By Cathy Kimmel-Srock
Review Staff Writer
If the summer boredom blues have hit for your kids, then the Orion Art Center is here to help. The center’s annual summer art camps and classes have kicked off and are a fun addition to summertime.
This week, the art center is hosting their annual nature camp, taught by Debbie Thompson, where participants focus on creating art that reflects nature. Using found objects from outdoors and a variety of techniques, campers will draw, paint and create a clay tile.
According to Orion Art Center Operations Director Heather Muzzy, these camps differ from normal summer camps as kids are not gone all day every day.
“These are not your traditional camps,” Muzzy explained. “They are enrichment and great for breaking up the day.”
She added that they are a perfect way to get the kids out of the house for a few hours to do something interesting.
For those that want to get involved in future fun, Hippie Camp, for 6- through 12-year-olds, will be held July 18-21 and Manga/Cartooning Camp, for 6- through 14-year-olds, will be held July 25-28. Both classes, taught by Cathy Huntoon, run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hippie Camp features peace signs and flower power inspired designs, and students will tie dye and create fiber art.
Manga is a popular style of Japanese art, found frequently in comic books. Students in this camp will design a character and then create their own storyboard or comic strip. Then, they will take it a step further and highlight themselves as an avatar by creating a 3D figure. Because of this type of art form’s popularity, the art center has extended the age for this class to 14-years-old.
“13 and 14 year olds would really enjoy it,” said Muzzy.
“Cathy is great with older kids as well as younger kids,” added Orion Art Center’s Executive Director Lorene Porter.
If the week long classes don’t work for your family’s schedule, the center is also running Tuesday classes for four weeks in August. Mixed Media Madness will run August 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and is for 6- to 12-year-olds. Stipple, Stroke and Splatter Painting Exploration runs those same dates but from 1 to 3 p.m. and is for 10- to 14-year-olds. Those classes will be taught by Cherene Ahlborn and focus more on specific techniques.
Descriptions for those classes, as well as the camps, can be found at orionartcenter.org. Registration forms can also be found there, too.
According to Muzzy, registration forms can be dropped off at the Orion Art Center, 115 S. Anderson Street in downtown Lake Orion, or participants can call and reserve their spot and bring the forms the first day.
“There are still some spots available,” said Porter.
“So hurry up and save your spot,” Muzzy added with a chuckle, recommending that participants grab a friend and register.
All skill levels are welcome at the camps and classes, and Muzzy said that it is all about having some fun enrichment.
Camps/classes are $95. The Orion Art Center can be reached at (248) 693-4986.