Sculpture Class Draws A Crowd in Dover

Latest hands-on Art Week event gives new artists inspiration to create.

Story and photos by Heath Rumble

Budding sculptors got their hands dirty for a class during Dover Art Week celebrations at the Richards Building.

In the historic halls of one of Dover’s oldest buildings, an eager crowd buzzed in anticipation of Sulpture Night during Dover Art Week activities Wednesday night. As organizers, assistants and interns from The Amp — Dover’s new arts center — set up tables and chairs, Kaylee Gernant, Ceramics Director at The Amp and the workshop instructor, cheerily greeting the growing crowd of amateur sculptors. 

The sculpting mini-class, part of Dover’s weeklong celebration of art and performance, was hosted in the Richards Building at 7 N. Sussex Street— specifically, in the recently renovated Richards Room, originally the office of Dover’s first Mayor George Richards. In place of the gas chandelier, there are now two giant light fixtures suspended in the vaulted ceiling. There was also plenty of fantastic ceramic art gleaming on display by members of The Amp to give guests inspiration. 

Gernant introduced the night’s lesson on sculpting, explaining the properties of the air-dry clay they’d work with. She demonstrated various molding and texturing techniques to use for their sculptures. Images of various animals were passed around for students to use as reference, but told them to be open to any inspiration.

For many, the event was part of a return journey to creativity. “I did some painting… not professionally. It was many years ago, and now I restarted it,” said Juan Ména.
“When I saw the sculpture event, I thought, Wow. I should give it a try.” Ména hadn’t attended any Dover Art Week events before Sculpture Night and was excited he’d found the offerings on social media. “I always like spirals,” he said as he sculpted a snail shell. “So then I thought, why not? It's a form that I'm familiar with for my first try.” 

Juliet Lara shared her similar art journey. “I have, I’m getting back into it. I used to do it a lot.” Lara used to draw and paint, this was her first time she was working with clay to create a starfish. She heard about Dover Art Week events from Brianna Ochoa, who runs the Bri’Laflor Dance Studio one floor below the Richards Room. On top of posting about it on social media, Ochoa brought a group from one of her latest kids' dance teams. For Brianna, the event services as a perfect team-bonding experience. “They’re interacting with each other, talking with each other, it’s great!” Ochoa said. “Given they will compete eventually with each other, right now they need to make sure like this is all friendship, this is good. We work together.” 

The interplay also showcased the range of talent at the event, from the first-time sculptors to Dorie Whittenburg, who’s a Ceramics Member at The Amp. While she’s been working at the ceramics studio in the basement for the past few months, she had yet to visit the Richards Room. “What an amazing space," she said while creating a frog on a lily pad. "Awesome, creative, very warm and welcoming.”

At the same time, contractor Washington Pro, whose company cleans the building, sculpted an exquisite bust of a horse, despite having never worked with clay before. “I dabble with sketching, but I sketch what I see.”

Amateur artists found different sources to inspire their creative journeys.

The event also drew in attendees from local businesses. Anastasia Baker, who works at The Good Bean on N. Sussex Street. She and her friend Aragon were excited about arts activities at The Amp. “I’m a musician and I just heard there are practice rooms there, and a recording studio now. Like different music opportunities, which is pretty cool. It's exciting to see new things happening in Dover.”

The level of talent demonstrated by people from all walks of life, skill levels, and ages, showed how the drive to create is part of the human experience. And Dover Art Week continues celebrating with Student Art Night at Sabor Latino Restaurant, then a double-header on Saturday of Art in the Park at J.F.K. Memorial Park from Noon to 3pm, and the Basement Bash at The Amp from 6pm-8pm. CLICK HERE for more Art Week details.