Animation
Audio Art
Ceramics
Chamber Music
Dance - Modern
Drawing
Filmmaking
Glass Arts
Metalwork & Jewelry
Music Composition
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Songwriting
Textile Design & Fiber Arts
Theater
Vocal Ensemble
Wearable Arts
Visual and Performing Arts Workshops
The Summer Arts Workshops are designed for students, ages 14 to 17, with an ongoing, serious interest in the visual and performing arts. Located in rural Vermont, The Putney School offers a unique opportunity for high school students to explore and develop their creative skills and talents.
Animation
Students in Animation focus on fine art principles, seeing animation as art in motion. From pre-production through script development and character design, students develop and complete an animation short. Techniques available for students to explore and use include traditional 2-D, stop-motion, and claymation animation. Compositing and editing work is done on Macintosh computers using programs including iStopMotion, Photoshop, and iMovie.
Audio Art
Students explore ways to create new works with sound sources, both ‘found' in the environment and generated at the computer. Multi-media, installation, ‘electroacoustic,' traditional computer music, collage, and collaborative works are encouraged, while participants develop basic skills in the manipulation of sound with user-friendly technology. Introductory studies in electronic and computer music and audio installation arts are incorporated in a class setting. A familiarity with either the Apple or Windows operating system is expected. Software applications include introductory work with Soundstudio, Audacity, Soundtrack Pro, Cool Edit Pro, and Soundforge. (Session II only.)
Ceramics
Using a variety of clays, students develop an understanding of ceramics as a dynamic and expressive art form. Appropriate for both beginners and experienced students, this workshop presents a comprehensive approach to ceramics, exploring wheel-throwing techniques, hand building basics, surface treatment and three different firing processes. Central to the work are class discussions, one-on-one instruction, collaborative explorations and self-directed projects. Books and periodicals ranging from art history to contemporary clay to technical information round out and expand each student's vision of what ceramics is encourage thoughtful questioning of the direction their work will take.
Chamber Music
“I was given challenging but highly enjoyable music and was able to make friends by playing chamber music.” – Chamber Music Student
Instrumentalists with a desire to experience the joy of exploring and playing chamber music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras join the Chamber Music workshop. Composers whose works have been performed in recent years include: Bach, Bartok, Beethoven, Boccherini, Cage, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovitch, Vivaldi, Telemann, and compositions by students in the Music Composition workshop. Each student is asked to bring a piece of music they would like the ensemble to play. All players of intermediate and above levels are welcome to apply; pianists and woodwind players should understand that space is limited. Students must submit a digital audio file or recording and a completed Music Self-Assessment form when applying for this workshop. (Session II only)
Dance - Modern
Students explore modern dance as a discipline, an ensemble activity, an opportunity for self-expression, and a performance skill. The workshop is tailored to the skill level of the participants and emphasizes the creative process. While modern dance technique is the foundation of the workshop, movement vocabulary
includes such diverse elements as yoga, ballet, jazz, African, and other cultural dance forms. Students are encouraged to explore movement styles and to incorporate their discoveries in the development of final
performance pieces. The workshop balances instruction in technique and improvisation with experiences in choreography, partnering exercises, and rehearsal for performances on our theater’s sprung-floor stage. Dance company residencies offer students a dynamic and diverse perspective on their work. Students with an appreciation of movement, including sports, are welcome in this workshop.
Drawing
A strong foundation in drawing supports work in all of the visual arts. Through observation and practice, students develop and strengthen their fundamental drawing skills, refining ideas, abilities, and personal modes of expression. Students develop an understanding of traditional and non-traditional approaches using charcoal, pencil, pastel, ink, wash, and other materials. Classes draw extensively from observation, including the figure, landscape, and still life. Group critiques, teacher feedback, and evaluation of student work are key components of this workshop.
Filmmaking
Filmmaking attracts students who have a serious interest in the art of film and who are willing to dedicate themselves to the process, start to finish, of creating a 16mm black and white film. Students learn techniques, from storyboarding through all the stages of shooting, developing, and editing, to create short, silent films. Instruction includes hands-on work in the production of these silent films, supported and inspired by regular exposure to essential film history and theory. Students work collaboratively to conceptualize, plan, shoot, process, and edit a variety of films, from short exercises to independent projects.
Glass Arts
Glass affords students the opportunity to create using color and light. Fused glass and traditional stained glass techniques are the two primary methods available to students in this workshop. Students choose to design and then fuse glass through a process called “slumping”, in a high-fire kiln, or to cut and frame glass, using lead-free soldering techniques. Using both methods, students create window panels, boxes, frames, bowls, platters, jewelry, and other functional and decorative pieces.
Metalwork & Jewelry
Coming to us with a variety of experience and background in jewelry making and metalwork, students learn techniques of cutting, hammering, soldering, forming, and stone setting. Students develop these skills to create rings, pendants, chains, pins, and bracelets, as well as small-scale sculptural pieces. Students learn to work with copper, silver, and precious and semiprecious stones. This is a discipline through which students can explore their art with a heightened attention to technical and aesthetic detail.
