Youngsters get to 'meet the masters'

VERNON — The Sussex County Library is continuing their monthly program called Meet the Masters for students in Grade 1 and up. The program is held at various branches on different days and helps children with art appreciation.
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, youngsters were introduced to Dale Chihuly, the famous, skilled glass blower and glass sculptor. The choice of artist seemed perfect because coincidentally that day was Chihuly’s birthday.
Library assistant Diana Arnold presented the group with a PowerPoint presentation of some of Chihuly’s highly colorful glass sculptures, asking the children to use their imaginations as they viewed the work. Visions of trees, grass, oceans and lakes were seen by the group.
One young art appreciator said, “I would like that in my backyard.”
Students then watched a video of heated and melted glass and glass blowing. Ovens were set at 2,000 degrees and a glory hole was shown. It’s the opening at which the glass can be blown. Chihuly has created numerous works of art throughout his lengthy career. He is best known for huge sculptures, cylinders, baskets, sea forms and macchia all of glass.
“I love to go to the ocean and walk along the beach. If you work with hot glass and its natural properties, it begins to look like something that came from the sea.” Quoted by the artist Dale Chihuly
Children, who were mostly in the second and third grades, constructed their own basket type vase representing the Chihuly style, however, the youngsters’ version was made out of paper not glass. Wildly colored paper was molded to a cup, then sprayed with starch to achieve the squat look of the artist’s vase. As the group worked, they talked about their art classes at school. Several students were learning about texture and overlapping in their respective schools. Arnold reinforced the positive comments of the children by saying,” Learning should continue all our lives, there’s always something new to learn.”
Meet the Masters continues at Sussex County Library branches. For more information visit, sussexcountylibrary.org.