ARTreach has gone international with a project that will span the globe as children from around the world work together to create a unique mural for the Texas PTA.
The effort is a Texas ARTreach Cultural Arts Project facilitated by professional artist Vickie McMillan of Katy.
The mural’s design will reflect a blend of unique cultures from Africa, Asia and Mexico along with the melting pot of America as represented by the children, parents and teachers in Texas.
ARTreach is undertaking the project in concurrence with the National Reflections Program. The theme this year’s program “Wow!”
Inspired by that theme, McMillan will be traveling to Africa, the Philippines and Mexico to share American culture with families and children in areas struggling with poverty and devastation. She is combining her outreach effort with arts education that includes lessons involving painting expressive works of art that focus on hope, health, world peace and understanding. Children, parents and teachers from around the world will be painting panels that will be installed as part of the WOW! mural to be unveiled in Austin summer 2009.
When McMillan returns, ARTreach will offer a series of workshops organized in Austin, Katy and Lufkin to represent urban, suburban and rural communities, and include Texas children, parents and teachers in the project.
The workshops will share the stories, music and photos that detail McMillan’s journey. Students will then paint about their own unique American customs while exploring the customs associated with other cultures from around the world. The finished project will illustrate the combined journey of everyone involved.
“We are all in this together” Texas PTA President Jan Wilkerson said, “Texas PTA is excited to be a part of this project because it demonstrates that everyone is a piece of the puzzle and offering a part of the solution.”
The WOW! mural will be unveiled in Austin next summer, with plans for it to travel to Dallas to be featured as part of Texas PTA Centennial Celebration.
The ARTreach Project is made possible by a grant from the Allen Morris Foundation.
To find out how a child can participate in the workshops, or to learn more about the WOW! Outreach Worldwide Mural Project and other international ARTreach Projects, visit www.artreachonline.org
