Area children study contemporary art and are inspired to create their own works when they take Contemporary Creations classes at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

Contemporary Creations classes are an extension of the museum's tour program and are designed for 8- to 11-year-olds. The two-hour classes are evenly divided between art tours and time in the Tearney Education Center's children's studio. In the classroom, students draw from concepts they've learned and inspiration from works of art they viewed to create their own pieces.

"The children have a lot to say about the art right away. They like sharing ideas with each other and then taking those ideas and creating their own unique works of art," said Cynthia Wood, one of three Contemporary Creations instructors, along with Amy Wunsch and Katy Flatley.

Wood, an art teacher at Brougham Elementary School, Olathe, loves taking students all over JCCC's campus to view pieces of art.

"Being able to see the art in person, rather than looking at a reproduction, allows the students to really relate to the work. I don't see this many students getting so excited and engaged in the regular art classroom where we look at posters or pictures from the Internet," Wood said.

According to Wood, students have most enjoyed the ceramic projects. A favorite lesson involved learning about contemporary American Indian art and then creating a clay vessel. Students worked with a quick-drying clay that does not need to be fired in a kiln. Other projects have included 3-D paper sculptures, painting, working with pastels and creating miniature monuments with foam board.

Karen Gerety Folk, curator of education for the Nerman Museum, says the number of students turning out for the classes has been excellent. Like Wood, she feels that seeing works of art in person gives students a totally different perspective on what it must have been like for the artist to create the work.

Classes are designed so that students can try one class or come each week to learn something new. This flexibility, along with an affordable fee, allows students visiting from surrounding areas to participate.

Students can register by calling 913-469-2323 or by downloading forms. For more information about Contemporary Creations or other museum programming, contact Karen Gerety Folk, 913-469-8500, ext. 4771, kgerety@jccc.edu.