artWAYS is the UA Little Rock School of Art and Design’s residential, summer intensive visual arts program for high school students and educators. All sessions are taught in the Windgate Center of Art + Design (WCAD) on UA Little Rock’s campus.
artWAYS2022
62 rising juniors and seniors from across the state of Arkansas participated in the inaugural weeklong intensive visual arts camp called artWAYS! @ualrart #artWAYS2022
High School Session – Summer Intensive Art Camp
The high school session of artWAYS is for 45 rising juniors and seniors. The weeklong residential workshop is offered in June from Saturday to Saturday. Move-in day is the first Saturday and move-out day is the last Saturday.
Students rotate through three or four emphasis areas during the day while studying with our professional faculty who are also working artists. Classes are offered during the day. Structured Open Studio is available in the evening in the WCAD for students who want to continue their instruction.
The students live on-campus in West Hall. Professional residential counselors live in the residence hall, coordinate evening activities, and are available to students 24-hours per day.
The cost of registration, art supplies, meals, and on-campus housing are provided by a Windgate Foundation grant, so the workshop is free!
How to Apply
Students must submit an application, a digital portfolio with at least five original images and labels, and a letter of recommendation from a current visual arts teacher.
High School Session Dates
June 17 – 24, 2023 (within the Saturday to Saturday timeframe)
High School Sessions
“Jewelry as Self Expression” with Metalsmithing and Jewelry Professor Lydia Martin
Have you ever looked at a ring, necklace, or bracelet and thought….I wonder if I could make that? Well, now you can! Learn basic jewelry and metalsmithing techniques to create a variety of pieces in a style of your choosing. Students will be introduced to creating polymer clay beads, stone setting, and soldering.
“Kinetic Sculpture” with Woodworking Professor Peter Scheidt
Explore kinetic sculpture and strategies for making artwork move! Students will work with wire, collage, and found objects to create a small moving vignette or scene. We’ll also take advantage of digital technology’s precision and use a laser cutter to fabricate gears, levers, cams, and more!
“Mesoamerican Art” with Art History Professor Dr. Lynne Larsen
In addition to being chocolate’s place of origin, Central America and Mexico have rich cultural and artistic histories. From the Olmecs to the Aztecs, this introduction to Mesoamerican art will consider how the sculpture, architecture, and painting of this region portrayed ideas of political power, blood sacrifices, religious worship, and sports.
“Screenprint Factory” with Printmaking Professor David Warren
Participants will design, create, and print a screenprint. Learn how to transfer hand drawn and digital imagery onto a screen. Everyone will leave this workshop with their own original screenprinted T-shirt!
Application deadline: March 1, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Art Educator Session
The residential art educator sessions are offered in June and July, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will be immersed in one topic per week. The costs of registration, art supplies, meals, and on-campus housing are covered by a Windgate Foundation grant, so the workshop is free!
Teachers receive up to 30 hours of professional development credit from the Arkansas Department of Education. Certificates will be distributed on the last day of the session.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Maximum capacity is 15 participants per workshop.
Art Educator Session 1
June 5 – 9, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Blacksmithing 101: 2D Visualization to 3D Application – Jeremy Couch
Register for the blacksmithing session
Wooden Keepsake Boxes – Liz Koerner
Register for the woodworking session
Visual Narrative as a Teaching Tool – Robert Bean
Register for the narrative session
Art Educator Session 2
July 10 – 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Basic Textile Techniques for Art Educators – Peter Scheidt
Register for the textile session
Jewelry as Self Expression – Lydia Martin
Rgister for the jewelry session
Crash Course in Photography Studio Lighting – Joli Livaudais
Register for the photography session
Future artWAYS Dates:
artWAYS 2024
Art Educator Session 1: June 3 – 7, 2024
High School Session: June 15 – 22, 2024
Art Educator Session 2: July 8 – 12, 2024
artWAYS 2025
Art Educator Session 1: June 2 – 6, 2025
High School Session: June 14 – 21, 2025
Art Educator Session 2: July 7 – 11, 2025
artWAYS Curriculum Guides
The UA Little Rock School of Art and Design has created curriculum guides to address content taught during our 2022 summer sessions. Art educators can refer back to their artWAYS experience and access material lists and practical applications for recreating the projects, allowing them to bring the projects into their classrooms.
Curriculum Guide Week 1
Curriculum Guide Week 2
