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PAINTING AND WRITING
This summer we have the pleasure of bringing two former High School Arts students back as teachers for the Advanced High School Visual Art Workshop. Both Britt Rynearson and Benjamin Britton credit Centrum with encouraging their pursuit of art as a career.
Britt Explains
 "I was a Centrum student at age 17. The experience gave me a thrilling sense of independence and personal responsibility. I met creative people from all over the state.
Working in the art room at my high school the following fall, I had a moment of clarity.I identified as an artist and knew that would determine the course of my life. Some of the paintings created at Centrum won me college scholarship money and exhibits in local galleries. I gained a personal identity that quelled my fear of the unknown post high school world. I am now a professional artist and teacher."
Centrum's intensive workshops feature hands-on learning guided by master artists and instructors. These programs can be life changing for students seeking in-depth and challenging study in visual art, dance and literature.
BRITT RYNEARSON'S CLASS WILL FOCUS ON FIGURATIVE PAINTING.
Here's how she describes it: "In my return to Centrum as a teacher, we will study the work of artists such as Georgia O'Keefe, Andrew Wyeth and Lucian Freud, among others. To understand what they did and why we love/like/hate their paintings increases our visual vocabulary. This workshop will be a journey through which your unique lens becomes real on paper and canvas."
BEN BRITTON'S CLASS FOCUSES ON ABSTRACT PAINTING
HE SAYS: "The ideas behind the "Adventures in Abstraction" workshop is to go
on a journey with each piece, feeling for the unique freedom and potential of abstract painting. We'll start with some imagery collected from the unique setting of Fort Worden, to respond formally to the feelings that imagery conjures, and to make the first painting based on those responses.
"Next, students will create a "stage" for a gestural painting based on the record of an action, like a dancer peforming within a space.
"Finally, we'll attempt some paintings based on the process of using an 'alternative' painting tool (anything that isn't a brush or palette knife), imbuing the painting with a start that can be reacted against with more traditional methods.
"All along, I'll encourage taking risks with the painting, making dynamic color choices, and generally emphasizing the journey of painting over the destination. We'll also look at the use of influences such as maps, text, pattern, calendars, and poetry. The idea is for students to leave with new approaches to image making that engage their personal points-of-view and that inspire them to make many more paintings!"
WRITING
During the same week, high school writers will be participating in the renowned Port Townsend Writers' Conference (Advanced High School Writers' Studio) -  Acclaimed writer Chris Crutcher leads the morning session for high school students. With a critical mass of young people on campus, things are sure to rock.
We're excited to be offering these two high school tracks side by side, and hope there is some cross-fertilization.
For more information visit the Young Artists Project.
REGISTER TODAY!
See you this summer!
Martha Worthley, Program Manager, Young Artists Project | 
