Imagine stepping into a laboratory of pure creativity where the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be amazed as you explore art stations brimming with excitement and wonder. Invent something new using diverse materials and basic engineering and explore the Art and Natural History museums to make new discoveries through close observation and art investigation.
The last day to register for this camp is June 7, 2023
Learn more about ArtLab.
An artist’s job doesn’t end with the aesthetic of an object. When an artwork fills an entire space or is in a public place, an artist must ensure that the structure is engineered properly so that it is safe and viewable to its audiences. Create a conceptual artwork or an ideal environment for an existing artwork using practical mediums and 3D modeling software. Tour Carnegie Mellon University’s campus and the surrounding neighborhoods to seek out artworks in public spaces and explore the museum’s galleries for ideas on how to construct sculptures, murals, or installations that engage, excite and create wonder. This workshop meets at Carnegie Mellon University in the School of Architecture studios and will utilize computers and digital tools on campus. Students will make regular trips to Carnegie Museum of Art.
The last day to register for this camp is June 7, 2023
Learn more about Installation & Public Art.
Let your creativity expand beyond the canvas as you and your classmates design a secret hideaway through your imaginations. Work as a team to combine elements such as architecture, painting, sculpture, sound, and light to create a one-of-a-kind experience for all that enter. Explore the medium of installation art and learn how contemporary artists conceptualize, construct, and engineer artworks that take over entire rooms in the museum. Sneak into private spaces within our building and invent experiences inspired by the hidden and out-of-the-way artworks that you find.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Forts & Secret Hideaways.
Journey into the wonder of the natural world as an artist and explorer. Spend time in nature, sketch, draw, and travel through the museum galleries to discover how artists are inspired and fascinated by the world. Venture out to see sculptures installed around the museum, and visit Phipps Conservatory to collect textures, shapes, and colors in your sketchbook inspired by nature. Use your senses to paint, sketch, design, and transform your ideas into your own outdoor artwork.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Art Outside.
Imagine stepping into a laboratory of pure creativity where the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be amazed as you explore art stations brimming with excitement and wonder. Invent something new using diverse materials and basic engineering and explore the Art and Natural History museums to make new discoveries through close observation and art investigation.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about ArtLab.
Discover the similarities between fine and applied arts in this interdisciplinary camp. Dabble in graphic design as you learn how to combine color, pattern, and textures to create textiles and wall paper. Explore the decorative objects in the museum’s collection as inspiration for your own, and collaborate with fellow artists to execute floor plans and stage an interior.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Interior Design.
You’re invited to attend the most prestigious school for wizards in all of Pennsylvania! Transform yourself into a wand-wielding wizard and travel to a magical realm where dragons and other mythical creatures roam. Fly about the museum to discover hidden creatures, fellow magical beings, and archetypal bad guys. Conduct experiments to create colorful potions and conjure rhythmic spells and incantations. Complete your magical persona by constructing a magical wand, sculpting a companion animal, and designing enchanting costumes.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Wizard School.
Learn how you might turn a passion in art into a successful career. Discover the diversity of professions that are available in creative fields by interviewing conservationists, art installers, curators, and educators within the museum. Travel to other locations to tour nonprofit arts organizations and galleries. Work with your class educator and other experts to develop your personal portfolio and allow them to help you to navigate your next steps in your personal practice, higher learning, or apprentice opportunities.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about A Life in Art.
Explore a wide range of tools to try out marks, smudges, and textures that can become expressive works of art. Conduct art experiments and play collaborative games to leave room for unexpected results and discover how nontraditional materials and processes can fuel your creative imagination. Use our galleries as a source for inspiration as you look for artists who think beyond realism and traditional techniques and create art in innovative ways.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Art Laboratory.
