Miss Shannon with dancers

SAGO (Summer Arts to Grow On) at the Center for the Creative Arts in Yorklyn, DE sparks imaginations and encourages the talents and interests of children ages 4-14 as they explore the visual and performing arts and develop friendships that last well beyond camp.  Friends and siblings return summer after summer, week after week, to draw, paint, sculpt, dance, act, and discover a variety of arts related activities featured in their choice of weekly themed camps.

Registration has begun at The Center for the Creative Arts (CCArts), Yorklyn, DE for week-long summer camps for that begin June 18, 2012. Morning camps, 9:00-11:30 AM, followed by afternoon camps, 12:30-3:00 PM, run for ten weeks, through August 24. Single morning or afternoon camp fees begin at $120 per member when registering before May 1. The more camps you take, the more you save! Age specific camps are based on campers’ 2012/2013 Grade level: Age 4 through entering Kindergarten, students entering 1^st through 3^rd Grades, entering 4^th through 6^th Grades or entering 7^th through 9^th Grades. Supervised before-care, after-care and lunchtimes are available for busy parents.

New for 2012, “SAGO Spirit” is a new series of multi-age camps for 2012, an option for all ages through 6^th Grade.  Each morning or afternoon, campers will explore a unique set of creative experiences inspired by the week’s theme and driven by the Instructor’s interests and talents. These multi-age camps were developed in response to requests from families who would like siblings to enjoy camp together. Of course old favorites and popular new age specific camps are also offered by returning and new instructors as well.

2012 Camp Themes are inspired by the 2012 Summer Olympics, with a creative twist. Each week features a new theme with broad interpretations for CCArts’ creative community of campers, teachers and staff.  What are “ARTnastics” or “ARTyak”?.  What are they? What do they mean? Campers and instructors will decide!  Explore the possibilities at CCArts.  Think creatively! Like it says in the camp’s description, SAGO “is NOT a sports camp; SAGO is an ARTS Camp!”

ARTScetera, for Middle School aged campers, returns for a second summer.  Building on successes last year, a variety of camps are offered specifically designed to meet their creative interests; it’s like SAGO but kicked up a notch. Topics include Fine Art Drawing or Painting, Pottery on the Wheel, Digital Photography and more.

CCArts’ Teen Intern Program once again provides valuable volunteer and leadership opportunities for young people between the ages 15 and 18. Teens enjoy helping campers and instructors, earning community service hours and credit toward CCArts membership and classes. This summer, Teen Interns will participate in a photography project, capturing smiles to share with the world.

Buddy Week is every week this summer at CCArts! Rewarding returning families for their loyalty, CCArts offers the opportunity to save money by referring new campers. For each referral that is new to CCArts’ database, returning campers will receive a $20 voucher toward a class, camp or workshop.

For additional information about SAGO, ARTScetera, or Teen Intern programs visit www.SAGOcamp.org, call 302-239-2434, or stop in at 410 Upper Snuff Mill Row, Yorklyn, DE. The Center for the Creative Arts is the place for you to “Find the Artist Within.” Check class listings for details and take advantage of the opportunity to explore your creative side!

RAIN, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Students in Diana Heitzman’s painting classes suggested this CCArts excursion and I am so glad they did.  This same group of painters regularly visit picturesque local sites like Longwood Gardens, the Hagley Museum and Gardens or Winterthur. They enjoy strolling these beautiful grounds, photograph landscapes and historic buildings, then create inspired paintings back in the studio at CCArts.

It is no surprise that these artists would enjoy a private tour of the upcoming Van Gogh exhibition and the chance to see the master’s work up close and personal. In fact the day is made to order with plenty of time to meander through the museum and a side trip to see another beautiful landscape as well, the Tiffany glass mosaic of the Maxfield Parish designed “Dream Garden” at the Curtis Center. This is going to be a great day and it’s a good value as well.

A visitor recently remarked that the $63 fee for the day was a steal and when I took the time to add up what it would cost to have this day of art on your own, I discovered she is absolutely right! By the time I added up museum admission, the private tour, parking at two locations, gas and mileage, the total exceeded a hundred dollars. Wow! And I didn’t even factor in the frustration of driving on busy city streets or the headache of finding a parking space and then walking great distances. Thank you, mam, for calling my attention to this.

Apparently, other people are figuring this out because we are beginning to take registrations – two at a time – for friends and couples who look forward to a lovely, artful day.  Get on the bus! We are in for a real treat.

Van Gogh UP CLOSE: March 15, 2012, 8:30am – 4:30pm

$35 and up – a membership to CCArts

$50 and up – give the gift of a CCArts class

$63 to $68 – Van Gogh up close bus trip

$125 per camp – gift a summer camp or a few

$225 per week – gift Spring Break Art Camp

$$$ – can’t decide? gift certificates make a great gift to be used on classes, membership, events or in our gift shop Unique.

Now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Straight from the photographer of legends, Annie Leibovitz says the iPhone is the way to go for everyday, snapshot photography.  In an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, Annie responds to his question about what camera to buy…

“It’s an interesting time, because of the iphone. That is the snapshot camera of today… really — i’m still learning how to use mine here, but — (holding it up for the camera) – there you go. It’s great; it’s a pencil, it’s a pen, it’s a notebook. I can’t tell you how many times people show me their children. It’s the wallet with the family pictures in it, it’s so acceptable and easy.”

If it’s good enough for Annie, well I think most of us will be thrilled! That’s why Kathy Buckalew and I developed the new iPhone Photography class. There is so much to learn about taking beautiful photographs skillfully and creatively and Kathy is as excited about this new photographic art form as I am.  It’s the “camera in your pocket”.

Check it out: iPhone Photography at CCArts, 4 Saturdays this winter, February 4th and 18th, March 3rd and 17th, 2012, 10:30am – 12:30pm. These are scheduled every other Saturday to allow plenty of time to shoot between classes. Class fee is $67 for members registering early. Call us if you want to know more about this class.

Prizes were awarded for first, second, third place and honorable mentions:

First Place Second Place

The Road to Henry’s Emblem DIS

Michelle Green                     Vera Kaminski

Third Place

Cagnes’ Swirl

Marilyn Bauman

Honorable Mentions

A View from the Hill, Winterthur Taking Flight

Cyndy Falcoff                                                  Debbie Hegedus

Picasso’s Pink House Jar and Lemons

Mark Houlday                              James R. Huntsberger

Marriage (Metaphor) Cabo

Dawn Majewski                          Tom Planer

These classes have been running for most of the last 20 years and we’re still doing new things!

See you there!

Lisa L.

 This week I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday, August 16th, with the Ccarts family. Amazing…..I was on lunch duty and one of the campers bracelet broke into two pieces. I told her that I could fix it. I went down to one of the teachers rooms that had glue and I came back to the lunch room with the bracelet repaired. However, when I got there the room was dark and there were no children in sight. I started to panic…then the lights come on and the children were screaming and singing the birthday song at the top of their lungs. The best birthday ever!