October 28, 2015 at 5:03 p.m.
Kids at art
Weekly program offers young people a creative outlet
Kids at art
By Kayla Thomason-
On select Fridays in October and November, children between the ages of 8 and 13 are invited to work on art projects inspired by ArtStart exhibitions. The program is called TGI ArtFridays.
Last Friday, the children worked on art journaling. They created images to go along with their journal entries and were encouraged to use three different mediums (different materials such as paint, colored pencils, markers, buttons, stamps and more) as they worked.
"For me, it's important that they actually do some kind of journaling and not just pictures so they get the concept of journaling in," said Lenore Blemke, volunteer at ArtStart and a former board member.
Other weeks the children worked on collages and squeegee paintings, among other things.
"The kids that do come really seem to enjoy it," Blemke said.
Michael Gaudioso is new to the program - he took his second class Friday - but he said he's hooked.
"It's pretty great," he said. "I like how we get to be creative a lot."
Brandon Lieder has attended a few sessions and keeps coming back for more.
"So far I like it pretty good," he said, adding that squeegee painting and the journaling were favorites.
TGI ArtFridays not only offers a safe place for kids to express their creative side, it also helps them in other aspects of their lives.
"I really like the way (TGI ArtFridays) has offered us to have a chance to learn art because in the beginning I didn't really know a lot about art, so during school I had art class and I was mostly clueless because I didn't know what to do, but now ArtStart has taught me the properties of art and what to do," Brandon said.
Karissa Thurn has been attending TGI ArtFridays for the past three weeks or so and lights up when Friday rolls around.
"I like (TGI ArtFridays) a lot," she said.
Her favorite projects, so far, were the collage and the squeegee painting. She said she will continue to add to her journal and noted that she's grateful the sessions are free and open to any child.
"I think it's really cool it's free, so if your family is really low on money or anything you can still come and enjoy the arts and everything," she said. She also liked that TGI ArtFridays is available to those who don't necessarily share in more typical Northwoods pursuits like hunting or fishing.
"Usually in Rhinelander a lot of people are into hunting and stuff and this is a nice way to show the artsy side of Rhinelander," she said.
Blemke says ArtStart is seeing an uptick in visitors because the children come for TGI ArtFridays, which brings their parents, and after the sessions they walk through the art gallery.
"ArtStart's fun and you should really encourage people to come," Brandon said.
The memories the children make, their positive exposure to art, is something they will carry with them as they grow, Blemke added.
"They develop a lifelong love," she said. "You don't have to be good at it, art is art and it's just fun."
TGI ArtFridays is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For registration information, call Louise at (715) 420-0300 or e-mail [email protected].
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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