AiMing to Reach Children With Hands On Art Education

AiMing to Reach Children With Hands On Art Education

By Louisa Woodville

Under the aegis of Artists in Middleburg (AiM), executive director Sandy Danielson, volunteer artist Barbara Sharp, Art Therapist Lilla Ohrstrom and artists Toni Barnham and Jim Burns all have a mission: to teach children how to express themselves through art and, in that process, make their lives less stressful and more rewarding.

Besides being fun, creating art can be therapeutic in managing the tension childhood often can create. Covid created trauma that, when coupled with financial hardship, can exacerbate childrens’ insecurities. Enter art therapy to help them cope.

“One of our primary focuses is art and the children,” said Danielson, explaining that AiM is a nonprofit dedicated to reaching out and serving the community through art education.

AiM has conducted programs with Claude Thompson Elementary School in Rectortown, Middleburg Montessori, Middleburg Community Charter School, and Foxcroft.

AiM instructor Barbara Sharp and her artful students.

Miguel’s piece of art.

Julie Fisher, Foxcroft’s department chair for fine arts, has been the “brainchild of student exhibits,” Danieson said. “Her girls have assisted the younger children by demonstrating and helping these students understand how to create their art.”

Artist Barbara Sharp of Unison works with children from Claude Thompson, whose 250-plus students learn the basics in Barbara’s art class: how to recognize shapes and forms, how to work with media such as acrylic, oils, watercolors and pastels; and the differences between landscapes, portraits, and still lives.

Children learn to appreciate their own creativity as they explore lines, shapes, colors, textures, and rhythm in their attempts—and successes—to articulate space, form and plane.

“I try to teach them the art of seeing,” Sharp said. “I tell them we are not seeking perfection but expression. We don’t want picture-perfect; we have cameras for that.”

Exploring different aspects of their creativity is important to children, said Sharp, who believes such explorations may one day prompt students to become engineers or architects. “You never know where these kids will go,” she said. Sharp donates not only her time and energy, but art supplies as well—all of which she finds incredibly rewarding.

“A fun day is to bring tee-shirts that they can paint, and it’s something they can take home that is theirs,” she said. “When you work with these children, they listen and they do the work.”

The parents, too, are often delighted by their sons’ and daughters’ creativity.

“I remember one time when I taught a class,” Sharp added. “I had the students’ works framed, and one father came to me and said, ‘Is that my son’s work?’ He was all smiles.” Teachers also receive AiM support. “We began this school year by providing an art therapy session for the teachers and additional sessions to follow for the students,” said Danielson, referring to Lilla Ohrstrom’s professional development day for teachers.

Ohrstrom, who lives in The Plains and is trained to assess mental health using art, employed collage cards and a poem project—the same resources these teachers can use for students.

“Because I’m an art therapist and not just a visiting artist, the requirements are a bit more stringent,” said Ohrstrom, emphasizing that the benefits to the kids can be amazing. By tapping into their own creativity, the children also can get insight into navigatating life’s challenges.

“While art making can be fun and relaxing, it can also bring up challenges,” she said. “In schools there is a great need to allow for creative time, as that’s when children can have moments of self-realization.” Art instructors confess that they love their work. “Working with these children is food for the heart and soul,” Sharp said. These grade-school kids, she noted, are passionate about expressing themselves. “They are like sponges—they want to learn.”

Financing art education and therapy is an ongoing mission, said Danielson, and AiM has applied for grants to underwrite the costs of supplies and art teachers.

“We are thankful for the grant we received from The PATH Foundation in Warrenton so we can provide this service,” she said. Teachers also are in short supply. “We reached out to our members and contacts searching for excellent educators to work with these schools,” said Danielson. If someone wants to volunteer as a guest art teacher, she can be reached at sandy@theartistinmiddleburg.org. The school principals, teachers and most especially the students will be most appreciative.