Studio Burgdorff is a new mixed-media and film program of the Division of Arts & Culture for teens thru adults.
The goal of the program is to introduce students to a variety of visual arts mediums from collage to bookmaking to self-portraiture. A Saturday filmmaking course will explore narrative themes and expose students to the basics of film composition, editing, and digital storytelling.
Workshops will give students the chance to sample a variety of art-making processes.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS:
Stay Tuned For Upcoming Programs & Workshops
PAST WORKSHOPS
Our first workshop was led by artist Libby Clarke and participants learned about the monotype printmaking process and took home their own prints.
Workshop Name: Monoprint Workshop for Teens & Adults
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023 11 AM - 1 PM
Where: Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts | 10 Durand Rd.
Cost: $5
Class size: Up to 10 participants
Instructor: Libby Clarke
Our second workshop was led by artist Libby Clarke and participants learned about the simple relief printmaking and took home their own prints.
Workshop Name: Simple Relief Workshop for Teens & Adults
When: Saturday, December 16, 2023 10 AM - 1 PM
Where: Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts | 10 Durand Rd.
Cost: $5
Class size: Up to 10 participants [ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS]
Instructor: Libby Clarke
Our third workshop was led by Libby Clarke and focused on how to design a poster that makes an impact. Students will explore messaging, lettering, and design to create posters to take home.
Workshop Name: Protest Postermaking Workshop for Teens & Adults
When: Saturday, January 6, 2024 10 AM - 1 PM
Where: Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts | 10 Durand Rd.
Cost: $5
Class size: Up to 10 participants [ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS]
Instructor: Libby Clarke
Our fourth workshop was led by Libby Clarke and focused on creating the ultimate Valentines for your loved ones using collage techniques. Layering, adding texture, and working with a variety of media to create one-of-a-kid Valentines.
Workshop Name: Protest Postermaking Workshop for Teens & Adults
When: Saturday, February 10, 2024 10 AM - 1 PM
Where: Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts | 10 Durand Rd.
Cost: $5
Class size: Up to 10 participants [ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS]
Instructor: Libby Clarke
Middle & High School Courses for Fall 2023
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Middle Schoolers Make Art!
Instructor: Roberta Melzl
Grades: 6 - 8 (Middle School)
Class Dates/Times: Tuesdays 4-5:30 PM
Session 1 - Sept 19, Sept 26, Oct 3, Oct 10. Session 2 - Oct 17, Oct 24, Nov 14, Nov 21.
Location: Burgdorff Community Room at 10 Durand Rd. Maplewood, NJ
Cost per Session: $100. Tuition support available.
Description:Focusing on personal narrative, this middle school art class will develop students’ creativity and self-expression, with an emphasis on self-portraiture. Each four week unit will explore different creative techniques such as drawing, painting, and mixed media. The sessions will expand on students’ skills of art and design, emphasizing fundamentals of line, shape, color, value, and form, all while being fun and engaging.
Session 1: Self Portrait
Various examples of self-portraiture will be introduced, such as representational, symbolic, and abstract. Drawing and painting will be taught and discussed as well as principals of composition and design. Each student will bring in a photograph of themselves and a mirror from which to work. In the four week session students will draw and paint self-portraits using various tools and techniques.
Each student will keep a sketchbook in which they’re asked to draw or note something on a daily basis.
Session 2: Mask Making
The art of mask making will be introduced both in historical and contemporary terms. We will discuss what it means to wear a mask and functions of a mask. The objective of this unit is for each student to design and produce a mask that is reflective of themselves. Students will sketch mask ideas and then select one to create in real form.
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SOMA Media Lab
Instructor: Erin Harper
Grades: 9 - 12 (High School)
Class Dates/Times: Saturdays 11-1 PM*
Optional Open Lab Hours: Thursdays 4 - 6 PM
Session 1 - Sept 23, Sept 30, Oct 7, Oct 14. Session 2 - Oct 21, Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 18.
Location: Burgdorff Community Room at 10 Durand Rd. Maplewood, NJ
Cost per Session: $100. Tuition support available.
Description: Teen participants learn filmmaking objectives while crewing in the field to complete short, cross-genre videos that represent the world as they see it. The videos will be showcased on a community youtube channel.
Session 1 Objective:
Mining visuals from personal memories, expressing your own voice, and focusing on character development or a moment rather than plot with a beginning, middle and end.
Session 2 Objective:
How to film images, gather sound, how to make psychoacoustic connections, how to make cinematic choices to elicit emotion, tone and tell story, how to compose/design to picture and how to edit images.
Session 3 Objective:
Learn movie structure, genre styles, crew roles, and collaboration. Experience real-world on-set experience.
Meet Our Instructors
Roberta Melzl is an artist and designer living and working in Maplewood, NJ. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Mason Gross School of the Arts; Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology and Studio Art from New York University. Her studio practice consists of painting, mural making and public art.
Libby Clarke is a cultural producer and educator based in Maplewood, New Jersey.
Libby has dedicated her professional and personal practice to social justice, graphic design, and declarative printmaking in order to leave this world better than she found it.
“I see that people need facilitation to find what they need–I make my work, both artistically and professionally, to provide any help I can.”
Erin Harper is a South Orange resident, filmmaker, and mother of twins. Whether writing a new series, directing an award-winning short film, producing a Sundance feature narrative, or guiding the neighborhood kids in their own productions, Erin loves to experiment within the layers of multiple media to discover new stories. Erin’s favorite place to play is inside of the workshop settings she has created for youth from Pennsylvania to Kentucky to Colorado and now in her home village; these creative learning labs ignite and deepen connections to self-expression, community, and personal passion.
