Parents interested in nurturing their children's budding creativity should consider signing them up for one of several summer workshops that Radius, HACC Gallery and Museum Shop, will offer at its location on the ground floor of the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Third Street. The first-ever Summer Series Youth Workshops will find Radius craftsmen teaching children how to work with clay, glass beads, wire and textiles. The classes will run through June, July and August.

 

"Our workshops are unique to the area because they will focus strictly on crafts," explains Jessica Lantz, curator of arts and assistant manager for Radius, which is operated by HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. "Also, our classes will be led by craftsmen who have work on displays in our shop."

Under the creative instruction of Kathy O'Neal, children participating in the June workshops will work with ceramics. Using a slab of clay, rolling pins and their own hands, they will construct their pieces. The June 12 class will feature Mug Mugs, which are mugs that have silly faces. Mini Pinchpot Teapots, tiny teapots formed by pinching clay, are scheduled for June 19. Wall hangings that include a pocket are planned for June 26. All classes run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $30 for each child, ages 9 to 13.

Jewelry artists Nancy Conlon and Kristen Mortelliti will team up for the July workshops that are intended for parents and children to share. Conlon and Mortelliti will lead participants in designs that feature glass beads and wire wrapping techniques. Necklaces are the focus of the July 10 workshop; bracelets are on tap for July 17 and the workshop scheduled for July 24 will feature earrings. All classes run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $30 for each child, ages 9 and older.

The theme for the August workshops in the summer series is textiles. Starting off the month on August 7 is basket weaving, in which children will learn the basic techniques for making their own basket. Things get messy on August 14 in the Learn to Felt workshop. Using a hands-on process that is a lot like kneading dough, children will create their own piece of felt and discover the many things they can make with it. The series ends on August 21 with basic knitting. Armed with knitting needles and a ball of yarn, participants will learn the basic stitches necessary to get them started in this craft that is experiencing renewed popularity. All classes run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $35 for each child, ages 9 to 13.

For more information on the workshops or to register, call 717-233-5636 or send an email to Jessica Lantz at the address below.