During these trying times, Creative Kids has created and uploaded virtual art lessons to fulfill our service and dedication to our community. We look forward to the day that we can serve our youth in person again.
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Public Art Program
The presence of Creative Kids embodies a strategic set of critical, cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor abilities that are designed to engage the students in a year-round program, as well as an intensive summer program. Participants develop a strong understanding of the creative possibilities in life by engaging in artistically inspired activities that include: creating murals, sculptures, all in a public setting. This program is important because it provides opportunities for the students to realize their talents and strengths, and ultimately encourage and prepare them for success in career and higher education goals.
Points of Light:
Located underneath the Durango Bridge, three six- foot diameter steel piñatas hang from the bridge decking, weaving Mexican culture with color theory and imagery. The three piñatas evoke a spirit of festivity in the Durango Bridge underpass space marking the boundary of the Union Plaza Entertainment District. Each pointed cone is lighted from the inside and marked with cutout shapes, projecting light onto adjacent surfaces. Visit Piñatas here.
Reflections of the Desert:
Located on the Pedestrian Pathway in Downtown El Paso, this mural reveals the strength, symbolizing El Paso and Juarez celebration and rich culture that is the essence of the Borderland. A woman looks beyond the horizon, toward the future with determination. Piñatas showcase some of El Paso’s hallmarks: the star on the mountain, the beautiful desert landscape and spectacular sunsets.
Union Plaza Kiosks:
The Downtown Management District (DMD) has partnered with Creative Kids Inc., a non-profit educational community-based art agency to showcase public art created by local youth. The DMD is utilizing currently available space in Union Plaza kiosks to display beautiful artwork created by young artists participating in the Creative Kids programs.
Austin Pond Structure:
The Austin Pond Project is located in Manhattan Heights and is more than a flood-control structure. It is landscaped with walking paths and a shade structure designed by Creative Kids that mimics a giant paper airplane and is adorned with beautiful paint symbolizing woven thread done by Creative Kids participants. Visit Canopy here.
History Museum Mural:
Located on the Missouri Ave. side of the El Paso Museum of History mural draws inspiration from El Paso’s rich folklore. Creative Kids participants embody the images of culture and pieced them together like a colorful zarape. Showcasing the city’s natural desert plantlife and mountainous landscape, the local trolley transit system. Illustrating the people through pattern and their festive customs .Visit mural here.
Playa Drain Trail Installation:
The Playa Drain Trail is a 3.4-mile project that stretches from Ascarate Park to Riverside High School. This project is a partnership of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, City of El Paso and El Paso Water. The artwork is developed by Ysleta Independent School District students that were selected from area schools (Cedar Grove Elementary, Riverside High School, Riverside Middle School, Ascarate Elementary, Tejas School of Choice) to create murals that will be fabricated and installed in several locations along the Playa Drain Trail. Working with their teachers and Creative Kids to represent the culture, colors and habitat of the neighborhood that people will enjoy viewing along the trail. Visit trail here.
Woven Culture:
This sculpture is located on the Carolina Bridge located in the Mission Valley that stretches from Alameda Avenue to Franklin Drive, taking traffic over railroad tracks along the Franklin Canal. Creative Kids participants provided all the detail on this piece, through the intricate painting process showcasing our rich history where you find vibrant colors and depictions of our culture throughout the piece. Visit Bridge installation here.
Resiliency Art Program
Project RAP will be taught virtually via Zoom. Class time will provide a group instruction, as well art skills assistance and guidance. The goal is to introduce basic fundamental art skills through different art mediums, the use of proper art terminology and art practices. The support of a parent/guardian during each lesson is welcomed and encouraged.
Registration is required and can be done on http://creativekidsart.org. Upon registration, you will receive instructions on picking up your art kit as well as other important class information that will include Zoom links and the program outline.
The support of a parent/guardian during each lesson is welcomed and encouraged.
Saturdays • 9am – 11am • via Zoom
At the end of every project, we ask every participant to share their completed artwork by taking a photograph (participant and their artwork). This can be sent to gabriela@creativekidsart.org. The work will be on display through our online gallery at makingartpossible.com. and through our social media channels. Use #makingartpossible #creativekids #RAP if you share on social media.
oLo Gallery
Creative Kids draws on several areas of strength from a track record of twelve years in successful project management, including the oversight of numerous federal, state and local grants, as well as private and corporate funds. Creative Kids recently retrofitted a 16,000 sq. ft warehouse space known as the OLO Gallery (Other Learning Opportunities). OLO is located in Union Plaza Arts District in Downtown El Paso, and is the permanent home to Creative Kids’ Art Studios, Cooking Facility, Art Gallery, Multimedia Skills Development Center and administrative offices.
Creative Kids Garners National Attention
First Lady Michelle Obama presented the 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award to El Paso’s Creative Kids Project AIM (Arts in Motion), a visual arts program for pediatric oncology patients will be recognized for its effectiveness in developing learning and life skills in young people by engaging them in the arts or humanities on Friday, November 22, 2013 at a ceremony at the White House East Room. The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the highest national honor awarded to such programs. “We are honored for this program to be recognized by the White House, President and First Lady,” said Andrea Gates-Ingle who with her husband, Stephen Ingle, co-founded this program in 1999 at Providence Children’s Hospital. Project AIM has since expanded to include both children’s hospitals in El Paso, TX.
Miranda Luna, a participant in Project AIM, accompanied co-founder and Executive Director of Creative Kids, Andrea Gates-Ingle receive the award at the White House. In 2008, Miranda was a tender 10 years of age when she was delivered the news that she had Leukemia. Faced with a devastating diagnosis, Miranda immediately started treatment at Providence Children’s Hospital. It was then when she was first introduced to the Creative Kids hospital art program – Project AIM. Miranda gravitated towards the program and was always the first patient to be waiting for the art studio to be opened at the hospital. Whether it was painting, printmaking or dabbling in Photoshop and Illustrator, Miranda loved to be immersed in the art program as she said it helped to melt away her fear and anxiety of not knowing what the next day may bring. Over the years, Miranda has transformed from a shy young lady into a confident, outspoken young woman who, six years later, still loves to be engaged in the Creative Kids art program. The ceremony also included a speech by 12-year-old Danashiya Pritchard, a “Creative Kid” and participant in Project AIM in El Paso, Texas. Project AIM reaches over 1,000 children battling cancer in two area hospitals, offering art-mediated therapy in painting on canvas, printmaking, and graphic arts, among other art forms. Over Project AIM’s fourteen-year history, more than 250 pieces of the patients’ artwork have been showcased in more than six venues in the El Paso area.
Through these programs, young people are discovering their creative voices, developing a stronger sense of who they are as individuals, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them,” wrote Mrs. Obama in the program for the award ceremony. “And, as young people navigate today’s challenges, the programs we are honoring offer safe harbors that cultivate enthusiasm for learning, support academic achievement, and promote college readiness.”
Creative Kids was one of twelve organizations chosen from a pool of more than 350 nominations and 50 finalists. The award also comes with a $10,000 grant. The awards are administered by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Congratulations Creative Kids!
For more information about the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards,
visit www.pcah.gov.
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Girl with clear sheet
Girl Painting
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