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The March exhibit at Studio A in Fredericksburg will feature the masterpieces of Fredericksburg Regional Head Start students
By LISA CHINN Q: When is celery not a vegetable? A: When it's a paintbrush, of course. Celery stalks are just some of the unusual items children in the Fredericksburg Regional Head Start program use to create art. Some of the other interesting art-making objects the students employ include shower puffs, dish scrubbers, magnets, paper clips and even record players. That's because art lessons in the preschool program for low-income families focus on the process--not the product--of making art, said curriculum specialist Elaine Keville. The colorful and creative fruits of the kids' labors can be seen--and purchased--all month at Studio A in Fredericksburg. The gallery will hold a First Friday opening reception tomorrow to introduce the exhibit, titled "Look, Then Look Again." "[Keville] is teaching the kids to look beyond what is expected," said Studio A's Sara Irby, who will host the Head Start art exhibit and sale for the second year in a row. A silent auction also will take place during tomorrow night's reception. Proceeds will benefit the Fredericksburg Regional Head Start program, which serves families in Spotsylvania and King George counties as well as Fredericksburg. Earnings from last year's event totaled about $300, Keville said. Head Start focuses on preparing children for kindergarten, but also aids families in other areas of concern, such as mental health, nutrition, dental care and credit repair. The masterpieces created by these petite Picassos didn't start with paint and paper. First, the children learned about some of the great artists, such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and others. Keville credits the Central Rappahannock Regional Library for its contributions to the fundraising art project, as well. In their studies, the children learned that, while the great artists often were misunderstood, their ability to maintain a strong belief in themselves played an important role in their successes. Keville hopes to instill that same type of self-confidence in Head Start students. "We really want their own creativity and imagination to shine through," she said. "You can see that spark and that joy when they go, 'Ah, I did it!'" Lisa Chinn: 540/374-5412
Date published: 3/1/2007
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