For 12 years, Darlene Marshall, a teacher at South Salem Elementary, and Mike Gibson, the Salem High School art teacher, have helped put together the Salem Art Camp. It’s a refuge for elementary and middle school students who want to take a break from the sun to foster their creativity.

Elementary-age kids learn about artists and time periods and are given a little instruction. “What are the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?,” Marshall asked. One project included a book about Renaissance artists, and then the kids sculpted their very own turtle.

Middle school students are given freedom to work on projects just like high schoolers would, learning life skills for art. “They’re not being forced on them, they can kind of experiment and adventure,” Gibson said.

First photo: Caleb Underwood, right, and Sarah Tooley, left, learn to draw to scale and stylize. Second photo (courtesy of Mike Gibson): Christopher Clemens focuses on his sculpture. That’s Emily Bell on the left.

Click here for more pictures of Salem Art Camp 2008, including some from Gibson.