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Summer Atelier

California College of the Arts is pleased to offer three sections of Summer Atelier for students who have just completed the ninth grade: two sections will take place on our Oakland campus; another on our San Francisco campus.

This three-week, all-day program is held Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Morning classes meet 9 a.m.–noon. Afternoon classes meet 1–4 p.m. A one-hour break is provided for lunch.

Two Campuses, Two Approaches

  • The Oakland campus programs (see below) allow participants to explore drawing, alternative photographic processes, and screen-printing.
  • Students participating in the San Francisco program explore drawing and painting techniques.

Enrollment in each section is limited to 16 students.

Summer Atelier is a noncredit, nonresidential program. Participants do not receive a grade; however, a letter will be sent in August that acknowledges their program participation. Housing is not available.

Oakland Program

July 7-25, 2008
July 21-August 8, 2008

Morning Sessions

Morning sessions are divided into two modules: in the first, students investigate alternative photographic processes; and in the second, they explore screen-printing.

Alternative Photographic Processes
Seven sessions
First-section instructor: Zanna Hess
Second-section instructor: TBA

Students explore working with alternative photographic processes in an informal darkroom environment where they are introduced to cyanotype, Polaroid transfers, and other nontraditional methods. Photographic concepts and techniques are presented as students experiment with the unlimited possibilities of photographic printmaking processes.

Because many of the techniques learned are not dependent on darkroom procedures, participants will be able to continue applying what they learn even after the class concludes. Many of these unique processes can be applied to fabric, too.

Students need to bring to the first class three self-taken photographs and five 35mm slides (optional).

Screen-Printing
Eight sessions
Instructor: Andrew Junge

Screen-printing provides the opportunity to create multiple prints from a single screen. Following an overview of basic principles and mechanics, students create hand-drawn or cut-film positives used to expose a stencil onto a photopolymer emulsion-coated screen. Screen preparation, ink mixing, and multiple-color registration are covered.

Using water-based inks, each student creates at least one multilayer print in an edition large enough to allow all participants to take one home.

Afternoon Sessions

Explorations in Drawing
15 sessions
First-section instructor: Kathleen Henderson
Second-section instructor: Patrick Dintino

Students work with their afternoon instructor to explore the rich materials, concepts, and techniques of drawing. Ten sessions focus on drawing the human form (from a nude model). Participants will capture the figure through quick-gesture drawing, as well as through longer, more extended studies.

We have planned a field trip to the Berkeley Art Museum and a visit to a prominent local artist's studio. In addition, guest artists will visit the class to present their work and discuss being an artist.

San Francisco Program

July 28-August 15, 2008

Morning Sessions

Explorations in Drawing
15 sessions
Instructor: Victoria Wagner

Students work with their morning instructor to explore the rich materials, concepts, and techniques of drawing. Ten sessions focus on drawing the human form (from a nude model). Participants will capture the figure through quick-gesture drawing, as well as through longer, more extended studies.

Afternoon Sessions

Painters Studio
15 sessions
Instructor: James Pitt

While focusing on creative image making in a variety of painting media, students in this class are encouraged to take risks on their way to artistic discovery. Covering multiple aspects of the painter's studio, topics range from stretching canvases and preparing surfaces for painting (such as wood and paper) to using nontraditional means to apply paint. Daily demonstrations of materials and specific application processes help build a vocabulary of techniques while allowing students to experiment and develop a personal painting style.

A field trip to local art spaces is planned. In addition, guest artists visit the class to present their work and discuss being an artist.

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Questions

For more information, please contact the Office of Special Programs at 510.594.3710.


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