By Michael Manning
As the school year comes to an end thoughts turn to vacations, camps and summer activities for our kids. Our area has so many wonderful opportunities to explore and enrich our childrens’ lives but how many of these activities have we planned to do with them? This could be as simple as drawing together but ideally signing up for an art class or art related event together.
Start locally and try out a week of classes, individual sessions or an event specific project. One of my favorite places is Clay Art Studio located in Port Chester. They have classes for all levels and something both you and your children will be sure to enjoy. One of the nice things about doing the clay class is the multi step process it involves. There’s something uniquely rewarding about molding the clay in hands, firing it in the kiln and adding a glaze before firing to complete. It will take a little bit more practice and a few more classes but there is nothing more satisfying than serving food on the plate that you have made. A good friend of mine is a ceramic artist and I was always amazed every time we had dinner with them. Every plate on the table was handmade which made the food and company even more special. Obviously this would take time but starting with a simple vase or bowl to be used for special occasions such as Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to start.
If clay is not your thing then a painting class might be the perfect place to start with your kids. Here too they’ll jump right in which will cure you of your hesitancy. As adults we often feel we can’t draw or paint but we just haven’t done it in a while. Sharing classes with your kid will give you a great experience together, it’s also really rewarding necessary for us as adults. Your kids are the perfect guides to experience uninhibited creativity. Often when I’m watching kids create they’re very rarely worried about what they’re doing, they’re just making and having fun. Painting classes can be found at a number of places, some local and some a short drive away. The Silvermine Art Center has a whole host of classes from painting to drawing sculpture. If this is your first class with your Child it might be best to start with something like a watercolor or a landscape class. SUNY Purchase also has a really nice summer program and now that things are getting back to normal a bit you can look for things at the Bruce Museum, the Aldrich Museum and Brant Foundation. The Brant Foundation is one of my favorite places in the world, a hidden jewel right in our backyard. They have been tremendously to partner with on the Developing Artist Program that I run with Ben Quesnel. They have facilitated tours, field trips and workshops for students all across town. They had been running weekend classes with incredible professional artists as well. I run the Camp Simmon summer art program for the Boys & Girls Club. This is focused on kids, but we could always organize a special group through the BGCG or Greenwich Sentinel.
A bit further away, and a place I’ve mentioned in a number of articles is Storm King. It’s a wonderful facility that often runs events and creative programs connected to the art on the property. Anytime you can sign up for a class connected to a museum it’s a win-win as the programming will utilizes artwork on location as a means to inspire educate and direct the classes. If you’re feeling a little bit more adventurous, a great palace is the Hamptons. Recently I have been showing with a ABNYgallery in the Hamptons and have become acquainted with the Parirsh Art Museum in Water Mill. It’s an incredible facility designed by legendary New York architect Norman Jaffe who also designed the Bridgehampton house. The museum is located very close to Jackson Pollock’s legendary studio where he created his paintings and not far from the Willem de Kooning property was actually in the Hamptons long before Pollock arrived. The area is awash with art galleries including some of the bigger mid high tir Chelsea galleries.
So whether you start locally or venture out a little bit further? The most important thing is taking a class with your child will be one of the most rewarding and memorable things you can do. Kids are naturals at creating. They will guide you and you will find unexpected pleasure working with them and developing your own creativity. Before you start all this be sure to pick up a small sketchbook maybe 5 x 7”. Something I spoke about in a previous article and a great way to record the classes you take and to continue your creativity on a daily basis.
