Students at the Mixed Media Art Summer Camp at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. (Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff)

THE second session of the annual National Art Gallery of the Bahamas’ mixed media art summer camp is under way with the focus on “surrealism, pop art and contemporary art”, organiser Abby Smith told The Tribune yesterday.

The camp - for children aged seven to 18 - is split into two three-week sessions from late June to mid-August. At the end of each session, campers display their artwork in a final showcase at the NAGB.

It is an important component of the education programme, designed to expose campers to different art forms, encourage the development of artistic skills and educate young people about Bahamian art history. Participants spend their time learning visual art techniques, exploring different avenues of creativity and developing their knowledge of art.

“We are introducing the kids about the international art movements and while those movements were going on how they impacted the Bahamian art,” Ms. Smith, the NAGB’s Community Outreach Officer, said. “This session is focusing on surrealism, pop art and contemporary art.”

Yesterday, the younger campers were watching “Alice In Wonderland” to get a better understanding of the way the surrealist movement in the films is portrayed, while those over 13 painted self portraits.

This year the NAGB has given the campers an opportunity to get more involved in the international art movements as compared to last year when they observed the different Bahamian artists. The majority of the chidlren attending the camp are from neighbouring communities, the Urban Renewal Foundation and the Lyford Cay Foundation.

The camp, which runs from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, finishes on August 12.

By Aaron Miller

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