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A special program lets kids learn alongside professional artists as they see a project through, from creation to exhibition.
By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2002
A new art program offered by the Citrus County Parks and Recreation Department takes a linear approach to the creative process by involving students at each step of developing the work and locating a place to exhibit it. Kidzart, taught by Anita Dallar at the Lecanto Community Building on County Road 491, is popular because students work under close supervision and in small groups. Dallar only accepts six students per class. Even with such a low teacher-student ratio, she still uses other artists as teachers aides.
Dallar, 38, is a full-time artist and art teacher. She lives in Crystal River.
"I've been an artist for about 20 years," she said. "Most of my education was in California, and I had a wonderful opportunity to see some really progressive movements. I expose these kids to that scene."
The classes in September focus on sculpture. Each student will create his own section of a piece inspired by 1950s sculptor Louise Nevelson. Then the class will collectively decide how to fit the individual pieces together.
It's all part of the creative process, Dallar said.
"The classes give kids an opportunity to work with adult professional artists," she said. "It's not so much about my teaching, but about the students working alongside other artists and learning about how a work is developed beginning to end."
The students' artworks can be seen in two murals at Life Care Center of Citrus County, 3325 W Jerwayne Court, Lecanto; a collection of about a dozen totem poles at Coastal Region Library, 8619 W Crystal St., Crystal River, and several mobiles in Central Ridge Library, 425 W Roosevelt Blvd., Beverly Hills.
The next Kidzart classes will begin Sept. 14, with sessions from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Students may enroll for one class. Each session lasts three weeks, all on Saturdays at the Lecanto Community Building on County Road 491 S. Cost is $35. Call 527-7677.
-- Jorge Sanchez can be reached at at 860-7313 or sanchez@sptimes.com.