Art Academy

Art Academy is a special class for highly motivated and talented students in second through 10th grade. It was formed in 1987 by longtime Art Center Director Diana Hedges with Margaret Gust as coordinator of the programming.

The goal of Art Academy is to provide a balance in two areas: art making from observation and recollection and art making through creative expression. It is also the goal of Art Academy to encourage communication among students, parents and instructors.

Art Academy provides a supportive environment with individualized guidance from instructors who are also working artists. Students with a focused attitude are offered additional art experiences not necessarily taught in schools.

Prospective students cannot just register for this program like other classes. Admittance to this program is by application only and informal interviews are scheduled when openings arise. After reviewing the applications, students are asked to bring in portfolios and brief resumes to be reviewed by Art Academy instructors. We usually have quite a waiting list for Art Academy and always encourage prospective students to take other classes while waiting.

Art Academy runs throughout the academic school year and meets weekly. Art Academy provides excellent lessons primarily in drawing, painting and ceramics, building on what students have already learned in other settings. It is also recommended that Art Academy students attend special art classes offered during the summer months.

About our Instructors

Molly Blotz is experienced in all things ceramic. She has a bachelor of science degree in art education with an emphasis in ceramics from the University of Wisconsin -- Stout. Molly has great interest in educating students about ceramics and loves to work with children. Molly is also a working artist and creates functional pottery both on the wheel and through hand building. She has extensive experience in kiln work as well as metal jewelry fabrication.


Michael J. Frey is an award winning portrait artist who has taught adults and teenagers at the Edina Art Center since 1998. Michael was born in Montana and raised in Boulder, Colorado, where he received a bachelor of arts in Biology from the University of Colorado. Relocating to Minneapolis in 1981, he trained as a classical realist painter at The Atelier in Minneapolis from 1995-1999.  "While I love art, my passion is teaching. The heady mix of angst, creativity and hormones makes teaching middle and high school students an unbelievably stimulating and rewarding experience."


Denise Willey Johnson is a local artist who specializes in figurative sculpture and wheel-thrown pottery. For the past 14 years, she has taught wheel throwing, sculpture and general art classes to students age 3 to 83 at Minnesota public schools and art centers, including eight years of teaching classes at the Edina Art Center. Denise makes “everyday” pots, smoke-fired vessels and colorful raku sculptures that are prized for their craftsmanship and individuality. Her figurative sculptures of birds and humans use physical form to explore inner character and emotion. She enjoys helping students develop their technical skills and achieve their artistic goals.


Anne Spooner has been a youth Instructor at Edina Art Center for over 10 years. Her love of children’s art continues to hold great interest for her. Anne also has been influenced by her students’ work and is continually amazed by their progress. Animal imagery has been the focus of Art Academy curriculum over the years and these creatures have started to appear in her art work. Anne has exhibited locally and nationally, receiving awards along the way. She has a bachelor's degree from the College of St. Catherine with an emphasis in drawing. Anne is also the Program & Gallery Coordinator at Edina Art Center.


For additional information, please contact Edina Art Center at 952-903-5780.

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Sample	Download a sample lesson plan.
Application	Download an application for Art Academy.