Educating through art

This summer in Laguna Beach, children are being encouraged to create outside of the box so they can learn how to problem solve inside the box.

Youth Art Education Workshops are for children ages 6 to 12 from noon to 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the Festival of Arts until Aug. 20.

The workshops are sponsored by the Festival and in collaboration with Laguna Outreach for Community Arts (LOCA).

“Art gives children at any age a voice to express themselves in a creative way, which leads them to being creative with solutions in problem solving,” said Mada Leach, the workshop’s service coordinator and cofounder of LOCA.

Leach designs the summer series’ curriculum to allow children to explore an array of artistic media such as collage techniques, acrylic and watercolor painting, mixed media, clay sculpture and mask making.

LOCA, a coalition of arts educators, professional artists and advocates, who provide art education through community outreach, give their members the opportunity to teach the classes based upon their compatibility with the respected medium.

“The Festival of Arts Youth Arts Education Days gives children a hands-on opportunity to learn about a variety of artistic media,” said Sharie Higuchi, director of marketing and public relations.

Many parents feel that the variety of workshops is the reason their kids keep coming back.

Kristina MacLaughlin registered her sons, Kennon, 6 and Ian, 5, for all seven of the workshops.

“They look forward to the classes, because it is a different project every week, not just a series of the same thing.”

Other parents claim that the quality of instruction makes the program so successful.

“The teachers are wonderful. I wish we would’ve signed up for more. We’re only taking four classes,” said Sarah Oliphant, mother of Rowan, 6.

Last Wednesday, the children were taught how to make “Whimsical Clay Figures” by art teacher and local artist Valerie Giorell.

Known mainly as a co-artist for the bench sculpture outside of the Laguna Beach library, Giorell is also a member of LOCA.

“I believe that everyone should fill their life with fun things and having fun through art.”

Although Wednesday will be the last of the Youth Art Education Days featuring paper collage techniques with Carolyn Machado, burgeoning artists can sign up for art education workshops throughout the year.

“Art is about stepping out there and trying something new,” Leach said. “I couldn’t imagine life without it.”

For more information, call (949) 464-4234 or visit www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.