Budding artists showcase talents

Theres an abundance of budding artists in Grand Falls-Windsor.Corinnes Studio and School of Art held its first annual art show recently, which displayed the work and progress of her students throughout the year. Works from approximately 60 kids were displayed as guests admired how far their loved ones have come artistically.

The art show was for the friends, parents and other family members of the children to come and see what they have done all year and show how far theyve come since starting the program, explained studio owner and instructor Corinne Linehan.

The kids participated in a friendly youth competition. She said that the competition went really well and that it was a great measure of how far her students have come.

I didnt help them at all on that project. I had quite a few of the parents come and many of them said they were impressed with all of the talent in the school. They couldnt believe that say, a six-year-old, could complete such a project, she said. There were two large tables set up with the kids artwork, plus a book of examples displaying different things weve done throughout the year.

Kids from the local autism society also started taking lessons at the studio and had their projects displayed during the art show. Ms. Linehan said although the kids have only had one art lesson, theyve done very well and that people were really impressed with their work.

In addition to the projects displayed in the studio, some of the older students are having their artwork admired on a larger scale. They were asked to participate in a provincial contest. While none of them placed, their artwork is currently being displayed at the Rooms in St. Johns.



EXPLORING CREATIVITY

Ms. Linehan said that she hopes parents will get their children involved in artistic programs such as her school, citing a change in social norms between her generation and the current generation of kids.

When we were growing up, there were probably ten or so kids in the neighbourhood that we could go play with, but kids dont have that today, she said. There are programs like my school, dance classes, music classes and so forth for kids, so I think that parents should get their kids participating in that to make up for the changing times.

The show is something for the kids. It makes them feel good when other people admire their work, because theyre really proud of it. Im going to keep holding them in years to come.