I met some great kids recently at Waterworks Visual Arts Center.
The Knox Middle School sixth-graders were finishing up the fall session of the Barnabas Connection at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
This mentoring program involves a whole slew of organizations (Peeler Family Foundation, Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, Rowan Arts Council, Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, St. John’s), but what it boils down to is a whole lot of fun for these kids.The children were chosen from Knox’s Support Our Students (SOS) program.
Every Wednesday, according to participant James Farris, they met at St. John’s for music and other activities, then moved to Waterworks to make clay masks.
The students recently showed off their creations and thanked the adults with whom they’d worked.
According to the Rev. Jennifer Ginn of St. John’s, mentoring was done in a group ó which seemed to work well.
Besides making the impressive masks, the students made memory boxes ó boxes they’d decorated any number of ways to tell all about themselves.
James is interested in anime, so that’s what his mask is about, and it’s entitled “Hidden Evil.”
Tianna Ellis made “Star Face,” because she likes stars and multiple colors.
And stars are her favorite shape.
Briunna Gibbs’ mask was called “Red-Blue Face.”
Tanasia Phillips’ mask was entitled “Mystery.”
Jeryon Davis simply titled his work “The Mask.”
Nyemiah Saychay chose “Beautiful” for her mask.
The heart-shaped mask belonged to Jemecca Smith.
Alexis Johnson was also a fall participant.
James was more than happy to talk about his experiences in the Barnabas Connection.
“I like being around friends and people who help me ó and to learn new stuff,” he said.
He enjoyed the tour of Waterworks.
“It’s good,” he said.
He also praised Anthony Radford, the county’s SOS director.
“He’s very kind,” he said. “My mom has to work, and every time I came to SOS, he took me home.”
The adults who participated from St. John’s included Ginn, Libba Willingham, David Willingham, Brenda Zimmerman, Shirley Ritchie, Carole Massey, Sonja Skelton, Nelda Freeze, Jason Huebner, Henry Trexler, Stacey Shafer, Mark Ritchie, Bill Burgin, Mark Lewis and Celia Jarrett.It was great to have so many extra hands to help out, said artist Cheryl Goins, who helped the children make their masks.
“It sends a message to children that they are valued,” Goins said.
Contact Susan Shinn at 704-797-4289 or sshinn@salisburypost.com.