AFCC Winter Art Exhibit Inspires Students to Dream

Docent Greg Williams answers questions from students from the West Villages Elementary School

udrey Christensen is only seven, but the West Villages Elementary School first grader already has her future mapped out. engaged learners and active thinkers,” Wake says, something the AFCC has been able to do in concert with the Cotuit Center for the Arts on an annual basis for nearly a decade. “Together, we’re AFCC Winter Art Exhibit Inspires Students to Dream A

Despite her diminutive stature, Audrey has big dreams, proudly connecting students with local artists and art so that maybe they’ll proclaiming, “I want to be an artist when I grow up.” She has begin thinking about their future and maybe they’ll want to be narrowed those dreams down even further – “I want to be an artists themselves.” illustrator,” she says, again with a confidence belying her age.

Perhaps her confidence comes from experience; Audrey mentions BECOMING ACTIVE LEARNERS she has written a book about a magic butterfly. The program has grown to the point that students like Audrey

Or perhaps on this day in early February, Audrey is simply and her classmates are not only spectators, but active learners. A inspired, having just finished up a half-hour tour of the Cotuit workshop accompanies the tour, allowing children to create their Center for the Arts where 48 works of art were on display, each own art project tied to the theme of the exhibit. conveying the theme “Balancing Act.” “I think it’s great to expose kids, especially young kids, to 2016 was the ninth year the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod art. This is a very manageably-sized exhibit, 48 pieces, with all (AFCC) held its Winter Arts Exhibit to showcase established and different kinds of media represented here,” says Michelle Law, the emerging artists while providing motivation for students like Audrey. curator for the exhibit. “I hope this gives them the view that art is

And that is why the annual exhibit is such an important event not necessarily just crayons and pencils. It can be most anything for the AFCC. It is much more than just a show. “It is really about you find in the world.” connecting students with feelings and helping them to convey their The contingent from West Villages saw this firsthand when they emotions,” says AFCC Executive Director Julie Wake. stopped at Carl Lopes’ vibrant piece, “The Theory of Everything”,

For over a month, students from throughout Cape Cod had a which featured a telescope and microscope against a shiny silver chance to peruse the exhibit, which included photographs; paste, background. There docent Gregory Williams quizzed 20 first oil and acrylic paintings; and statues made out of aluminum, graders, asking the children, “What is this material?” clay and stoneware. “Glitter,” one girl responded.

For many children, Wake says, this is their first chance “to connect “Cardboard,” said a classmate. with art, experience a gallery exhibit and meet a working artist.” “Wrapping paper,” added a third, prompting Williams to reply,

That world of firsts, Wake continues, will hopefully lead to “I think that is what it might be.” a foundation of respect and passion for the arts which is vital to Upstairs, the children met one of the artists, Alice Nicholson their personal growth. “We know that art transforms students into Galick, who created an ode to nature on the inside and outside of a

Cape Cod the Way You Remember! On the Water on Hyannis Harbor! Dine Inside or Outside on the Waterfront Patio

Artist Carl Lopes talks to children about the piece he created for this year’s Winter Art Exhibit

rectangular folding box that featured etchings and mono prints of birds and fish against the backdrop of the sky and the sea. On the outside, a shell of a dead crab was affixed to the top of the box and a small branch inside, used to create a miniature table.

“This is very extraordinary,” one young boy told Galick.

These types of sincere, appreciative comments could be found throughout the tour if you just listened.

“It is really beautiful,” seven-year-old James Benners said when asked about the exhibit.

And that may be why it is so important for the AFCC to expose students of all ages to works like this. As Linda Warde, a first grade teacher at the West Villages Elementary School put it: art “gives us a feeling of creativity and creativity is love. Isn’t that what we all want?”

Art or creativity or love, that is what Galick discovered many years ago when she was a first grader just like those at West Villages. “I made a piece of artwork that my art teacher put in a show and after that I decided at age six that I was going to be an artist,” she tells the students. “And I did it all the way through high school and college and graduate school. And I taught art. I taught elementary art for well, altogether, 30 years, but I taught high school and junior high as well. I taught all age groups.”

Today, she has shed the teacher label, but she is still an artist. Galick makes art, she says, “because I don’t think I could breathe without doing it. It’s part of my life.”

And it all started all when she was the same age as Audrey Christensen.

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