Artist Stretcher and Canvas Making Workshop

James Saldivar showing proper techniques in stretcher making during the summer course

Student Leigh Ledbetter uses a manual box saw to cut wood to make her strecher

James Saldivar and some of the students enrolled in the summer Artist Stretcher Making Workshop

Summer Break for students usually means late nights and sleeping in until late afternoon.  Not the case for students taking Summer School classes at SASIC for extra high school credits.  One such class offered this summer at the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity is the Art Department’s Stretcher and Canvas Making Class, running from June 13- July 1. Students signed up for this woodshop exploration will have an intense hands-on course load.  James Saldivar, one of the Art Department Faculty oversees the safety aspect of the workshop, promoting safe woodshop behaviors and proper electric and pneumatic tool handling. “Learning how to properly make an artist stretcher is one of the most important skills an artist can possess”, say James.  Citing examples of why there is a need to know this kind of skill, James goes on to talk about regionally recognized San Antonio artists who put themselves through Art School by charging other art students for making their canvases and stretchers. James says, “It is definitely a skill that is in demand…and I if we can provide this knowledge to our art students, we have given them a great lesson in fundamental art making.”