Two groups thrilled to exhibit their artwork at the Lakewood
Arts Council Community Center and Gallery are the Art & Soul program of the
DDRC (Development Disability Resource Center)
Art of some of the mentors and students of Art & Soul.
and the Lakewood Youth Summer Arts
Program students. A reception was held
Thursday evening for these two groups to show their work and enjoy some
refreshments and socializing.
The Art & Soul program currently has eleven students,
with age ranges from 30 to 90, and six mentors: Marje Walsh, Gail Firmin, Myron
Eckberg, Paul Gesso, Jim Rothrock, and Andy Dubois.
Myron, Andy, Jim and Marje enjoy the show.
The class meets once a week in a classroom
provided by the Clements Community Center in Lakewood. Mentors take turns giving lessons on various
watercolor techniques and, a favorite part for many students, providing a
healthy snack! (Ok, sometimes it’s
not-so-healthy cupcakes and donuts.) As Marje Walsh states, “This class is a
closely knit group of students and mentors.
It is comprised of compassionate, caring, and cooperative individuals
who make watercolor painting an important part of their lives.”
Some amazing artwork has been produced by these students
over the years (and most have been in the class for at least as many years as
I’ve been there – 7 years now!). Stop by
the gallery to view their exhibit if you haven’t already done so.
A paper dragon from the Youth Summer Arts Program was a cooperative effort.
Upstairs in the loft gallery, a dragon sits on its nest, a
beast snakes down the wall and a black, scaly face stares at you with beady
eyes.
Fun sculptures in bright colors
show vivid imaginations at work, comic book strips are drawn creatively and the
portraits on the walls make it hard to believe they’re drawn by teenagers.
These artworks by students of the Lakewood
Youth Summer Art Program show a lot of creativity and joy of their craft. These artists range in age from 7 to 17.
Classes are held at the Washington Heights and Lakewood
Cultural Center and include Weaving, Pottery Painting, Drawing, Comic Strip
Cartooning, Mudslinging with Clay, Designing Dragons, Portrait Drawing and
more. Along with these visual art camps,
Lakewood also offers classes in theater, magic, singing and others.
Jim Olson from the City of Lakewood indicates, “These art
classes encourage experimentation, creativity and work, and familiarize the
young artists with the principles and elements of design and to have fun.” And
viewing this exhibit, it is certainly evident that these kids had fun! I just want to know if I’m too old to sign up
for the Dragon Designing Class!
