Visual Arts

Students at The Enrichment Center may choose from a variety of classes that assist them to achieve their goals. Community integration, workshops with local artists and volunteer opportunities enable students to practice skills learned in the classroom. The Enrichment Center-An affiliated chapter of The Arc’s art based programs include professional instruction and studio time in the following areas:

ARTS

The Enrichment Center’s art program provides opportunities for its students to earn income through visual and performing arts. Our students develop their artistic talents in classes that incorporate dance and drama, music, pottery/found art, multi-media, visual art and photography. Several of our students have performed and displayed their artwork outside of North Carolina.

Studio Art
Students and instructors work together to create a portfolio of artwork for shows in our gallery and other galleries and community venues.

Textiles
The textile class offers hands-on opportunities to create fiber pieces through weaving, felting, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and screen printing. Class projects not only increase artistic ability but also dexterity.

Fun Art
Students learn a variety of art techniques using paint, pastel, pencil, collage, etc., experiencing many different forms of art to see what they are naturally drawn to.

Pottery/Found Objects
Students learn to handle clay and form it into coils, balls, pinwheels, etc. in order to make utilitarian pieces from molds. Students are introduced to tools such as ribs and wire cutters. They work individually according to their level of ability and creativity while learning to refine their handbuilding and potter wheel skills. Students also learn to create artwork from found and/or donated objects, beginning with small pieces eventually working toward larger, more sculptural pieces.

Jewelry Design
Jewelry class introduces students to jewelry design by incorporating an understanding of basic design styles with the use of essential tools and materials. This class enhances the student’s manual dexterity as well as increasesg the ability to visualize and lay out components for the finished piece. Students express their individual creativity by combining the choice of bead shape, size and color to create a unique one of a kind piece to be sold in our gallery, Gateway Gallery.

Multi-Media
Multi-media class incorporates hands-on projects that focus on increasing artistic ability and dexterity. Materials could include textiles, wire and paper mache.

Digital Media
Digital Media is an introduction to storytelling with media, featuring digital media tools and techniques. Students conceptualize a short story and follow a development process in digital format, using text graphics, audio and video.

Basic Photography
Basic photography teaches simple camera techniques, basic camera operation, and composition techniques.

Advanced Photography
The Advanced Photography class further explores camera techniques and the introduction of video. The images captured in this class will be used in the Digital Media class to make promotional materials for The Enrichment Center.