Our popular youth art camp, Box City: Algiers, is set to take over the main building’s lobby on July 17 and 18 with a kid-sized cardboard installation inspired by the landmarks and architecture of Algeria’s capital city. An annual highlight of the Arts Center’s youth visual arts program, the Box City camp features a destination from across the globe every summer. With recent years taking inspiration from London, Bangkok, and Lima, this year’s choice of Algiers was chosen to celebrate the Algerian national soccer team’s recent stay in Lawrence. The country’s vibrant culture will be explored through the arts and Lawrence youth will gain meaningful knowledge on its history.
After delving into research led by teaching artists Sydni William, Kenzie Schaeffer-Bowles, AnnaBelle Withington, Whitney Jacobs, and Katie Alldritt, the young artists will design blueprints for the structures they plan to create. Utilizing construction techniques, the artists transform cardboard appliance boxes into unique pieces painted with color and design elements. Once the individual units are completed, the campers bring the creations together in the open space of the lobby for a hands-on implementation of city planning. As a special highlight, Lawrence artist Kevin O’Malley’s human-sized cardboard sculpture of Algeria’s national animal, the fennec fox, will be incorporated into the installation.
On Friday, July 17, all are welcome to attend the grand openings of the Box City: Algiers installation at 11:50am (featuring work by morning campers), and 3:50pm (featuring work by afternoon campers) in the main lobby of the Lawrence Arts Center. The installation will remain open through Saturday, July 18.
