Art Supplies
So, a little info on the school I work at. I am the art teacher at a program called the Knight Children's Center, which is run by the Home For Little Wanderers. My young artists range in age from 7 - 13 years old, and are at the program for special education and therapeutic treatment for past emotional and behavioral trauma. Maybe it's because of their lifelong drama, or a common inclination towards emotional extremes, but I work with a really unique, creative, sensitive, and innately talented group of kids. It's hard work from day to day, since I deal firsthand with alot of their problems, but it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. Their art is absolutely gorgeous, and their enthusiasm for expressing themselves is boundless.
Every year we have a big art show, called Voices and Visions. In february, they spend time in their classrooms composing a piece of short fiction- it's about anything they like, based around a certain theme. I think this year we're going to suggest a color to give them a starting point. Once they're done writing, they spend two monts of studio time in the art room creating a masterpiece to go along with their story. We use all sorts of materials, including paper, cardboard, paint, plaster, canvas, clay, bottlecaps, found objects, recycled junk, and old toys. The result is amazing. There are books, drawings, sculptures, pottery, self-portraits, animals, castles, games, quilts, costumes, and more. One year one of my boys built a working fountain, and last year one of my 12 year-old students used the digital camera and a digital projector to cast immense fluctuating abstract murals on the wall. In May we collect all the finished art together and hold an art show which is attended by the young artists, their families, the staff, and community members. It's absolutely breathtaking, and the kids feel proud and thrilled to have their work on display. It's an awesome exprience.
The thing is (and here's the plug), it also takes alot of money and supplies to run the studio. We have a really limited budget, especially this year because of the tight economy, and more so because my school is run by a non-profit organization. We're doing okay, we have plenty of paint to get us started, but we need lots of materials to keep us going, especially for V & V.
So all you art people out there, if you have any extras, let me know! I also have a wishlist through craigslist for art room odds and ends, including everyday stuff we need like crayons and tape and paper.
And if anyone lives in or around the Boston area and has a specialty they'd like to share in our studio, let me know. I plan on inviting visiting artists to present to the kids in the studio at least once a month. We love volunteers.
Thanks, everyone!
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