Campers get a taste of art at Annmarie

Friday, July 11, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by DARWIN WEIGEL Amber Bibbens, 10, left, of California and Twyquila Morris, 9, of Prince Frederick practice their roles of Jackie and Georgia O’Keefe Wednesday at a weeklong day camp at Annmarie Garden in Solomons. The campers were turning the book ‘‘Jack In Search Of Art” into a play. The camp was put on by the Arts Council of Calvert County. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Sandquesha Morris, 8, left, of Prince Frederick and Makyia Owens, 7, of Lusby learn how to play the wind instrument ocarina. Click here to enlarge this photo Kathy Sears, director of the Arts Council of Calvert County, teaches children how to play the wind instrument ocarina Wednesday at a weeklong day camp at Annmarie Garden in Solomons.

‘‘It’s like school, but funner,” De Jour Curh said about the week-long day camp.

Children ages 7 to 12 have been experiencing multiple facets of art all week at Annmarie Garden with the help of the Arts Council of Calvert County, local artists and teachers throughout the area.

From drawing pears with charcoal pastels to learning artistic yoga positions, children have received a work out of both the mind and the body.

‘‘When I first got here, I was real quiet,” said Jamika Paige, 10, of Lusby.

Paige said she was quiet at the beginning because she didn’t know what to expect. When she found out more abut the camp as the day went on, Paige like many of the other 15 campers, came out of her shell. Paige said she made a few friends at the camp and enjoyed drawing and making instruments like ocarinas, which are small rounded wind instruments played like a recorder.

Executive Director for the Arts Council Kathy Sears said she was ‘‘blown away” by the participation and enthusiasm this year.

Each day, children created a different art piece and gained new perspectives on art. Kirsten Flory, 12, of Sunderland said she liked learning about modern art. She said that in days gone by, art was mostly portraits but later art became more shapes and lines.

‘‘You have to look really hard to see the picture,” she said of modern art.

Children looked, listened and worked hard all week creating multiple works of art to bring home and even performed a play for their parents.

During each session, children performed a play where they brought a storybook to life. This session’s book was about a bear roaming through a museum.

The next session of the art camp will be held at the Broomes Island Community Center from Aug. 4 to 8.