Music Composition
Issues in contemporary music, traditional repertoire, and performance practices are explored in a class setting, in addition to private lessons and group coachings. Young composers develop, rehearse, and have original compositions performed in open classes and public performances. Multi-media and collaborative works are also encouraged along with traditional concert music for acoustic instruments and ensembles. All music composed by workshop participants is recorded. Placement in this workshop is contingent upon sufficient skills as demonstrated by work samples, in the form of scores or recordings submitted with the application. Fluency in traditional music notation is required. (Session II only)
Painting
Students consider a variety of forms of contemporary and traditional art, and work primarily from observation, including the figure, landscape, and still life, honing their ability to see as they develop a better understanding of traditional and experimental approaches to painting. Painters in all stages of their artistic development, explore a wide variety of materials and techniques, which can include acrylic, oil, watercolor, and collage, as they develop their own ideas and personal modes of expression.
Photography
Students engage in the multi-step process of black and white photography, with an emphasis on understanding the many variables that are within the photographer's domain. Students learn to optimize use of aperture, shutter speed, and other techniques of the traditional black and white photographic process to create the visual effects they desire. Individual expression is encouraged as students grow in knowledge and darkroom skills. Once essential skills are mastered, students are taught a variety of alternative methods including hand-coloring, toning, and negative manipulation. Students who enroll in this workshop must be familiar with and bring their own manually adjustable 35mm camera. Black and white film is supplied.
Printmaking
In combining techniques related to drawing, painting, and photography, printmaking offers students the freedom to experiment and explore the impact of repeated images. Students learn to mix inks to create palettes which they then use in a number of processes. Recent student work has included monoprinting,relief printing (linoleum and wood cut), and intaglio (etching and drypoint). Students also develop images by printing with found objects and stencils, incorporating these images with other art mediums to create a series of prints.
Sculpture
Students in the sculpture workshop chisel, cut, hammer, sand, bend and pound a variety of materials including wood, clay, stone, plaster, wire and steel. Working three-dimensionally, students draw on their sense of design and balance to explore and complete a variety of assignments before undertaking independent projects using materials of their choice. Electric and gas welding is taught for those wishing to work in metal. Our studio offers opportunities for sculpture mediums rarely found in high-school settings.
Songwriting
Students with experience playing instruments and singing delve into the craft and artistry of Songwriting. Students focus on the core elements of folk and blues “roots” styles, in both traditional and contemporary form. From pop to hip-hop, from country to jazz, much of contemporary music is drawn from these styles. Students listen to and study great songs from these traditions as they create and then record their own compositions. Students perform their own or one another's work for the entire community. Experience in songwriting is not required, but the ability to play a chordal instrument and fluency in traditional or tablature music notation is expected. (Session I only.)
Textile Design & Fiber Arts
In this workshop, students learn to express themselves creatively through working with fiber, color, and pattern. Weaving, quilting, sewing, needlework, knitting, crochet, spinning, and dyeing are all options during each session. Students can choose to focus in one area or explore a variety of techniques. The fiber
arts studio is equipped with a remarkable collection of four- and eight-harness floor looms, spinning wheels, sewing machines, and a knitting machine, as well as a large collection of natural fiber yarns and fabrics. The school farm provides fleece for spinning and plants for natural dyeing. We have an extensive
library of contemporary and historical textile books and periodicals for inspiration. Students are encouraged to experiment, to go further with skills they already have, or to branch out to completely new areas. You can expect to go home with heirloom pieces that you have created including scarves, blankets, quilts, bags, clothing or tapestries, and a good working knowledge of a timeless craft.
Theater
Using techniques of traditional and experimental theater, students in the morning workshop learn about character development through improvisation and scene work. Regular physical and vocal exercises serve to provide students with the foundation to create strong, believable characters, and scenes. Students perform during and at the conclusion of each session, often presenting work in collaboration with students in the Playwriting and Filmmaking workshops. Students with an interest in pursuing intensive studies in the Theater program are encouraged to enroll in the afternoon workshop to develop an original ensemble performance piece. Students may enroll in both the morning and the afternoon Theater workshops.
Vocal Ensemble
Students who love to sing explore an array of singing styles by learning music from around the world. Under the guidance of their ensemble leader, participants develop skills and knowledge of musical styles, including pop, jazz, gospel, and folk. Instruction is well grounded in the fundamentals of singing, including breath support, posture, tone production, and diction. Students sing a cappella, join small ensembles, and enjoy solo selections, with opportunities to perform during each session.
Wearable Arts
This workshop provides students with basic concepts in fashion design and the skills to create one-of-a-kind garments. Students develop basic fashion sketching, patternmaking, sewing, and construction skills while working with a variety of fabrics and other materials. Study of the human figure together with an overview of the history of fashion design inspires students to create original garments which are presented, critiqued, worn, and put on display. Experience with a sewing machine is recommended. A change to our catalog: We are offering this workshop in the MORNING slot.
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