Most of us recognize certain professions by what they wear. We know firemen and policemen by their uniforms, and nurses by their scrubs. But it’s hard to see who artists are, because artists don’t wear uniforms. One reason is that there are so many different kinds of artists. We may think of painters in the smocks, but metal sculptors can wear heavy aprons and protective goggles, muralists put on large hats to protect them from the sun, and actors and singers (when not in costume) look just like us.
Looking like us is one of the most important things about being an artist, because artists don’t just look like us, they are us! Children have this “looking like an artist” thing perfected. At The ARTree we know that children have the spirit and freedom of artists inside. French writer Emile Zola said, “if you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” Living out loud is something children do naturally. Not just by being heard, but by their open and free actions. We find that children have artistic abilities within them that need only the slightest encouragement to emerge and be heard.
A primary focus of The ARTree is to help children “live out loud” through art that they create. That is why our classes are diverse in both their subjects and the teachers that inspire them. Watercolor, wire sculpture, clay forms, dance and storytelling are all aspects of art that children experience and grow from. We offer classes throughout the year and all over Santa Clarita.
To view our schedule, go to www.theartree.org. Then, see if you will recognize the artist right next to you.