Develop your own Minecraft inspired worlds, block by block. Bring digital creations to life by constructing pixelated structures in three dimensions as models and as playable spaces. Explore biomes and suitable environments that would attract animals and keep mobs at bay, scavenge for materials that emulate the ideal ores, and create mods that will bring your ideas to the next level. Explore spaces around Oakland and work with your team to recreate their materials and silhouettes in Minecraft.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Building with Blocks.
Become inspired by a rainbow explosion of color! Let’s delve into the Hall of Gems and Minerals and uncover the dazzling colors within. Then, recreate the vibrant hues found within our galleries and invent new pigments based on your favorite foods and memories. What color experiments would you make using paint, clay, and a myriad of other art materials? Travel through different art stations in your classroom that will allow you to play, create, and discover.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Color Camp.
Unleash your inner artist and create some unique masterpieces with different materials and art processes in all sorts of funky ways. Mix colors and apply paint using unusual tools and techniques, create interesting textures by layering and combining materials, and experiment with stamps and transfers using different forms of printmaking. Explore the galleries to discover examples of the processes that other artists have used around the world and throughout history.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Paint/Print/Paste.
Work alongside your fellow artists to determine what buildings and public spaces are vital to the health of a community. Take a tour of places around Oakland to view structures of different styles, genres, and purposes and learn how art and technology are used to create sustainable buildings. Complete challenges and collaborative with your class to design and execute a model of your own neighborhood from the ground up.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about My Neighborhood.
Explore a variety of printmaking techniques, various inks and papers, and learn about best practices and studio safety. Acquire a fundamental knowledge of three printing processes: monoprint, relief print, and screen-printing while also experimenting with mixing processes and workshopping additional techniques. Gather important information regarding subject and style from our galleries and end the week with a varied portfolio of personal work.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about Print Lab.
Dive into a world of watery wonder! Harness the power of one of our planet's most amazing natural resources and use it to unleash your creativity. We'll discover the breathtaking effects of liquid watercolor paints through art experiments and go on underwater adventures without ever leaving dry land! Scavenger hunts in the library and trips to the Natural History Museum will take us on a journey to explore the diverse creatures that call the ocean home. We'll also play with water in all its forms, using it to inspire, paint, transfer, and transform. Get ready to make a splash and have some fun!
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about Water Play.
Take off on an art safari through the museums and track wild animals in artworks and in dioramas that provide lifelike environments. Inspired by artworks in our Joan Brown exhibition, examine your own relationship with animals and use your pet or favorite critter as the main star in a painting or wearable mask. Make binoculars and field journals and then transform memories and drawings of notable mammals, reptiles, or amphibians into artworks that roar with color, pattern, and texture.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Animal Art.
Grab your clay, scavenge for materials, and let's get creative. We'll sculpt hanging, standing, and sitting masterpieces. Take a look at the buildings in our community and explore the museum and courtyards to observe what kind of architectural wonders we can find. Work together with your fellow artists to build an installation that transforms our studio classroom into a playground of art and imagination.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Build It.
If aliens built a city, what would it look like? Use your imagination and your most far-out ideas to create a city from another planet. What do your alien friends need in their city? How is it different from or similar to the world you live in on earth? Use the museum collection to look for interesting shapes, colors, and materials to incorporate into your intergalactic designs.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Out of This World Architecture.
Do you favor the watery worlds of Monet or the vibrant colors of Joan Mitchell? A landscape that looks perfectly real or an abstraction open to interpretation? Get to know great paintings in the museum’s galleries. Discover firsthand the wide range of techniques for applying paint from smooth as glass to thick and textured. Build your skills through daily experiments with a variety of painting techniques and color mixing strategies. Choose your favorite approach to create your own masterpiece.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Painting Studio.
Get ready for an exciting adventure around the world! Dive into Natural History’s collection and our galleries to find examples of places you’d love to visit and stamp your passport as you pass through different countries exploring their animals, people, and cultures. Create original artworks inspired by your experiences, and show off your impressive collection of stamps and art to your friends and family.
The last day to register for this camp is July 26, 2023
Learn more about Art Vacation.