It seems every month a new artificial intelligence art trend pops up in our social media feeds.  

There was the action figure collectible encased in a plastic box, the work caricature trends and even portraits made in the style of Studio Ghibli.  

Seeing these and so many other AI-generated trends pop up is one reason the Cutting Edge Crafters Club is embarking on a new mission this summer: promoting creativity in the face of AI. 

“We want [kids] to be able to be creative without using AI,” said organizer Deborah “Djay” Jay.  

The Desert Passage resident said she and other Maricopa artists in the group will host a series of summer workshops called “The Creative Studio Workshop.”  

The classes are aimed at introducing teens ages 14 to 18 to a wide range of crafts. That includes some lesser-known activities like Jay’s own medium, quilling, the art of coiling thin strips of paper into shapes.  

“We were concerned that what we know how to do is going to go away,” Jay said.  

The classes go beyond just making and taking home a craft. Jay said students will gain a well-rounded knowledge of each craft.  

For example, the machine sewing workshop will not only teach teens how to sew, but also “how to use the sewing machine and all its parts,” Jay said. 

The workshops will be held at 1 p.m. Mondays from June 1 to July 20 at the Maricopa Unified School District office, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Class prices start at $10 and all materials are provided.  

For more information or to register for a class, contact Jay at 520-450-2093 or email [email protected].