Camp instructor Lance Newman is getting down to the fine art of the holiday. 

“The first day was all about giving them a background of and a catch up of what Juneteenth was,” says Newman.

Newman is an artist and performing poet. He let campers get mixed in the mediums challenging them to create everything from visual pieces to sonnets. 

Lance Newman is a local mixed media artist. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley N. Brown)

To help students get the picture, he discussed the work of poets who have made an impact in his life. 

“We’ve got the Appalachian poets. We've got the Harlem Renaissance poets, Bell Hook, a lot of the art that influenced me,” says Newman. 

Newman introduced campers to art techniques commonly used by black, Indigenous and artists of color like printmaking and engraving. 

Back on the canvas, they learned about lesser known artists. 

Students created self portraits. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley N. Brown)

“We’re focusing on Bill Traylor. He has art in the Smithsonian right now and he was born into slavery and didn’t really find prominence until he was like 80-90-years-old,” says Newman.

Campers were able to get their hands dirty and created their own works of art. 

Alexis Spencer, a 9-year-old who aspires to be a chef, model, therapist and YouTuber, shared what she drew on her recreation of Betye Saar’s Palm of Love. 

“A microphone, a dress, a paper and a chef’s hat. This is my marriage, my love, my wisdom. I don't have that much wisdom though,” says Spencer. 

All of the student’s artwork created through the week will be on display at the David Karem building at Waterfront Park on Friday from 3 to 4 p.m.