“CAMP BEAR WALLOW”, the summer “Art Kamp for Kids!” will be at the Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Road, directed by artist, Nancy Robb Dunst. In its 11th year, this camp will run for 4 weeks: June 21st, June28th, 12th, July 12th & July 19th from 9:30-12:30 every morning Monday through Friday. Children may attend for one week or all four with 12 openings for children each week. The classes are held in an air conditioned art cabin, or outside in the garden/forest surroundings. One of the goals of this camp is to make experience in the arts accessible to all kids. The tuition for this camp is based on a sliding income scale from $20 to $70 a week.
New this year is Origami art, a fun art process of folding paper, that is involved in almost everything we do. The favorite from last year, “balloon art”, making animals and sculptures out of balloons will occur again once a week.. Basic projects with Nancy will include Dome home building, kite making, walking sticks, tie dye t-shirts, clay sculpture, creative blocks, mural painting, brush making, puppets, junk sculpture, mosaic tiles, art gardening and much more.
Although all the classes will include painting and sculpting in some manner, the focus in the in the consecutive weekly classes will be in the following order: painting, building, sculpting and last week a variety of media. Guest artists in the classes will be Tin Richow (music), Maleita Wise (visual journaling), Dev Ross (acting), Nancy Lattanzi (eco arts), and others. In July, at the end of the camp, a garden party/ exhibition will be held at the Center where each child will demonstrate their favorite art process (ie: balloon art, junk sculpture, landscape painting, etc). This will be a public event with parents & community invited and refreshments served.
The philosophy of this camp is to teach the joy of art to all children, raising self esteem, self expression and critical thinking. Children are asked to bring a white or pastel tee shirt and also a “paint” shirt. Children also need to bring a snack daily and are required to wear tennis/hiking shoes.
Nancy Robb Dunst, a professional artist for 30 years, is the director of Camp Bear Wallow. Nancy holds a Masters degree in Education and also in Counseling. She has been a long term (studio on site) artist-in-residence at Red Rock High School for 2 1/2 years, at the Madison Elementary School District for 2 years and at the De Miguel Elementary School in Flagstaff for 6 months. Nancy has been a public art artist for the Last 20 years and has created several public works in Arizona spaces, including Sky Harbor International Airport and is a regular invitee to the Florence Biennial in Italy. She is the founder and past president of the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition, and has written art columns for the Red Rock News and Art Talk. Recently, she was honored to be the first recipient for “Individual” of the Sedona Mayors Arts Awards.
The camp is partially funded and/or co sponsored by the Sedona Arts Festival, Gardens for Humanity, the Sedona Creative Life Center, and parents in the community. To register or receive more information, contact Nancy Spheeris at 282-9300 or mail@sedonacreativelife.com, Director of the Creative Life Center; or if you have questions about the activities or the camp itself, contact Nancy Robb Dunst at 282-0776 or email at ndunst@yahoo.com.
