The Margret and H.A. Rey Center in Waterville Valley is partnering with lo cal Eco Artist Cynthia Robinson to present a week of art and nature programs for youth at their Curious George Cottage Studio. Children between the ages of 4 and 9 will have the opportunity to create sculptures using natural materials, contributing to an art trail along the Curious George Cottage Nature Trail.
Art TrailWorks! is being offered for ages 7-9 on July 27-31 from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. each day. Participants will explore natural materials and build "eco art" along the Curious George Nature Trail. Children will explore patterns, colors, lines, and shapes, while working together and individually with bark, sticks, rocks, pinecones, leaves, and more, highlighting the trail's natural beauty. Participants will also create drawings, use digital photography, and then work together to design a group book that tells the story of the Art Trail. Every participant will receive a published copy of the group Art TrailWorks! book. The cost ifor this age group is $145.
Exploring Nature and Art is being offered for ages 4-6 on July 27-31 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. each day. Participants will base explorations on questions such as "Who lives in our woods?" and "What kinds of creatures walk on the Curious George Nature Trail?". Using natural materials, children will build shelters, webs, and nests for the local creatures along the Nature Trail. The sculptures will become part of a growing Art and Nature Trail. Participants will also be working on drawing, painting, and printmaking that will become part of the Art Trail Book. Every child will receive a published copy of the group Exploring Nature and Art book. The cost for this age group is $120.
Cynthia Robinson is a Visual Artist with over twenty years experience designing, teaching, and directing learning and arts programs. Cynthia's business, Eco Art a la carte is based on her work as an "Eco Artist" (a new form of environmental artist) and her passion for teaching. She believes that visual art can provide a simple gateway to understanding and exploring the natural environment. Cynthia explains, "Developing this relationship between students and the places in which they live is, in my opinion, essential to educating socially and environmentally conscious future adults. My approach to teaching is based on creating a learning space where students can apply their natural creative ability to new materials and concepts."
Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of the Curious George children's book series and former summer residents of Waterville Valley, NH, were artists and adventurers, historians and naturalists, gardeners and stewards. Today their spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A. Rey Center , a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the Reys' legacy through art, science, and adventure programs for all ages. To register for this program or for more information please contact the Margret and H.A. Rey Center at http://www.reycenter.org or 603-236-3308.