Local children's art on display Wednesday evening
A child's imagination is a playground of expression.
Putting a paint brush in their hand allows them to reflect their mood onto a canvas.
Giving them paint to splatter onto a canvas twice their size? It's a messy experience, but it's one the kids won't forget, said Kevin Daum, a Village Art Project volunteer.
The seven-week project is a collaborative art program for youth at the Mount Pleasant Mobile Home Village. They produced paintings, paper mache collages, cement stepping stones and photography. Their work will be on display from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Ward Theatre, 218 S. Main St.
"We haven't done something like this before, neither have the kids," Daum said. "The goal was to help these kids see that there are good things, and there is creativity inside of them. Using art is a nice way to go about allowing them to see the good that is in them. It puts all these children on a level playing field. Everyone can try to draw something."
The program was split into two age brackets: One for children under 6 years old, the other for children between the ages of 7 and 15.
Daum said the group of volunteers visited the children once a week since June 25, giving them different tasks and opportunities to express themselves artistically. This gallery show's their work, he said, something they may not get another chance to do for years.
"I am just excited for them to have an opportunity to be seen in the community in a positive light," Daum said. "Some people in the community have a negative image on the mobile home village. These people have great stories and are worth caring about."
The Village Art Project Gallery Show is open to the public.
