Young artist dazzle in Light Lounge showcase

Remember those pretty drawings of landscapes and skylines that were on display in the Light Lounge in Seegers Union last month? They were the work of local students at Cleveland and Roosevelt Elementary Schools, and thanks to volunteer art programs conducted by Muhlenberg students, these kids got the opportunity to display their work on our campus.

The elementary school “Art Day” is a student-run volunteer program that meets in the afternoons at the two schools. The group of 10-20 volunteer Muhlenberg students go to each of the schools and teach the children about artistic techniques and materials. The program is not an average “arts- and-crafts” course with the usual markers, crayons and pencils. Here, the students are taught that they can do more with their imaginations and artistic skills by using more professional-grade supplies, including paints and oil pastels. Some of the projects are used to teach the kids about different cultural customs, and certain pieces of the artwork this year included the students’ interpretation of sugar skulls traditionally displayed on Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration that takes place in November.

The program has been working with the school to arrange the final art galleries on campus for the last four years. It has been an opportunity to share the college space with young artists after they were generous enough to share their school spaces with Muhlenberg students. The gallery used to be displayed in the Center for the Arts, but it was less accessible for people to view. For the last three years, the gallery has been on display in Seegers Union.

The after-school art program has received an overall positive response from the school and the Allentown community. The Light Lounge is a place for conversation, an open, relaxed space where friends can meet, hang out, and talk about life. The art gallery provided a fun conversation topic while it was on display. The program also strengthens Muhlenberg’s connection with the local community and opens doors for more outreach programs like this one.

Not only are the kids being encouraged to flex their artistic muscles, but some members of the dance department have also voiced their interest in getting involved with the schools.

“We have started dance-based programs, as recommended by the schools we partner with,” said Eveily Freeman, associate director of the Office of Community Engagement on campus, “We had a group of [Muhlenberg] dancers who said, ‘I really want to do this,’ so we partnered with MCDA.”

There are two after-school dance workshops now taking place at the partner schools.

The art gallery also serves as a way to get the word out about chances to volunteer. “It’s about letting people know about these opportunities so they can get engaged with the good work that’s already happening,” Freeman said.

On Friday, Mar. 24, the young Picassos and Van Goghs came to Muhlenberg for their big gallery. The kids got the chance to see their work displayed on a college campus, and were treated like guests of honor.

“I love volunteering with the kids,” said Carly Press ’18, the volunteer coordinator for the program, “and getting to know the next generation... and learn about their different traditions, different cultures, and experiencing their different personalities.”

Press loves working for the Art Day program and wants to encourage other hopeful volunteers to join.

“I hope that they just have fun overall, and learn that anything, including art, is a learning experience, and it takes practice, but you [should be] proud of yourself, and I think that today [the art gallery] is a reflection of that, that they can take a step back

and look at all the hard work they’ve put in throughout the year and be proud of that work.”

Daryll Heiberger ’17 is the coordinator for Art Day and the gallery, and was incredibly happy with the result of the students’ hard work. “I started doing Art Day when I was a freshman, and then by the end of freshman year, I really wanted to get more involved. It’s developed over the years; we’ve changed all the different projects, and we’ve worked very closely with Beth [Halpern, Community Engagement director] and Eveily from the community service office.”

Heiberger says the gallery is one of the best aspects of Art Day. “Having the kids come here and see their stuff hung up just gives the program that much more purpose.” She says the gallery validates the kids and their hard work by showing them how valuable it is in a college they’ve grown up close to and heard a lot about.

While the artwork has since been removed from the Light Lounge, a new generation of young artists’ work will grace the walls next year. If you want to get involved in the Art Day or after school dance programs, please reach out to Eveily Freeman or Beth Halpern in the Office for Community and Civic Engagement in Seegers Union.