Arts4Kids February 2008 Workshop

"What Lies Within: Children of Fiber"
Arts4Kids February Workshop
Saturday, Feb. 9, 1-2:30 PM
Kingsport Renaissance Center

"Embellish!!!" - a fiber art collage created by Lydia Wilson.

“Character cannot be developed and ease and quiet. Only through experience of trials and sufferings can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
- Helen Keller

The Arts Council of Greater Kingsport is pleased to offer another fascinating workshop led by Ms. Lydia Wilson for the Arts4Kids program. “What Lies Within: Children of Fiber” incorporates character traits and African history into a fiber arts project that all will enjoy. "Although this is a project for black history month and our focus will be on an African cultural subject, few races in history are without adversity, hardships, trials and/or tribulations that tested the very fiber of their being and required great strength of character to endure and thus survive", states Ms. Wilson. The regular club workshop will be held on Saturday, February 9 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. Pre-registration is required for this workshop by calling 423.392.8420. A second workshop will be offered from 2:30-4 p.m. if more than 20 children pre-register.

ACGK will also host two outreach sessions of this workshop. The first one will be held at VO Dobbins on Friday, February 8 from 4:15-5:45 p.m. and then at the Lee Family Center on Friday, February 15. These outreach workshops are available to children ages 6-12 who live in those communities.

Character traits, found in II Peter will be the building blocks for the foundation of the children’s projects. Each child will construct a personal journal that will consist of a decorative front cover, a quote or message, a fiber art collage figure and a corresponding African symbol. Through this project children will be introduced to character traits: what they are, how they are acquired and how to build upon them; they will learn about an aspect of African history and culture; learn simple assemblage and collage techniques, and basic bookmaking and binding skills. Each child will leave the workshop with a tangible journal to record, review and evaluate his/her understanding and practice of the traits of character building.

Ms. Wilson is a mixed media textile artist whose work varies in form, content and concept. Her work may present itself in the form of an art doll, a piece of wearable art, an art quilt, a book/journal, or a mixed media collage — though she is best known for her figurative sculptures (dolls) in clay, wire, and fiber and the ways in which she embellishes her pieces. Regardless of the materials or techniques used, each piece has a message or purpose. They are meant to spark a smile, invite a debate, or evoke a tear without a single word spoken — a visual voice. Her work has been displayed locally as well as in national exhibitions. Home and Garden TV and magazines such as Somerset Studio, Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper Scissors, and Art Doll Quarterly have showcased her work as well.

Arts4Kids, is an introductory arts club for children ages 6-12 presented by the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport. The program is designed to introduce children to a variety of arts and encourage their life-long pursuit of creative endeavors. For more information or to join, contact the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport at 423.392.8420 or visit our website at www.kingsportARTS.org. Interested participants should pre-register for specific workshops (just leave a message with the Arts Council); space is limited.

The Arts4Kids program is funded under agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts, as well as, through generous support from the Kingsport Community Foundation (a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation), Eastman Chemical Co., AFG Industries, and the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Kingsport.