SMART Enrichment Summer Programs Offered

The Newtown Continuing Education Department is offering SMART Too!, a summer enrichment program for students in grades sixth through tenth who want a more in-depth exploration of their own artistic abilities.

Classes for SMART Too! are being held July 7–18 and July 21–August 1 at Newtown High School for $299 per two-week session.

Courses will be taught by professional artists Erin Walrath and Phyllis Boger of The Art Spot in Brookfield and by artists/teachers Leslie Gunn and Virginia Zimmerman. The following courses will be offered:

Fresco Secco Painting — Learn the art of painting with water based media on dry plaster. Students will work from life as well as using photo references.

The Mask — Work in a variety of media to create masks. Participants will use references from art history and different cultures to create pieces that range from “myth to magic.”

Sculpture — Catering to the individuals, students will explore the 3-D works of sculpture. Participants will make a variety of 3-D forms that include wire, clay book making, and stone carving.

The Monoprint — Using the drawing/painting process, students will create an original type of print by building layers of color and shape within their image.

Pottery — In this basic pottery and ceramic design class, the emphasis will be on both wheel throwing and hand building techniques.

Polymer Clay — Participants will use traditional sculpting tools, while exploring animal sculpture as well as miniature busts, or portraits, beading from canes, recreating the work of master artists in clay, flower or automobile sculpture and more.

Other classes will include drawing, pastel drawing, and drawing with charcoal. To register for these classes, call 426-1787.

There are still spots open in the SMART summer program for elementary students. New classes have been added this year such as Sounds of Music, a singing class for grades three through five; Music & Movement, listen and dance to folk music as well as improvisational movement to various music; Graphic Design, learn how to design an advertisement, business card, and even customize a T-shirt; Myths & Legends, create projects of many kinds including painting puppets, masks, dioramas, clay, and creatures based on myths and legends; and Meet the Artist, learn about an artist a day and paint, draw, and construct in the style of their work while learning about modern art.

Beginning and Intermediate Strings, Keyboarding, and Beginning Winds are returning SMART programs as well as many others such as jewelry design, crazy colorful clay, simulated stained glass, young authors and illustrators, introduction to theater, simple foolproof science tricks, and icky sticky slimy ooey gooey chemistry. SMART offers two-two week sessions July 7–18 and July 21–August 1, from 8:30 am to 1 pm. Students choose three classes during the day. For more information contact 426-1787.