BRATTLEBORO — Area residents will get their hands dirty building a communal sculpture at Brattleboro Clayworks' first “Bad Art Night,” Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 6 to 9.
The unconventional class, perfect for clayworkers of all skill levels, focuses on nurturing creativity and play, its organizer says.
Those who find the approach liberating may sign up for Finding & Exploring Form, a 10-week clay sculpting and hand-building class that meets Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. starting Oct. 15.
The class will include demonstrations of techniques to help students respond to stories, poetry, music, meditations, and images of other artists' works.
Art teacher Alan Steinberg said he conceived of “Bad Art Night” after reading the magazine Utne Reader at his dentist's office. An article by Jon Spayde called “The Miracle of Mediocrity: Nothing lifts the spirits like making bad art” seemed to speak directly to him, he said.
In the piece (bit.ly/1tC7JT8) the author follows a weekly gathering of Midwestern artists dedicated to the deliberate creation of bad art as a tool of liberation.
Both Bad Art Night and the 10-week class will be held at Brattleboro Clayworks on Putney Road. Bad Art Night costs $20, including materials. It is free to those who sign up for the 10-week class.