Art in Children's Lives (SDSU's Love Library)

From Linda Salem:

"A is for Art: A Celebration of Learning Through Art."
4th floor, SDSU Love Library in the juvenile books collection area
April 1, 2011-May 2, 2011

The “A is for Art: A Celebration of Learning Through Art” is on display April 1 - May 2, 2011 in the SDSU Love Library 4th floor juvenile books collection area. Several works on display here were created by the Children from the SDSU Children’s Center, a quality service provided to the campus by Associated Students.

This exhibition highlights the important role that art plays in the lives of young children. Children have an amazing potential for creative expression through art. Research and experience clearly show that children's earliest years are crucial learning years. One way that children learn critical communicative and expressive skills is through art. Children have an immense capacity for creativity, and fostering artistic expression can make a difference in the life of a young child.

Each spring an exhibition of individual artwork created by center children can be a viewed in hallways, department conference rooms or individual offices and various buildings throughout the campus from mid March through April.

Each April a special A is for Art: Exhibition and Gala Evening of Art is held at KPBS Studios for the public to view canvases created by the children in collaboration with local community artists. Local guest artists visit the classrooms to discuss their own art, demonstrate some artistic techniques, and mentor children in creating a canvas created by children in each classroom. Examples of those canvases and documentation of their creative process are on display here. Please join us for our 7th Annual A is for Art Gala Evening, Friday, April 15, 5:30-7:30 PM, KPBS Studio on the campus of SDSU. this event is open to the public and there is no fee to attend.

During the past six years, this project has had tremendous support from both on campus and off campus supporters. This Library exhibition highlights key learning that occurs when children have the opportunity to explore the world of art on a daily basis. It is inspiring to experience the pieces that can be viewed here at the Library and at the A is for Art Gala Evening as well. Even more amazing is the fact that these works are created by young children all under the age of five. Our hope is that someday all children will be given enough time, appropriate, real materials and a little support and guidance along the way, so they will be able to “create and paint their dreams.”

For more information on this project, please contact the SDSU Children’s Center at (619) 594-7941 or visit us on the web at www.childcare.sdsu.edu