TAO Summer Arts
"TAO Summer Arts" & "Neighborhood Arts"
For me, one of the best things about being an artist is the freedom to express myself. When I imagine a new piece I think in the round and the symbolic form comes to mind. Do you remember your first art experience? How did this effect your life as a "real" artist. Who were your influences? A parent, a teacher, maybe a trip to a museum? Here in Taos, a group of TAO members who happen to be art teachers are using their influence to enrich the lives of the youth in our community.
Lorrie Bortner, Jan Haller and I have teamed up together to create "TAO Summer Arts". We wrote grants and actually received a few small contributions to the Program. I had to back out because of limited funds but Lorrie and Jan taught their classes- Mural Painting and Expressive Painting at locations in Taos to youth ages 5-12. The classes were free to the kids and they had a fabulously enriching time.
The other Program spearheaded by TAO member, Sienna Sanderson , in which Lorrie Bortner, Jan Haller, Barbara Barrett, Jon Greenley, Mary Barnes and I participated in is the "Neighborhood Arts" Program. This program sponsored by TAO, The Harwood Museum of Art, the Town of Taos and YouthHeartline is also free to youth and brought art making to neighborhoods in Taos. Tents, which became art rooms, were set up in a trailer park behind Walmart and the kids and their families joined together for mask making, collage, murals and painting. What fun we have been having and what a great opportunity to use our skills as artists and teachers to influence the young artists of tomorrow. See the photos above and below. There will be more programs like this in the near future and we will be contacting artists interested in teaching in similar programs. Look for the emails...
Neighborhood Arts
