ALLEGANY, NY — Area children on spring break from school this week have been using their creative talents to make clay figures, friendship rocks and sketches during art classes under the direction of instructors with the Tri-County Arts Council in Allegany.
The art classes have been offered the past several years at the Arts Council studio during spring breaks, said Ardyth VanScoy, education director for the non-profit organization. The two morning sessions are being held for children ages 4 to 7 and 7 to 11. An instructor with the group, Dawn Maguire, said the staff came up with various art projects that provide exposure to different cultures.
“We’ll have a few different cultures (explored), “ she said. “We’re going to do Pennsylvania Dutch welcome signs and we did God’s eyes, which are (a woven yarn design) from Mexico and Bolivia.”
VanScoy said the spring break classes have been offered to children in the community for as long as the Arts Council has been located in its present studio space at 100 W. Main St.
Along those lines, VanScoy said she is uncertain when the Arts Council will move to its new location at West State Street in Olean. Last year, the Arts Council announced plans to move to a new, larger studio and gallery at 110-112 W. State St. in Olean, adjacent to the Manufacturers Hanover Building. The West State Street facility is owned by Jeff Belt, manager of Sunny Olean LLC and president of SolEpoxy, Inc. Belt could not be reached for comment on the project Wednesday.
VanScoy said she and others at the Arts Council are uncertain when the move will take place, but are waiting patiently.
“It is still the plan to move up there (to Olean), and they are still working on construction” at the Olean facility, VanScoy said. “But we have no firm date whatsoever.”
As for upcoming activities, VanScoy said the Arts Council continues to offer plenty of programs, both at the West Main Street studio and in the community.
“We have quite a few adult classes coming up,” she continued. “Next Wednesday we have a book binding class and are sold out.”
In addition, the Arts Council will host two BOCES classes consisting of high school students from area school districts.
“We have a charcoal class and a pottery class” for the students, she said, noting the classes are held for students recommended by their art teachers. The sessions are held outside the regular school hours and are offered at no cost to the students.
VanScoy said an adult program that will be offered is the Brushes and Brews paint class, which will be held at 6 p.m. May 10 at Four Mile Brewing in Olean.
“It’s a lot of fun and we do it in the upstairs room,” she said of the paint class. “We’ll have paint and canvases — they always have live music on Fridays (at Four Mile Brewing) so we’ll have our own private concert.”
She noted there is still room for more students in Brushes and Brews class and more information can be obtained by emailing info@myartscouncil.net or by calling 372-7455.
