Jackson said this means actually fusing glass and putting a drill in their own hands to connect two pieces of wood.
Jackson said they aim to include at least nine different activities during the week for students to experience.
Jackson said the program focuses on the studio work that is currently available at the school such as weaving, glass, metalworking, jewelry and pottery. She said administrators then added series such as Linda Powell’s drumming, which has evolved into a storytelling and dancing portion. They also invited community artists to bring in other aspects to the youth camp such as Chris Baschon’s papermaking and, Marla Bailey’s weaving or Christine Mariotti’s silk painting.
“Once they’ve come in here and they’ve turned a bowl or they’ve built a toolbox they won’t look at them the same way other people might,” Jackson said. “Kids always laugh and say they don’t know where their food comes from. With art it’s very much the same thing – kids today don’t always know where cloth comes from or how their silverware was once made.”
The students left camp last Friday with plenty of artwork to fill frames, a metal bracelet to wear or give as a gift and even woven pieces.
“I knew how to sew but I didn’t even know what weaving was, so that was a lot of fun to learn about,” said camper Jayden Culver.
Some spaces are still available in week five of the program if a parent is interested in registering a child. For more information on this program or other programs at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, call 828-859-8323.