The last month of summer vacation is, believe it or not, just around the corner, which means that it's time to stock up on school supplies and also means that parents might start to hear more complaints of boredom. (Feel free to reply to this like my mother did with, "Only boring people get bored," or a nicer, classic response like, "Hello, bored, nice to meet you.")
Ending summer vacation on a creative note will add a splash of excitement and, in most cases, will result in a handmade keepsake from the summer of 2011. There are multiple creative outlets available for kids in August, and here are a few to consider.
Beth Eaton Pottery
eatonpottery.com
Beth Eaton teaches pottery workshops for kids from her Bay View home. The first three Tuesdays in August she will lead a group at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. Parents choose the most convenient time. The cost is $60, and each child will make four clay projects. Eaton will then fire them, and kids can glaze them on the last day. Kids must be at least 5 years old. Visit her website or call (414) 489-0536 for more information.
Henna design
Various locations
Contact one of these henna artists for an afternoon of henna application. These henna artists will explain their process to your child while applying traditional or non traditional ornate henna tattoos that last on the skin for about a week. The artists will come to you or invite you to their studio, depending on availability and convenience.
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Dr., (414) 224-3400
mam.org
MAM offers a class from Tuesday, Aug. 2 to Friday, Aug. 5 called "Sculpting with paper and wood" that teaches kids how to create sculptures as well as basic architectural elements. For kids ages 6 to 10, the class runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon; and kids ages 11 to 15 have a more advanced class that runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $150 for non-members; $100 for members.
Murray Hill Pottery
2456 N. Murray Ave., (414) 332-8828
murrayhillpottery.com
Murray Hill offers a family-friendly pottery class on Thursday nights from Aug. 5 to Aug. 19. The class is from 4 to 5 p.m. and $75 per person. Each member will make their own bowl, plate and cup. Kids need to be at least 4 years old and no experience is necessary. One-day workshops for kids ages 6 to 12 are also available. Call Murray Hill for more information.
The Museum of Wisconsin Art
300 S. 6th Ave., West Bend, (262) 334-9638
wisconsinart.org
The Museum of Wisconsin Art will offer a "Pee Wee Picassos" drawing and painting class for kids between the ages of 3 and 6 and their caregivers on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. "Your little artist will explore the wonders of shape, line, texture, form and design while developing manual dexterity and project development." The cost is $10 per person; $5 for members.
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
19805 W. Capitol Dr., (262) 781-9520
wilson-center.com
The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center offers Eco Art Making for kids ages 7 to 10. The five-week class meets every Thursday night, Aug. 4-Sept. 1, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Students will learn about how to reuse and recycle materials while learning about relief printmaking and screen printing. Kids will print stationery, T-shirts and reusable totes. The cost is $48 or $45 for museum donors and supplies are included.
Skyline Music Series Art Projects
Kadish Park
Every Tuesday night in August, during the Skyline Music Series of outdoor music performances at Kadish Park in Riverwest (on east North Avenue between Humboldt Boulevard and Holton Street), kids can make art projects for free from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The program is a collaboration between the Riverwest Artists Association and Children's Outing Association (COA) and encourages kids to create hats, flying toys and musical instruments.
Walker's Point Center for the Arts
839 S. 5th St., (414) 672-2787
wpca-milwaukee.org
The WPCA has multiple classes for kids in August. From Aug. 3-6, kids can attend "Music and Rhythms," during which they work with professional musicians to feel out beats and create their own rhythms. From Aug. 10 to 13, kids can learn drums and dance from two of Milwaukee's top performers in African and Latin dance, Miriam Levie and SoulJah Natarajah. Both the music students and the dance students will be invited to perform in a fiesta on Aug. 13. Classes run Tuesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m. and the cost is $100 per week or $80 for WPCA members. Contact Kate or Mary for more information or to register at (414) 672-2787.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
