Back to School

2017

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8 B A C K T O S C H O O L , M U S I C & D A N C E … A N D M O R E ! - S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S - T H U R S D A Y, A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 17 By Todd Lewys | Winnipeg Free Press It's never too early for kids to learn how to tap into their artistic side. With that thought in mind, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) has come up with a tasty cross-section of 10-week courses aimed at getting kids' creative juices flowing this fall. "We will be offering a number of courses for kids aged five to 14," says Diane Lafournaise, manager of the WAG Studio, adding that online registration starts Aug. 15. "Those courses will include Drawing and Painting, Clayworks, Mixed Media and Fashion Arts. The first course, Drawing and Painting, is more involved than one might think, she adds. "While its purpose is to provide students with an introduction to the basic techniques and fundamental concepts that artists use to create well-conceived drawings and paintings, students will be taught to build observational skills and use their imagination. They will also visit WAG exhibitions to get a firsthand look at what goes into the works of established artists." The second offering — Clayworks — is is a perennial favourite. "It's our most popular class," says Lafournaise. "Students work on a series of functional and sculptural projects, using a variety of techniques to develop hand- building skills." Not surprisingly, projects range from basic to advanced. "Younger students can mould a piece, then place it in a kiln to bake it into its final form, while older students (12 to 14 years-old) can put the clay on a wheel — which takes a quite a bit of skill — to mould their piece," she says. "Not of lot of places in the city offer this type of course, so we're happy to offer it." Next is Mixed Media, a title that sums up course content. "Students will experience a sample variety of media from drawing and painting to collage, sculpture and printmaking in this course. The great thing about it is that projects can be layered and mixed. Sometimes, a project might take more than one class to complete. The whole idea of the course is to encourage students' creativity." Finally, there's Fashion Arts, a course that's going into its second year of existence. "It was actually created last year at the request of a parent," says Lafournaise. "It involves developing drawing skills as students work to create their own fashion designs. They can create unique jewelry, even sneakers. Or, they can re-work clothes with creative DIY flair, using fabric paint, printmaking and hand-sewn embellishments of creative re-structuring to achieve the design they're looking for. Students can bring their own sneakers or cast-off clothing to experiment on as they explore the world of fashion art." The purpose behind these and other course offerings is manifold, she adds. "Creating art engages the mind, and, especially in younger kids, the body, as they build hand-eye co-ordination. Most importantly, it develops creativity, as kids are encouraged to come up with and express ideas. They learn how to use space, solve problems and focus. All those things happen while they're doing something they enjoy." Lafournaise says the kids never disappoint. "I'm always amazed at what they come up with," she says. "In one instance, a five-year- old student drew an incredible picture. In another, a group of students came up with a display highlighting the wonders of the word, featuring Stonehenge." Essentially, there's no downside to enrolling a child in any type of art course. "Exposing kids to art can serve to open up another dimension of their imagination. It also teaches them discipline, too. Fall courses are very affordable (ranging in price from $125- $170), start the third week in September, and run to Dec. 10." To find out more about fall courses for children and teens, visit wag.ca/learn or call 204-786-6641. ❚ "Creating art engages the mind, and, especially in younger kids, the body, as they build hand-eye co- ordination. Most importantly, it develops creativity, as kids are encouraged to come up with and express ideas. They learn how to use space, solve problems and focus. All those things happen while they're doing something they enjoy." The WAG offers fall courses for kids five to 14, including Drawing and Painting, Clayworks, Mixed Media and Fashion Arts. WAG photos

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