I've been waiting for several months for the unveiling of the "Children's Show" at The Other Side Arts (TOSA).  Bringing art to children is crucial for their personal and educational development.  Many students wouldn't be exposed to the magic of art if it weren't for TOSA's outreach efforts.  Giving the gift of art to a child exposes them to beauty and possibility.  I allows them to express themselves in a way that may be foreign, like learning a new language.

The show is the result of TOSA volunteers working with community organizations to bring about artistic transformation in the lives of kids.  The Lotus School for Excellence engaged in mask making and watercolors.  The masks were vibrant and expressive.  You can tell the kids had fun creating them and I hope they all get to see their work hanging in the gallery.

The Colorado Spina Bifida Association utilized Emotion Painting as their activity.  The kids were taught to respond visually to what they were feeling.  This is a great way for everyone not only kids to go deep within themselves and experience their true emotional being.  It also gives kids a non-threatening way to say things they don't have the vocabulary for or may be to scary to say out loud. 

Butterfly Hope with their guest instructor, master puppeteer Cory Gilstrap, created works relating to Lynne Cherry's book "The Great Kapok Tree".  In the corner of the gallery is the tree surrounded with jungle animals of all shapes, sizes and colors.  It's fun to view and I know a lot of the adults were interested in purchasing these animal creations, but they're for the kids.

Warren Village works with families learning to create safe and sustainable lives.  The kids learned printmaking which is an art form that many adults can't master and these kids seem to have the freedom to create and let the outcome be a masterpiece.  Can you ask for anything better than that?

The thing I admire most about TOSA's vision for this show is that this is not about crating art that is refrigerator art.  This is not art created for the sole purpose of the kids' parents putting it in a scrap book.  TOSA has all the 2D work professionally framed.  If you didn't tell people that the work was done by children I believe many would think adults created the work so it's all about the perspective they offer the community.

There were plenty of kids on hand at the opening and the energy was playful, fun and encouraging.  I hope that the community continues to support TOSA in their outreach efforts because it raises the bar in how the community can join forces with arts nonprofit organizations.

Jumping with joy...
Greg