Summer camps offered at Main Street Arts

SAXTONS RIVER — Main Street Arts is offering four unique camps in June and August, including printmaking, puppetry, theater for teens, and its popular arts exploratory camp.

Printmaking with professional printer Clare Adams for ages six through nine will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, June 20, 21 and 22. Adams will teach the basics of mono-printing using stencils and layering with non-toxic, water-based inks. Students will collaborate on a group wall hanging and take home individual creations. The fee is $65.

Shoshana Bass of Sandglass Theater will direct Puppet Camp for ages eight through 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the week of June 25 The fee is $240. Participants will build a variety of simple puppets of different sizes, embellish them with character and costume, and learn techniques for animating the puppets and creating story for them. At the end of the week, there will be an informal showing for friends and family to celebrate the week of puppetry. In addition to puppetry, there will be group-building games and focusing exercises to get the creative energy flowing.

For children in sixth through grade twelve who are interested in theater, Dominic DeBenedetto, most recently seen as Peter in the Main Street Arts production of Jesus Christ Superstar, will lead Your Voice: Expression through Theater from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the week of August 6 with a performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10 The fee is $230. The camp will be an original, student-composed performance straight play, although there may be music incorporated depending on the students’ interests and talents. The original poetry collection called Voices We Hear in the Hall that is centered on teen issues will serve as inspiration. More information can be found atvoiceswehearinthehall.org. DeBenedetto hold a master’s in education and has taught 8thgrade English at Keene Middle School for 11 years and has worked at summer camps and similar programs for the last 15 years, teaching writing, literature and drama.

Rounding out the summer will be Arts, Crafts and Games led by JoAnne Russo and Bradie Harris from 1 to 4 p.m. the week of August 13 for ages six through 11. The fee is $120. Campers will unleash their creativity and explore all sorts of projects, including drawing, sculpting, design, exploring the outdoors, singing songs and playing games. Activities include sun prints, papier mȃche, fairy houses, making journals and other creative crafts. Russo is an artist and basket maker who has led the camp for several years.

Further information and registration information is available on the MSA websitemainstreetarts.orgor by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960 or [email protected].

Now in its 30thyear, Main Street Arts is a catalyst for arts and community, fostering creative expression through artistic experiences accessible to all.