Children Learn Through the Arts

After a planning meeting in preparation for the Brighton Fine Arts Festival this coming weekend, my head is swimming with potential ideas. The Brighton Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a large booth in front of Art In Bloom during the festival that is geared toward children. The "Kids Activity Zone" will feature treats from Oh My Lolli and Jack's Custard, always a draw when visiting downtown, and will also have plenty of space where creativity can happen- free of charge. I love this concept and I am so pleased to be a part of it.

I have been teaching art to young people for nearly fifteen years. Through the school system I saw 500 students come and go through my classroom doors every year and it was clear that the experience of art making was a draw and an inherent need. Rarely did I see a child who didn't want to participate or who didn't have a great idea waiting to be put down on paper or into a mound of clay. Children do not see art as "work" so it is a great way to teach skills and values. Beyond the qualities of creativity, self-expression, and communication, art really is a type of work. This is what art has been from the beginning. This is what art is from childhood to old age. Through art, we can learn the joy of work- work done to the best of one's ability, for its own sake, for the satisfaction of a job well done. Isn't this one of the key concepts we would like to instill in our children? 

This weekend (August 2-4,) I am happy to offer the opportunity for children, young and old, to release their innate creativity and work on one of several community murals at the following times: Friday evening from 5-9pm, Saturday from 10am-2pm and Sunday from 10am-2pm. Please stop by and pick up a paintbrush with your child.