Sometimes it’s just amazing to see what my campers can come up with some simple
art supplies. Today my “Wild Things” campers continued their animal projects by
making sculptures of their favorite animals. We started with sketches of their animals
& habitats. We then created an armature out of wire hangers, newspaper & masking tape.
Once they had “filled out” the wire frame and added some characteristic details, they
began to cover the armature with plaster gauze. Kinda like paper mache, but a lot easier,
quicker & stronger! By the end of the day their animals were coming along quite nicely.
Tomorrow we continue to add details, as well as paint them in full color to bring them to life!

Part One of tonight’s class demo was about making bowls on purpose…
not a cylinder gone bad. Part Two was how to quickly turn 10 “matching” bowls
into 10 “unique” bowls with just a few quick tricks!

So I did the basic bowl demo to show my students how to make a bowl “the right way.”
Then, as they went back to their wheels to make their own bowls, I quickly threw nine more
basic bowls. We regrouped for Part Two where I showed them fluting, flaring, slipping,
swirling, chattering and other fun tricks! My main goal for the night is to get them over the
fear of playing with their clay. To show them that you can push it further, twist it, bend it,
shape it. That each piece doesn’t have to be so precious. That if you let yourself try a few
new things you might just make something special along the way. So go ahead…
play with your clay!!!

After the two-part bowl demo, we also did some slip painting, throwing off the hump,
throwing spouts and stamp making. It was a very busy class tonight. I kinda felt like
I had some making-up to do after missing the last two classes due to my extended
FIREFLY trip to Dover?!

Today was an adventure at Lincoln Park Zoo!
Yep, me and my fourteen “Wild Things” summer camp kids traipsing around
Lincoln Park Zoo! Visiting the animals, getting inspiration for the rest of the week’s
animal themed projects. Along the way, we stopped at the patio for lunch and some
watercolor painting. Loving seeing how focused the kids get once they start painting!

But after a long day at the Zoo, with a lot of walking around, the kids favorite spot
is always the Children’s Zoo. Not for the little animals, but for the cool fountain that
shoots streams of water out of the sidewalk. Needless to say, the kids had a splashing
good time… and went back to Lillstreet a little wetter than before!

Today it was back to Summer Camp… “Wild Things.”
So it’s a week all about animal-themed projects. And let me just say, my group
of campers this week is very “energetic.” Oh wait, it’s animal-themed…
maybe “squirrelly” is a better choice of words?!

So the fun of “Fire, Forge & Feast” continues… with another day of metals fun!
The kids have been working so hard, keeping focused on their projects, and trying
to get everything finished. They’re picking patterns, adding textures and making
some extra pieces to add to their dinnerware sets!

Today was “hump day” of “Fire, Forge & Feast” camp…
and we always like to celebrate the middle of the week with a little sweetness.
Somehow, the kids always “come up with the idea” to have a chocolate chip cookie bake-off.
Okay, maybe we do a little hinting, but somehow we can flip it so they seem to think it was
“all their idea.” And then they make the cookies at home and bring them in for us to try!

My co-teacher Pam Robinson made a yummy batch of cookies… that I had to sample for
breakfast before the kids began to show up. And then imagine my surprise & excitement
when Mac showed up with this tray of cookies he had made with chocolate-filled, toasted
marshmallows on top! His own concoction – kinda like a chocolate chip cookie s’more…
and you know how I just “hate” s’mores!… kidding!!!

So I separated the cookies out so everyone got a plate of cookies to taste, sample & vote on.
We had seven different varieties & entries in the contest. Some traditional, some with a little
variation like white chocolate or even cinnamon chocolate chips!!!

So here’s our plan. Make the kids bake cookies. Bring them in for us to eat.
We make them work in metal all day. Then load them up with sugar & send ’em home!!!

