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Saturday Blast! has been very successful at introducing Boston middle school students to the basics in drawing and painting using different materials, including pencil, charcoal, pastels and watercolors. Following curricula developed by the Saturday Blast! team, the youth work on projects designed to both appeal to their age group and allow for completion within each three-hour class. Each class explores new projects aimed at fostering thoughtful studio habits, including brainstorming, visual problem solving, critiquing, studio set up/break down, and proper care and usage of materials.
Through group critiques, participants have the chance to speak about their and their peer’s work. When youth are given the chance to assess their progress in front of their peers, they are much more at ease with giving and receiving constructive criticism. The interaction is less formal than if it were one-on-one with the mentors. The youth benefit from seeing one another’s artwork while in production and often take the suggestions gained during this time and apply them towards their unfinished works.
Collaborative projects have been another great success. Mentors have engaged participants in the collaborative art-making process through exciting projects including attaching canvasses to the wall for participants to tackle as a mural, and facilitating large scale colored pencil drawings on massive sketchbook paper. Mentors noted that there are those youth who prefer working independently, but the majority of youth enjoy collaborating, working as a team, and having a social and interactive experience. The pieces are always a fantastic mixture of talent and imagination. Collaborations increase young people’s confidence and help participants build off each other’s ideas and strengths.
Call Quyên at 617.268.7620 or email QTruong@AFHBoston.com for more information or to register.
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