Graffiti, broken mirrors and six-foot-tall lettering are just a few of the things that local art teacher Kendra Earls has used to make awesome dramatic sets.

This summer Mrs. Earls wants to share her passion for set design by offering week-long workshops for anyone 14-years-old and over.

"Here in Bermuda we have had so many shows going on," said Mrs. Earls. "We are hoping these workshops will give teenagers the skills to do sets for these events and also to create visual stimulation in stage production. Visual stimulation is so important for a show."

Mrs. Earls is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but married to Bermudian Craig Earls. The couple moved back to Bermuda four years ago, and Mrs. Earls will be a primary school art teacher in September.

Last February her set design talents caught the eye of the community when she helped with Gino Productions Beyonce Lip Sync and Model competition held at the Berkeley Institute.

"I did the set for that and it was a great success," she said. "The whole point of us doing that was to teach young people how to design sets and work as backstage hands, and learn how to do lighting, sound tech, and all the things that are involved in the production stage."

Model and fashion designer Amir, who runs Gino Productions, hosted the show and Mrs. Earls directed, but teenagers took care of all other aspects.

"We built a ten-foot lattice full of flowers," she said. "It was huge. We also had a six-foot high Beyonce sign. We used a lot of 3D effects, and a lot of light effects. It was beautiful."

She said the kids who helped with the set design of the Beyonce competition loved it and were very proud of themselves.

"Before the competition we went to the Berkeley Institute to speak with some of the kids who would be interested in auditioning," she said. "A lot came up and asked if they could take part backstage. We had one boy who wanted to be our DJ and had all kinds of music equipment. He did all the sound effects."

She said taking part in positive activities such as stage production helped many kids to get their minds off their problems.

"It encourages them," she said. "A lot of times, having something they really enjoy helps them to get through other stuff such as peer pressure, social problems... Having that outlet of doing something they want to do is very beneficial for them. A lot of them asked if they could help with the next show."

Right now Mrs. Earls is working with Gino Productions to get more young people involved in the dramatic production process.

"Our goal is to have a production company here where kids are able to be involved in the whole production process in whatever creative field that is there, backstage, lighting, whatever," she said. "We have four kids in the workshop this week who are working on the set for 'Tha Underground Music Awards' to be held on July 14 at The City Hall Theatre," she said.

In her workshops, participants learn how to "rig" sets and create different stage effects.

"This is using basically recycled materials whether it is cardboard, broken mirrors, tiles, anything you can find," she said. "We use things from nature or anything that can produce the effect on stage according to the theme of whatever the show is. They are learning to do it for any production whether it is for plays, music concerts, talent shows, whatever."

She said one of the most difficult things about set design is coming up with the actual concept of how to create a particular effect.

"I work a lot with light and illusion on stage," said Mrs. Earls. "A lot of my things are three dimensional and I use a lot of light effect, whether it is using broken mirrors to reflect light, and things like that. Constructing the stands for different props can also be a challenge. I am having to learn more and more carpentry as I go on."

In Atlanta, Mrs. Earls taught art in schools and inner city programmes, and also ran private courses. Her primary medium is acrylic painting, but she also dabbles in metalsmithing, jewellery design, and photography, among other things.

She said she is basically self-taught in set design, but her affinity for "big art" easily lends itself to the stage.

"My speciality is in painting and I know how to create different light effects with paint," she said. "I also have a background in architecture."

In high school she was in a special architectural drafting programme that last four years, but after high school she decided to go into art instead.

In Bermuda she has worked with the Bermuda Society of Arts (BSoA) and helped to produce the annual Bermuda Schools Art Exhibition, among other events. She also taught the Masterworks summer programme last year, and helped with the Masterworks collaboration with the Bermuda National Dance Foundation.

"That was a great experience," she said. "I have done a lot of different things."

She said being an artist in Bermuda has been limiting in some ways, but beneficial in others.

"It has been great for me as far as my art and career goes," she said. "There is so much that hasn't been tapped into when it comes to art, that I find that there is opportunity here. Still, there are limiting factors, but it has been good."

Workshops are $150 a week and held at Indigo Studio in Southampton. For more information check out Mrs. Earls' Myspace webpage at www.myspace.com/kendra4love or telephone her at 737-6060.