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Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series about artistic communities.
by LAURA TABOR
Lifestyles Reporter
“Sometimes, kids just want to draw.”
When Megan A. Stephenson, a senior art education major, began working with the Community Art School at The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, this became an invaluable lesson.
“When working with the drawing club, we didn’t give the kids specific guidelines, or tell them what to do,” Stephenson said. “Letting them draw helps us learn more about how they think and express creativity.”
 Located at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, the Community Art School offers an afterschool program and figure drawing classes with a variety of supplies. Photo by Rachel Noel.
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The Community Art
School runs afterschool programs for children, like the Drawing Club,
as well as workshops and programs for community members of all ages.
Art
education majors and members of Appalachian State University’s art
department staff this environment, lending their expertise to the
programs and getting experience out of it themselves.
“This
brings art and education together,” Stephenson said. “I feel very
prepared to teach, and students get to experienced really diverse art
and see what’s out there.”
Gayle M. Weitz, professor in the art department and director of the Community Art School, sees art as valuable to all people.
“We work
with children, teens, adults and many special populations,” Weitz said.
“Art is very therapeutic and centering. It’s a great way to learn about
oneself and the human psyche.”
The
programs range from guided tours of the art exhibitions at the TCVA, to
figure-drawing classes on Sundays and artists in residence from
locations like China.
Participating in the Community Art School has some distinctions from participating in the Appalachian art department.
 The Community Art School, comprised of Appalachian State University art education majors and members of the art department, offers programs for community members of all ages as well as an afterschool program for children. Photo by Rachel Noel.
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“This is
a non-graded, non-degree program, with a low time commitment,” Weitz
said. “Unlike the art department, you don’t have to submit an art
portfolio and become a major. You can just take clay while majoring in
something like chemistry.”
The
program holds more workshops during the spring and summer and the 2009
brochure should be available within the next two weeks.
The
school looks to the future with conceptions for large projects, like an
educational programming Web site about art, new classroom space and an
Artmobile to host art classes around Watauga, Avery and Mitchell
counties.
Within the TCVA, the Community Art School is part of a many-faceted mission of art awareness and participation.
“We
realize that the Turchin Center is a jewel,” Weitz said. “Stop in and
walk through. Art is not simply to make, but to be seen and
appreciated.”
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