Artasia at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena
YMCA Beyond the Bell
🖌️ Artist Educator: Ava Aalbers
Experiences at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena
The Badge Week at Artasia’s Six Nations site was a tremendous success! The kids were very eager to express their passions that many of them ended up making more than one badge. They showcased their favorite things, like sports, beach scenes, shapes, animals, and more.
A particularly touching moment was when two girls decided to split a heart in half, writing each other’s names on their respective halves to symbolize their friendship. It was heartwarming to watch them proudly put the hearts together and display their bond for everyone to see. The sense of community was strong, with kids not only sharing their ideas but also their materials, always ready to lend a helping hand to one another. The pre-cut heart shapes I had brought were an absolute hit—almost every child used them in their designs! It was wonderful to witness their excitement as they proudly showed off their creations to each other. The spirit of creativity was truly inspiring!
Experiences at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena 2
The Flag Week at our Six Nations site was another fantastic success! The kids were thrilled to work with fabrics, exploring different patterns, shapes, and textures as they created their unique flags. While many of them chose to make their flags more individualistic and personal rather than working as a group, this only added to the richness of the experience.
They had a great time experimenting with fabric paint, learning how to mix primary colors to create new ones. Some girls even made flags for their friends, writing heartfelt messages like “I love you” on them. It was heartwarming to see them think of one another and express their friendships through their crafts.
The kids truly enjoyed the entire artistic process, from playing with different shapes to bringing their creative visions to life. The individuality and thoughtfulness they put into their flags were a joy to witness!
