Have you ever wanted to dabble in some of the art classes here at AU, but you just never got the chance? Well, here is your shot! The Visual, Art, Communication & Design Department (VACD) is offering community art classes for anyone who is interested in crash courses in art forms such as drawing, painting, and ceramics. The Intro to Hand-Building (making your own utilitarian ware, home decor, and/or sculptures using a variety of hand-building techniques), and Intro to Wheel Throwing classes start this Monday, April 18. I spoke to my Ceramics professor, Alyx Halsey, about how the idea came about to begin these classes and what the department's goals are.
Whose idea was it to start community classes at AU?
AH: I believe it was Kari Friestad, the drawing and painting teacher. It was definitely a collaborative effort between like-minded individuals who said, “We should do this! Other schools do it and we have a phenomenal art studio, so why not?”
How did Ceramics get selected to be one of the classes taught?
AH: It’s definitely one of the main art forms that people from outside the institution enjoy. A lot of the museums and other community colleges already offer ceramics courses. Of course, they already have drawing and painting and things like that, but ceramics is one thing that is more in demand, it seems.
What is the VACD hoping to achieve through opening up these classes to anybody?
AH: Part of it is just exposure to the really great studio that we have; actually, the whole art department, but in particular this area because it has just been here for five years and not much has been happening here. It is nice that students from other disciplines can come in and enjoy this studio, and there is no reason that the community, faculty and their families, as well as students who couldn’t get in due to such small capacities in our semester classes, or students who just want an introductory or short immersion in ceramics to come in and learn too.
It’s a much better use of the studio than letting it just sit here between school years and having it be just for the one or two ceramics classes that we teach during the semester for Andrews students. Because of the fact that St. Joseph and South Bend do offer ceramics classes but they tend to fill up fast, it’s a great opportunity for people in our surrounding community. Speaking to those who are homeschooled as well, there’s a lot of opportunity in something like a ceramics studio. So when we thought, “how could we get the space used more often?” this is what we came up with.
If you want to get your hands dirty and enroll in these classes, you can use this link to check out which classes are available and receive more details about dates and fees. The Ceramics courses start this Monday, so if you want to be a part of that, sign up ! If you’re interested in painting, the department is offering oil, acrylic, and watercolor classes. These classes will be done later in the summer.
You can also email communityart@andrews.edu if you have any questions.
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