The art of teaching art

Waynesville Art School offers year round, summer instructional opportunities

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT S TAFF WRITER A s a professional multimedia artist and photographer living in Western North Carolina since 2002, Luba Petrova still remembers the first piece of art she ever created.

“I was 4,” said Petrova, founder and director of the Waynesville Art School. “There’s a very famous Russian fairy tale about a golden fish and if you catch it, it can make all your wishes come true. So I had a golden fish and a very deep, dark blue sea.”

That was a very different time, in a very different place, in a very different kind of educational system; Petrova is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, and at the time she’d made her golden fish painting, the Soviet system was renowned for identifying and cultivating talented youngsters in the arts and sciences as well as Olympic sports like hockey and wrestling.

“If we were to embark or sign up for any of the classes, be it music or figure skating or ballet, we were treated basically as professionals,” she said. “We were expected to train and study for many hours. My cousin who is a professional violinist from age 4, she was expected to play five hours a day, and she was not an exception.”

Petrova studied at the prestigious St. Petersburg Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, which was founded in 1757 by Russia’s first Education Minister Ivan Shuvalov as The Academy of the Three Noblest Arts.

Although this educational system did produce world-class talent in a number of fields — most of Russia’s greatest painters, especially during the 1800s, are alumni of the Academy — today the rigorous methodology and strict standards are looked back upon as somewhat stifling.

“I’m very grateful to the system because in a way, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You can look at this this way. And we were really given very serious, very professional training,” she said. “From my perspective now, and some of my friends

may disagree with me, the downside of this approach is that pretty much you are expected to be very serious, to follow a certain path and the measuring stick is very, very high. So you either you are a genius and you can play like Mozart, or they are going throw away your drawing because it’s not up to certain standards.”

That actually happened to Petrova when she was 10 years old.

“We were supposed to paint some landscape and I remember that mine had horses in my landscape,” she said. “When the instructor saw my landscape, he said, ‘This is absolutely unacceptable, go and throw it away.’ I was paraded in front of the entire group.”

Summer camps at Waynesville Art School Beginning Monday, June 1, summer at camps at the Waynesville Art School will take place on a weekly basis through the week of Aug. 10. All camps begin at 10 a.m., but end at different times based on the camper’s age. Pricing also varies based on the camper’s age. This year’s weekly camp themes include: • Fairies and robots • Printmaking and bookmaking • Unicorns and dinosaurs • Landscape painting • Dragons, baby Yoda and princess warriors • Self-expression in drawing, painting and printmaking • Pirates and mermaids • Mixed media and the art of collage • Shadow puppetry For more information, visit www.waynesvilleartschool.com, call 828.246.9869 or email waynesvilleartschool@gmail.com. The school is located at 303 N. Haywood Street in Waynesville.

Petrova persevered, and came to the United States in 1992. In 1997, she was awarded a scholarship to attend The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a private college in Manhattan founded in 1859 and modeled after the École Polytechnique in France. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 2001.

March 18-24, 2020 Smoky Mountain News 3 Given her broad range of experience at some of the world’s most important centers for arts and arts education, Petrova has given a lot of thought not only to making art, but to how to teach people to make art. “Not every single person will become an artist or musician or a dancer or figure skater,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that you cannot explore it, you know, just participate in the activity without having the pressure to perform.”

That’s the mission at Petrova’s Waynesville Art School, which offers yearround programs for aspiring artists of all ages and abilities. There’s a young artists program, a paint night of the type now seen at bars and restaurants across the country and a family art hour, as well as classes for adults.

Of course, those offerings also include an assortment of summer camp programs for kids; Petrova is joined in her instructional duties by former Haywood County Schools art teacher and Western Carolina University alum Julie Buchanan, a 20-year veteran of elementary arts education and wife to Sylva newspaperman Jim Buchanan.

Weekly camps run from June through mid-August and offer a varying lineup of projects that explore different materials and techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpting, collages and construction, both individually and in group settings.

Themes this summer include a fantastical array of subjects from Baby Yoda to bookmaking, fairies to robots, unicorns to dinosaurs, pirates, princesses and puppets.

The way the classes are taught, according to Petrova, is reflective of her own journey through two very different methods of instruction.

“What I walked away with is that we’re all at different places in life and we need different things and we all need to be allowed to experiment and explore,” she said. “Even if we never ever sing again in our life or dance again in our life or paint again in our life, it does give us some experience. We benefit from it and we grow from it.”

