Bryn Pennetti
Arts, Entertainment & Technology Editor
Immersed 24/7 in a pool of artistic wonderment, I spent eight straight weeks up in New Milford, Connecticut at Buck’s Rock Creative and Performing Arts Camp. This was my fourth summer at the camp. Being a Counselor in Training (CIT), I also kept a job half the day at the painting studio where I worked helping children paint and draw in a variety of medias.
I spent most of my time at the painting studio, not only for my job, but also to work on my individual pieces. The shop was also open some nights for figure drawing, a practice in which a live model poses and is drawn for several minutes. It helps your understanding of the human form immensely. At the end of the summer, I completed four paintings, two pen drawings and a couple watercolors at the studio. Being surrounded by creative influences and skilled teachers all day pushed me to do more artwork than I could have ever done on my own.
I did, however, find time to do other, more daring activities, such as taking part in the bronze and aluminum pours at the sculpture shop. Beginning with a molded wax figure, the piece is covered in plaster to create a shell, which molten metal is then poured into. I then spent some time grinding and sanding my heavy, bronze figurine to fix it up and help it shine. Unfortunately, power tools are not my forte, and I cut well into my bronze many times, and eventually, did not have the time or patience to sand the whole piece into perfection. But at least I can say I have a nice paperweight.
One of the best experiences I had at this camp, and something you must do if ever given the chance, is glassblowing. A quick, hot, and painstaking art, it makes you appreciate those hollow, glass cups you throw into your dishwasher each night. You start by gathering a pound or so of 2,000 degree glass onto a five-pound metal pipe, which must be constantly turned or the glass will go off center, or even fall off. The glass must then be constantly handled by rolling, blowing, and re-entering the glory hole; a hot furnace that causes the glass to become malleable by hardening and cooling the material. I am not a master at this, but I successfully blew a cup and several flowers. However, a lot of my time was spent watching and observing this great sport and many of my friends, and even kids younger than me, creating intricate vases and spectacular glowing statues. Though the end result might be a glowing pile of excrement, glassblowing is an impressive art form to say the least.
Much of my summer here was was spent watching theatrical and musical performances each night. I attended several shows such as Bloody, Bloody, Andrew Jackson, Bedroom Farce, Taming of the Shrew, and Spamalot to name a few. Additionally, there were tons of musical performances that many of my fellow CIT’s took part in. They ranged from orchestral performances to intense Rock Café’s. There are loads of opportunities at Bucks Rock to perform anything you wish, all you need are a couple people, a few instruments and a passion.
No matter your level of artistic ability, Bucks Rock can offer you a life changing experience. I was engulfed in a wave of artistic delight and the people who love creating as much as I do.
