The students are enrolled in the latest art class scheduled to supplement the Native American Art exhibit that opened Saturday.

"A lot of these classes are tied in with a theme of the museum's exhibit," Westenhouser said. "It helps give the children more of an appreciation for what they've seen or learned."

The art students learned how to make dolls this past Saturday and will learn how to decorate them with shapes, patterns, fabric and feathers this Saturday.

This is just one of about 20 classes offered at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio from this month to the end of the year. Pottery, jewelry-making, holiday gift-making and weaving are just some of the classes offered to help supplement the Native American Art exhibit.

Westenhouser said she usually takes students through the exhibit, like she did Saturday.

It helps give a sense of understanding of the class and students can find inspiration in the art, she said.

Angel Walter, 13, sat on the floor of the Decorative Arts Center looking around at the pottery in the brightly colored cases.

Angel said she learned a lot about Native American art and dolls from the exhibit. She used many of the shapes and explanations she heard about the art as her inspiration.

"I think it's kind of cool looking at other people's art," Angel said.

The students took the patterns and shapes they found in the art and drew similar patterns into their sketches. The students then cut and shaped wire to make the dolls.

Westenhouser explained that the dolls made by Native Americans on exhibit at the Decorative Arts Center were given as gifts to young ladies in Indian tribes. The dolls were decorated with feathers, fur, beads and fabric.

The dolls were considered more elaborate if they were active. Some of the dolls on exhibit were dancing and hunting.

"These kind of things can help the students understand the art from the exhibit and learn how other people created the art," Westenhouser said.