An arts camp was held the third week of June for middle-school aged students. Leading the camp was Tana Kettner, newly-retired art instructor from Salem High School.
This was the first year for the camp and served as a fundraiser for the arts center and planned renovations.
Fourteen students participated in the week-long camp that focused on a variety of art mediums including drawing, fiber art, gourd painting, clay, acrylic painting and charcoal, among others. Assisting Kettner was recent SHS grad, and accomplished art student, Isabella Knaack; and former Salem Middle School art teacher Sally McColloch.
“We are so thankful Sally decided to join us, she is a wonderful blessing,” said Kettner.
McColloch enrolled her daughter Brooke, but decided when she dropped by, to assist. “I just couldn’t stay away; this is such a neat idea,” said McColloch.
Fees for each student were collected and the remainder, after snacks and art supplies, will help fund the building renovation project. Renovations planned for the building include adding a kitchenette, two handicap-accessible restrooms, a small office, three classroom spaces including a pottery room and two other studio spaces, and a storage room. Several volunteers have already donated materials and time, without a formal request. A kiln for pottery classes has been donated, and organizers hope to raise funds to purchase four potters-wheels to teach pottery classes.
“People have been so generous,” shared Kettner. “To see people in our community come to us and offer to cut out a doorway, change our lighting to LED bulbs, donate office furniture, offer to furnish a complete kitchen, donate a kiln, and more, without even being asked…it blows me away. This is obviously a God thing.”
“It is crazy, I knew that God was leading me to continue to use my art background in my retirement, but I had no idea how He would use me and how He would make it happen. Danielle (Norris) and I sat down and both agreed that we wanted to keep the arts center afloat for Libby’s sake (Libby Sanders), if for no other reason.”
Norris is the new president of the council. She has hosted numerous paint parties in the past, before COVID-19 forced cancellations of many events at the center. She has started up leading parties again and is available for private parties as well.
The council hopes to introduce, in addition to the paint parties, more classes and workshops in the future such as stained glass, acrylic, oil, and watercolor painting, life drawing, ceramic painting, wheel thrown pottery, fiber arts, printmaking, and more. They also plan to bring in guest artists, and allow patrons to rent the space for birthdays, etc. Besides for the visual arts, the art center is here to support other fine arts opportunities such as music and dance lessons, theatre practice and other things.
A new name for the building is being decided upon to remember Libby Sanders and her infinite work with arts of all kinds in the community. A mural will be painted on the side of the building reflecting that name.
Sanders was instrumental in securing the building, currently owned by the Salem Area Community Betterment Association, after the Teacher's Closet closed, with a vision of using it as an arts center. She started by asking local artists and art teachers to lead art workshops and paint parties, and it has grown from there. She also began the first jam session, encouraging anyone who enjoys music to come together on the fourth Saturday of the month to play with, or sit back and listen to, others who enjoy the same passion for free.
An open house is being planned for September to enhance community awareness of new programs that will be offered at the arts center and allow people to sign up for classes. It should be a fun day of hands-on activities, demonstrations, a tour of the building and an opportunity to donate towards the renovation project.
The Creative Arts Center is located at 202 South Main Street, just south of the Salem Farmers’ Market, behind the ONCRC. The center was converted from the Teachers’ Closet to the Creative Arts Center in 2017.
Upcoming events at the center include a tie dye workshop July 15 and an open paint party July 29.
Private and group art lessons are available, and specialty workshops such as stained glass, wheat weaving, barn quilt making, life drawing, oil painting, and more will be coming soon.
For more information call or text (573) 247-0651 or (573) 247-5306. You can also follow Salem Area Arts Council – MO on Facebook.
