Photo by Edie Sharp

ArtCamp 2003 is a Hit!

Collaborative Art Camp at Prallsville Mills Engages Local Kids in Art

This summer, from July 21st to the 25th, area children participated at ArtCamp 2003, a collaborative venture by local organizations Artsbridge, the Delaware River Mill Society, the Riverkeeper Network and the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission. For a full week 35 children, ages 6–11, gathered at the Prallsville Mills in Stockton, New Jersey to explore how art, science, and history are interrelated and how they touch every day lives.

Curriculum for this year’s camp included “Bug Madness” by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Faith Zerbe; healthy water systems, basic architecture and technology of the Prallsville Mills; and the creation of a mural integrating the weeks activities. Campers also expressed their artistic talents with the creation of wire and foam bug mobiles, zigzag books, and experimented with different materials building model houses. The campers in the 10 to 11 age group produced a pamphlet on the computer about the art camp at the Prallsville Mills.

On Sunday, July 27th Artsbridge, a collaborative partner in the camp, hosted an art show opening for the campers, their friends, family, and parents at the Artsbridge Gallery in Lambertville. The camper’s works of art, as well as the mural, were displayed at the well-attended event. The campers took most of the artwork home with them at the end of the opening.

The mural and a sampling of the projects were kept to be displayed in the Artsbridge Children’s Gallery for the months of September, October, and November. The mural will be available for display in local elementary schools after November.

ArtCamp 2003 was a success and this year’s class of incredibly talented campers was able to delve into interesting and challenging projects while meeting other area children with the same interests.

The day camp was held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was taught by local artist and teachers including Jeanne Elodie, Deborah Deeken, and Ray Kinlock. Counselors included Annelies van Dommelen, Ruth Manning, Teri Berman, Amy Whitney, and Mill Director Edith Sharp. In addition to the paid staff, junior volunteer counselors Evan Giller, Julian MacNeil and Cameron Keane assisted in many ways and received service awards for their efforts. This year Stephanie Sharp directed ArtCamp.

Be sure to stop and see the selection of camper’s artwork that will be on display in the Artsbridge Children’s Gallery this September through November