Students explore 'Art in Motion' at Ninepipes Art Camp
Linda Sappington
Art student Natalee Thingelstad paints her whirlygig every color imaginable.
Linda Sappington
Sidra Perry colors her whirlygig staff.
Linda Sappington
Yards of colorful yarn is available for marionette hair.
Linda Sappington
Artist Olivia Olsen teaches students how to make a whirlygig, one of many art projects with the theme, "Art in Motion."
Linda Sappington
Zane Barber and Sydney Snyder watch Meagan Shauf-Kress.
Linda Sappington
Connie Adams of Missoula’s Downtown Dance Collecticve taps a tango for the students.
Linda Sappington
Art camp participants draw faces for their marionettes.
Linda Sappington
Kyla Tomlin, left, and Siarra Mattson work with bamboo for their kites.
Linda Sappington
Carla Hahn and Molly Kate Sullivan use their kites as hats.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Paper mache marionettes come together with help from instructor Karla Martinson.
Linda Sappington
Art student Natalee Thingelstad paints her whirlygig every color imaginable.
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CHARLO — What good is art? Is it more than just a fun time? Studies reveal that children learn best through play. And art is playful. In every aspect of art, whether visual or performing arts, children learn to think outside the norm, practice creativity that develops important problem-solving skills, and learn to work together to accomplish a goal. Learning lines to a play improves memory skills, and by consistently practicing an instrument, a child learns that small steps of improvement, with perseverance, add up to large accomplishments. Through the arts, children also learn that constructive feedback is not something to cower from but rather is valuable and desired.
Just ask 59 students why they spent four days at art camp in Charlo — although they’ll probably just say they did it because it’s fun.
The Ninepipe Arts Group began sponsoring the Charlo-Dixon Fine Arts Camp in 2005 for first-grade through high school age children.
Charlo schools opens their facility for the camp each year, and local artists teach hands-on projects with the help of volunteers. Sometimes, the group even creates large community projects, like the colorful mural on Charlo Grocery store’s north wall.
At the end of each day, a performing artist entertains the students with dance or instruments.
At the end of the week, parents are invited to see their child’s artwork on display. This year, the children learned a hip-hop dance and performed it for their families.
With the theme “Art in Motion,” age-appropriate projects included whirligigs from recycled plastic pop bottles; marionettes created with newspaper, tape and yarn; and high-flying kites.
“We want them to have success in art,” Olivia Olsen said, in her 11th year teaching at the camp. “There is no such thing as ‘fail’ in art. It’s not ever in our vocabulary.”
Although sometimes, she said, it’s okay to “mess up — if you learn something. When you learn what not to do, it can be more important than what to do.”
Shelby Snyder said she attended the camp for nine years. Now she’s too old to participate, but volunteers.
“It’s fun to help the little kids, and see how they progress,” she said.
Surrounded by an more than two dozen kites from around the world, volunteers in the library helped older students trace their hands on paper, and then learn the various components — bamboo spars, spine, crossbars, and bridle — that all come together lift the creation heavenward.
“Many hands make kite work,” volunteer Suzanne Parson quipped.
The camp is run by the Ninepipes Art Group, but it is also funded in part by both Charlo and Dixon schools’ 21st Century Grant and Mission Valley Printing.
