ROCKLAND — Children ages eight and up are invited to learn how to make a camera out of everyday materials and develop their own pictures in a darkroom during this workshop series at the Rockland Public Library. The workshop is led by Dee Peppe of Mid-Coast Community Darkrooms. Space is limited and parents must sign a waiver agreement. Sign up in the Children's Room or call 594-0310.

In this workshop, the participants will design and construct their own pinhole camera made out of an oatmeal box or similar container. Other household materials will be used such as electrical tape, soda cans, and black paper. The camera will be used to make images of the area around the library. Students will be encouraged to find subjects that have interesting shapes, rather than distant views. Portraits will also be a requirement.

Once the camera is set, the students will load their camera with a sheet of paper, explore the outside area, and create a negative of their scene. After the negatives have been made they make the images into positives.

The Workshop series will take place the following dates and times: Monday, April 11, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, April 14, 4-5:45 p.m., Saturday, April 16, 10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, 10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 21, 10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Dee Peppe, founder, and director of the Darkrooms received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design and has been teaching photography for 23 years. Currently a faculty member at the University of Maine, Dee has taught students of all ages; at numerous colleges, local adult education programs, Maine Media Workshops, Watershed School, and the Riley School. She is included in the Maine Arts Commission's artist/teacher programs and brings photography into schools as an artist in residence. As a fine-art photographer, she has been exhibiting nationally for 28 years.