Approach to Teaching Art

The Williamson Street Art Center has designed an approach to teaching art that is well thought out and tested.
Classes are conducted in a warm non-judgmental manner that will allow you to learn at your own rate. Making art this way will help build your confidence because the need to worry about “rightness” or “wrongness” is eliminated. You will solve esthetic and structural problems with your own hands, through your own creativity. The solution lies within you and will be true.

By making art, you rely upon your own instincts.
Researchers recognize the positive effect that making art has upon the brain – whether it is a young brain that is developing, or an older brain that is trying to stave off stagnation.

By making art, you express yourself.
You can use art to comment upon the world and your place in it. Art provides you with a language that you can use as a poetic lens for viewing everyday reality and then expressing what you see.

By making art, you commune with artists throughout the ages.
Your own developing creativity will give you insight into the inner workings of the world’s great painters, poets, architects, and composers.

By making art, you experience the power of transformation.
Art can effect changes in your life that can be lasting. Because art is one of the primary sources of inquiry and inspiration, it can offer you rich stimulation, meaning, and hopefully, some fun!

Return to top...

Classrooms, Gardens and Studio

View more images...

Return to top...

Basic Curriculum

The use of “mixed media” and “found art” are central to the Williamson Street Art Center’s basic curriculum.

“Mixed media” is used to build a design vocabulary.
You will be encouraged to try your hand with a variety of media or materials, both two dimensional and three dimensional, including drawing, painting, collage, assemblage, clay, mosaic, textiles and metals. You will be able to use these materials separately and also in combination.

You will gain confidence in combining materials.
Although mixed media is seen as a somewhat sophisticated genre by the “art world,” the Williamson Street Art Center’s unique use of mixed media in the curriculum has proven to be highly successful, even with children. You will find that your own sense of design emerges in whatever medium you use and becomes stronger as it develops across media.

“Found art” is used to increase freedom and imagination.
You will be encouraged to use anything in your environment to make art. By tapping into your inherent sense of freedom, you will never look at everyday objects in the same way again. When you use anything to make art, you begin to search for the art in everything.

Return to top...

Mural Magic Summer Camp

Mural camp is a week long day camp, held once or twice each summer. During mural camp, participants develop design skills and painting skills by planning and painting a mural. Participants work with others to create a large-scale long-lasting work of art. Most participants are middle school or high school aged, but have ranged from 7 to 60 years old.

Summer ’08 - All past mural campers are invited to participate in current mural project - “The History of Willy Street in the 70’s – Changing the World through Art” -
Free - at no charge!

Learn more...