Registration Open—

Weir Farm Summer Art Classes For Young Artists

WILTON — Registration has begun for the summer 2003 season of children’s art classes at Weir Farm National Historic Site.

Art Explorer programs encourage young artists to explore their own creativity and the environment through the discovery of the Weir Farm landscape and outstanding instruction. Each class meets for one week in two-hour sessions, and the fee for each week-long class is $85, which includes a $10 materials fee.

Classes are split up into two age groups, 6-9 years old and 10-12 years old. All classes are held rain or shine, and weather permitting, classes will explore the Weir Farm grounds.

Registration is by mail only and forms are available at the Weir Farm Visitor Center at 735 Nod Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897, on the web at www.nps.gov/wefa, or by calling 203-761-9945.

Returning to teach at Weir Farm for the seventh year, Marc Chabot will be teaching “Drawing and Painting the Landscape.” Combining the history of Weir Farm and exploration of the landscape, with instruction in drawing and painting, these week-long classes will focus on first-hand observation, memory, and imagination using a different art media each day.

Mr Chabot will also be teaching “Creative Printmaking,” a class that introduces a variety of techniques including monotype and relief printing for this versatile medium.

“Exploring Sculpture,” with instructor Robin Bolton, will teach students will learn about art and design related to sculpture through visual examples and hands-on activities. The activities will be sequential and in each session students will be introduced to a new topic: origami, bas-relief, found object sculpture, kinetic sculpture, and papier-mache.

In “Nature and Art – A Visual Diary” instructor Nancy Eisenfeld will work on several projects with students drawing a correlation between art and the environment, including making nature journals and a mural illustrating the Weir pond and the flora and fauna it supports.

Nancy Richter will teach “Environmental Sculpture” using paper, paint and found objects, students will create exciting and unique 3-dimensional works based on the landscape. Site history and short hikes around the farm will help inform the projects for the week.

 Weir Farm National Historic Site preserves the home and workplace of American painter J. Alden Weir (1852-1919), a leading figure in the development of American Impressionism. The house, studios, farm buildings and landscape which were integral to Weir’s artistic vision survive largely intact, making it the finest remaining landscape of American Impressionism.