Smoky Mountain Sk8Way offers day camp all summer for ages 6 to 14. Donated photo

Students can partake in tennis and other sports at Laurel Ridge Country Club this summer. Donated photo

HAYWOOD COUNTY • Camp Henry at Lake Logan. A co-ed, overnight, faith-based camp for second to 12th grade students. Weeklong sessions offered in June and July for different age groups. Cost $395-$705. Financial aid available. www.lakelogan.org or 828.646.0095.

March 18-24, 2020 • Youth Environmental Stewardship Camp offered by Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District. Two week camp for rising 8th and 9th graders who are passionate about the environment. Two week long sessions — July 20-23 and July 27-30. The cost is $50. Applications are due on May 1. Visit www.haywoodcountync.gov/682/YESCamp. • Haywood County Library Summer Reading Programs. Offered at Waynesville and Canton branches. Visit www.haywoodlibrary.org or call 828.452.5169.

• Skyland Camp for Girls. Skyland will not be offering summer camps in 2020 because of construction projects.

Smoky Mountain News • Camp Daniel Boone - Boy Scouts of America. Weeklong sessions offered June and July. Open to female and male campers. Cost is $375-$550. www.campdanielboone.org or 828.254.6189. • Summer Enrichment Program at Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center. Cost is $500. Scholarships available. Visit www.pcmdc.org or 828.452.7232.

4 • Laurel Ridge Country Club. June 22 through June 26. Campers will enjoy golfing, swimming, games, crafts and learning with their peers. For ages 6-13. Cost is $145-$300 for the week. Email info@laurelridgegolf.com or call 828.452.0545. • Youth for Christ Buddy Camp. June 21-27 at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. Cost ranges $150 to $700. www.outdoormissioncommunity.org or 336.583.9932.

• Camp Folkmoot. A one-day dance and crafts camp Friday, July 24, for kids and teens from 4th through 12th grades. The cost is $30. www.folkmoot.org/events/camp-folkmoot2020/ or 828.452.2997.

• Smoky Mountain Sk8Way. A nine-week day camp program that runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekly sessions are June 8 to Aug. 7 for kids ages 6 to 14. This camp features a variety of activities and strives to keep the whole child active. Cost is $100-$150 a week plus a $60 enrollment fee. Register at www.smokymountainsk8way.com.

• Waynesville Art School. Weeklong sessions offered June through August. For ages 5 and older. Cost is $185-$235. www.waynesvilleartschool.com or 828.246.9869.

• Created for a Purpose at Vine of the Mountains Church. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15-19. A creativity camp for rising third through eighth graders. Cost is $150. Scholarships available. www.vineofthemountains.com/cfap.

• Land of Sky Wilderness. Blacksmithing camp. Ages 8 and up. July 4-5. $300 per person. Drone Camp Aug. 2-7. Ages 8-21. Cost is $750. www.lotswild.com/courses or 828.280.0847.

child who has a disability. Two weeklong sessions offered June 29-July 2 or July 6-10. Register at www.campabilitywnc.org/camper.

• Lake Junaluska Youth Events. Weeklong sessions in June and July. Local youth groups offered a special rate of $100 per person for any week. More information about speakers, bands and entertainers is available online at www.lakejunaluska.com/summeryouth. To register, call 800.222.4930.

• Carolinas Mountain Soccer Club. Weeklong sessions for soccer players of all ages and skill levels, usually in the evenings. Dates are being determined. Be sure to follow CMSC on Facebook and check their website for further information.

• Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Long’s Chapel is offering a variety of summer camps including sewing, guitar, robotics and amigurumi. These camps run through the months of June and July. Detailed information can be found on the Long’s Chapel Facebook page.

JACKSON COUNTY • Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society Critter Camp. For 2020, this camp has expanded to cover seven weeks. Each week of camp features fun, immersive and interactive experiences with animals at the no-kill shelter. More information and registration can be found at https://chhumanesociety.org. • SOAR. Outdoor adventure camps for kids with ADHD / ADD and LD. Weeklong sessions offered in June and July. Cost is $2,000 to $5,600 depending on the camp. Visit www.soarnc.org or call 828.456.3435.

• Fun 4 Kids Day Camp. An eight to nine week program during the summer months held at both the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee, and the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. For K-6. Early June to early August. Cost is $700 at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center and $625 at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. https://www.rec.jacksonnc.org/camps.

