Paper-Making Class Offered At The Imagination Station

 

Area art educator Jill Rakowicz will teach a class in paper-making for children ages 11 through 15 at the Adams County Arts Council’s arts-learning center, the Imagination Station. Classes will meet on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 through March 8, in the Imagination Station classroom located at 18 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, across from the Majestic Theater.

 

The students will create handmade papers using recycled paper scraps and inclusions of their own choosing. Then they’ll use the papers to create mixed-media artworks such as Japanese lanterns, sculptures, collages, and Japanese-style bound books.

 

“I learned paper-making from the chair of the art department at Shippensburg, Professor Jan Ruby,” says Rakowicz. “She taught us Western style paper-making, which is how we will create our handmade papers in the class. The projects in the class will emphasize characteristics of Japanese art. We’re going to learn about and include design elements from Japanese culture in our artwork.”

 

Rakowicz emphasizes that no art experience is required. “This class is open to anyone in the middle-school age range who is interested in learning a different kind of art,” she says. “Anyone can learn how to paper-make. Just bring paper to recycle, any kind of old scrap paper. Also bring some inclusions: bits of anything that can be added to paper pulp, like twigs, dried flowers, pieces of fabric and string, anything that might add interest to the paper.

 

“The first class we’ll paper-make and learn the techniques,” she continues. “It’ll be a choose-your-own adventure after that. Basically, each student will get to pick their own project to work on for the duration of the class. There will be lots of options.”

 

Rakowicz teaches art at Rolling Acres Elementary and Alloway Creek Intermediate schools in the Littlestown Area School District. She received her B.A. in art from Shippensburg University and her teaching certificate from Kutztown University. Rakowicz has shown her work at Penn State University, Kutztown University, and the SHAPE Gallery, as well as at local businesses in Cumberland and Adams counties.

 

For more information about Rakowicz’s paper-making class or other art classes in drawing, jewelry, pottery, stain glass and more offered by the Imagination Station, visit the Arts Council web site at adamscountyartscouncil.org for online registration, call (717) 334-5006 or email info@adamsarts.org.