And while those children will show their stuff in the performing arts, their peers from Cristo Rey in western Belize came to the city today to showcase their accomplishments in the visual arts. The artwork created by these students is so top ranking that they've earned an exhibit at the Image Factory Art Gallery. We found out what makes their art so special.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Seeing these pictures and sculptures, you might think that these works are the creation of some daring modern artists but they are not. These paper machiet figures and mystery objects, traditional paintings, more ambitious abstracts, intriguing assemblages were created by students from Cristo Rey Roman Catholic Primary School in Western Belize. Their proud principal is Ana Aldana.
Ana Aldana, Principal - Cristo Rey R.C. School
"I am very surprised, especially the way I see it displayed in here. It looks very attractive and I am very proud of them. I think the village children really need that kind of help from the people to bring out what they have done."
And the children, many of them who'd never been to Belize City before - seemed genuinely happy to see their work on the walls - like Lesley and Yedira who
created this chair from paper machiet.
Lesley and Yedira,
"Happy."
But it's not just art for arts sake, Aldana says it has served an instructive purpose.
Ana Aldana,
"The artwork that Miss Winsom has been giving has been integrated with language arts and children are developing their English speaking skills because in Cristo Rey most of them want to speak Spanish and we have found out that children are speaking English now and it also has to do with science. So she doesn't start her art work just by putting glue or things like that, she goes step by step and asking the children to repeat or she asks them questions about the art work."
Winsom Winsom, Artist
"It is a testament to our dedication because it brings the spirit alive, it makes them realize who they are, what they are, what they can accomplish, and not only that - it also helps them in languages, math, and other subjects. They now talk to me without covering their mouths and without looking down. They actually look me in the face and talk and give me ideas or if I suggest something, they will say that's not what want and they would do what they want."
And while it serves in the classroom and for personal development, the works also hold their own in a gallery space.
Yasser Musa, The Image Factory
"I was very impressed by the spirit of the young people, the power of their art, meaning that they came together, working with a teacher that is inspired, a teacher that is motivated and they've produced all of these beautiful works made of found paper, paper machiet, found wood, little bits of paint, and they've managed from scraps to create something that is in my view very beautiful."
Winsom Winsom,
"They are much more free at trying things because they don't know much about the western world and don't really care that much about the western world so I can't tell them something is not possible because it is possible in their minds. If they think it, it comes into existence."
And that's a creative freedom rarely seen...
The exhibit runs for a month at the Image Factory.
