Arts come alive through summer workshops

ABOVE: Indiana resident Sam Bartlett shows an area girl a “cranky” storyboard used in September for a LoCo Art workshop at the Holland Theatre. Mr. Bartlett returns to Logan County this summer for a mural-making workshop. HOME PAGE SLIDESHOW PHOTO: Columbus resident Duarte Brown works on a project during an artist residency in November at Benjamin Logan Middle School. He will lead one of three LoCo Art week-long workshops for youths this summer, with his session in August focused on mixed media arts. (PHOTOS | EXAMINER FILES)

LoCo Art offers three free workshops during the upcoming weeks to give youths the chance to learn new skills and to express their creativity. Registrations are currently open for each of the sessions by completing a form on the non-profit organization’s Web site, www.locoartspot.com. 

The first workshop session begins next week, from June 27-July 1, when stuntologist, artist and musician Sam Bartlett returns to Logan County to lead a week-long mural-making project at LoCo Art’s new Spot for Youth. Morning sessions from 10 a.m. to noon are geared for ages 8-13, while afternoon sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. are for ages 12-17.

Painted murals created by participants will become the centerpieces of the space located in the lower level of The Marketplace, 130 S. Main St., Suite B105. The student artists will unveil their work to the public during a reception slated for 5 p.m. Saturday, July 2. 

“The content of the murals will be driven by the kids,” LoCo Art Director Chris Westhoff said. “We’ll be looking at various interpretations of what LoCo Art means. The kids always come up with fun responses when we do these kinds of projects.”

Last fall, Mr. Bartlett presented a “Cranky Storytelling” workshop for a LoCo Art program at the Holland Theatre that allowed youths to learn the process of turning a story board into a moving picture show. The Indiana resident also performed his stuntology parlor tricks in Logan County during shows in 2012 and 2013, and was a lead artist on a community mural in Bloomington, Ind. 

During July, a second workshop is offered for children and teens that will also involve mural-making, this time for a decorative piece to celebrate the Logan County Master Gardener’s new shed along Troy Road near west Sandusky Avenue. LoCo Art artists will lead the sessions from July 18-23, both at the Spot for Youth and at the outdoor location. 

“I think this will be a cool collaboration with the Master Gardeners,” Mr. Westhoff said. “The kids might have the chance to dig their hands in the dirt a little at this site of the city’s community garden.”

Bellefontaine’s fifth annual community garden is maintained by the Bellefontaine Joint Parks and Recreation District and volunteer Logan County Master Gardeners as an effort to get area residents involved in gardening and growing their own foods, as previously reported in the Examiner.

The new building at this location was made possible by a $4,000 grant through the Mary Rutan Foundation. The project also is a collaboration with the Logan County OSU Extension Office. 

Finally during August, Columbus-based artist Duarte Browne returns to the area for a Mixed Up Media workshop featuring range of media and methods to make original works of arts. The Aug. 8-12 program will culminate with a group show open to the public.

A morning block from 10 a.m. to noon is open to participants ages 8-13, and an afternoon block from 1 to 3 p.m. is open to ages 12 to 17.

Last summer, Mr. Brown led a mural project with youths at the Western Neighborhood Outreach Center, 520 Garfield Ave., Bellefontaine, for a piece that is now featured at the inside of the facility. He also offered a similar LoCo Art mixed media workshop during July 2015 and completed an artist residency at Benjamin Logan Schools in the fall. 

Additional details of the programs are available online at www.locoartspot.com. Space is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.