ARTree & OTNA paint the town for Christmas

The SCV Education Foundation’s Literacy & Arts Festival reminds us that one artistic medium rarely stands alone. This year, The ARTree activity, as designed by new volunteer Bevin O’Connor, will be a unique poetry project joining language with visual arts.

Using enlarged photographs of old Newhall along with preprinted words and phrases, participants will interactively present the emotions and feeling evoked by the images.

O’Connor said the activity is not limited to participation by age, and will strive to make words, especially poetry, not be an intimidating art form.

Give it a try for yourself, along with your children, at the Old Town Newhall Library, Saturday, December 7, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. It promises to be another unique experience.

Backers, volunteers and city officials dedicate The Wall

The Ever-Changing Wall received a worthy dedication recently at The Wall’s site at the corner of 9^th Street and Railroad Avenue. Board member Andy Tyzbir officiated at the ceremony, which was both a “thank you” for the many supporters who helped fund The Wall, and to celebrate a major achievement for The ARTree.

Officials from the City Council and the Arts Commission signified the city’s support with their attendance. Many recalled that the first Wall, printed on wallpaper, was damaged and had to be taken down only a few months after installation. This vinyl version should last at least 5 years, making it a near-permanent presence in Newhall.

If it looks like a bird…

Board member and local artist, Melissa Lackman, continues The ARTree’s classes at the Old Town Newhall Library. This class for pre-teens is growing in popularity with students creating their project over two sessions. Using a variety of materials and techniques (like balloons, string, or gourds and feathers as seen above), the final works are kept on display in the library’s main lobby.

Classes are on the first and second Friday of the month at 2:00pm. The 1-hour class is open to all kids seven and older, continuing through May, 2014.