A week-long art camp for local elementary students wrapped up last week with a community art exhibit, celebrating the creativity of Crawfordsville children and strengthening ties between Wabash College and Montgomery County.
Held at the Wabash College Fine Arts Center, the exhibit features work created by second through fourth grade students during the Summer Art Camp, supported by a Wabash College Restoring Hope, Restoring Trust Community Partnerships Mini Grant.
The exhibit opened with a reception June 6 at the Eric Dean Gallery, and will remain on view through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Annie Strader, associate professor and chair of art at Wabash and director of the Eric Dean and Greg Huebner galleries, partnered with Crawfordsville Community School Corporation art teacher Amanda Ellenberger to lead the camp. Ellenberger and three Wabash art student interns guided 40 children through a week of hands-on projects designed to inspire creativity and confidence.
“This camp will foster a love of art in the children of Montgomery County through offering engaging and accessible art activities.
Strader says the goal of the camp was to foster a love of art in the children of Montgomery County by offering engaging and accessible art activities.
“Having exposure to diverse art forms and positive experiences with art ignites creativity, improves fine motor skills, and boosts self-confidence in children,” Strader said.
Camp activities included self-portraits, pottery, jewelry design, sketchbook exploration and cultural mask-making. Campers also had the chance to meet a professional artist and showcase their work in a formal gallery setting, with student interns helping install and present the exhibit.
The camp ran in two sessions, morning and afternoon, with 20 students in each. While many families travel to Indianapolis or Lafayette for similar enrichment programs, Strader noted that this camp offers a free, local alternative.
Not every family can afford the time or cost of travel for arts programming, Strader said.
“It greatly boosts the cultural and artistic programming that Montgomery County offers families and enriches the education of Wabash student interns while strengthening the creative connection between Wabash and Montgomery County residents.”
The exhibit is open to the public through Friday at the Eric Dean Gallery, 504 S. Grant St.