• Western Carolina University offers a variety of summer camps for arts, swimming, music, science and more. www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/camps-and-programsfor-kids/index.aspx

• Cullowhee United Methodist Summer Day Camp. Preschool camp is for children ages 2- 5 (not yet attended kindergarten) and elementary camp is for children who have completed kindergarten-5th grade. Space is limited. June 8 through July 31. Cost is $75 per child or $100 per family if registering more than one child or $15 per week. $800 for entire summer or $120 per week. www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp-2020/

• SCC STEM. https://www.southwesterncc.edu/STEM

MACON COUNTY • New Vision Training Center. Summer day camp opportunities for gymnastics, ninja training, bouldering, outside play, arts and crafts, games and much more. Full days and half days. Snacks will be provided. Bring your own lunch. Ages 3-12. www.newvisiontrainingcenter.com or 828.524.1904.

• Bascom Art Center in Highlands. Summer art camp for ages 7-14. Sessions begin June 19 through Aug. 14. $175 a week. www.thebascom.org or 828.526.4949.

• Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts & Fitness Academy in Franklin. Monday through Friday starting May 28 through Aug. 23. $135 per week. Each child must be sent with a packed lunch, two snacks and a bottle of water. To register, call 828.332.0418.

• Nantahala Learning Center Summer Program. $25 per day Monday through Friday. Registration fee is $50. All field trip admission, transportation expenses and materials budgeted into the registration fee. Call 219.689.3443 for more info.

• Boys and Girls Club in Cashiers Summer Camp. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily June 3 through July 26. $415 per student/$350 for additional family members. info@bgcplateau.org or 828.743.2775.

• Summer Edventure Camp - http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/sec/ June 8-July 31. 7:30 am – 5:30 pm. South Macon Elementary, 855 Addington Bridge Road, Franklin. Ages 5-12 years. For information, call Lenora Clifton at 828.524.4414 ext. 324.

SWAIN COUNTY • YMCA Camp Watia. Weeklong sessions from June 16 through Aug. 4 for ages 7 to 15. Limited space still available. $450-$750. Financial assistance available. www.ymcacampwatia.org.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center. Whitewater kayaking camp. Five-day sessions in June and July. For ages 9 to 17. $850 to $1,500. 828.785.4977 or www.noc.com/lessons-training/paddling-school/kids-kayaking-camp.

• Camp Living Water Christian camp. June 30 through July 12. For ages 13-17. $490 per camper. www.camplivingwater.com or 828.488.6012.

CHEROKEE • Cherokee Youth Center (Boys and Girls Club). Email Patrick West at pwest9557@yahoo.com or call 828.497-3119.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY • Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association. Weeklong sessions from June to August. For ages 4-14. $135 a week for half days and up to $285 a week for full days. www.abysa.org or call 828.299.7277.

• University of North Carolina-Asheville. Weeklong sessions for music, athletics, writing, STEAM, pre-college programs, dance, running and more. For youth of all ages. Cost ranges from $400 to $1,200 a week depending on the program. www.camps.unca.edu or call 828.251.6991.

• Discovery Camp at North Carolina Arboretum. Weeklong sessions from June to August. For pre-K through 8th grade. Cost is $235 for a week. Visit www.ncarboretum.org or call 828.665.2492 ext. 624.

• Asheville Music School Summer Camps: Offer many different weeklong day camps for ages 4-18. Campers learn different styles of music in a fun, team-oriented group setting. Weeklong sessions June through August. Price range: $190-$350. Contact programs@ashevillemusicschool.org. Full details at ashevillemusicschool.org.

• Forest Floor Wilderness Camp. Weeklong sessions June through August. For ages K10. Cost is $295. Full details at www.OnTheForestFloor.org.

• Crossfire Basketball Camps: Basketball camps for children ages 6-19. Camp dates run from mid-June to late July. These camps are great for basketball players of all skill levels. The full brochure can be found at https://crossfireministry.com.

Local youth groups can take advantage of special summer camp rates at Lake Junaluska. Donated photo

Spend your summer at Camp Hobbit Hill Horsemanship • Riding • Arts & Pottery Leadership • Overnight Girls’ Camp Spend your summer at Camp Hobbit Hill Horsemanship • Riding • Arts & Pottery Leadership • Overnight Girls’ Camp and many more... March 18-24, 2020