2008 Woodie Awards
Event teaches art to children
Jayda Quincey
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
|
Stations set up around the school's cafeteria enticed children with six different crafts, each tied to sustainability and Ugandan culture.
Art education senior and National Art Education Association president Amanda Batson said the club was "planting a seed" by emphasizing the importance of art in schools.
The NT student chapter of the club took on the project in conjunction with the Let Art Talk organization this year.
"We're trying to keep the idea of art alive in the schools," Batson said. "What better way than bringing an art workshop into their environment?"
Club members started preparing in April with weekly meetings, planning workshops for seven elementary schools around the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"It was basically our big focus this semester," Batson said. "We've been dreaming and wanting this to pan out since April."
At the first workshop at McNair Elementary, Lesli Robertson of the art faculty said she was proud of how it all came together.
"It took all of us pooling our resources," Robertson said.
About 100 students from kindergarten to fifth grade attended from the school's population of more than 600.
McNair Elementary School art teacher Jodi Dallas was positive about the event.
"I think it's great that the kids get to meet an artist," Dallas said. "It's a great opportunity for them."
Dallas said many of the children were in fifth grade and would probably not have the chance to take an art class again in school.
"Hopefully they'll remember it in the future," Dallas said.
Let Art Talk is a Ugandan organization created to empower communities through art.
Fred Mutebi, the founder of Let Art Talk, interacted with children at the Talking Mural station. At the end of the project, the murals from the Ugandan and American schools will be exchanged.
"We need to start on them early," Mutebi said of teaching art to the children.
His main concept for the talking murals is communicating an idea in common terms. He looks at how children understand the theme he presents to them.
"How do we think about this theme from different backgrounds?" Mutebi said.
So far, he has done the Talking Mural on about 10 themes, including HIV/AIDS, maternal health and the environment.
The sustainability theme came in as the event planners tried to find a link between American and Ugandan culture.
"It's something that is incorporated into their everyday life, even if it isn't hot and trendy there," Batson said.
The last workshop in Dallas-Fort Worth area will be on Oct. 24 in Frisco. Mutebi will then travel back to Uganda, where several schools will experience similar workshops.
Four more workshops will be held at elementary schools in Frisco and Denton.
Be the first to comment on this story