For the record… cookie #4 won the contest. A fairly traditional chocolate chip cookie.
Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside with some nice semi-sweet chips inside!
Nothing fancy. Just yummy cookies. Congratulations Julian… looks like you win the
cookie “trophy” plate that I made for the winner!

My summer campers have moved over to the Metals Room and we’re making metal knives,
forks& spoons. They’re all so focused on their projects with a lot to get done before the end
of the week. We started with my co-teacher Pam Robinson teaching the kids some
metalsmithing basics.We also stressed that their metal pieces also had to coordinate with
the overall theme & concept they were creating for themselves. Two days of clay were just
the start for this week’s project!

Once they started, the kids were all pretty focused on their projects. Each of them trying
to make their knives, forks & spoons… and trying not to cut themselves or break too many
saw blades. Once their pieces are cut out, they will then file them down and add textures
& patterns! You know how I love textures & patterns… even in metal!

And that’s not all… a very “sweet” afternoon was planned for them too…

Tonight was the first night of the new Summer Session of classes at Lillstreet Art Center.
My beginning wheelthrowing students seem to be a little more “advanced” than normal.
Generally it’s a bunch of people who are pretty “new” to clay and are looking for a fun hobby
with a few returning beginners sprinkled in. Apparently not this time.

Should I be concerned that on the list of project requests from my “beginners” was a teapot?!
Or the birdfeeder?! What?… in a beginning wheelthrowing class?! Really?! Beginners?!!!

We’ll see… you know how I love a challenge!!!

Today my summer camp kids finished their clay projects.
Tomorrow we move into the Metals Room for more fun.
It’s FIRE, FORGE & FEAST… and the kids are making clay dinnerware sets
with metal forks, knives & spoons! Friday is a big potluck!

So first they handbuilt their plates, bowls, cups & handles in terra cotta. With everything
fitting in with their creative themes. Everything is three-dimensional, sculptural & whimsical.
Once the pieces were all assembled, we had to paint them with underglazes for the colors.

But of course, no “Fire, Forge & Feast” class would be complete without the annual
“Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-Off” that we enjoy each year… when the kids come up with
the idea “all by themselves.” Okay, so there may have been a little suggestion.. maybe
a few hints… Either way, the kid are home tonight baking their best chocolate chip cookies
to share tomorrow. They’ll all vote for their favorite… and the winner will get the “trophy”
plate that I made for them! So they’re bringing the cookies and I’m bringing the milk!!!

This morning the totem pole sections came out of the kiln. So now the project turns to
stacking & installing them. The plan was to install them on the roof of Lillstreet Art Center
amongst the garden planters. Everything was going as planned until a huge storm decided
to roll through. So as we kept working in our classroom, we could see the rain coming down
on the skylights. So we had to start developing Plan B.

But then, just before lunch, the clouds started to clear and the rain began to slow.
So I posed the question to the kids and they were more than excited to put it on the roof,
despite the chance of getting rained on! So we proceeded with Plan A!

I started with a large plastic flower pot. We inserted a metal pipe in the center & surrounded
it with quick drying concrete. Then we covered the concrete layer with pebbles to the top of
the flower pot. Once the concrete dries, the pole will be fairly secure. Then we started stacking
the segments. Each section is filled to keep it from shifting on the pole. The bottom few sections
are also filled with pebbles. The middle & top sections are filled with styrofoam peanuts.
Idea being that the bottom is heavier and the top lighter so it’s not top-heavy. However, as we
were staking sections and filling them with peanuts, the wind kept picking up and blowing
some of them around… and Isabel was having a little trouble keeping them in place!

Getting closer to the top, Ryan & Ruby add a few more layers to the totem…

And here it is… the completed totem pole installed on the roof of Lillstreet Art Center.

Pleased with their own handiwork, my campers strike a pose next to their completed
totem pole. It’s a motley crew… but hysterical and fun to play with all week long!!!

Some of my “happy campers” enjoying the Lillstreet Roof garden after installing their
totem pole! Pleased with their work, and happy that the weekend is here!