Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 14, the Schack Art Center will feature artwork by Lynnwood High School Life Skills students in the exhibit “Sprinkles of Joy.” These students are part of a special education program that works with youth who have mild to moderate developmental disabilities.
The students have an opportunity to showcase their creativity with the help of a devoted artistic volunteer, Mary Peterson, who comes into the classroom and helps provide an encouraging environment to promote their imagination and artistic abilities.
For “Sprinkles of Joy,” the students watched videos and viewed samples of the art of Jackson Pollock and his revolutionary technique of drip painting. When they had the opportunity to try the technique themselves most found it “liberating and fun, even playing a game of pass the paint stick to create two group works,” shared Peterson.
“The kids had a blast working on their own canvases too,” says Peterson. “We worked outside in the open air and had music playing. Some of the students loved weaving the colors back and forth across the canvas and some enjoyed pouring beautiful color pools. The use of large muscle groups in this kind of art makes it all the more accessible to those with limited fine motor skills, enabling everyone to be successful.”
“Sprinkles of Joy” is on exhibit from Nov. 14 through Jan. 2 in the Willits Gallery at the Schack Art Center, located at 2921 Hoyt Ave. in Everett. The public is invited to join the students for a “Meet the Artists” reception on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is free to the public. To learn more, visit www.schack.org/exhibits.
