SFF offers summer creativity camps

Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) is offering seven week-long summer creativity camps for middle- and high-school-aged students at Sisters Art Works in July and August.

SFF has partnered with regional teaching artists to create these fun-filled sessions of art, music, theater, and self-expression. Registration is open at https://sistersfolkfestival.org/creativity-camps with pay-what-you-can pricing starting at $25 to ensure that no child is prevented from participating due to financial barriers.

Seed to Sprout Music Camp, July 10-14, is for players with minimal music experience on their chosen acoustic instrument. Teaching artist Joe Schulte, mandolin player and bandleader from Moon Mountain Ramblers, Cascade School of Music, and String Theory Music School in Bend, will teach the course. Schulte will provide songs that can be played with the most basic common chords and short, easy-to-learn melodies to memorize. Students will have opportunities to try other instruments as well, offering players real-life experience and showing them what each different "noise machine" can offer. Enrollment is open to students grades 5-8 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 20 participants. Registration closes on July 3.

Science and the Arts Camp, July 17-21, is a half-day camp focused on the intersection of art and science. Through experiments and constructions using light and sound, campers will tap into their personal creativity, finding patterns in nature and art while exploring concepts in Design Science. The camp will be led by Rob Corrigan, former chemistry, physics, engineering, and math teacher at Sisters High School. Enrollment is open to students entering grades 7-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 10.

Middle Grades String Camp, July 24-28, will be lead by teaching artist and Sisters Middle School (SMS) science teacher Melissa Stolasz. This camp is open to players who have some experience on fiddle or guitar and can play a few tunes. Instruction will include two music sessions each day with additional teachers supervising and providing specific musical expertise. Students will learn new techniques on the fiddle, work on their bowing game, and learn some great new tunes. Enrollment is open to students going into grades 5-8 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Maximum of 25 participants. Registration closes on July 17.

Impressions Creativity Camp, July 24-28, is another half-day camp focused on mixed-media arts with teaching artist and visual arts teacher Judy Fuentes. The students will explore Impressionism through a variety of mediums as they learn about Impressionistic art styles and artists. Artists will explore different subject matters, recognize personal style, and practice analyzing works of art. Enrollment is open to students grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day in the upstairs JAM Studio at Sisters Art Works. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 17.

A theater production camp, Nothing Is Without Meaning, July 31-August 4, will be collaboratively presented by teaching artists Steven Livingston, Judy Fuentes, and Jayana Hinkle. This camp will focus on building skills to help develop a deeper understanding of the creative theatrical process. Student thespians will explore the following themes: body language, expression, sound and music, and intention and motivation. To explore these themes, students will be involved in group projects augmented with the study of music, drama, and stagecraft. The culmination of their work will be presented on the last day to family, friends, and community members. Enrollment is open to students grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 30 students. Registration closes on July 24.

Joe Schulte will offer Branch to Fruit Music Camp, August 7-11, for players who are comfortable on their instrument and relatively fluid in the common major and minor chords found in popular music. In addition to playing together as a large group, this camp will break out into some small group ensemble sessions in which two to four players will work out tunes that may include custom song arrangement, individual solos, harmonies, and improvisation. Enrollment is open to students grades 6-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 20 participants. Registration closes on July 31.

Music in Art Creativity Camp, August 7-11, will focus on exploring how music intertwines with visual arts and informs one another. Judy Fuentes will introduce students to musical influences in artworks by Wassily Kandinsky, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Romare Bearden while creating with paints and collage. Enrollment is open to students entering grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon daily in the upstairs JAM Studio at Sisters Art Works. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 31.

The suggested tuition for each full-day camp is $275 and includes all materials, lunch, and snacks each day. Half-day suggested tuition is $175 and includes materials and snacks. Loaner instruments will be available for students in the music camps as well. SFF is offering all camps with pay-what-you-can pricing to help eliminate barriers to participation. For more information, visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org.

Sisters Art Works is located at 204 W. Adams Ave.