Every summer, I teach art enrichment classes for various school districts, an arts council and at St. Louis Community College’s College for Kids. The ages range from kindergarten through eighth grade. I must admit that sometimes the little live wires wear me out! Art materials can be dangerous (“Let’s not wave the blowtorch around!”) and messy (maybe it wasn’t a wise idea to put paint into a salad spinner to see what would result). Art needs experimentation and freedom, with a little guidance. I try to provide that for my students or at least that’s what I remind myself as I clean up after them. It was a visiting artist at my own school who long ago inspired me to pursue a degree and a career in art, so I like to think that there just might be a future Picasso’s name on my class list.

I’ve been teaching art classes for more years than I care to remember and there are some students that I just cannot forget. I remember one little girl who had never worked with Play-Doh because her mom thought it was too messy. Another very quiet student emerged with impressive, sophisticated Giacometti-style drawings—simply innate talent. I showed them to a friend who thought they were the work of at least a grad student but it came from the hands of a third-grader. One of my students went on to study art at a university in Vienna, Austria and even showed his work in an exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey (yeah, I’m proud of him!). But every year, my students impress me most with their fresh approach to art. I learn a lot from them. I do my best to hold onto their contagious enthusiasm for art throughout the rest of the year. Maybe that’s what we all need to do this summer: get excited, really excited about art, and see it from a fresh perspective.

”Project Firefly” is guaranteed to give you just that excitement. Remember catching elusive fireflies on a summer evening? On July 9, The Foundry Art Center in St. Charles invites participants to capture those summer creatures in glass jars with magnetic lids, and bring them back to The Foundry. A living art installation will be created when the jars are installed on a special magnetic board. View the art quickly because the fireflies will be released back into nature. It’s a great joining of all ages, old-fashioned summer fun with a creative twist (and the fireflies get to fly away after it all!). Learn how you can participate by calling 636-255-0270.

Speaking of fresh perspectives, have you been to see Art St. Louis’s great, new gallery at 555 Washington Avenue, #105? Its inaugural exhibition “Pixels and Patterns” just opened in June, remains through July 24. Call 314-241-4810 or visit www.artstlouis.org for details.

Third Degree Glass, at 5200 Delmar, is the only St. Louis venue, and one of only five stops in the entire United States, to display some 60 pieces of spectacular Gangjin celadon in the “Millennium Face” exhibition, presented by the South Korean government and organized by Gangjin Gun (county). The works are prized for their unique beauty, color and inlaying techniques. The brief exhibition closes on July 2, with a reception and artist demonstration from 6-9 p.m. It’s short-notice but this exhibition is so rare that I felt it had to be mentioned. Try to get there---you won’t be disappointed!

The 3rd Annual City-Wide Open Studios, sponsored by Charter Communication, is actually “a week-long event dedicated to the discovery of the hidden spaces where artists work,”said Jennifer Gaby of The Contemporary. It’s free and fun and provides a chance to visit with artists in the spaces where creativity comes alive throughout St. Louis City, University City and Maplewood on July 19-20. Maps will be available beginning on July 1 (visit www.openstudiosonline.org). There’s a preview party on July 15 at The Contemporary to highlight the participating artists. Take a trolley tour during the weekend with The Contemporary’s Chief Curator Anthony Huberman and Assistant Curator Laura Fried (visit www.contemporarystl.org. for details). Gather a group and pedal your way to artistic fun when the TREK Bicycle Store offers bicycle tours to the studios as well, enacting their motto of “We support a community in motion”. There’s even a Starving Artists Barbeque in The Contemporary’s courtyard on July 20, for $15 per person. A great way to cap off a great weekend!!

Here’s a refreshing way to stay cool this summer: Jazz St. Louis partners with The Gramophone at 4243 Manchester to present local, regional and national jazz on a weekly basis. With the exception of special touring acts, Tuesday Nights at the Gramophone are free of charge, open to anyone over 21, and begin at 9 p.m. Check out www.thegramophonelive.com for more info.