Explore the art of wheel throwing in this basic and continuing class for 9-12 year olds. Learn best practices and techniques of working with clay on the wheel and discover the science and beauty of glazing. Students may repeat this class, as only practice makes perfect and our instructors work with each student at their individual skill level. Be prepared to get dirty! All materials for class are covered by the lab fee.

8 Mondays: April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, June 3 (No class 5/27) OR 8 Saturdays: April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 25, June 8 (No class 6/1)

In this fun class for beginners and continuing students ages 6-8, learn a variety of handbuilding skills such as coiling, pinching, slab construction, wedging, and sculpting. Create imaginative projects ranging from sculptural forms to fantastical collaborations. All materials for this class are covered by the lab fee. 

8 Saturdays: April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 8 (no class 6/1)

In this class, both parents and children will experience the magic of creating clay forms on the wheel. Parents and children will  work on their own pottery wheels while learning together and sharing the wonderfully tactile adventure of creating functional and decorative objects out of clay! Instructions will be included on the basics of wedging, centering, throwing, trimming, surface decorating, and glazing. Come with a playful spirit and wear clothes you do not mind getting messy! All materials for class are covered by lab fee. Price includes one adult and one child. 

8 Sundays: April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, June 2, 9 (no class 5/26)

Careful observation is the foundation to inquiry. In this introductory week, campers will participate in a variety of games and activities that challenge them to slow down and look carefully. They will learn the fundamentals of drawing and design, and will discover surprising new ways to see the world around them. Artists introduced include Leonardo da Vinci, Georges Seurat, Rene Magritte, Bridget Riley, Cindy Sherman, and Duane Hanson.

Squish it, pinch it, join it, bend it – students will explore the expressive nature of clay while learning the vocabulary of 3D design. What can be expressed through texture and form? Discover how choices regarding abstraction, size, or narrative dictate how we perceive sculptural objects. Artists introduced include Jun Kaneko, Robert Arneson, and Richard Notkin.

In the spirit of Independence Day, this week is about encouraging our campers to stick with it! Extended painting and building projects will give campers the time to make their work the best it can be, helping them develop patience and a bit of grit. Artists and architects introduced include Michelangelo, Thomas Jefferson, and Do Ho Suh. 

Practice, practice, practice! In this 3 day session students will take a glimpse into the life of a studio potter. They will spend the entire day wheel throwing and building the skills for centering, forming and trimming, and will finish pieces with slips and decorative techniques. This extended time on the wheel is ideal for beginners or continuing students who want to sharpen their abilities.

What is clay? And how does heat transform it? This week, campers will examine clay through the observant eye of a scientist and will discover the mysteries of ceramics. Experimentation will reveal connections to geology and chemistry.

The best artists and innovators learn to take risks! This week campers will experiment with wild materials and tools to push their ideas and imaginations to the limit.  Projects will investigate risk taking and different aspects of the design process, from conception to execution to reflection. Artists and architects introduced include Marcel Duchamp, Maya Lin, Jackson Pollock, and the Impressionists.

Balancing form and function will be the challenge this week. Students will conceptualize, produce, and reflect on the objects they create and use. They will design or redesign objects to fit specific needs while being mindful of aesthetics. Artists and designers introduced include Eva Zeisel, Hella Jongerius and the modern pottery studio Heath Ceramics.

Anything is possible in this week of camp! Brainstorming new, bold, and even wacky ideas is the goal with a variety of 3-D and drawing projects that let campers develop a small idea into a brilliant vision. Artists and architects introduced include Cai Guo-Qiang, Cory Arcangel, Subodh Gupta, and Antoni Gaudi. 

Build it up, carve it out, paint it on! Campers will use clay as canvas in this study of decorating techniques. From ancient sgraffito to stamping and printing, campers will broaden their ability to communicate through clay while creating textures, patterns, and imagery.  

Great ideas can be expressed in so many ways! This week campers will explore how symbols, text, design, form, color, and movement can communicate different ideas. They’ll explore sculpture, mixed media, and even performance and street art to investigate and express their thoughts and opinions. Together we’ll learn about human expression from cave paintings to contemporary art.  Artists introduced also include Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko, Bruce Nauman, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Barbara Kruger, and Banksy.

Discover new ways of looking and understanding the world through the eyes of others. A variety of special printmaking and painting projects will help build empathy and compassion for different peoples and places. Artists introduced include Jacob Lawrence, Frida Kahlo, Dorthea Lange, Ai Weiwei, and Claude Monet. 

Surviving ceramic objects play an important role in the archeological record of humanity. This week, campers will study the ancient history of ceramic objects and decipher hidden knowledge about these cultures. How did they create these objects and for what purpose? Students will then use this knowledge to create there own ceramic piece that will give future generations insight into our time.

Hand built clay construction will be the challenge this week. Building structures, creating connections, and tackling timing are important to create successful hand built pieces. Projects will encourage the combination of building techniques such as slab assembly, coil building, and pinch pots. Campers will also learn about how the strength of clay is utilized to create bullet proof vests, traditional adobe homes, and fired clay houses.

