Key West Art & Historical Society ArtCamp! at Fort East Martello offers new sessions for teens aged 10-16

This summer, youth aged 10-16 can join in on the cultural immersion fun while engaging in their passion for the arts and the environment with Key West Art & Historical Society’s ArtCamp!, beginning June 12th through June 30th with three sessions: Teen Fossil Camp June 12– June 16, Pinhole Photography Camp: Technique June 19- June 23, and Pinhole Photography Camp: Creating a Body of Work June 26-June 30.

The Teen Fossil Camp guides students in learning how to sculpt and cast bones working with tools in clay, plaster, and sand, with an educational focus on science, math and critical thinking.  The Teen Pinhole Photography Camp sessions explore the physics of light, mechanics of the pinhole camera and elements of chemistry while gaining a foundation of art, design and the creative process through the world of film photography. These sessions encourage the teens and the more mature pre-teen to a week of creativity, empowerment, and educational excellence.

“Pinhole photography is great way for young people to have a hands-on, self-determining experience making photographs and art,” says photographer and workshop leader Jodell Roberts. “Being actively involved in every aspect of the photographic process empowers the creator and imbues the art work with the essence of the artist.”

Like the teens she will teach, Roberts was also introduced to photography as a teen at a summer photography workshop, and went on to attain her B.F.A. in Drawing and Printmaking from Florida Atlantic University.  She also assisted with the development of The Society’s pinhole photography youth program from 2005 to 2010.

“We are excited to be working with Jodell Roberts, an aficionado of pinhole photography who has exhibited her work the Studios of Key West and Sodu Gallery,” says Society Director of Education Adele Williams. “The camp will provide youth of the digital age with an insight into developing techniques similar to those used by photographic greats such Ansel Adams, Dorotea Lang and Arthur Rothstein.”

The Society’s ArtCamp! program, in operation for over thirty years and one of the oldest children’s summer camps in the Keys, marks the organization’s commitment to the many youth programming and educational initiatives that aim to “inspire a greater sense of place and historical understanding,” says KWAHS Executive Director Michael Gieda. While ArtCamp! is successfully filled every year by children aged 5-12, the new program geared towards teens and more mature pre-teens marks their commitment to growing their educational programs, specifically the underserved parts of community.

“The majority of summer programs available in Key West target younger age groups,” continues Williams. “KWAHS recognizes the demand for teen programming and hopes that by offering camps like Fossil Lab and Pinhole Photography that parents will have a more constructive outlet for their teens.”

The camp’s weekly sessions run the creative gamut to touch upon a variety of art, culture and the humanities to get children thinking, moving and making: Claymation; Pirate Camp; Teen Fossil Camp; Sand Sculpting Camp; Pinhole Photography for Teens- Technique; Pinhole Photography for Teens- Creating a Body of Work; Wrecker’s Camp; Mask Making Camp; The Key Deer, the Rooster, and the Dolphin Camp; Praising the Palm Camp; Roller Coaster Camp; Summer Theatre Camp; and Mission Control Camp. 

Campers also have the experience of exploring Fort East Martello, an enclosed Civil War-era fort stewarded by Key West Art & Historical Society and the location for the weekly camp sessions.  Each week will have auxiliary activities and excursions pertaining to the specific sessions, including field trips to local museums, nearby beaches and gardens—all highlighting the abundant history and cultural assets of our islands while encouraging and expanding students in their knowledge of their local community.

ArtCamp! runs from 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Monday – Friday, with a varying fee depending on the camp, with a discount for Society Members. Included are all supplies, light snacks and weekly Friday pizza parties. Detailed descriptions of the Teen Camps and all of the ArtCamp!  sessions and registration information can be found at KWAHS.ORG/LEARN  or by calling Adele Williams at 305-295-6616, extension 115. Your museums.  Your community.  It takes an island.  

IMAGE:

“Maya Seagrape” is one of Teen Camp instructor Jodell Roberts “reverse images” that stem from her pinhole camera work with paper negatives. Roberts will be teaching two Pinhole Photography Camp sessions for ages 10-16, June 19- June 23, and 26-June 30.

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