LANCASTER – Dozens of emerging young artists gathered at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) Thursday afternoon to create their own unique versions of Old Glory.
“We’ve come up with a project in honor of Independence Day,” said Robert Benitez, Education Specialist at MOAH. “We’re inviting people in from the Farmers’ Market and anybody else in the community to use the materials to make their own personal flag, their own interpretation of what independence means.”
Titled “American Independence,” the free art workshop for local youth was hosted by The City of Lancaster and the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, which provided the materials for the event.
“These children are amazing,” said Regina Arvizu-Branam of the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley. “Some of them are very meticulous with adding the color, and the depth and the textures to their designs.”
Seven-year-old Kirsten Spradlin carefully pasted peace signs, hearts and stars onto her flag.
“Peace and love,” Kirsten explained, when asked what her masterpiece meant.
Three-year-old Riley Spradlin’s flag featured a car drawn in glitter and the words “Go Team.”
It was for his favorite sports team, the Broncos, Riley said.
Five-year-old Taylor Meecs designed a flowered picture frame on top of her flag.
Taylor said she intended to place a picture of grandma in the frame.
“It’s her birthday tomorrow,” she said.
Thursday’s art workshop was the first of three themed classes taking place at MOAH’s Hernando & Fran Marroquin Family Classroom. The classes are geared toward developing creative expression in school-aged children 17-years-old and younger.
“We’re trying to educate through hands-on opportunities,” said MOAH Curator Andi Campognone. “The kids see the art differently when they’re actually making it, and it’s so much more valuable to them.”
The next class will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on July 26 and will feature “The Painted Desert” theme, and the last class will be held on August 30 and will feature the “Indians, Gold Miners and Gunslingers” theme.
“With losing the arts in schools, this is a really valuable resource,” Campognone said. “We’re hoping to build this classroom into a seven-day-a-week program.”
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