A variety of design challenges will keep campers on their toes! This week will feature a mix of drawing, sculpture, and 3-D projects that will spark solutions and build the confidence to tackle any adventure. Artists and designers introduced include Charles Eames, Alexander Calder, and Christo and Jeanne Claude.

This week is all about taking inspiration to new heights! Surprises, laughter and amazement will fill our studios as campers get to see and do a variety of art-based experiments, find out the secrets to special works of art, and discover how the unexpected can give their art new inspiration. Many fun surprises are in store for this week.  Artists introduced include Wassily Kandinsky, Shomei Tomatsu, Claus Oldenburg, and the Surrealists.

Just how far can we push the medium of clay? This week we\'ll throw out the rule book! Campers will brainstorm and experiment on a quest to develop their own building techniques. Beware: results may be silly or even ridiculous.

Working as a team can lead to brilliant ideas. This week campers will use individual drawing, painting, mosaic, and sculpture projects as a springboard for collaboration. Team building and sharing will be emphasized on fun, large-scale group projects. Artists introduced include Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Working as a team can lead to brilliant ideas. This week campers will conceptualize and construct group projects including sculptures and murals. They will learn how each individual contributes their own skills and perspectives, discovering how they can be inspired by and learn from one another.

For this final week of camp, instructors will choose the top projects of Summer Creativity Clay Camp 2013 measured by our Student Enthusiasm Meter.

Making the first mark on a blank canvas is the hardest step. This final week will encourage campers to be confident, assertive makers and to face down their fears of making the “wrong” decisions. Drawing, printmaking, and mixed media projects will provide chances to build confidence, and campers will even get the chance to curate their own exhibition. Artists introduced include Michelangelo, Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, the Dadaists, and Surrealists.

In this class for story lovers, discover how to create and illustrate your own adventure. Explore comic book art, cartooning, anime, pop-up books and illustration, as well as bookmaking techniques and book cover design! The fundamentals of drawing are taught with each lesson. Students must be 8 years old by first day of class. All materials are covered by the lab fee.

8 Tuesdays: April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, June 4 (no class 5/28)

Design your own comics in this class for 9-12 year olds. Learn how to use four common tools in cartooning (shape, size, line, and color) to create characters readers will believe in, worlds they will love to explore, and stories they will never forget.

Throughout the course, play with various formats such as mini-comics, serialized comics, and graphic novels, and try your hand at using many of the materials used by comics professionals. Every week will conclude with a game designed to boost creativity! All materials included in the lab fee. Watch instructor Jerzy Drozd at work: http://vimeo.com/album/268976

8 Wednesdays: April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5 (no class 5/29)

The best artists and architects have a strong foundation in drawing  skills. In this class for 9-12 year olds, learn how to see carefully and translate observations onto paper.  Investigate and understand contour lines, value, perspective, proportion, and composition.  Students will have the opportunity to use various drawing materials including graphite, charcoal, and conte. All materials are covered by the lab fee. 

8 Mondays: April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, June 3, 10, 17 (no class 5/27)

Guided by an Ann Arbor Art Center Instructor, families will learn how to talk about what they see and how to create art themselves. In each workshop, parents and children will explore a different artist, artifact or art movement from the permanent collections.  All materials included. Price includes 2 family members and supplies for one shared project. No children under 5, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Must register at least 3 days in advance. This class meets in the multi-purpose room in UMMA\'s Frankel wing.

Guided by an Ann Arbor Art Center Instructor, families will learn how to talk about what they see and how to create art themselves. In each workshop, parents and children will explore a different artist, artifact or art movement from the permanent collections.  All materials included. Price includes 2 family members and supplies for one shared project. No children under 5, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Must register at least 3 days in advance. This class meets in the multi-purpose room in UMMA\'s Frankel wing.

Dream-up and create your own stuffed animal or monster in this workshop for both adults and families. Using felt, glue, and quick whip stitches, we\\\'ll help you make a stuffed creation of your own design. No prior sewing experience necessary, all materials will be provided. Workshop fee covers one monster per family.

This new film literacy course for middle schoolers explores the themes and aesthetics of Star Wars and other adventure films. Learn to anaylze and understand movies like a critic! Topics covered include monomyth, the hero, metaphors of power, imaginative setting, satire, and propaganda. Please contact the Director of Programs if you have questions about the film selections.

5 Tuesday/Thursdays: April 23, 25, 30, May 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23 (10 meetings)

Travel around the world in this multi-media class for 6-8 year olds. Each week students will visit a different culture and create a work inspired by traditional art forms.  From Indonesian Shadow Puppets to Japanese fish prints, and from Chinese paper fans to festive Mexican sugar skulls, join in as creativity and culture meet! All materials included.

8 Wednesdays: April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 12, 19 (no class 5/29)

This workshop introduces block printing to parents and children that uses simple materials and easy methods to produce beautiful prints. For ages 4 and up. All materials will be provided, tuition includes one parent and one child.