and skilled in; namely Jazz/Rhythm Tap dance and Physical Poetry for performance. www.fertileuniverse.com.

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