The first ever pottery and Art Camp for Children ages 6 – 16 ended with parents showing much enthusiasm and excitement at what their children accomplished during the two week camp held from July 23rd to August 3rd, at The Potter’s House, Camps Estate, St. Kitts.
It was indeed a busy summer and maybe even a busy year for owner/potter Carla Astaphan who earlier this year, January 22nd – February 2nd, hosted a UNESCO sponsored two week workshop for teenagers and adults. The good results and immense enthusiasm of the community spurred Carla on in deciding to host this summer camp for children.
At the closing ceremony and exhibition of work, which was held at midday on August 8th 2007, parents and friends of the participants were able to view the artwork and the pottery pieces which the children made. Many were indeed surprised at the talent the children were able to exhibit.
During the two week camp, children spent the first part of the morning doing drawing exercises. This was done in an effort to have them use the creative energy within them. Actually the word CREATIVITY was the virtue used throughout the camp. Though many of the exercises given by the facilitator, who used techniques from ‘Drawing of the right side of your brain’ by Betty Edwards, at one of the morning sessions, local artist/painter Mrs. Leonie Warner-Young gave the children a lesson on drawing techniques with particular emphasis on shading to create realism in their work. By the completion of the camp each child produced an acrylic painting inspired by a photograph. The result showed a variation of style, use of colour, interpretation. Overall, the results were amazingly interesting.
The second half of each morning was spent working with clay. The facilitator said that though it wasn’t her intention at first, she later decided to have the children discover all the aspects of pottery making. From the actual preparation of the clay, to learning different techniques in pottery making the participants were kept very busy. They delighted in the fact that they had a reason to go home dirty and some parents quickly bought cover-ups so that they could minimize the level of dirtiness.
On some days children were given specific pieces to create but a couple of times they were told to be creative, but that they had to utilize the techniques which they had been taught. The exhibition showed the variety of pieces and the individuality of each persons work even when doing what should have been the same item. At the exhibition, the masks which had been made during their visit to the St. Christopher Museum on Friday July 28th was on display but they by then, they were fired and colourfully painted. Also on diplay was a variety of colourful wind chimes hanging throughout the exhibit, candleholders, bowls and imaginative pieces.
Ms. Astaphan expresses great thanks to all who assisted her in this endeavour and she is looking forward to making the camp bigger and better. She said that already parents were asking when the next one is. Interestingly enough, two days later on Friday 10th August, The Potter’s House was visited by twenty-four students from the Ross Preparatory School for a tour of the pottery studio and gallery, as well as a crash course in pottery making. Carla said she is exhausted but happy to have been able to share her talent with so many persons this year and that she will continue to do so, as she sees this as an opportunity to educate, inspire and promote creative expression in everyone.
