Splatter, scribble, arrange, and innovate! This class will focus on the imagination rather than reality. Wouldn’t it be fun to take an ordinary object and turn it into something else? Or, you could draw a portrait with straight lines only! Abstract art means endless possibilities. Explore drawing, painting, mixed media, and large-scale sculpture both individually and collaboratively as inspired by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, and Jackson Pollock.

Escaping the busy sights and sounds of Manhattan is just one 8-minute boat ride away. Explore a variety of 2D and 3D mediums such as watercolor and acrylic painting, monotype printmaking, and 3D landscapes with the natural surroundings of Governors Island as your muse. The week’s lessons will help you to develop your composition skills as you learn about sculptural relief, observational techniques, and perspective.

This class looks at the art of collage on a large scale. Take a little inspiration from artists like Richard Hamilton, Robert Silvers, and Lewis Lavoie as you create collaborative and individual collages from a variety of materials including textured paper, magazine images, buttons, foil, and stickers. As you work with other campers to lay out, assemble, and decorate your mega collage, you will also be gaining a working knowledge of fundamental art elements such as design, composition, and visual balance.

Drawing inspiration from artist Claes Oldenburg’s large-scale food sculptures and Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot balloons, you will explore the craft of three-dimensional art making, using materials like paper, fabric, yarn, industrial twine, and foam to create a range of unique soft forms sculptures.  You will also be introduced to the outrageous designs by Alexander McQueen as you fabricate your own sea-inspired wearable objects. Develop your skills in sewing, painting, and construction as you complete your final pieces.

Attention art lovers both big and small- you’re about to discover the element of scale. From Joseph Cornell’s sculptural assemblages to Jeff Koon’s large scale sculptures, you will observe and explore the elements of scale with an eclectic assortment of art projects. Starting small, you will build miniature but detailed worlds inside matchboxes and create clay characters of similar stature. Then, supersize it – exploring techniques in building, plaster, and soft sculpture. Throughout the class, you will develop essential skills in drawing, painting, and sculpture as you complete your works of art.

This two-week course will give aspiring artists a head start in portfolio work while building the confidence and skills needed to succeed in an art-focused high school. Guided by professional Teaching Artists, you will refine your distinguished style as you create several finalized artworks including live model sculptures and still life sketches, all of which will satisfy the requirements of most fine art institutional admission policies. Develop your creative prowess as you brainstorm ideas, observe a variety of inspirational references, experiment with 2D and 3D mediums., and photograph your finals works for your portfolio.  You will also gain the tools necessary to excel in an advanced academic setting. Learn how to engage in peer critiques using appropriate terminology, mock entrance interviews, thesis writing, and turning your thoughts into a well written artist statement.

Note: This is a 2 week intensive.

Roll up your sleeves and prepare yourself for this hands-on building class. Using wood, newspaper rolls, wire and other found objects, this week’s lessons will delve into the fundamentals of building and structures. Inspired by artists Charles and Ray Eames and Andrea Zittel, you will strengthen your brainstorming and illustrative abilities as you collaborate on exotically-designed geometric structures. Experiment with scale and learn the tools needed to build a sound and sturdy construction. You will leave the class with a collection of magical structures, big and small!

Taking inspiration from ceramicists such as Peter Volkas and Andy Grimm, this class will help you develop skills in the art of ceramic handbuilding. Teaching Artists will instruct you in pinch, coil, and slab construction with the aim of building a site-specific piece on Governors Island. In addition to hand building techniques, you will learn how to mix plaster and create molds to add depth and dimension to your work.  Please note that the work from this class will not be fired at the end of the week.

This class is for those with steady and experienced hands. Inspired by the fiber-crafts of Sheila Hicks, Petra Borner and Christine and Margaret Wertheim, you will make you own simple back-strap loom and weave a long textile on it. You will also learn to crochet, tie dye, and marble fabric with precision.  Finish this class with a collection of crocheted pieces, weavings, and even your own simple sewn bag.

Vincent Van Gogh, M.C Escher and Leonardo Da Vinci all had one thing in common- they got their big break from drawing! This class will focus on the diversity of drawing, from traditional to non-traditional techniques.  It will emphasize the importance of observational drawing skills as well as working from the imagination. Develop techniques in perspective and compositional sketching as you observe and explore the beautiful landscape of Governors Island. Then using a variety of materials including Sumi Ink, string, charcoal and pencil, you will learn how drawing translates across different genres such as painting, sculpture, and installation.

There are three words to remember this week: cut, fold, and transform! This class will explore the history and techniques of Origami. Inspired by this process of traditional Japanese paper folding, you will create a series of  individual 2D and 3D paper art projects, enhancing your skill in precision paperwork. You will also collaborate with other students on a large-scale paper folding. By the end of the week, you will have created your own bowls, boxes, and more; who knew that there was so much to do with a piece of paper?

Forget covering up your old notebooks with stickers, in this art colony, you get to create your own handmade books from cover to cover! Work with Teaching Artists to paint, dye, print, and marble your very own paper. You will be also introduced to various bookmaking techniques such as stitch binding and stab binding, as well as pop-up, flip, and accordion bookmaking. Show off your final book in class or keep it as a secret journal.

Motivated by the commercials, billboards, and street art we encounter in the city each day, this class will examine the many moments when popular culture and art intersect. You will reinvent literal interpretations of commonly used products through painting, collage, sculpture and printmaking. Recreate your own version of Warhol’s “Soup Can” or Shepard Fairey’s  “Hope” campaign slogan.  By the end of the week, you will have amplified your awareness of strategic advertising tactics and developed the ability to produce dynamic and compelling messaging through art.