Classes
Forms in Clay
Forms In Clay class is designed for beginner to advance students. The Swanson Studio is equipped for hand building and wheel throwing, and utilizes an electric kiln for firing. The beginner student will learn the 3 basic hand building techniques, and if interested, an introduction to wheel throwing. Intermediate students and advance students have the flexibility to follow their own artistic direction. Forms created in class range from functional vases, bowls etc. to non functional sculptural art pieces.
For more information or to sign up: email or call 434-792-5355 • 9:00am - 5:30pm
Cost: Member / $95.00 • Non Members / $105.00
Materials: Includes 25 lbs. of clay, glazes and firing
Location: Swanson Studio - across from the Museum
**PLEASE NOTE**
ArtSmart
The DMFAH ArtSmart program provides art education services for low-resource children in Danville, Pittsylvania, and surrounding counties. Danville Museum presents an educational, SOL-based, pre-school program titled ArtSmart. ArtSmart explores the Elements (Line; Color; Form; Shape; Value; Texture and Space) and Principles of Art to preschoolers through the use of painting, collages, sculpture, interactive stories, and artwork from the Museum’s collection produced by recognized national and international artists.
The children learn to recognize and recreate primary and secondary colors, eleven different shapes including cylinder, pentagon, hexagon and octagon, which are all SOL-based requirements for kindergarten. This is a hands-on learning experience for many children who would not otherwise be able to afford such training. The socio-economic condition of much of our area prohibits many children from attending this learning activity.
The Museum’s goal is to extend this offering to as many children as possible through the ONLINE ArtSmart program. We anticipate serving 400 children through 27 or more classes during the 2021-2022 school year.
ArtSmart takes place in the See & Do Children’s Room at the Museum in addition to several of the galleries and is taught by a qualified educator. ArtSmart is available for three, four, and five-year-old children in preschool and kindergarten classes, and HeadStart programs located within the city of Danville and Pittsylvania, Henry and Campbell Counties. This program is particularly intended to serve those children who are usually excluded from such learning experiences due to socio-economic conditions.
Art is important in child development for motor skills, language development, decision making, visual learning, inventiveness and creativity, cultural awareness, and improved academic performance. ArtSmart is a program where the Danville Museum can provide additional support in performance levels for area preschoolers and kindergarteners, reinforcing SOL requirements within a unique museum environment and by engaging with teachers and teaching assistance in hands-on workshops.
Since the pandemic of 2020 the museum is working to create more accessible online education units engaging young students from the Headstart and Public School classes with the Elements and Principles of Art.
ArtSmart coordinates with the school calendar, beginning in September and continuing through May. Each class lasts approximately 45 minutes, and class numbers are between 15 and 25. Our online ArtSmart Art Elements and Art Principles education units for teachers and students will be launched in August of 2021.
Please feel free to contact us for more information about ArtSmart at info@danvillemuseum.org
We would like to thank the Womack Foundation for providing consistent support for this program. The number of participating preschoolers has increased, and the Museum has added several new schools as ArtSmart partners this year. Busing has been provided for these students through the generosity of the Philip N. Daly and Frances K. Daly Charitable Lead Unitrust. During the pandemic year of 2020 the Daly Charitable Trust has funded education fellows for SOL updates and videography for online programming.