Being at St. David for Artasia this summer was a wonderful experience. Every child I interacted with brought joy to my day with their creativity and laughter. They all had unique ways of engaging with the materials brought to them and the activities focused on the five senses.

During the first week, children discovered new ways of interacting with the plasticine that defied expectations. One in particular sculpted a car and added ink to the windows in order to make them seem tinted. Witnessing this attention to detail and this valuably unique approach to the activity has remained in my memory. Their visual observations of the world around them appear in their depictions and inspired me to value what exists in the spaces around me that I often overlook. Children embolden adults to recognize and appreciate what may be deemed as ordinary.

Another memory that stands out to me occurred during the week dedicated to sight. A toddler decided to do a collaborative drawing with me of the objects that were around us. I would draw a marker and he would draw something else and say the word for it. Sometimes, he would even instruct me on how to draw something in the way that he preferred. Children are often better at knowing what they want than adults. It’s an ability that can easily be lost or tainted when growing up. This collaborative approach between myself as the Artist Educator and the child is representative of what we strive for. In order to extend this, I desire to see activities that explicitly heighten this sense of artistic teamwork. A desire brought by a child’s confidence and enthusiastic engagement.

Thank you very much to all the amazing staff that made me feel welcome, assisted me and even participated in the activities.