VCSU and Bridges Arts Council Partner for Afterschool Art

It was a Tuesday afternoon and the Bridges Arts Council space in the Straus Mall was full of life. Elementary students gathered around tables covered in plastic were prepared to color the world.
Valley City State University (VCSU) student Hannah Aberle stood up in front of the excited group and demonstrated how to use pastels. She colored and blended until her fingers turned blue, not from lack of circulation but from the beautiful pastel palette. The students began following her lead and in less then 10 seconds, a young man held up his blue hand and asked for a paper towel. Another raised her hand and quietly asked for help. Aberle and two other VCSU students moved around the table assisting and encouraging the class.
Pairing art and students after school was one goal VCSU art professor Gratia Brown had in mind when she began developing the afterschool partnership program with the Bridges Art Council.
“I came to VCSU in 2019. I teach Art Methods and we wanted to work with students to do a workshop,” she explained. “We thought it could be valuable for our students to organize and lead a class like this.”
Many of Brown’s students will graduate with the intent to teach art in a school setting. Having VCSU students lead the afterschool classes gave them the opportunity to create a lesson plan, gather the supplies and help young students try a new form of art.
With each session, Brown said, the students became more comfortable and really started to flourish as a group and develop their individual portfolios. The Arts Council entryway was full of their efforts. Small, colorful paintings sat near color wheels and glazed clay sculptures.
Second through sixth grade students signed up for the class are scheduled to attending on Tuesday or Thursday afternoon depending on their grade level in school. Brown said the groups are ten or fewer now, but she hopes they will grow.
“This is our first time doing this program, and you really notice a change and growth in the students,” she said. “The first day everyone is very quiet. Now they pop in and are very excited and chatty. They want to know what their project for the day is going to be.”
For more information about the afterschool art program contact Brown at gratia.brown@vcsu.edu.
