The 2020 University of Findlay Mazza Museum’s Young Artist Workshop for 2020 finished up recently after being presented virtually from July 20 -24. The change to online presentation certainly didn’t seem to damper any feelings of enthusiasm for participants or presenters, and in fact, it was abundantly clear that everyone involved, as the workshop’s theme suggested, did, indeed, “flip it” for the workshop.

Aspiring young artists from grades three through eight picked up their boxes of supplies – all supplied by Mazza – the week before the start of the workshop, and once the workshop lessons got started, they were given step-by-step lesson plans to follow along with for every day’s activity. Promo videos provided each night before the following day’s session allowed the young artists to anticipate and prepare themselves for the fun.

The participants’ daily projects were based on select children’s books which served to complement the specific project. They were:

• Spread it Like Peanut Butter: in which students learned to paint stories with clay; based on the picture book Effie, by Beverley Allinson and Barbara Reid.
• Driftwood Mobiles: where students used repurposed items found in nature to create a work that requires unity and balance; based on the picture book Hum and Swish, by Matt Myers.
• Build WHAT?: in which the young artists used recyclable items to design and build a multi-layered work of art; based on the picture book Roberto The Insect Architect, by Nina Laden.
• The Ancient Art of Rubbing: where participants discussed rough and smooth surfaces and how they can help craft their vision while learning about the world through their senses; based on the picture book Sebastian and the Balloon, by Philip C. Stead.
• Get Creative with Author and Illustrator Christina Wald: in which young artists used common medium to experience a new way to express themselves and stretch their imaginations; based on the picture book A Wish for Pangolin illustrated by Wald and written by Carrie Hosler.

Local teachers, Mazza enthusiasts, Mazza Museum/education/volunteer coordinator Heather Sensel, and Wald, the illustrator of over 50 picture books, helped bring the Zoom sessions to life for all 72 students who participated from the Findlay, Toledo, Westerville, and Columbus areas.

“It was terrific,” said Sensel. “The amazing Mazza team stood right along with me and helped all the way, and it was so rewarding and enjoyable. Who knows what next year will bring, but Mazza will be ready!”

Watch a fun video of our young artists’ work!