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YMCA offers art classes for adults
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Steven Reese and Ida Morales of Youngstown participate in a free printmaking class at the D.D. and Velma Davis YMCA in Boardman. The facility is offering free art classes each day this week.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Steven Reese of Youngstown presses his print onto an inked board to create a poinsettia design.
BOARDMAN
Until Tuesday afternoon, Youngstown resident Ida Morales had no idea what printmaking was.
“I just wanted to try something different,” she said.
Morales took part in the Art Open House Exhibition Week at the D.D. and Velma Davis YMCA in Boardman. Free hour-long adult art classes are offered every day this week and are open to nonmembers.
“It’s an introduction to what we do here and that we offer art classes,” said Suzanne Gray, who is in charge of art programing at the Y.
Morales, who is not a member of the Y, said she did not know that the facility offered classes in the arts and humanities. She and two other class participants braved the cold and snow to make prints. They used layers of foam to create a poinsettia design and rolled ink on the foam, which they then pressed on paper.
The class instructor, Janet Marstellar, reminded participants that the project easily could be replicated at home and used for holiday greeting cards.
Gray said the week also serves to highlight new classes, such as printmaking, glass etching and life drawing.
An art show and sale is going on throughout the month at the “Gallery at the Y,” or the “GATY.” A majority of proceeds will benefit the Strong Kids Campaign. The campaign funds Y memberships for families who otherwise couldn’t afford it, and for children to do Y programs.
“These art classes are what the Y’s about: community, people coming together. The adults all acted like kids; they’re so excited,” Marstellar said.
Open seats are still available for classes this week. Participants are asked to call ahead to register at 330-480-5656. Guitar lessons will be at 1 and 6 p.m. Thursday, and printmaking at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Life drawing will be at 1 and 6 p.m. Friday, and Japanese animation will be shown at 10 a.m. Saturday.