Adding color and creativity

Suzie Harrison

A cornucopia of art supplies were spread across the ample tables at

Top of the World Elementary School.

Swatches of fabric, tissue paper, glitter, pipe cleaners and other

items were used for “Local Color,” a weekly activity available during

student’s lunch time.

Each Wednesday, about 20 volunteers show up to help with five

projects. On March 10, the choices were worry dolls, magic wands,

pastel and watercolors, as well as decorating picture frames and

making tissue paper flowers.

Local artist Suzette Rosenthal helped with the worry dolls.

“The general approach is to encourage local artists to come,”

Rosenthal said. “It gives the kids the opportunity to do an artsy

project during lunch.”

Cari Abbate organized the event to benefit students’ minds and

souls. The students display some of their work at the open house in

June.

Rosenthal demonstrated to the children how to cut a hole for the

doll’s head and showed how to use a variety of fabrics as well as

layering.

Adrien Azera, 6, said that he was making a scarecrow. When he

finished that he said he was going to make a “girl one.” To make it

different he said he was going to put a dress on her. He carefully

wrapped her in lace and cut a tassel for her hair, starting a trend.

“I picked lace because it was girlie,” Adrien said. “I did a

girlfriend for the scarecrow, her name is Alley. She’s a scarecrow

too. He’s called John.”

Taylor Spring, 7, was making a magic wand at a different station.

“We’re making wands and they’re really, really pretty, beautiful,”

Taylor said.

She had a plan to play fairies with her friends later as that is

their favorite thing to do.

Nicole Winch, 8, was decorating her picture frame.

“I’m going to put on a star and hearts and am going to use red and

pink,” Nicole said.

She said that those were her favorite colors. Inside the frame she

was going to put in a picture of her best friend.

“Kids love it if you give them something tasteful, they’ll ask for

it and ask if they can do it again next year,” Abbate said. “So often

art projects are confined to a standard and this gives them the

opportunity to fly.”