A 12-year-old boy who showed his artwork to Canadian paper sculptor Calvin Nicholls during a Night Out @ the Woodson program on March 8 gave Calvin a carefully folded paper phoenix, unaware that it was the artists birthday. Calvin, accustomed to working alone in his studio and relishing the interaction with visitors during his five-day artist residency, was touched by the gesture. Wanting to encourage the young artist to continue creating and proudly sharing his artwork, Calvin reciprocated by giving the boy an intricately cut paper feather.
Ive seen how artistic talent can be suppressed due to shyness, so when a dash of confidence building can be introduced it can change a life, Calvin said. My path was like an arcade game in many ways, but every time there was a teacher or mentor who complimented rather than compared, I gained confidence and pushed on.
Teachers who schedule class visits during Woodson artist residencies give their students the gift of meeting artists and discovering that a full-time career in fine arts is possible.
The hands-on learning experience reaches some students who cant be reached any other way, wrote Linda Davis after bringing her fifth-grade Hewitt-Texas students to the Museum, where they created cut-paper owls guided by Calvin.
Nearly 300 students met Calvin during their class visits to the Museum in early March, and hundreds of other visitors of all ages flocked to interact with him during public programs.
In April and early May, visitors can meet two more artists during their residencies at the Woodson Art Museum. Madison artist Jason Ramey will demonstrate how he uses steam to create bentwood furniture and sculpture during a Saturday workshop and Sunday gallery walk April 13 and 14.
Colorado artist Sherrie York will lead a relief-printing extravaganza, April 30 to May 5, culminating on May 4 in the Museum parking lot where a huge press a steamroller will print woodblocks created by local high school students. Inspired by Charley Harpers bold animal graphics, students are designing their woodblocks around the theme Wild About Wisconsin.
These artist residencies are made possible through Community Arts Grants from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, with funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Community Foundation and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation.
We hope all who made paper lion and owl sculptures with Calvin will show and tell friends and family and visit the Woodson Art Museum often.
This incentive for families to return to the Museum for a family bond-building opportunity benefits everyone, Calvin said. Confidence: if we all found it earlier in life what a gift it would be. Its never too late, and the more often we jump at these opportunities to help our youth to find expression and support, the better.
Calvin is so right; its never too late for anyone to explore the world of art. Visit www.lywam for details about upcoming exhibitions and programs and visit the always-free Woodson Art Museum for inspiration and to ignite or fuel your creative spark.