Summer Camp for Young Artists

A main focus of the camp will be showing the students how to create ­­cross-disciplinary ­artwork...in order to get the audience to experience the art at many different levels.

With summer now in full swing, parents are faced with an unending selection of camp opportunities for their children. Each camp offers different choices and focuses on different activities. Is your child the next Phil Mickelson? Then a golf or sports camp is the perfect choice. For those looking for a traditional camp ­experience, several with activities such as canoeing and hiking are available. But for those children whose area of interest is in the very diverse field of art, it can be extremely difficult to find the perfect ­summer camp experience. It is for these children that the New Arts Camp was designed by Living Arts of Tulsa.

This camp was created specifically with the diverse and intricate aspects of the art world in mind. The New Arts Camp provides a summer experience like none your kids have ever had before.

Steve Liggett, artistic ­director of the camp, has been a fixture in the Tulsa art world for many years. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and has worked at such organizations as Holland Hall, Riverfield School and Philbrook Museum, to name a few.

The camp is scheduled for July 18-29 and is geared towards students in fifth grade through twelfth grade. Cost for the two weeks is a reasonable $285, with a few scholarships available for those who qualify. Williams Companies is helping with ­scholarships through their Grassroots Grant Program. The requirements are based on ­economic need, and students who wish to apply for these scholarships are encouraged to do so immediately. Students may be dropped off to the camp as early as 8 a.m. and picked up as late as 5 p.m. for the 8:30 to 4:30 camp hours. Classes are held at the Living Arts of Tulsa studio, located at 307 E. Brady St. in Tulsa. Those who are interested in enrolling are encouraged to do so through the website, www.livingarts.org.

“The New Arts Camp will offer four different activity areas providing an equal balance between imagination and ­technique development,” explains Steve. “The four areas we focus on are video, performance art, new music and ­sculpture.” Another exciting aspect of the camp is the exposure students receive to artists who have made a dramatic impact to the world of art. “We will have a New Art Talk each day,” says Steve. “This is a video/discussion/demonstration of the most exceptional artists of today, plus those who have had ­significant impact to the art world since the 60s.”

A main focus of the camp will be showing the students how to create ­­cross-disciplinary ­artwork. This is the use of ­sculpture, along with perhaps music and maybe even some ­performance art, in order to get the audience to experience the art at many different levels. “We will ask the students to think outside the normal box, to reach inside themselves and think of ways to blend a new music piece with video or a background piece. We are ­trying to break the boundaries of normal thinking and get them to bring out their own creativity,” says Steve. “We focus on teaching the students how to come up with an idea, then show them how to develop the idea and turn it into a final presentation piece.” Steve says that by the time the camp is over, students often get a feeling of tremendous empowerment and look at the world in a completely different way. “It shows them that creativity can really go anywhere. I would love to see this taught in all of our schools.”

On the last day of camp, ­students will have the ­opportunity to show and perform their skills, utilizing the interdisciplinary art works. “This is such a delight each year,” says Steve. “The students always ­surprise us with their creativity and insight.” This very fun and ­interesting day of presentation is open for anyone to come and enjoy – even if you do not have a child attending the camp, this is the ­perfect time to see the future of Tulsa’s art world.

For more information about either the New Arts Camp or Living Arts of Tulsa, contact Mr. Steve Liggett at (918) 585-1234. You can see all the great ­activities the Living ArtSpace is involved in by ­visiting www.livingarts.org.

 

For more information, contact

Living Arts of Tulsa

307 E. Brady St.

Tulsa, OK 74120

(918) 585-1234

www.livingarts.org