FAVA Offers Four Weeklong Art Classes for Elementary Students

The average Milton elementary school student receives 10.5 hours of art education per year, a figure that is painfully low for the members of FAVA (Friends and Advocates for the Visual Arts). As a supplement, the group provides 10-week art courses after school during the fall and spring semesters.

FAVA has now turned its efforts to the summer, with four weeklong summer classes in the month of July. The classes, for elementary school-age students, will be held Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Milton High School's art room and courtyard. Tuition per week is $150, including materials and snacks.

FAVA instructors Janet Gilmore and Karen Hainline will teach the summer courses with help from a handful of Milton High School students, who will be using the class for their community service requirements.

Gilmore has taught FAVA classes for two years and has a Masters in Fine Arts. She works as freelance video editor with clients like PBS Kids, The Discovery Channel and Little Brown & Company.

Hainline has also taught for two years with FAVA. She brings her Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts as well as teaching experience in Boston and Newton to the program.

Each week the FAVA Arts and Crafts Summer Camp will have a different theme and inspiration.

Week one, which runs from July 5 to 9, is called "Back to the 60s." Students will explore the art of 60s by looking at the work of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Pollack and Oldenburg, while using media from the era like tie dye, macramé and sand art.

The next class, July 12 to 16, is called "Green Art." The nature and recycling inspired course will create projects through weaving, fish printing, clay and more. Environmental artists will also be discussed.

For week three, July 19 to 23, the theme is "Pixs and Flix." The exploration into animation and film will take students through the process of movie making. First, a thaumatrope, or a toy with two pictures on a string that create the illusion of motion will be introduced. Then a zoetrope, a round rotating apparatus that gives the appearance that several pictures are moving, will be explored. These predecessors to film will give students a solid understanding of the art form before creating black box and stop-motion animation. An example of a FAVA stop-motion video can be found on this page.

"Pixs and Flix" students will also make pin hole cameras and find inspiration in other photographers and filmmakers.

"Fractured Fairy Tales" will be the week four theme and take place from July 26 to 30. Students in the course will create altered books using different media and make paper. They will also create houses while delving into a fairytale world.

Each class will make a silk-screen shirt that coincides with the theme.

Each class is a little over halfway full according to Gilmore. They are hoping to bring each class to about 20 students per class. Visit here to register.