By Danielle Hinson and Ralph Derickson

"Summer is a wonderful time to allow a child to be creative. During the school year there is so much pressure placed on kids to do well; as a result they find it hard to be free and creative."

-- George Szekely,
UK professor of art education

May 23, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- For the first time in more than 10 years, the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts will conduct a summer art education program for children ages 6-13. George Szekely, professor of art education, said the UK summer art program will include make-believe journeys.

The students will make items to take with them on these journeys, such as a camera to take pictures, a towel to lie on at the beach, a passport to venture to foreign lands, and postcards to be sent home.

The Great Art Escape "will be an art camp like none other," Szekely said. "Summer is a wonderful time to allow a child to be creative," he added. "During the school year there is so much pressure placed on kids to do well; as a result they find it hard to be free and creative."

Szekely believes that playtime is an important factor in the creative process.

"During the Great Art Escape, each class will begin outside in order to pretend, observe, collect and discover their surroundings," he said.

From these discoveries each student will be taken on a great adventure whether it is on safari, to the beach, shopping, camping and even to the moon. The Great Art Escape consists of three sessions.

The registration fee is $160. Classes are Monday through Thursday. Session I runs June 3-14, session II runs June 17-28, and session III runs July 1-12.

The age groups and the sessions they will attend are as follows: 6- and 7-year-olds, 10 a.m. to noon, sessions I and III; 8- and 9-year-olds, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., sessions I and III; 10- and 11-year-olds, 10 a.m. to noon, session II, and 12- and 13-year-olds 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., session II. Drawing lessons will be offered to children ages 13 and older on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon during sessions I and II.

At the end of their summer sessions, the students will have a gallery showing of their artwork.

For more information or to register, call the UK office of art education at (859) 257-2727.