MAKING MARKS

Two new programs sponsored by the Windmore Foundation for the Arts will debut next month.

The group is launching Making Marks and Get Art. Both programs are meant to encourage people of all ages to explore and hopefully appreciate their artistic side.

For those who think they lack artistic skills but are willing to learn, Windmore president Tina Wade said the Get Art classes are a good start.

“If you haven’t had any instruction, sometimes it just takes a little instruction to make you see things differently,” Wade said.

In the Making Marks classes, kids will be handed jumbo crayons and big pads of paper. In the Get Art classes, participants will need to bring a few basic supplies. Local professional artists will lead the one-day class. Both women stressed that no previous art experience is required to participate in the new programs.

“The idea behind the programming was to build on the success of Art in the Park,” said Kelly Rozwadowski, vice president of the Windmore board. “We’ve been doing that for quite a while and the community has really embraced it and they really look forward to it.”

Begun about 20 years ago, the summertime Art in the Park event gives kids the opportunity to explore their creative side. The event is capped by putting the artwork on display in the Depot.

Rozwadowski said the new programs will hopefully do to things — give very young kids a chance to explore art for the first time and provide a chance for parents to get involved too.

Recently, Rozwadowski, who has children of her own, said she’s discovered that some parents have unknowingly and unfortunately transferred their own anxiety about their lack of art skills to their kids.

“I saw when I brought my son to some play dates that there are kids who had never picked up a set of crayons before,” she said. “It’s because the parent didn’t know how to engage them in coloring
because they were nervous about their own drawing abilities.

“That’s why we really want the parent to be there too,” Rozwadowski said.

Looking toward the holiday season, Rozwadowski said Windmore’s popular Festival of Trees event is returning in December. More details are available on the group’s Web site, windmorefoundation.org.

Founded in 1987, Windmore was created to promote theater, dance, music and visual arts in the Piedmont area.

Upcoming events at Windmore

Making Marks — Sept. 4, 10-11 a.m. at Windmore: A program for ages 12 months and up, Making Marks will introduce kids to their first set of crayons and show adults ways they can make art appealing to their young ones
Get Art — intro to drawing for kids Sept. 5, 10 a.m. until noon; intro to drawing for teens and adults will meet at 1 p.m. Both sessions are at Windmore.
Culpeper: Celebrating Art/Windmore Fall Art Show — Sept. 11 through Sept. 25; reception on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Village Frameworks and Gallery, 206 S. Main St.
The Windmore Art Center is located at 209 N. Commerce St, one block from the Depot. For more information about upcoming programs or to register, call 547-4333 or visit windmorefoundation.org.