By Katie Scarvey
kscarvey@salisburypost.com
On Wednesday, Leslie Hudson-Tolles explained artist proofs to 14 young artists and their adult mentors attending an arts camp at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Hudson-Tolles held up a print a camper had made.
“You are going to sign these,” she said. “If it’s the first one, you put A/P on it ó for artist proof. It’s a valuable print.”
Campers, along with adult volunteers, were at St. John’s as a part of the third annual Barnabas Connection arts camp, a ministry at St. John’s that seeks to build self-esteem through artistic discovery and mentorship.
The program partners with the Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, a United Way Agency. The youth involved in this week’s camp are all part of the Rowan County Times-2 Mentoring program directed by Liz Tennent.
For Hudson-Tolles, an art teacher at Erwin Middle School, the printmaking was about more than creating art ó although as a serious artist, she values that greatly.
“The print is a vehicle for bigger things,” she said.
She sees the project as a learning experience that has far-reaching implications.
“Art is about taking risks,” she said. “It isn’t a competition. We’re all in this together; we all make mistakes. That’s how we learn.”
The campers who go through the process, she said, will have done something that most adults haven’t, and be empowered by it.
The week has also provided “great socialization,” that crosses generational lines, she said.
The campers began by designing and creating a styrofoam print, which gave them a sense of what printmaking was all about. They then moved on to carving blocks of rubber ó much easier than the old-style linoleum blocks used for printing, Hudson-Tolles said..
The adult volunteers ó some artists, some not ó were clearly enjoying the project as much as the kids, and many of them were making their own print blocks as well.
This year, 14 youth, ranging in age from 8 to 15, took part in the camp. Twenty adults served as volunteers, leading sessions, helping campers with their projects and ferrying them to and from camp.
Tennent says the transportation aspect is essential, since ride availability is the number one thing that prevents youth from being able to participate, she says.
Devin, 9, was working with volunteer Stacey Shafer. She was helping him use a tool to carve out his block, on which a shark was emerging.
“This will add more texture,” she explained.
The boys seemed to gravitate toward scarier images. Wayland, 12, for example, had carved a dragon into his block.
“He has a creepy-looking smile,” Wayland observed.
Another camper was carving a cobra into his block, explaining that it was the one featured on the Mustang Shelby.
Jadarius, 12, bucked the scary trend by selecting a starfish for his print. He likes the creatures, and he likes the ocean, he explained.
He confided that the week at St. John’s is not what he expected.
“I thought it was gonna be boring, but it’s not,” he said. “It’s fun.”
He pointed out that he likes not only the art but the sign language they’ve been doing in other sessions.
“It’s soothing,” he says of the signing.
Ja’Shauna, 9, is working on her butterfly print with volunteer Randy Cox, who is in his second year of the camp.
“It’s a very enjoyable thing, to see the kids go from being shy or not engaged to within a week being comfortable and very involved in the artwork and other activities,” says Cox, who is a member of St. John’s, as are many of the volunteers.
“In a week, it’s amazing to see how they develop.”
Dédrick, 8, is the youngest camper. On Wednesday, he was working with volunteer Andi Boylan.
“I like to do art,” he said. For his print, he’s chosen a turtle, whom he’s named Bill, for no particular reason.
He pointed to some ovals underneath the turtle.
“Do you know what those are?” he asked. “They’re eggs.”
Boylan mentions to him that the night before, she dreamed of turtles.
At 15, Quinton is the oldest camper. He’s never done much art, he says, but using only one hand, he’s been able to create a beautiful print block that features a church.
After the art session, campers got a quick bite to eat ó subs, chips, cookies and fresh fruit.
Then, it was time for music and dancing.
Jimmy Alston played jazz guitar while wife Lesley sang a song called “I’m Feeling So Fine.”
“This is a song that makes you want to get on out there and see what the world has to give to you and what you have to give to it,” she said.
Later, during the dance session, volunteer David Willingham was gamely trying to get his groove on.
“Is part of the movement having your butt out?” he asked, prompting laughter from the group.
Tennent was thrilled with the way the camp was going.
“One of the areas I’m happiest about is diversity,” she said.
There was an equal ratio of males to females, with various ages and races represented. The campers were from all parts of Rowan County.
The week is about more than just art, she said.
“It’s about exploring creative gifts, it’s about working on positive relationships, not only peer-to-peer but with adults as well. It’s about building new friendships.”
The week is also about self-esteem, identity and choices, she said.
Shirley Ritchie served as the Barnabas Connection coordinator, working with Tennent.
Volunteers included Leslie Hudson-Tolles, Jimmy and Lesley Alston, Jason Huebner, Rhodes Woolly, John Propst, Cyndii Owen, Celia Jarrett, Stacey Shafer, Sue Davis, Elaine Gerst, David and Libba Willingham, Mark Ritchie, Randy Cox, Anthony Radford, Gerrie Blackwelder and Andrea Boylan.
The Barnabas Connection’s art camp is funded by the Michael Peeler Foundation through the North Carolina Lutheran Synod, the Peeler Foundation, the N.C. and Rowan Arts Councils and Lutheran Family Services.
Those interested in getting involved in the Times 2 mentoring program, either as a youth participant or an adult mentor can call Tennent at 704-633-5636, ex. 104 or email her at liz@rowanysb.com.