Inaugural Art Project

Area Children Welcome New President with Inspiring Artwork
Boys & Girls Clubs and Abrakadoodle art students share hopes, vision of America & creativity

How do children perceive the inauguration of a new president? What are their visions for our country’s future? Civics enters the art room as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast’s Abrakadoodle art students take part in sharing their creative ideas for America that will be sent as part of an artful welcome for President Barack Obama from children in participating Abrakadoodle locations nationwide.

“Children love to express themselves through art,“ said Erin Bakker, Director of Abrakadoodle Art Education at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. “By engaging children in a meaningful way, they can connect to this historic occasion and perhaps provide inspiration for our new leader.”

Some students learned about the art of Jasper Johns as inspiration for their art. They learned about Pop Art, Encaustic Painting and the use of texture in creative art work. Children tried out smaller, quicker brush strokes in the style of Jasper Johns. As always, Boys & Girls Club members use their own imaginations to make their creations uniquely their own. Other students learned about the life and words of Martin Luther King, Jr. calling upon his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to draw inspiration for children to use words, images and shapes to bring their own dreams for the future into a work of art.

This is one of the many ways that the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is working to Empower Kids in our area. Youth are able to learn about and participate in the history of our nation. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast provide our community with a resource to inspire and encourage academics, citizenship, and healthy lifestyle in local youth. A wide range of Boys & Girls Club programs focus on sound character, leadership abilities and the willingness to give back to their community. 

Abrakadoodle’s core philosophy is that all children are creative and that we need to encourage their imaginations to grow. From the youngest ages, children need reinforcement that there are no right and wrong ways of doing art. Children can learn how to draw, paint, sculpt, design mosaics and collages, take digital photographs, as well as create in the style of Renoir, Picasso, DaVinci, Michelangelo and a host of contemporary and classic artists. Abrakadoodle students actively engage in planning each activity and can infuse their own styles through the choices they make as they create. When the creation phase is completed, the students present their original works to the class, a sharing that is always positive and encourages an appreciation for each person’s perspective. Children should explore abundant creative materials and experiment with color, line and form.
The Obama administration is supportive of the arts. “To remain competitive in the global economy, America needs to reinvigorate the kind of creativity and innovation that has made this country great. To do so, we must nourish our children’s creative skills,” Obama asserts.

Gallery: Inaugural Art Project

Posted by Andi on 01/21 at 02:24 PM

Back to Press & Media