Tiny art on the big screen
Peek into the unrestrained imagination of children, guided by a skillful art instructor, at a screening of two short films at the Bijou Theatre this Saturday, May 20, in Lincoln City.
Art Smart is a storytelling and art literacy-based youth art program held on Saturdays at the Artists’ Studio Association in Lincoln City each winter.
The classes revolve around an ongoing story, with art literacy lessons woven through the narrative. In past years, students have explored the Galaxy Artastica, nurtured Superhero Bugs and been Shape-shifters and Time Travelers.
The individual projects can be anything from creating and building 3-D structures, weaving, drawing and painting, stop gap animation, origami, collage, printmaking and more.
At the conclusion of each art-based adventure, the project is captured by the talented actor and film-maker, Gray Eubank. The newest film tells the tale of the “Micro Adventure,” that the kids and instructor Krista Eddy went on this winter.
“Our first day of class, a meteor crashed through the ceiling, hit the wooden floor and shattered it into splinters,” Eddy said. “At first, we were all scared, but then the meteor started pulsing with rainbow lights. As the light hit all of us, we began to shrink. We all shrank to one inch high. And then, of course, when the guardians came to pick up the kids, they couldn’t find us because we were tiny, so we had to survive in the building. Many adventures happened as we tried to survive.”
The double feature show will include the film, “Galaxy Artastica.” Between the movies, all the Art Smart kids will come up to the stage for an acknowledgment of their creative work.
The classes and the movie are both a team effort.
“Hazel Fiedler is my art studio assistant,” Eddy said. “She helped all year with the movie, with the kids, everything. And the Bijou donated the space for the screening. It’s for fun but also funds, so we ask that adults donate $10. Kids are free of course. Anything we raise will go to next year's program.”
Additional funding comes from grants from the Sponenburgh Memorial Trust.
“The reason I go for a grant every year is so that the program is available to any kids that love art,” Eddy said, “regardless of their financial situation at home.”
Saturday’s screening begins at 11 am at The Bijou Theatre, located at 1624 NE Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City. For more information, go to cinemalovers.com.