Inside the woodshop of Tryon Arts and Crafts School young students worked last week to drill pieces of wood together as they created tool and flower boxes. An hour earlier, they had finished weaving together material.
Both activities were part of Tryon Arts and Craft School’s Summer Sizzler art camp.
“It was very educational and fun,” said participant Gavin Hyder. “You end up with a lot of things to display at home.”
Diana Jackson has worked with the program since she came to Tryon Arts & Crafts School, and she said the program has been ongoing since long before the school moved to its current location at Harmon Field.
“[Participants] may find something they really love, they may not,” Jackson said. “But at least when they go see artwork in actual galleries they will have an appreciation for what it took the artist to create that piece.”
Youth who participated in the first session of the weeklong program displayed their works for parents Friday, July 13. Their exhibit tables overflowed with projects ranging from metalwork to pastels.
Wade Morgan wasn’t shy in his opinion of the camp. In fact, he couldn’t even define a favorite part of the camp; he just beamed with excitement.
“It was all awesome,” Morgan said.
Hyder said as an only child he enjoyed being around the other kids and learning about so many different types of art.
“We try to expose them to real art forms – it’s not a watered down version,” Jackson said. “They are working with professional artists. It’s a hands-on program in which they actually make art in the same way artists do their work.”