Looking Back to Summer Fun
For the first time ever, the Gibbes offered a summer teen camp for ages 13 and up. Two week-long portrait study sessions were offered in June and July. Long-time Gibbes teaching artist and museum educator Martha Criscuolo shared her knowledge and skills with the students. The campers worked in the studio, observed techniques in the galleries, and did research in our Collection storage area with Zinnia Willits, director of collections. They created portraits using various media including pen, pencil, wire, and ink. The campers were engaging, intriguing, and very talented! Former curator of education, Rebecca Sailor, spoke with Carrie, an eleventh grader in the camp who shared a few words about her experience. Her responses are short and sweet—like a lot of teen answers tend to be—but interesting nonetheless. And, the most common answer from everyone when asked “what would you change” was for longer and more in-depth sessions. Wow, we can’t beat that!
Campers at work on portraits in the studio.
Rebecca: What was your favorite part of the week?
Carrie: Learning about art by observing pieces in the museum.
Rebecca: What do you want to do when you’re finished with high school?
Carrie: Go to college and PA school. I also want to minor in graphic design or art.
Rebecca: What’s your favorite medium?
Carrie: Charcoal and micron pens.
Rebecca: What word comes to mind when I say ART?
Carrie: Expression!
Teaching artist Martha Criscuolo and campers in the studio.
Top image: ©MCG Photography
Published September 15, 2017
