Staff writer
The idea to create art from recyclable materials came to Youth Creating Art Together teacher Lydia Gates out of necessity.
She was an art teacher for the Wichita school district, and her budget for supplies was limited. Using recyclables was her way of improvising.
Her students in the YCAT classes in Florence enjoy the unusual method.
“I like art, and recycling is something I’ve been trying to get my family to do,” Angel Funk said. “Combining two things I like is really fun.”
YCAT is part of Marion County Economic Development Council’s Cultural Arts and Learning Center program.
Thursday, many of the 10 students in the class arrived late, having forgotten about it because of the nice weather. But when they were reminded of the class, they rushed to the city-owned building where the classes are taught, arriving thoroughly out of breath.
Students put the finishing touches on vases they made from yogurt cups and newspaper. They had previously clipped out several pictures with a theme from old magazines. For one student, the theme was cookies, for another it was plants, and for yet another it was cars. The students pasted their clippings to the vases. Eventually, the students will fill their vases with paper flowers of their own construction.
After finishing their vases, the students learned about perspective and shadows. Gates showed them paintings of desserts, and highlighted how shadows in the paintings create the impression that the food is three-dimensional.
Bethany Grimmett learned of YCAT from posters at school, she said. Now the 7-year-old looks forward to the classes.
“They’re fun because you get to do a lot of art,” she said.
Her mother, Melanie Grimmett, has accompanied Bethany and 5-year-old Heidi to most of the classes. YCAT gives her daughters an opportunity to try different kinds of art than what they do in school, Grimmett said.
She has learned about Bethany and Heidi by watching them in class. Each has her own ideas for art, and they are becoming more independent, especially Heidi.
“I try helping her and she says, ‘No,’” Grimmett said.
The current session will last through April 15. Gates hopes to secure a grant to continue providing classes.